Commentary: On Pirke Avot

Avot 1.3: Do not be as slaves who serve their master on condition to receive a reward. Rather, be as slaves who serve their master not on condition to receive a reward. And the fear of heaven should be upon you.

Since one who serves God not on condition to receive a reward serves out of love, he therefore said “and the fear [of heaven should be upon you]” together with the love, so that one should not act in a light-headed manner due to an excess of love, like a son who pesters his father, as his love causes him [i.e., the son] to be overfamiliar with him [i.e., the father]. [ . . . ]

Avot 1.5: Do not engage in excessive conversation with a woman. They said this about one’s own wife, how much more so regarding the wife of another. From here the sages said: One who excessively converses with a woman causes evil to himself, neglects the study of Torah, and will ultimately inherit Gehenna.

They said this about one’s own wife:

This is the commentary of our Holy Rabbi [Judah the Prince].

From here they said:

The sages who came after him added to his words.

Causes evil to himself:

For if he went to the synagogue and he was not treated with respect, if he tells his wife about it, he will only demean himself, as she, too, will demean him in her heart. [ . . . ]

Avot 2.4: Do not believe in yourself until the day of your death. Do not judge your fellow until you have arrived at his place. Do not say about something that cannot be heard that it will eventually be heard. Do not say, when I have free time I will study, as perhaps you will never have free time.

Do not believe in yourself until the day of your death:

For example, by saying: I can permit this matter to myself, as its prohibition is due to [merely] a decree, and I say that I will be careful not to end up sinning.

Do not judge your fellow [until you have arrived at his place]:

If an opportunity for a transgression came before him and he violated the law, do not judge him by declaring that he will be sentenced to death by burning for performing such a transgression until you too have encountered such an opportunity and spared yourself from sin.

And do not say about something [that will not be heard that it will eventually be heard]:

If you are currently free from your labors and you have the opportunity to hear a lesson in Torah now, even if it can ultimately be heard on another occasion, do not say “after all, it will eventually be delivered again, and then I will go and listen,” for you do not know what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1). Furthermore, even if you are busy, you should set aside your business and occupy yourself with Torah, and thus the Mishnah continues by stating: “Do not say, when I am free, I will study, etc.”