Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4 Mishnah 7 (1) Rabbi TZadok says: Do not make the Torah a crown for self-glorification, nor a spade with which to dig. So too, Hillel used to say: “He who exploits the crown of Torah for personal benefit shall fade away.” From this you derive that whoever seeks personal benefit from the words of Torah removes his life from the world.
Avot 4:7
Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4 Mishnah 7 (2) Do not make the Torah a crown for self-glorification – Do not say: “I will study in order that others will call me ‘Rabbi’ and accord me honours.” Learn out of love for God and His Torah.
Gemara Nedarim 62a
Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4 Mishnah 7 (3) Nor a spade with which to dig – This “spade” is the spade of livelihood. One should ideally teach Torah to others without taking compensation for the work.
Machzor Vitry
Ethics of the Fathers: Chapter 4 Mishnah 7 (4) He who exploits the crown of Torah for personal benefit shall fade away (chalaf, in Hebrew) – He who derives personal gain from Torah study forfeits his reward in The Next World; by foolishly taking material reward in this world, he has bartered away (chalaf, in Hebrew) the eternal for the temporal.
HaCHasid Yaavetz
