Mesilas Yesharim, Perek 11 Part 6/11

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

How far does nekiyus in emes reach? The sefer lists levels of sheker: the outright liar, the one who mixes sheker into his words until it is second nature, and the one who does not run from it. Exceptions such as changing one's words for shalom, or Yaakov with Lavan, rest on emes meaning ratzon Hashem, and they are not for everyday use. Emes is the seal of Hashem and a pillar of the world.

Key points

• The Gemara reads hin tzedek as a yes that is honest and a no that is honest.
• Sheker mixed into a person's words can become his nature without him noticing it.
• The Torah says to stay far from sheker, a stronger lashon than just guarding from it.
• Emes really means ratzon Hashem, which explains how Yaakov could take the brachos and trick Lavan.
• The Gemara in Sanhedrin tells of a place so careful in emes that the malach hamaves could not kill there.

In this shiur

1. 0:00Shvua and keeping one's word
2. 2:10Levels of sheker
3. 9:40Not distancing oneself from sheker
4. 14:31Changing words for the sake of shalom
5. 18:42Lavan and the nachash
6. 20:10Emes as the seal of Hashem
7. 22:02The three things in the Gemara
8. 24:47Emes as a pillar of the world

Topics

• Emes
• Sheker
• Nekiyus
• Shalom