איוב, פרק ל״ה, פסוק ח׳

The question of how human behavior influences the world and its Creator highlights a clear divide. There is the human realm, where actions carry real consequences, and the Divine realm, which remains entirely unaffected by human morality or sin. The primary approach among commentators is that a person's good or bad deeds do not impact God in any way. Instead, they only affect other people. When a person acts righteously or wickedly, the results are felt strictly by equals, the people living in their own environment [מצודת דוד]. Righteousness can only benefit a fellow human being, and wickedness can only cause harm to another person [ביאור שטיינזלץ, רש״י]. In fact, wickedness and righteousness are defined entirely by their impact on others. Bad actions are labeled as such because they harm people, and good actions are considered good because they help them. The Commandments and moral guidelines were given specifically for the benefit of the created beings themselves [רמב״ן].

Since God suffers no damage from sin and gains no benefit from a Commandment, the purpose of reward and punishment must be explained. One perspective is that Divine consequence is not based on God's self-interest or a need for compensation. Rather, He grants rewards simply out of His immense goodness and kindness [מצודת דוד]. Another approach views reward and punishment as a natural, inseparable part of creation and the actions themselves. This dynamic is similar to a sick person receiving instructions from a doctor. The patient does not expect a prize for obeying the doctor, nor does he expect the doctor to punish him for refusing the treatment. The reward is the recovery itself, and the punishment is the illness. In the same way, individuals build or destroy their own lives and societies through their behavior. A society where people act with justice and integrity will experience peace. Conversely, a society where people act with wickedness will deteriorate into a dangerous environment of robbery and murder, where no one is safe. A wicked person ultimately harms himself and his surroundings, and human society is the force that will eventually pursue and punish him [מלבי״ם].

This understanding emphasizes the extreme severity of sins committed against other people. While offenses directed solely at God do not cause Him any actual harm, sins committed against a fellow human being, such as robbery, inflict real damage and loss. By committing these acts, a person not only violates the will of God but also causes tangible sorrow to another person. Because they combine a breach of Divine will with real human suffering, offenses against others are considered exceptionally severe [אלשיך].