What is "Chesed"?
R. Yonah: The verses begin to discuss the ways of Avodas Hashem. Hashem requests "Ki Im Asos Mishpat v'Ahavas Chesed" (Michah 6:8). Chesed includes many good Midos. He should put his desire and efforts to bestow Chesed to people, and benefit them from his money and bodily toil. He should be pleasing to them, and seek their Shalom and good, and desire their honor, and be careful not to harm them in deed or verbally. In this Midah, the Midos of cruelty, stinginess, hatred, envy and pride depart. Pride is ruling over people Bal Korcham (against their will). Chesed does not require money - it is greater than Tzedakah, for Chesed is with one's body, and Tzedakah is with his money (Sukah 49b). Chesed is toiling to help people, and seeking their Shalom and good - "Doresh Tov l'Amo v'Dover Shalom l'Chol Zar'o" (Esther 10:3). He visits the ill, consoles mourners, and speaks to the heart of downtrodden Aniyim and honors them 1 .
Malbim: Most Mitzvos are Chesed Bein Adam l'Chavero. Toras Chesed are wondrous deeds that Chasidim and very elevated people do beyond the letter of the law. It includes also the wondrous understandings of Elokus, Ma'ase Bereishis and Ma'ase Merkavah via Ru'ach ha'Kodesh.
R. Yonah: One who appeases [an Oni] with words is greater than [one who gives to him Tzedakah - Bava Basra 9b]. He advocates for Aniyim, and draws people to benefit them - one who causes others to [give] is greater than one who gives (ibid.) He has grace on the pitiful, opens the mouth of the mute (speaks on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves), is eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. If he does not have wealth, he desires the Midah of Tzedakah and delights in those who do it and supports them. One who tags on to those who do a Mitzvah is like one who does a Mitzvah (Sanhedrin 9a). Even an Oni supported from Tzedakah, must give from what he receives (Gitin 7b). A pittance from an Oni is like or greater than a big gift from an Ashir. "Nefesh Ki Sakriv Korban Minchah la'Shem" (Vayikra 2:1) - normally an Oni offers a Minchah, therefore it says "Nefesh" - it is as if he offered his soul (Menachos 104b).
What is "Emes"?
R. Yonah: It includes intellectual attributes; he bewares from mistaken mindsets and erroneous reasoning. He tilts the Midos to love of Sechel. He does not call bad 'good', or vice-versa. He does not flatter people; he is zealous for Emes. He loves honor of Tzadikim, and lowliness of Resha'im and people of sin. If he judges, he does not favor an honored person or friend. He interrogates the witnesses greatly. If it seems that there is fraud (false testimony), he delays the verdict and does not rule (Sanhedrin 35a). In any argument, he vindicates the innocent and condemns the guilty 1 . If he argues with someone and the Emes defeats him, he admits. He does not accept Leshon ha'Ra, and does not believe all that he hears 2 ; he is in doubt until he investigates. Every Chachmah that he engages in, and every matter of Emunah that he contemplates, he greatly investigates [to find] the Emes. He does not weary or tire; he fears lest his heart accept a false matter. Because Hashem loves Emes so much, one must cling to it and expound its boundary 3 .
Malbim: It includes Emunos and mindsets. He believes in what is known via Torah. Toras Emes is doing Mitzvos and customs due to the obligation, and the simple investigations that all understand.
R. Yonah citing Shevu'os 31a: If a Talmid sees that [his Rebbi erred, and really] the poor person is innocent and the rich person is liable, he may not keep quiet - "mi'Devar Sheker Tirchak.". Four categories do not receive the Divine Presence: scoffers; flatterers; liars; and those who speak Leshon ha'Ra (Sotah 42a). "Matzdik Rasha u'Marshi'a Tzadik To'avas Hashem Gam Sheneihem" (17:16), "Dover Shekarim Lo Yikon l'Neged Einai" (Tehilim 101:7).
R. Yonah: "Sheker Mezin Al Leshon Havos", "Pesi Ya'amin l'Chol Davar" (17:4, 14:15).
R. Yonah: If one resolved in his heart to give a gift, or sell something cheaply, or buy for an excessive price, if he wants to reach perfection in Yir'as Shamayim, he will fulfill what he resolved. If a Chaver was looking at [an Am ha'Aretz'] vegetables the entire day, he does not acquire. If he resolved [to buy them, he acquired, and] he must tithe them. This discusses a Yarei Shamayim like Rav Safra, who fulfilled "v'Dover Emes bi'Lvavo" (Tehilim 15:2) (Bava Basra 88a).
Why does it specify Chesed and Emes?
R. Yonah: If he goes opposite to them, he is a total Rasha. Hashem despises him, like it says below "Adam Beliya'al Ish Aven", "Shesh Henah Sanei Hashem" (6:12, 16), like we will explain. His Avodah is not accepted - "Chadsheichem v'Mo'adeichem San'ah Nafshi" (Yeshayah 1:14), "Niru Lachem Nir v'Al Tizre'u El Kotzim" (Yirmeyah 4:3).
Why does it say "Kashrem Al Gargerosecha"?
R. Yonah: These Midos are your glory, like necklaces on the neck. One should constantly speak 1 about honored Midos, for this reminds him to be careful about them. Those who hear will learn from him the way of life. When he praises the Midah, the listeners will honor those who fulfill it. When one speaks detrimentally [about bad deeds], the listeners scorn them, and those who do them are ashamed, and people separate from them. Also, constantly praising good Midah and scorning bad Midos shows that the mouth and heart of the speaker are the same - "Metzaref la'Kesef v'Chur la'Zahav v'Ish l'Fi Mahalalo" (27:21), like we will explain.
R. Yonah (1:9): The neck is a Mashal for speech, for speech passes through it.
What is the significance of "Kasvem Al Lu'ach Libecha"?
R. Yonah: Constantly return them to your heart to do counsels in your Nefesh, how to attain them, and you will fulfill them in practice.
Malbim: The heart is the power of authority in the Nefesh. It rules over powers of the Nefesh, to direct their actions according to Hashem's Mitzvos. It is constantly surrounded by nets and traps - desires and evil images that come on his Ru'ach. They oppose the laws of Chachmah. One must carve the laws of Chachmah on the tablet of his heart, as if they are written with a stylus and will never be erased. He should read it all the days of his life, so he will learn to distance evil images and desires for bad deeds.
