Parshas Mishpatim

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

"Naaseh v'nishma."

The question is obvious here. How can one do something before he hears what he is commanded?

The Zera Shimshon brings a Midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah (13:16) to explain his answer. The midrash talks about how the pasuk in Vayikra (18:5), "A person does the mitzvos and lives with them," refers not to Kohanim, Leviim, or even just stam members of Klal Yisroel. Instead, it says "ha'adam," man. Even a non-Jew can learn Torah and reach the level of a Kohen Gadol. The only difference is that he would not receive the same reward as a Jew, because he is not a mitzuveh v'oseh, he is not commanded to learn Torah.

Additionally, the Zera Shimshon brings the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos that tells us that we should not serve Hashem like slaves serving a master to receive payment. What is done for payment can never be done the same way, the best way, as what is done because someone wants to do it of his own accord.

The intention of Klal Yisroel with "naaseh v'nishma" was doing the mitzvos as if they were not commanded to: naaseh before hearing the command/nishma (not to do the mitzvos for the sechar, for as we just discussed, someone who is commanded to do something gets more reward).

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshas Mishpatim