“Run quickly to perform an easy mitzvah, and flee from the sin …”
R’ Nochum Mordechai of Tchortzkov makes note of the specificity of “the sin” which is referred to in the mishnah. He offers the fascinating insight that every person has his unique nature and his individual weaknesses. An aveiroh that may attract one person is not necessary as dangerous for another. Therefore the Tanna warns us to run away from that aveiroh that each person knows is most perilous for him.
The Dovev Sifsei Yeshainim offers a different explanation and says: Run quickly to perform an “easy mitzvah,” i.e. a mitzvah d’rabbanan and flee from “the sin,” i.e. an issur d’rabbanan …. for the remuneration of a mitzvah [d’rabbanan’ is [the opportunity to perform] a mitzvah [d’oraysa] and the remuneration of a sin [d’rabbanan] is [that he will ultimately transgress]a sin [in the Torah]
