Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 78:5

וכל העושה מצוה אחת יתירה על זכיותיו מטיבין לו ורמינהו כל שזכיותיו מרובין מעונותיו מריעין לו ודומה כמי ששרף כל התורה כולה ולא שייר ממנה אפילו אות אחת וכל שעונותיו מרובין מזכיותיו מטיבין לו ודומה כמי שקיים כל התורה כולה ולא חיסר אות אחת ממנה

Hence it follows that for these others [one is rewarded] even for a single one!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even if he has no other good deeds to his credit - surely not!');"><sup>11</sup></span> - Said R'Shemaiah: That teaches that if there is an equal balance, it tips the scale.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If one's good deeds and bad are exactly equal, yet among the good deeds is one of those enumerated above, it causes the former to preponderate.');"><sup>12</sup></span> Yet is it a fact that he who performs one precept in addition to his [equally balanced] merits is rewarded?

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

The baraita quoted here seems absolutely absurd at face value—if one has more merits than sins he is punished severely, and if one has more sins than merits he is rewarded. How can we even begin to make sense out of this utterly strange baraita, especially in light of the Mishnah which offers a much more positive view of the world?
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