The One Who Scatters Charity and Torah Gains More

(Proverbs 11:24): "There is one who scatters, yet gains even more" - Rabbi Abahu said: If you have seen a person scattering his money for charity, know that it is added to him, for he increases, as it is said, "There is one who scatters, yet gains even more." "And one who withholds from what is fitting, only to want" - Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: If you have seen a person who holds himself back from charity, know that he becomes diminished, as it is said: "And one who withholds from what is fitting, only to want." Another interpretation: "There is one who scatters, yet gains even more" - if you have seen a generation to whom the Torah is precious, scatter Torah to them. "And one who withholds from what is fitting, only to want" - if you have seen a generation that seeks the Torah and you do not teach them, in the end the Torah is diminished from you. Why? Because through teaching you learn, as it is said (Proverbs 11:25): "The soul that blesses shall be made fat, and he who waters shall himself be watered." And not only that, but anyone who withholds from teaching Torah in this world, the ministering angels are destined in the time to come to pierce him through like a sieve. Ulla said: Even the unborn in their mothers' wombs curse him, as it is said (Proverbs 11:26): "He who withholds grain [bar], the people [le'om] shall curse him [yikkevuhu], but blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it." "Bar" means nothing but Torah, as it is said (Psalms 2:12): "Pay homage to the bar [Torah], lest He be angry." And "yikkov" means nothing but a curse, as it is said (Leviticus 24:11): "And the son of the Israelite woman pronounced [va-yikkov] the Name and cursed." And "le'om" means nothing but the unborn, as it is said (Genesis 25:23): "And one people [le'om] shall be stronger than the other people [le'om]." "But blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it" - Rabbi Tanchuma said: If a person teaches Torah in this world, in the time to come it is destined to be a crown upon his head, as it is written (Proverbs 4:9): "A crown of glory shall it bestow upon you," and further: "But blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it."