The Reward for Kibud Av Va'em

The VILNA GA'ON (as cited in Insights to Chulin 138:5) explains that these two Mitzvos address opposite character traits that are found in different types of people. There are people who are instinctively inclined to perform kindness. For those people, honoring parents is a natural instinct. Those people would find it difficult to perform an act that seems so cruel, like Shilu'ach ha'Ken. Conversely, there are people who do not naturally possess the characteristic of kindness. For them, the Mitzvah of Kibud Av va'Em may be difficult to perform, while they may perform Shilu'ach ha'Ken without hesitation. Since the Mitzvos were given equally to all men, regardless of their individual dispositions, the Torah promises the same reward for the Mitzvos of Kibud Av va'Em and Shilu'ach ha'Ken. The Torah is teaching that our performance of the Mitzvos should not be based on our personal feelings toward the Mitzvah, but rather on the fact that Hash-m commanded us to do it. We are rewarded for obeying Hash-m, and not for acting in accordance with our logic and personal inclinations. Accordingly, we can understand why the Mitzvah of Kibud Av va'Em and Shilu'ach ha'Ken have the same reward. They share a common purpose: to demonstrate an absolute adherence to carrying out the will of Hash-m.

One who is merciful might not be a Tzadik; he acts mercifully only because that is his nature. Only when one overcomes his natural tendencies in order to serve Hash-m can he be considered a Tzadik. When a person performs with equal devotion both the Mitzvos that demonstrate cruelty, such as sending away the mother bird, and the Mitzvos that demonstrate compassion, such as honoring one's parents, it is evident that he is a Tzadik, and he is the one whom the Torah blesses with long life in the World to Come.