[3:9] Two kinds of sinners amongst Jews are called mumrim. One is a mumar of a single mitzvah and the other is a mumar of the entire Torah. A mumar to a single mitzvah, is one who habitually and intentionally commits a specific sin in order to anger his Creator, and thereby gaining a reputation for routinely doing it, even if the sin is not a major sin (i.e., not punishable by kareis (premature death). For example, one who routinely wears shaatnez (a garment made of a mixture of wool and linen), or cuts off his sideburns, as if to say, this mitzvah does not exist for him. A mumar regarding the entire Torah is, for example, one who was forced to convert to another religion because of an evil decree¹³ saying, "What good is it to remain a Jew when Jews are scorned and persecuted? I am better off with those who have the upper hand." Such a person is a mumar regarding the entire Torah.

[3:10] (Referring to [3:6]) "Those that cause the masses to sin," include both those who cause others to commit grave sins, as Yeravam, Tzadok, and Beitus did, and those who cause others to commit light sins (not punishable by death), even if only to prevent them from performing a positive commandment. The term "cause others to sin," includes both people who physically force others to sin, such as Menasheh who killed Jews who refused to worshiped idols, and those who mislead others to sin.

[3:11] (Referring to [3:6]) A person who disassociates himself from the Jewish community in mind and in body, is one who isolates himself by not fulfilling mitzvos together with the community, nor sharing in their suffering, nor joining in their communal fasts. Rather, he goes off on his own as if he were an outsider and not a part of the Jewish nation. Such a person does not participate in the World to Come, even if he has not committed any sins.

People who openly commit sins, boasting about it, as Yehoyakim did, do not participate in the World to Come, whether they commit minor sins or grave ones. Such a person is referred to as a "perverter of the Torah," for he acted brazenly, showing outright contempt for the Torah, without shame.

[3:12] (Referring to [3:6]) There are two types of informers. The first is one who causes a Jew bodily harm by unjustly informing against him to the gentile authorities in order that he be killed or beaten. The second is one who causes a Jew monitary loss by informing against him to the non-Jewish authorities, or to a criminal, in order that they take his possessions. Neither of the two has a share in the World to Come.

[3:13] (Referring to [3:6]) "People who intimidate the community for their own purposes," refers to people who tyrannize the community, making them fear them. They do this for their own glory, without any ambition (to advance) God's honor. A fitting example are, despotic kings.

[3:14] The twenty-four people listed above will not participate in the World to Come, even if they are Jews.

There are other sins that are not as grave as those mentioned. Nevertheless, our Sages said a person who habitually commits them will not participate in the World to Come. Though these sins are usually taken lightly, our sages recommend that people be careful to avoid them. They are; calling a person by an insulting name or nickname; embarrassing someone in public; taking pride in someone else's shame; embarrassing a Torah scholar; embarrassing his teacher; disgracing the festivals, and desecrating holy objects of the Beis Hamikdash¹⁴. All the persons mentioned above do not participate in the World to Come if they die without repenting. However, if such a person repents before he dies, he will participate in the World to Come because not sin can stand in the way of repentance. Even if one denied God's existence all his life and repented only in his final moments, he may participate in the World to Come. For it is written, "Peace, peace, for the far and the near, says God, and I will heal them." (Yeshayahu 57:19). Any wicked person or apostate, who repents, whether publicly or privately, will be accepted, as it is written, "Turn back, O rebellious children." (Jerimiyah 3:22). Even if he is still somewhat rebellious, as evidenced by the fact that he repented in private rather than in public, his repentance will be accepted (to the degree that he repented, but not completely).

13    Maimonides is explaining, that where there is evidence that he joined the non-Jews because of an evil decree, and not because he believes in their heresy, he must not be labeled a min or non believer, but it is obvious that he cannot be a practicing Jew in his situation, therefore he is labeled a mumar. The commentary Ravad disagrees, and is of the opinion that one who joins these people will worship with them, therefore, he is a min (heretic) even if at the beginning he did it because of an evil decree, there is no reason to assume that he was not later influenced by them to believe in their religion.

14    For example, causing a sacrifice to become unfit.

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