Naso

The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel

6:22

Whoever benefits from the things of this world without a blessing is like one who steals from God and the Jewish people.

Berakhot 35b (6^th Century)

In the sanctuary, the Kohanim pronounced the blessing using the Divine Name (the Tetragrammaton), but in the provinces by a substitute Name. In the Sanctuary they pronounced it as a single blessing, but in the provinces it was pronounced as three blessings.

Ramban (13^th Century)

Against the background of saints, sorcerers, and magicians in the ancient temples, Torah comes to make clear that the blessing originates not from the Kohen, but from God Himself. The Kohen is not expected to pour out his superfluity of blessings. All he has to do is to “put My name upon the people of Israel”…fifteen words, and no more…

Pinchas Peli (20^th Century)

It is not the Kohanim who bless the people of Israel. Under no circumstances do the words that they utter have the force of a blessing…Their role is to place the name of God on the people of Israel, so that the people of Israel shall be a vehicle for the Divine presence.

Samson Raphael Hirsch (19^th Century)

The recipients of God’s abundance are not always capable of absorbing it because of their level of spirituality. Therefore God chose to transmit His divine abundance by means of Godly people who are servants of the Lord, that they may open the channels of blessing through their deeds, prayers and benedictions, bringing this blessing upon the people. Thus God chose the sons of Aaron, who in their sacred service are close to God.

Malbim (19^th Century)

It would appear that the spiritual level of the Kohen has no bearing on the blessing…the question of whether a sinful Kohen may recite the priestly blessings might depend upon the dispute as to whether halakhic conclusions can be based on rationales, explicit or putative, for the commandments. Surely those who (agree) with this would conclude that the inferior spiritual state of today’s Kohanim, which in no way resembles the description of (the kohamin) in Biblical times, must affect the very spiritual process that should occur during the blessing….

Aryeh Arazi (Contemporary)

A Kohen may not recite the priestly blessing if he does not love his congregation (or if they do not love him.

Orach Chayim (13^th Century)

One of the arrangements ordained by the Highest Wisdom was that in order for a person to receive any sustenance from God, he must first motivate himself and address himself to God, requesting the things he needs. The amount of sustenance will then depend on the degree to which he is so motivated. If a person is not aroused at all, then no divine sustenance will reach him at all. This is the significance of prayer.

Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (18^th Century)