Sanctifying an animal is a good thing. Why, then, should the Torah forbid the owner to substitute another animal for the original, tithed one, if by doing so both animals become sanctified?
When someone tithed his animals, he was lifted out of his mundane world and drawn into the holy process of having to take the animal to Jerusalem and eat it there with his family. This gave him the opportunity to renew his religious inspiration at the holy Temple. The Torah wants the owner to take advantage of this opportunity and see it through – not to focus on some other, unconsecrated animal.
Normally, we should follow this advice, as well: If we are involved in some holy pursuit, we should stay focused on it. We should not sacrifice our spiritual momentum for some material diversion.
However, when other people are in spiritual danger, we must overlook this prohibition in order to reach out to them. In such cases, the Torah assures us that G‑d will protect us. Both we and those whom we elevate to holiness will indeed remain holy.1
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