Make it Disgusting in your Eyes
The Medrash says that Pinchas drove his spear straight through the genitals of Zimri and Kuzbi the Midyanite, as they were sinning together. Then G-d gave Pinchas divine strength and he was able to lift both of their their dead bodies up out of the tent, while still on the spear, for all to see that they had been killed for their sins.
The Holy Ohr Hachaim Hakodesh writes, that through doing this, Pinchas made the sin of illicit relations look disgusting in the eyes of the Yidden and thereby caused a tremendous Kiddush Hashem.
On a similar note, the Ohr Hachayim writes as well in another place, that after the Midyanites brought the Jews to sin in illicit relations, G-d commanded the Jews "Tzror es Hamidyanim Ve'hikesem Osam" - meaning, "Make the Midyanim hated in your eyes and destroy everything of theirs". So the Ohr Hachayim asks, why do we need to hate them and destroy everything, why not be able to benefit at least from the booty of the enemy? Answers the ohr Hachayim, that when it comes to immoral sexual conduct (that the Midyanites caused the Jews to sin in), the only way for the Jews to receive G-d's forgiveness and atone properly would be if they turn their hearts to hate these sins, and destroy all that is related to it. For as long as the lust of the sin remains alive in a Jew's heart, he cannot properly atone for sins of this nature. Instead, he must try to first arouse a disgust and hatred of these sins in his heart - and only then he can achieve a true Teshuvah.
The Holy Ohr Hachaim Hakodesh writes, that through doing this, Pinchas made the sin of illicit relations look disgusting in the eyes of the Yidden and thereby caused a tremendous Kiddush Hashem.
On a similar note, the Ohr Hachayim writes as well in another place, that after the Midyanites brought the Jews to sin in illicit relations, G-d commanded the Jews "Tzror es Hamidyanim Ve'hikesem Osam" - meaning, "Make the Midyanim hated in your eyes and destroy everything of theirs". So the Ohr Hachayim asks, why do we need to hate them and destroy everything, why not be able to benefit at least from the booty of the enemy? Answers the ohr Hachayim, that when it comes to immoral sexual conduct (that the Midyanites caused the Jews to sin in), the only way for the Jews to receive G-d's forgiveness and atone properly would be if they turn their hearts to hate these sins, and destroy all that is related to it. For as long as the lust of the sin remains alive in a Jew's heart, he cannot properly atone for sins of this nature. Instead, he must try to first arouse a disgust and hatred of these sins in his heart - and only then he can achieve a true Teshuvah.
