Yitro 5773

There is a famous Midrash based on 19:17 saying that Hashem lifted Mt. Sinai on top of Bnei Yisroel and He threatened them to accept the Torah or they will destroyed. The Kli Yakar explains that Bnei Yisroel was never forced to accept the Torah; they had already agreed to accept anything Hashem told them to do (19:8). Rather, Hashem was telling them that not keeping the Torah will be as if one is dead in this world. Keeping the Torah guarantees life in this world and the next world.