Hlala ‘Emzini Wesiphephelo’ Uphile!

“Nga ehlalile emzini wakhe wokuphephela waze wafa umpristi omkhulu.”—NUMERI 35:28.

1. Ungubani uMphindiseli wegazi, futhi yisiphi isinyathelo azosithatha maduze nje?

UMPHINDISELI wegazi kaJehova, uJesu Kristu, usezogadla. Enamabutho akhe ayizingelosi, maduze nje loMphindiseli uzothatha isinyathelo ngokumelene nabo bonke abanecala legazi kodwa bengaphenduki. Yebo, uJesu uyokhonza njengoMbhubhisi kaNkulunkulu phakathi ‘nosizi olukhulu’ olusondela ngokushesha. (Mathewu 24:21, 22; Isaya 26:21) Ngaleso sikhathi isintu siyokwenziwa sibhekane ngqó necala laso legazi.

2. Iyiphi ewukuphela kwendawo yesiphephelo seqiniso, futhi yimiphi imibuzo edinga izimpendulo?

² Indlela yokuphepha iwukungena endleleni eqonde emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa futhi ugijimele ukufa nokuphila! Uma amukelwa kulowo muzi, umbaleki kungadingeka ahlale khona, ngoba uwukuphela kwendawo yesiphephelo seqiniso. Kodwa ungase ubuze, ‘Njengoba iningi lethu lingakaze libulale muntu, ingabe sinecala legazi ngempela? Kungani uJesu enguMphindiseli wegazi? Uyini umuzi wesiphephelo wosuku lwanamuhla? Ingabe ukhona ongaphuma kuwo ngokuphepha?’

Ingabe Sinecala Legazi Ngempela?

3. Yisiphi isici soMthetho kaMose esizosisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi izinkulungwane zezigidi emhlabeni ziyahlanganyela ecaleni legazi?

³ Isici soMthetho kaMose sizosisiza ukuba sibone ukuthi izinkulungwane zezigidi emhlabeni ziyahlanganyela ecaleni legazi. UNkulunkulu wayebeka ama-Israyeli icala elibopha bonke ngenxa yokuchithwa kwegazi. Uma kutholakala umuntu ebulewe kodwa umuntu ombulele engaziwa, abahluleli kwakumelwe balinganise ibanga eliya emizini eseduze ukuze babone ukuthi yimuphi oseduze kakhulu. Ukuze kususwe icala, abadala balowo muzi owawubonakala unecala legazi kwakumelwe bathathe isithokazi, okungakaze kusetshenzwe ngaso basiphule intamo esigodini esinamanzi esingalinyiwe. Lokhu kwakwenziwa phambi kwabapristi bamaLevi ‘ngoba uJehova wayebakhethile ukuba baqede ukuxabana nezenzo zobudlova.’ Abadala balowo muzi babegeza izandla zabo phezu kwaleyo nkomo bese bethi: “Izandla zethu azichithanga leligazi, namehlo ethu awakubonanga. Thethelela, Jehova abantwana bakho uIsrayeli obahlengileyo, ungavumeli igazi elingenacala phakathi kwabantu bakho uIsrayeli.” (Duteronomi 21:1-9) UJehova uNkulunkulu wayengafuni ukuba izwe lakwa-Israyeli lingcoliswe yigazi noma ukuba abantu balo bathwale icala legazi elibopha bonke.

4. IBabiloni Elikhulu linamuphi umlando wokuba necala legazi?

⁴ Yebo, ikhona into okuthiwa icala legazi elibopha bonke, noma lomphakathi. Cabanga ngecala legazi elikhulu eliphezu kweBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Phela, lidakwe yigazi lezinceku zikaJehova! (IsAmbulo 17:5, 6; 18:24) Izinkolo zeLobukholwa zithi zilandela iNkosi Yokuthula, kodwa izimpi, ukuqulwa kwamacala angokwenkolo, nezimpi zenkolo ezibulalayo ziye zazenza zaba necala legazi phambi kukaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 9:6; Jeremiya 2:34) Eqinisweni, kumelwe zithwale icala elikhulu ngokufa kwezigidi ezimpini zezwe ezimbili zaleli khulu leminyaka. Ngakho-ke, abalandeli benkolo yamanga kanye nabasekela futhi bahlanganyele ezimpini zesintu banecala legazi phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

5. Abanye abantu baye baba kanjani njengombulali ongahlosile kwa-Israyeli?

⁵ Abanye abantu baye babangela ukufa kwabantu ngamabomu noma ngokuba budedengu. Abanye baye bahlanganyela ekubulaweni kwabantu abaningi, mhlawumbe beshoshozelwa abaholi benkolo bethi lokhu kuyintando kaNkulunkulu. Abanye baye bashushisa futhi babulala izinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Nokho, ngisho noma singazenzanga izinto ezinjalo, sihlanganyela ecaleni lomphakathi ngokufa kwabantu ngoba sasingawazi umthetho nentando kaNkulunkulu. Sinjengombulali ongahlosile ‘owayebulele umakhelwane wakhe kungengamabomu futhi engamzondi.’ (Duteronomi 19:4) Abantu abanjalo kumelwe bacele isihe sikaNkulunkulu futhi kufanele bagijimele emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa. Ngaphandle kwalokho, bayohlangana noMphindiseli wegazi ababulale.

Izindima ZikaJesu Ezibalulekile

6. Kungani kungase kuthiwe uJesu uyisihlobo sesintu esiseduze kakhulu?

⁶ Kwa-Israyeli umphindiseli wegazi kwakuba isihlobo sobulewe esiseduze kakhulu. Ukuze aphindiselele bonke labo ababulewe emhlabeni futhi ikakhulukazi izinceku zikaJehova ezabulawa, uMphindiseli wegazi wosuku lwanamuhla bekuyodingeka abe isihlobo saso sonke isintu. Leyo ndima iye yafezwa uJesu Kristu. Wazalwa engumuntu ophelele. UJesu wadela ukuphila kwakhe okungenasono ngokufa njengomhlatshelo wesihlengo, futhi ngemva kokuvuselwa kwakhe ezulwini, wayisa inani lawo kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yenzalo ka-Adamu efayo nenesono. Ngenxa yalokho uKristu waba uMhlengi wesintu, isihlobo sethu esiseduze kakhulu—uMphindiseli wegazi ofanele. (Roma 5:12; 6:23; Heberu 10:12) Kubalandeli bezinyathelo zakhe abagcotshiwe uJesu uchazwa njengomfowabo. (Mathewu 25:40, 45; Heberu 2:11-17) NjengeNkosi yasezulwini uba “uYise ongunaphakade” kulabo abayozuza emhlatshelweni wakhe njengezikhonzi zakhe zasemhlabeni. Laba bayophila phakade. (Isaya 9:6, 7) Ngakho uJehova usimise ngokufanelekile lesi Sihlobo sesintu njengoMphindiseli wegazi.

7. NjengomPristi Ophakeme omkhulu, yini uJesu ayenzela abantu?

⁷ UJesu futhi ungumPristi Ophakeme (Omkhulu) ongenasono, ovivinyiwe, nonozwela. (Heberu 4:15) Kuleso sikhundla usebenzisa inani lomhlatshelo wakhe ohlawulela isono esintwini. Imizi yesiphephelo yayimiselwe ‘abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nomfokazi, nogogobeleyo phakathi kwabo.’ (Numeri 35:15) Ngakho umPristi Ophakeme omkhulu okokuqala wasebenzisa inani lomhlatshelo wakhe kubalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe, ‘abantwana bakwa-Israyeli.’ Manje lisetshenziswa ‘kubafokazi nabagogobeleyo’ emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa. Lezi “ezinye izimvu” zeNkosi uJesu Kristu zithemba ukuthi ziyophila phakade emhlabeni.—Johane 10:16; IHubo 37:29, 34.

Umuzi Wesiphephelo Wanamuhla

8. Uyini umuzi wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa?

⁸ Uyini umuzi wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa? Awukho endaweni ethile njengeHebroni, omunye wemizi yesiphephelo eyisithupha yamaLevi futhi owawuyikhaya lompristi ophakeme wakwa-Israyeli. Umuzi wesiphephelo wanamuhla uyilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lokusivikela ekufeni ngenxa yokweqa umyalo wakhe ngobungcwele begazi. (Genesise 9:6) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uweqe ngamabomu noma ngokungenhloso, wonke umuntu oweqa lowo myalo kumelwe afune intethelelo kaNkulunkulu nokusulwa kwesono sakhe ngokholo egazini lomPristi Ophakeme, uJesu Kristu. AmaKristu agcotshiwe anamathemba asezulwini ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ esinamathemba asemhlabeni baye bazibeka esimweni sokuzuza emhlatshelweni kaJesu ohlawulela izono futhi basemzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 14; 1 Johane 1:7; 2:1, 2.

9. USawulu waseTarsu waweqa kanjani umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngegazi, kodwa wakubonisa kanjani ukushintsha kwesimo sengqondo?

⁹ Ngaphambi kokuba abe umKristu, umphostoli uPawulu wayeqe umyalo ophathelene negazi. NjengoSawule waseTarsu, washushisa abalandeli bakaJesu waze wavumela ngisho nokubulawa kwabo. “Noma kunjalo,” kusho uPawulu, “ngaboniswa isihe, ngoba ngangingenalwazi futhi ngenza ngokuntula ukholo.” (1 Thimothewu 1:13; IzEnzo 9:1-19) USawulu waba nesimo sengqondo sokuphenduka, kamuva esafakazelwa imisebenzi eminingi yokholo. Kodwa kudingeka okungaphezu kokholo esihlengweni ukuze ungene emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa.

10. Ungatholakala kanjani unembeza omuhle, futhi yini okumelwe yenziwe ukuze ulondolozwe?

¹⁰ Umbulali ongahlosile wayengahlala komunye wemizi yesiphephelo yakwa-Israyeli kuphela uma ayengakufakazela ukuthi unonembeza omuhle kuNkulunkulu mayelana nokuchithwa kwegazi. Ukuze sibe nonembeza omuhle, kumelwe sibonise ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu, siphenduke ezonweni zethu, futhi siguqule inkambo yethu. Kudingeka sicele unembeza omuhle ngokuzinikezela ngomthandazo kuNkulunkulu ngoKristu, sibonakalise lokhu ngokubhapathizwa emanzini. (1 Petru 3:20, 21) Lonembeza omuhle usenza sibe nobuhlobo obuhlanzekile noJehova. Okuwukuphela kwendlela yokulondoloza unembeza omuhle ukugcina izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu futhi senze umsebenzi esiwabelwe emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa, njengoba nje nababaleki emizini yesiphephelo yasendulo kwakumelwe balalele uMthetho futhi benze izabelo zabo zomsebenzi. Umsebenzi oyinhloko wabantu bakaJehova namuhla ukumemezela isigijimi soMbuso. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Ukwenza lowo msebenzi kuyosisiza ukuba sibe izakhamuzi eziwusizo zomuzi wesiphephelo wosuku lwanamuhla.

11. Yini okumelwe igwenywe ukuze sihlale siphephile emzini wesiphephelo wanamuhla?

¹¹ Ukuphuma emzini wesiphephelo wanamuhla kuwukuzibeka engozini yokubhujiswa, ngoba maduze nje uMphindiseli wegazi uzobathathela isinyathelo bonke abanecala legazi. Lesi akusona isikhathi sokutholakala singaphandle kwalomuzi oyisivikelo noma endaweni eyingozi ngaphandle komngcele wamadlelo awo. Singagcina sesingaphandle komuzi wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa uma singase siphelelwe ukholo emhlatshelweni ohlawulela izono womPristi Ophakeme. (Heberu 2:1; 6:4-6) Futhi besingenakuba abaphephile uma besingamukela izindlela zezwe, sime sigxamalaze enhlanganweni kaJehova, noma siphambuke ezindinganisweni zokulunga zikaBaba wethu wasezulwini.—1 Korinte 4:4.

Ukukhululwa Emzini Wesiphephelo

12. Ababenecala legazi ngaphambili kumelwe bahlale isikhathi eside kangakanani emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa?

¹² Umbulali ongahlosile kwa-Israyeli kwakumelwe ahlale emzini wesiphephelo ‘kuze kufe umpristi omkhulu.’ (Numeri 35:28) Ngakho namuhla ababenecala legazi ngaphambili kumelwe bahlale isikhathi eside kangakanani emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa? Kuze kube yilapho bengasazidingi izinkonzo zomPristi Ophakeme, uJesu Kristu. “Uyakwazi futhi ukusindisa ngokuphelele labo abasondela kuNkulunkulu ngaye,” kusho uPawulu. (Heberu 7:25) Uma nje kusekhona noma yiziphi izici ezingcolisayo zesono necala legazi langaphambili, izinkonzo zomPristi Ophakeme ziyadingeka ukuze abantu abangaphelele babe nokuma okuhle noNkulunkulu.

13. Bangobani ‘abantwana bakwa-Israyeli’ bosuku lwanamuhla, futhi kumelwe bahlale isikhathi eside kangakanani ‘emzini wesiphephelo’?

¹³ Khumbula ukuthi imizi yesiphephelo yasendulo yayimiselwe ‘abantwana bakwa-Israyeli,’ abafokazi, nabagogobeleyo. ‘Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli’ ngama-Israyeli angokomoya. (Galathiya 6:16) Kumelwe bahlale emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa uma nje besaphila emhlabeni. Ngani? Ngoba basesenyameni engaphelele futhi ngenxa yalokho badinga inani elihlawulelayo lomPristi wabo Ophakeme wasezulwini. Kodwa lapho lamaKristu agcotshiwe efa futhi evuselwa ekuphileni okungokomoya ezulwini, awazidingi izinkonzo zokuhlawulela zomPristi Ophakeme; ayobe esehlukene phakade nenyama kanye necala legazi elihlangene nayo. Kwabagcotshiwe abanjalo abavusiwe, umPristi Ophakeme uyobe efile esikhundleni sokuhlawulela, nokuvikela.

14. Yini enye eyenza kudingeke ukuba labo abanamathemba asezulwini bahlale emzini wesiphephelo wanamuhla?

¹⁴ Khona kanye ukuba nesimo sobuntu kwenza kudingeke ukuba labo abayoba “izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu” bahlale emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa baze baqede inkambo yabo yasemhlabeni ngokufa bethembekile. Lapho befa, bayodela isimo sobuntu phakade. (Roma 8:17; IsAmbulo 2:10) Umhlatshelo kaJesu usebenza kuphela kulabo abanesimo sobuntu. Ngakho, umPristi Ophakeme uyafa kulabo abangu-Israyeli ongokomoya lapho bevuswa njengezidalwa zomoya eziyohlala phakade ezulwini ‘njengabahlanganyeli bemvelo yaphezulu.’—2 Petru 1:4.

15. Bangobani ‘abafokazi nabagogobeleyo’ bosuku lwanamuhla, futhi yini umPristi Ophakeme omkhulu ayobenzela yona?

¹⁵ UmPristi Ophakeme ‘uyofa’ nini ngokuqondene ‘nabafokazi’ kanye ‘nabagogobele’ bosuku lwanamuhla, okuyokwenza baphume emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa? Lamalungu esixuku esikhulu awanakuphuma kulomuzi wesiphephelo ngokushesha ngemva kosizi olukhulu. Ngani? Ngoba ayobe esesenyameni yawo engaphelele, enesono futhi kuyodingeka ahlale ngaphansi kwesivikelo somPristi Ophakeme. Ngokuzibeka esimweni sokuzuza ezinkonzweni zakhe zokuhlawulela phakathi nokubusa nobupristi bakhe beminyaka eyinkulungwane, ayofinyelela ukuphelela kobuntu. Ngemva kwalokho uJesu uyowashiyela kuNkulunkulu ukuba athole ukuvivinywa kokugcina nokuwujuqu kobuqotho bawo ngokukhululwa kukaSathane namademoni akhe okwesikhashana. Ngenxa yokuthi adlula kulolu vivinyo enokuvunyelwa kwaphezulu, uJehova uyothi alungile. Ngaleyo ndlela ayofinyelela ukuphelela kobuntu okugcwele.—1 Korinte 15:28; IsAmbulo 20:7-10.a

16. Kunini lapho abasinde osizini olukhulu bengeke besazidinga khona izinkonzo zokuhlawulelwa zomPristi Ophakeme?

¹⁶ Ngakho-ke, abasinde osizini olukhulu kuyodingeka balondoloze unembeza omuhle ngokuhlala emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa kuze kube sekupheleni kokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Njengabantu abaphelelisiwe, bayobe bengasazidingi izinkonzo zokuhlawulelwa zomPristi Ophakeme futhi bayophuma ngaphansi kwesivikelo sakhe. Ngaleso sikhathi uJesu uyofa kubo njengomPristi Ophakeme, ngoba ngeke kusadingeka abenzele izinto ngegazi elihlanzayo lomhlatshelo wakhe. Ngaleso sikhathi bayophuma emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa.

17. Kungani kungeke kudingeke ukuba labo abavuswa phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane bangene emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa futhi bahlale lapho?

¹⁷ Ingabe labo abavuswa phakathi nokuBusa KukaJesu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kumelwe bangene emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa futhi bahlale lapho kuze kufe umpristi ophakeme? Cha, ngoba ngokufa basikhokha isijeziso sokuba kwabo nesono. (Roma 6:7; Heberu 9:27) Noma kunjalo, umPristi Ophakeme uyobasiza ukuba bafinyelele ukuphelela. Uma bephumelela ekuvivinyweni kokugcina ngemva kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, uNkulunkulu uyothi nabo balungile ngokubanika isiqinisekiso sokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni. Yiqiniso, ukuhluleka ukugcina izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu kuyoletha isahlulelo sokulahlwa nokubhujiswa phezu kwanoma yibaphi abantu abangaphumeleli ekuvivinyweni kokugcina njengabagcini bobuqotho.

18. Mayelana nokubusa nobupristi bukaJesu, yini eyosala esintwini phakade?

¹⁸ Abapristi abaphakeme bakwa-Israyeli bafa ekugcineni. Kodwa uJesu uye “waba umpristi ophakeme ngokwendlela kaMelkisedeki kuze kube phakade.” (Heberu 6:19, 20; 7:3) Ngakho ukuphela kwesikhundla sikaJesu njengomPristi Ophakeme ongummeleli ngokuqondene nesintu akusho ukuphela kokuphila kwakhe. Imiphumela emihle yenkonzo yakhe njengeNkosi nomPristi Ophakeme iyosala esintwini phakade, futhi abantu bayolokhu bemkweleta phakade ngenxa yokukhonza kwakhe kulezi zikhundla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu uyohola phakade ekukhulekelweni okumsulwa kukaJehova.—Filipi 2:5-11.

Izifundo Eziwusizo Kithi

19. Yisiphi isifundo ngokuphathelene nenzondo nothando esingase sifundwe elungiselelweni lemizi yesiphephelo?

¹⁹ Singafunda izifundo ezihlukahlukene elungiselelweni lemizi yesiphephelo. Ngokwesibonelo, akukho mbulali owayezonda umuntu ayembulele owayevunyelwa ukuba ahlale emzini wesiphephelo. (Numeri 35:20, 21) Ngakho umuntu osemzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa angakuvumela kanjani ukuba kwakheke inzondo ngomfowabo enhliziyweni yakhe? “Wonke umuntu ozonda umfowabo ungumbulali wabantu,” kubhala umphostoli uJohane, “futhi niyazi ukuthi akekho umbulali wabantu onokuphila okumi phakade okuhlezi kuye.” Ngakho-ke “masiqhubekeni sithandana, ngoba uthando luvela kuNkulunkulu.”—1 Johane 3:15; 4:7.

20. Ukuze bavikeleke kuMphindiseli wegazi, yini okumelwe yenziwe yilabo abasemzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa?

²⁰ Ukuze bavikeleke kumphindiseli wegazi, ababulali abangahlosile kwakumelwe bahlale emzini wesiphephelo futhi bangazulazuli ngalé kwamadlelo awo. Kuthiwani ngalabo abasemzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa? Ukuze baphephe kuMphindiseli wegazi omkhulu, akumelwe baphume kulomuzi. Ngempela, kudingeka baqaphele izilingo zokuya emngceleni wamadlelo, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso. Kumelwe baqaphele bangavumeli ukuba kwakheke uthando ngezwe likaSathane ezinhliziyweni zabo. Lokhu kungadinga umthandazo nomzamo, kodwa ukuphila kwabo kuxhomeke kukho.—1 Johane 2:15-17; 5:19.

21. Yimuphi umsebenzi onomvuzo owenziwa yilabo abasemzini wesiphephelo wanamuhla?

²¹ Ababulali abangahlosile emizini yesiphephelo yasendulo kwakumelwe babe izisebenzi ezikhiqizayo. Ngokufanayo, ‘abantwana bakwa-Israyeli’ abagcotshiwe baye babeka isibonelo esihle njengezisebenzi zesivuno nabamemezeli boMbuso. (Mathewu 9:37, 38; Marku 13:10) ‘Njengabafokazi nabagogobele’ emzini wesiphephelo wanamuhla, amaKristu anamathemba asemhlabeni anelungelo lokwenza lomsebenzi osindisa ukuphila kanye nabagcotshiwe abasesemhlabeni. Yeka ukuthi umsebenzi ovuza kanjani! Labo abasebenza ngokukholeka emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa bayosinda ekubulaweni phakade uMphindiseli wegazi. Kunalokho, bayothola izinzuzo zaphakade zenkonzo yakhe njengomPristi Ophakeme omkhulu kaNkulunkulu. Ingabe uyohlala emzini wesiphephelo futhi uphile phakade?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ubungaphendula Kanjani?

◻ Kungani kungase kuthiwe izinkulungwane zezigidi emhlabeni zinecala legazi?

◻ Yiziphi izindima uJesu Kristu azifezayo ngokuqondene nesintu?

◻ Uyini umuzi wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa, futhi umuntu ungena kanjani kuwo?

◻ Abantu bayokhululwa nini emzini wesiphephelo owafanekiselwa?

◻ Yiziphi izifundo eziwusizo esingazifunda elungiselelweni lemizi yesiphephelo?

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

Uyazi ukuthi yiziphi izindima ezibalulekile ezifezwa uJesu Kristu?