Izikhombo Ze-Ncwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila Nenkonzo
SEPTHEMBA 2-8
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU HEBHERU 7-8
“Umpristi Waphakade Ngokwendlela KaMelkhizedeki”
(Hebheru 7:1, 2) Ngoba lo Melkhizedeki, inkosi yaseSalema, umpristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, owahlangabeza u-Abrahama ebuya ekubulaleni amakhosi wayesembusisa 2 futhi lowo u-Abrahama amhlukanisela okweshumi kwazo zonke izinto, okokuqala, ngokuhunyushwa, ‘uyiNkosi Yokulunga,’ bese futhi eba yinkosi yaseSalema, okungukuthi, “iNkosi Yokuthula.”
it-2-E 366
UMelkhizedeki
Lena inkosi yaseSalema yasendulo ‘nompristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke,’ uJehova. (Gen 14:18, 22) Ingumpristi wokuqala okukhulunywa ngaye emiBhalweni; yaba umpristi esikhathini esithile ngaphambi kuka-1933 B.C.E. Njengoba eyinkosi yaseSalema, okusho ‘Ukuthula,’ umphostoli uPawulu ubiza uMelkhizedeki ngokuthi “iNkosi Yokuthula” futhi ngenxa yencazelo yegama lakhe, umbiza nangokuthi “iNkosi Yokulunga.” (Heb 7:1, 2) ISalema yasendulo yayisendaweni ebizwa ngokuthi idolobha laseJerusalema, futhi igama elithi Jerusalema, laqanjwa lisuselwa kwelithi Salema, yingakho ngezinye izikhathi iJerusalema libizwa ngokuthi “iSalema.”—IHu 76:2.
Ngemva kokuba u-Abrama (u-Abrahama) enqobe uKedorlawomere namakhosi ayekanye naye, le nzalamizi yafika eThafeni Eliphansi laseShave noma ‘eThafeni Eliphansi lenkosi.’ Lapho, uMelkhizedeki “wakhipha isinkwa newayini” wabe esembusisa u-Abrahama, wathi: “U-Abrama makabusiswe nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uMenzi wezulu nomhlaba; futhi makatuswe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke,onikele abacindezeli bakho esandleni sakho!” U-Abrahama wabe esethatha ‘empangweni yakhe eyinhloko’ ayeyithole ngesikhathi enqoba la makhosi, wanika le nkosi engumpristi “okweshumi kwakho konke.”—Gen 14:17-20; Heb 7:4.
(Hebheru 7:3) Ngokuba kwakhe ongenayise, ongenanina, ongenalo uhlu lozalo, ongenaso isiqalo sezinsuku noma ukuphela kokuphila, kodwa enziwe waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uhlala engumpristi njalo.
it-2-E 367 ¶4
UMelkhizedeki
Kwakungamuphi umqondo uMelkhizedeki ‘ayengenaso isiqalo sezinsuku noma ukuphela kokuphila’?
UPawulu waveza iphuzu elisemqoka ngokuphathelene noMelkhizedeki, lapho ethi ngaye: “Ngokuba kwakhe ongenayise, ongenanina, ongenalo uhlu lozalo, ongenaso isiqalo sezinsuku noma ukuphela kokuphila, kodwa enziwe waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uhlala engumpristi njalo.” (Heb 7:3) UMelkhizedeki wazalwa futhi wafa njengabo bonke abanye abantu. Nokho, alishiwongo igama likayise nelikanina, ukuthi wayevela kuluphi uhlu lozalo nokuthi zazingobani izingane zakhe, nemiBhalo ayisitsheli lutho ngomsuka wakhe nokuthi wafa kanjani. Yingakho uMelkhizedeki emfanekisela kahle uJesu Kristu, ongumpristi ohlala njalo. Njengoba nje ayengekho umpristi uMelkhizedeki ayemlandela nowalandela ngemva kwakhe, noJesu ngokufanayo akabanga nampristi ophakeme ngaphambi kwakhe owayenjengaye futhi iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi akekho umpristi oyoke alandele ngemva kwakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, nakuba uJesu ayezalwa esizweni sakwaJuda futhi esohlwini lozalo lwasebukhosini lukaDavide, uhlu lwakhe lozalo alumenzi afanelekele ukuba umpristi noma ukuba yikho kokubili, umpristi nenkosi. Kodwa uJehova wafunga ukumenza inkosi nompristi.
(Hebheru 7:17) ngoba ekufakazeleni lokhu kuthiwa: “Wena ungumpristi kuze kube phakade ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki.”
it-2-E 366
UMelkhizedeki
Umpristi Ofanekisela UKristu. Esiprofethweni esiphawulekayo esiphathelene noMesiya, isifungo uJehova asenza “eNkosini” kaDavide sithi: “Wena ungumpristi kuze kube nini nanini ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki!” (Hu 110:1, 4) Leli hubo eliphefumulelwe, lenza amaHebheru aphetha ngokuthi uMesiya othenjisiwe uyena oyoba umpristi nenkosi. Encwadini ayibhalela amaHebheru, umphostoli uPawulu waqeda noma yikuphi ukungabaza mayelana nokuthi ungubani lowo owayebikezelwe lapho ethi ‘nguJesu oye waba umpristi ophakeme ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki kuze kube phakade.’—Heb 6:20; 5:10; bheka esithi ISIVUMELWANO.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Hebheru 8:3) Ngoba wonke umpristi ophakeme umiselwa ukuba anikele izipho nemihlatshelo; ngakho-ke kwakudingekile ukuba nalona abe nokuthile kokukunikela.
Imihlatshelo Eyajabulisa UNkulunkulu
11 Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Wonke umpristi ophakeme umiselwa ukuba anikele kokubili izipho nemihlatshelo.” (Heberu 8:3) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu uyihlukanisa izigaba ezimbili iminikelo eyayenziwa umpristi ophakeme wakwa-Israyeli wasendulo, okungukuthi, “izipho,” “nemihlatshelo,” noma ‘imihlatshelo yezono.’ (Heberu 5:1) Abantu ngokuvamile baphana izipho ukuze babonise uthando nokwazisa, futhi bahlakulele ubungane, ukuthanda noma ukwamukelwa. (Genesise 32:20; IzAga 18:16) Ngokufanayo, iminikelo eminingi eyayishiwo uMthetho ingabhekwa ‘njengezipho’ kuNkulunkulu zokufuna ukwamukelwa nomusa wakhe. Ukwephulwa koMthetho kwakudinga ukuhlawulelwa, futhi ukuze kubuyiswane, kwakunikelwa ‘ngemihlatshelo yezono.’ IPentateuch, ikakhulu izincwadi zika-Eksodusi, uLevitikusi, noNumeri zinikeza ukwaziswa okuningi mayelana nezinhlobonhlobo zemihlatshelo neminikelo. Nakuba kungase kube yinselele ngempela ukuba siqonde futhi sikhumbule yonke imininingwane, kunamaphuzu ayisihluthulelo ngokuphathelene nezinhlobonhlobo zemihlatshelo okudingeka siwahlole.
(Hebheru 8:13) Ngokusho kwakhe ukuthi “isivumelwano esisha,” wenzé esangaphambili sangabe sisasebenza. Manje lokho okwenziwa kungabe kusasebenza nokugugayo kuseduze nokushabalala.
it-1-E 523 ¶5
Isivumelwano
Kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi isivumelwano soMthetho “sangabe sisasebenza”?
Nokho, isivumelwano soMthetho “asibange sisasebenza” lapho uNkulunkulu ememezela ngomprofethi uJeremiya ukuthi kuzoba nesivumelwano esisha. (Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:13) Ukufa kukaKristu esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa ngo-33 C.E., kwenza ukuba isivumelwano soMthetho sangabe sisasebenza (Kol 2:14), sathethelwa indawo isivumelwano esisha.—Heb 7:12; 9:15; IzE 2:1-4.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Hebheru 7:1-17) Ngoba lo Melkhizedeki, inkosi yaseSalema, umpristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, owahlangabeza u-Abrahama ebuya ekubulaleni amakhosi wayesembusisa 2 futhi lowo u-Abrahama amhlukanisela okweshumi kwazo zonke izinto, okokuqala, ngokuhunyushwa, ‘uyiNkosi Yokulunga,’ bese futhi eba yinkosi yaseSalema, okungukuthi, “iNkosi Yokuthula.” 3 Ngokuba kwakhe ongenayise, ongenanina, ongenalo uhlu lozalo, ongenaso isiqalo sezinsuku noma ukuphela kokuphila, kodwa enziwe waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uhlala engumpristi njalo. 4 Bhekani-ke, ukuthi wayemkhulu kangakanani lo muntu owanikwa ngu-Abrahama, inhloko yomkhaya, okweshumi empangweni eyinhloko. 5 Yiqiniso, amadoda avela emadodaneni kaLevi lawo amukela isikhundla sawo sobupristi anomyalo wokuba aqoqe okweshumi kubantu ngokoMthetho, okungukuthi, kubafowabo, ngisho noma laba bephume okhalweni luka-Abrahama; 6 kodwa umuntu ongekho ohlwini lozalo lwabo wathatha okweshumi ku-Abrahama futhi wabusisa lowo owayenezithembiso. 7 Manje ngaphandle kwanoma yikuphi ukuphikisana, omncane ubusiswa ngomkhulu. 8 Futhi kwesinye isimo ngabantu abafayo abamukela okweshumi, kodwa kulesi esinye ngothile okufakazwa ngaye ukuthi uyaphila. 9 Futhi, uma ngingayisebenzisa le nkulumo, ngo-Abrahama ngisho noLevi owamukela okweshumi uye wakhokha okweshumi, 10 ngoba wayesesokhalweni lukakhokho wakhe lapho uMelkhizedeki emhlangabeza. 11 Uma-ke, ukuphelela ngempela bekutholakala ngobupristi bobuLevi, (ngoba abantu banikwa uMthetho uhambisana nalobo bupristi njengesici sawo esivelele,) isiphi esinye isidingo esasiyoba khona sokuba kuvele omunye umpristi okuthiwa ungokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki hhayi ngokwendlela ka-Aroni? 12 Ngoba njengoba ubupristi bushintshwa, kuba khona isidingo sokushintsha nomthetho. 13 Ngoba umuntu ezishiwo ngokuqondene naye lezi zinto ubeyilungu lesinye isizwe, okungekho muntu kuso oke wakhonza e-altare. 14 Ngoba kuyakhanya impela ukuthi iNkosi yethu ivele kwaJuda, isizwe uMose angakhulumanga lutho ngaso ngokuphathelene nabapristi. 15 Futhi kucace nakakhulu ngokwengeziwe ukuthi kuvela omunye umpristi ofana noMelkhizedeki, 16 ongabanga umpristi ngokomthetho womyalo oxhomeke enyameni, kodwa ngokwamandla okuphila okungenakubhubhiseka, 17 ngoba ekufakazeleni lokhu kuthiwa: “Wena ungumpristi kuze kube phakade ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki.”
It-1-E 524 ¶3-5
Siyini Isivumelwano Esisha?
Isivumelwano Esisha. Ngekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E., uJehova wasebenzisa umprofethi uJeremiya ukuba abikezele ukuthi kwakuzoba nesivumelwano esisha esingeke sifane nesivumelwano somthetho u-Israyeli asiphula. (Jer 31:31-34) Ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E., lapho uJesu uKristu emisa Isidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa wamemezela isivumelwano esisha esasizokwenziwa sisebenze ngomhlatshelo wakhe. (Luka 22:20) Sekuphele izinsuku ezingu-50 evusiwe, esenezinsuku eziyishumi enyukele kuYise, wathululela abafundi bakhe ababehlangane egunjini eliphezulu eJerusalema umoya ongcwele ayewuthole kuJehova.—IzE 2:1-4, 17, 33; 2Ko 3:6, 8, 9; Heb 2:3, 4.
Abantu abasesivumelwaneni esisha uJehova ‘no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,’ okuyilabo abazelwe ngomoya ongcwele abamunye noKristu, abayibandla noma umzimba wakhe. (Heb 8:10; 12:22-24; Gal 6:15, 16; 3:26-28; Ro 2:28, 29) Lesi sivumelwano senziwa sisebenze ngegazi likaJesu Kristu (okuwumhlatshelo wokuphila kwakhe) alethula kuJehova lapho efika ezulwini. (Math 26:28) Lapho uNkulunkulu ekhetha umuntu ukuba ayophila ezulwini (Heb 3:1), usuke emfaka esivumelwaneni saKhe esenziwa ngomhlatshelo kaKristu. (IHu 50:5; Heb 9:14, 15, 26) UJesu Kristu unguMlamuleli esivumelwaneni esisha (Heb 8:6; 9:15) futhi uyiNzalo ka-Abrahama eyinhloko. (Gal 3:16) Ngokuba uMlamuleli esivumelwaneni esisha, uJesu usiza abantu abakulesi sivumelwano ukuba bathethelelwe izono zabo, babe inzalo yangempela ka-Abrahama. (Heb 2:16; Gal 3:29) UJehova ube esethi balungile.—Ro 5:1, 2; 8:33; Heb 10:16, 17.
Laba bafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya baba abapristi abangaphansi koMpristi oPhakeme, “ubupristi bobukhosi.” (1Pet 2:9; IsA 5:9, 10; 20:6) Benza umsebenzi wobupristi, ‘wokukhonza umphakathi’ (Fil 2:17) futhi babizwa ngokuthi “yizikhonzi zesivumelwano esisha.” (2Ko 3:6) Labo ababiziwe kumelwe bazilandele eduze nangokwethembeka izinyathelo zikaKristu baze bafe; uJehova uzobe esebenza babe umbuso wabapristi, ebanika umzimba wasezulwini ongenakufa nongonakali njengoba bezobe beyizindlalifa kanye noKristu ezulwini. (1Pet 2:21; Ro 6:3, 4; 1Ko 15:53; 1Pet 1:4; 2Pet 1:4) Injongo yesivumelwano esisha iwukukhetha abantu abazobizwa ngegama likaJehova ukuze babe ‘inzalo’ ka-Abrahama. (IzE 15:14) Baba ‘umlobokazi’ kaKristu futhi bayiqembu labantu uKristu alifaka esivumelwaneni soMbuso ukuze libuse naYe. (Joh 3:29; 2Ko 11:2; IsA 21:9; Luka 22:29; IsA 1:4-6; 5:9, 10; 20:6)Ukuze injongo yalesi sivumelwano esisha ifezeke kudingeka siqhubeke kuze kube yilapho wonke amalungu ‘ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ esevuselwe ezulwini engasenakufa.
Lapho le njongo isifezekile izinzuzo zayo ziyohlala phakade, yingakho sibizwa ngokuthi ‘isivumelwano esiphakade.’—Heb 13:20
it-1-E 1113 ¶4-5
Kungani ubupristi bukaKristu bubukhulu kunobuka-Aroni?
Ubupristi BukaMelkhizedeki. Umpristi wokuqala okukhulunywa ngaye eBhayibhelini uMelkhizedeki, ‘owayengumpristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke’ aphinde abe inkosi yaseSalema (eJerusalema). U-Abrahama wahlangana nale nkosi engumpristi ngemva kokunqoba amakhosi amathathu ayenze umfelandawonye nenkosi yase-Elamu uKedorlawomere. U-Abrahama wabonisa ukuthi igunya uMelkhizedeki ayenalo wayelinikwe uNkulunkulu ngokumnikeza okweshumi kwempango yakhe nangokuvuma ukubusiswa uMelkhizedeki. IBhayibheli alivezi ukuthi wayevela kuluphi uhlu lozalo, ukuthi wazalwa obani noma ukuthi wafa kanjani. Akabanga nampristi owayengaphambi kwakhe noma owalandela ngemva kwakhe.—Gen 14:17-24; bheka kwesithi UMELKHIZEDEKI.
Ukuphakama Kobupristi BukaJesu Kristu. Incwadi yamaHebheru iveza ukuthi uJesu Kristu ‘ungumpristi ophakeme ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki kuze kube phakade,’ kusukela ngesikhathi evuswa, eya ezulwini. (Heb 6:20; 7:17, 21) Ukuze achaze indlela ubupristi bukaKristu obuphakeme nobungcono ngayo kunobuka-Aroni, uPawulu uveza ukuthi uMelkhizedeki waba inkosi ephinde ibe umpristi, hhayi ngokozalo, kodwa ngoba egcotshwe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. UJesu Kristu uvela esizweni samaJuda ozalweni lukaDavide, hhayi esizweni samaLevi. Akabanga umpristi ngoba evela ozalweni luka-Aroni, kodwa ungumpristi ngoba egcotshwe uNkulunkulu njengoMelkhizedeki. (Heb 5:10) Isithembiso esisencwadini yeHubo 110:4 esithi: “UJehova ufungile (futhi ngeke azisole) wathi: ‘Wena ungumpristi kuze kube nini nanini ngokwendlela kaMelkhizedeki!’” senza uKristu abe iNkosi nomPristi wasezulwini. Ngaphezu kwalokho uphinde abe negunya lokubusa ngenxa yokuthi uvela ozalweni lukaDavide. Lokho yikho okumenza athole ubukhosi obuthenjiswe esivumelwaneni sikaDavide. (2Sam 7:11-16) Ngaleyo ndlela, uba yikho kokubili inkosi nompristi njengoMelkhizedeki.
SEPTHEMBA 9-15
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | HEBHERU 9-10
“Isithunzi Sezinto Ezinhle Ezizayo”
(Hebheru 9:12-14) akangenanga negazi lezimbuzi nelamathole eduna, cha, kodwa wangena endaweni engcwele negazi lakhe, kwaba kanye kuphela futhi wasitholela ukukhululwa okuphakade. 13 Ngoba uma igazi lezimbuzi nelezinkunzi nomlotha wesithole ofafazwa kulabo abangcolisiwe kungcwelisa kube ukuhlanzeka kwenyama, 14 igazi likaKristu, owathi ngomoya waphakade wazinikela engenasici kuNkulunkulu, liyobahlanza kakhulu kangakanani onembeza bethu emisebenzini efile ukuze sinikele inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo?
it-1-E 862 ¶1
Ukuthethelelwa Kwezono
Ngokomyalo uNkulunkulu awunikeza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, ukuze umuntu owone uNkulunkulu noma omunye umuntu wakubo athethelelwe, kwakufanele aqale alungise ububi abenzile njengoba uMthetho wawusho, futhi ezikhathini eziningi, wayebe esenikela ngegazi lesilwane kuJehova. (Lev 5:5–6:7) Yingakho noPawulu asho isimiso esithi: “Yebo, cishe izinto zonke zihlanzwa ngegazi ngokoMthetho, futhi ngaphandle kokuba kuthululwe igazi akukho ukuthethelelwa okuba khona.” (Heb 9:22) Nokho, umhlatshelo wegazi lezilwane wawungeke uzisule ngokuphelele izono bese wenza umuntu abe nonembeza ohlanzekile. (Heb 10:1-4; 9:9, 13, 14) Kodwa umuntu wayesengathethelelwa izono ngokuphelele ngenxa yesivumelwano esisha esasibikezelwe esenziwa ngomhlatshelo wesihlengo sikaJesu Kristu. (Jer 31:33, 34; Math 26:28; 1Kor 11:25; Efe 1:7) Ngisho nalapho uJesu ayesesemhlabeni, ngokulapha kwakhe indoda eyayikhubazekile wabonisa ukuthi unegunya lokuthethelela izono.—Math 9:2-7.
(Hebheru 9:24-26) Ngoba uKristu akangenanga endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso wokungokoqobo, kodwa wangena ezulwini ngokwalo, manje ukuba abonakale phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yethu. 25 Futhi kungekhona ukuba azinikele kaningi, njengoba empeleni umpristi ophakeme engena endaweni engcwele unyaka nonyaka negazi okungelona elakhe siqu. 26 Ukube kwakungenjalo, kwakuyomelwe ahlupheke kaningi kusukela ekusungulweni kwezwe. Kodwa manje uzibonakalisé kwaba kanye kuphela esiphelweni sezimiso zezinto ukuze asuse isono ngomhlatshelo wakhe.
“Qhubeka Ungilandela”
4 ImiBhalo ayisho lutho ngokufika kukaJesu ezulwini, indlela amukelwa ngayo, nokuhlangana kwakhe okujabulisayo noYise. Kepha yakwembula kusengaphambili ukuthi kwakuyokwenzekani ezulwini ngemva nje kokufika kukaJesu khona. Uzokhumbula ukuthi kwase kuyiminyaka eyevile emakhulwini angu-15 amaJuda ewubona njalo umkhosi ongcwele. Kanye ngonyaka umpristi ophakeme wayengena eNgcwelengcwele yethempeli ayofafaza igazi lemihlatshelo yoSuku Lokubuyisana phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano. Ngalolo suku, umpristi ophakeme wayefanekisela uMesiya. UJesu wagcwalisa incazelo engokwesiprofetho yalowo mkhosi kwaba kanye kuphela ngemva kokubuyela ezulwini. Wafika kuJehova okhazimulayo ezulwini—indawo engcwele kunazo zonke ezulwini nasemhlabeni—wethula kuYise inani lomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo. (Hebheru 9:11, 12, 24) Ingabe uJehova walamukela?
(Hebheru 10:1-4) Ngoba, njengoba uMthetho unesithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo, kodwa kungezona lezo zinto uqobo, abantu ngemihlatshelo efanayo abayinikela njalo unyaka nonyaka abasoze babenza baphelele labo abasondelayo. 2 Ukube bekungenjalo, imihlatshelo yayingeke yini iyeke ukunikelwa, ngoba labo abanikela inkonzo engcwele abahlanzwé kanye kwaba kuphela babengeke besaba nomuzwa wezono? 3 Ngokuphambene nalokho, le mihlatshelo ikhumbuza ngezono unyaka nonyaka, 4 ngoba akunakwenzeka ukuba igazi lezinkomo nelezimbuzi lisuse izono.
it-2-E 602-603
Ukungabi Naphutha
Ukungabi Naphutha KoMthetho KaMose. Umthetho owanikezwa ama-Israyeli ngoMose wawuhlanganisa ilungiselelo lobupristi kanye nokunikela ngezilwane ezihlukahlukene njengomhlatshelo. Nakuba wawuvela kuNkulunkulu futhi ungenaphutha, uMthetho, ilungiselelo lobupristi noma iminikelo yezilwane akuzange kuzisule ngokuphelele izono zalabo ababengaphansi koMthetho njengoba umphostoli uPawulu aphefumulelwa ukuba akubonise lokho kulo mBhalo wamaHebheru. (Heb 7:11, 19; 10:1) Kunokuba ukhulule abantu esonweni nasekufeni, umthetho wenza kwaba sobala ukuthi abantu bayizoni. (Ro 3:20; 7:7-13) Noma kunjalo, wonke la malungiselelo akwenza lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile ngawo; uMthetho waba “umfundisi” oholela abantu kuKristu, futhi wayifeza kahle indima yokuba ‘isithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo.’ (Gal 3:19-25; Heb 10:1) Ngenxa yalokho, lapho uPawulu ekhuluma ‘ngokuhluleka koMthetho, ngesikhathi ubuthakathaka ngenyama’ (Ro 8:3), wayebhekisele ekungakwazini kompristi ophakeme owayengumJuda (owayekhethwe ngokoMthetho ukuba enze imihlatshelo yezono zabantu futhi angene eNgcwelengcwele negazi ngoSuku Lokubuyisana) “ukusindisa ngokuphelele” labo ayebakhonza, njengoba eyamaHebheru 7:11, 18-28 ibonisa. Nakuba iminikelo eyayenziwa ngelungiselelo lobupristi obabunikezwe inzalo ka-Aroni yayenza abantu babe nokuma okuhle phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kodwa ayizange iwususe umuzwa wesono kubantu. Lo mphostoli wayekhuluma ngalokhu lapho ethi iminikelo eyayenziwa ngosuku lokubuyisana ayikwazi “ukwenza umuntu owenza inkonzo engcwele aphelele” ngokuqondene nonembeza wakhe. (Heb 10:1-4; qhathanisa neyamaHeb 9:9.) Umpristi ophakeme wayengeke akwazi ukunikeza inani lesihlengo elalidingeka ukuze abantu bakhululwe ngokuphelele esonweni. Kodwa ubupristi bukaKristu obuhlala njalo kanye nomnikelo owenziwa ngegazi lakhe, yikona okuzisula ngokuphelele izono zabantu.—Heb 9:14; 10:12-22.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Hebheru 9:16, 17) Ngoba lapho kukhona khona isivumelwano, kudingeka afe umenzi wesivumelwano ongumuntu. 17 Ngoba isivumelwano sisebenza ngokufa kwezisulu, njengoba singasebenzi nganoma isiphi isikhathi lapho umenzi wesivumelwano ongumuntu esaphila.
Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
UPawulu waphawula ukuthi kwakudingeka kufe othile ukuze izivumelwano ezenziwa phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu zisebenze. Isivumelwano soMthetho siyisibonelo salokhu. UMose wayengumlamuleli waso, owayezokwenza lesivumelwano phakathi kukaNkulunkulu noIsrayeli wenyama sisebenze. Ngaleyondlela uMose wafeza indima ebalulekile futhi wayengumuntu owasebenzelana namaIsrayeli lapho engena esivumelwaneni. Ngakho uMose wayengabhekwa njengomenzi wesivumelwano ongumuntu walesivumelwano soMthetho esasungulwa nguJehova. Kodwa ingabe kwadingeka uMose achithe igazi lakhe lokuphila ukuze isivumelwano soMthetho sisebenze? Cha. Kunalokho kwakwenziwa iminikelo yezilwane, igazi lazo lithatha indawo yegazi likaMose.—Heberu 9:18-22.
Kuthiwani ngesivumelwano esisha esiphakathi kukaJehova nesizwe sikaIsrayeli ongokomoya? UJesu Kristu wayenendima ekhazimulayo yokuba ngumxhumanisi, uMlamuleli phakathi kukaJehova noIsrayeli ongokomoya. Nakuba kunguJehova owasungula lesivumelwano, sasigxile kuJesu Kristu. Ngaphandle kokuba nguMlamuleli waso, uJesu wasebenzelana ngokuqondile ngokwenyama nalabo ababezoba ngabokuqala ukungena kulesivumelwano. (Luka 22:20, 28, 29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayekufanelekela ukulungiselela umhlatshelo owawudingeka ukuze lesosivumelwano sisebenze. Lomhlatshelo wawungewona owezilwane nje kodwa wawungowokuphila okuphelele kobuntu. Ngakho uPawulu wayengabhekisela kuKristu njengomenzi wesivumelwano esisha ongumuntu. Ngemva kokuba ‘uKristu engene ezulwini uqobo ukuba abonakale ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yethu,’ isivumelwano esisha saqala ukusebenza.—Heberu 9:12-14, 24.
Lapho ekhuluma ngoMose noJesu njengabenzi bezivumelwano abangabantu, uPawulu wayengasikiseli ukuthi ngamunye wabo wayesungule isivumelwano sakhe, eqinisweni okwakuyizivumelwano ezazenziwe nguNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, labobantu ababili babehileleke ngokujulile njengabalamuleli ekuphumeleliseni izivumelwano ezaziqondene nabo. Futhi esimweni ngasinye, kwakudingeka kufe okuthile—izilwane esikhundleni sikaMose, nokunikela kukaJesu ngegazi lokuphila kwakhe siqu ngenxa yalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha.
(Hebheru 10:5-7) Ngakho lapho efika ezweni uthi: “‘Awuzange uwufune umhlatshelo nomnikelo, kodwa ungilungiselele umzimba. 6 Awuzange uyamukele iminikelo yokushiswa ephelele nomnikelo wesono.’ 7 Khona-ke ngathi, ‘Bheka! Ngizile (kulotshiwe ngami emqulwini wencwadi) ukuba ngenze intando yakho, Nkulunkulu.’”
it-1-E 249-250
Ubhapathizo
ULuka uthi uJesu wayethandaza lapho ebhapathizwa. (Luka 3:21) Kanti nomlobi wencwadi eya kumaHebheru uthi, lapho uJesu efika “ezweni” (lapho eziletha ukuba abhapathizwe futhi aqale inkonzo yakhe, hhayi ngesikhathi ezalwa engakwazi nokufunda noma ukusho la mazwi) ngokwamaHubo 40:6-8 (LXX) wayethi: “Awuzange uwufune umhlatshelo nomnikelo, kodwa ungilungiselele umzimba. . . . Bheka! Ngizile (kulotshiwe ngami emqulwini wencwadi) ukuba ngenze intando yakho, O Nkulunkulu.” (Heb 10:5-9) UJesu wayezalwa esizweni samaJuda esasisesivumelwaneni noNkulunkulu, okuyisivumelwano soMthetho. (Eks 19:5-8; Gal 4:4) Ngenxa yalokho, lapho uJesu eziletha kuJohane ukuze abhapathizwe, wayesesivumelwaneni kakade noJehova uNkulunkulu. UJesu wenza okungaphezu kwalokho okwakulindeleke ukuba akwenze ngaphansi koMthetho. Wayeziletha kuYise, uJehova, ukuze enze “intando” yakhe, ewukunikela ngomzimba wakhe “olungiselelwe” nokuqeda iminikelo yezilwane eyayenziwa ngaphansi koMthetho. Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “‘Ngale ntando’ eshiwo singcwelisiwe ngomnikelo womzimba kaJesu Kristu kube kanye kuphela.” (Heb 10:10) Enye yezinto ezaziyintando kaJehova okwakufanele zenziwe uJesu, ezenza uJesu waziletha kuYise, kwakuwumsebenzi ophathelene noMbuso. (Luka 4:43; 17:20, 21) UJehova wakwamukela lokho kuziletha kweNdodana yakhe, wabe eseyigcoba ngomoya ongcwele futhi wathi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami, ethandekayo; ngikwamukele.”—Mar 1:9-11; Luka 3:21-23; Math 3:13-17.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Hebheru 9:1-14) Khona-ke, isivumelwano sangaphambili, sona, sasinezimiso zenkonzo engcwele nendawo yaso engcwele yasemhlabeni. 2 Ngoba kwakhiwa igumbi lokuqala letende okwakukhona kulo uthi lwesibani netafula nombukiso wezinkwa; futhi libizwa ngokuthi “iNdawo Engcwele.” 3 Kodwa ngemva kwesihenqo sesibili kwakukhona igumbi letende elibizwa ngokuthi “iNgcwelengcwele.” 4 Leli lalinomcengezi wempepho wegolide nomphongolo wesivumelwano onanyekwe ngegolide nxazonke, okwakukhona kuwo imbiza yegolide eyayinemana kanye nenduku ka-Aroni eyaba nemiqumbe kanye nezibhebhe zesivumelwano; 5 kodwa ngenhla ngaphezu kwawo kwakukhona amakherubi akhazimulayo asibekele isembozo esiyisihlawulelo. Kodwa manje akusona isikhathi sokukhuluma ngokuningiliziwe ngokuphathelene nalezi zinto. 6 Ngemva kokuba lezi zinto sezakhiwe ngale ndlela, abapristi bangena egumbini lokuqala letende ngazo zonke izikhathi ukuze benze izinkonzo ezingcwele; 7 kodwa egumbini lesibili umpristi ophakeme yedwa, ungena kanye ngonyaka, hhayi ngaphandle kwegazi, alinikela ngenxa yakhe nangenxa yezono zabantu zokungazi. 8 Kanjalo umoya ongcwele ukwenza kukhanye ukuthi indlela engena endaweni engcwele yayingakabonakaliswa ngesikhathi itende lokuqala limile. 9 Leli tende liwumfanekiso wesikhathi esimisiwe esesikhona manje, futhi ngokuvumelana nalo kunikelwa kokubili izipho nemihlatshelo. Nokho, lokhu akukwazi ukwenza umuntu owenza inkonzo engcwele aphelele ngokuqondene nonembeza wakhe, 10 kodwa kuphathelene kuphela nokudla neziphuzo nobhapathizo oluhlukahlukene. Kwakuyizimfuneko ezingokomthetho eziphathelene nenyama futhi zabekwa kwaze kwaba isikhathi esimisiwe sokuqondisa izinto. 11 Nokho, lapho uKristu efika njengompristi ophakeme wezinto ezinhle esezenzekile, edabula etendeni elikhulu neliphelele ngokwengeziwe elingenziwanga ngezandla, okuwukuthi, elingelona elale ndalo, 12 akangenanga negazi lezimbuzi nelamathole eduna, cha, kodwa wangena endaweni engcwele negazi lakhe, kwaba kanye kuphela futhi wasitholela ukukhululwa okuphakade. 13 Ngoba uma igazi lezimbuzi nelezinkunzi nomlotha wesithole ofafazwa kulabo abangcolisiwe kungcwelisa kube ukuhlanzeka kwenyama, 14 igazi likaKristu, owathi ngomoya waphakade wazinikela engenasici kuNkulunkulu, liyobahlanza kakhulu kangakanani onembeza bethu emisebenzini efile ukuze sinikele inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo?
SEPTHEMBA 16-22
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | HEBHERU 11
“Ukubaluleka Kokholo”
(Hebheru 11:1) Ukholo luwukulindelwa okuqinisekisiwe kwezinto ezithenjwayo, ukuboniswa okusobala kwezinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingabonakali.
Bonisa Ukholo Lwakho Ezithembisweni ZikaJehova
6 Incazelo yeBhayibheli yokholo itholakala kumaHebheru 11:1. (Funda.) Ukholo lugxila ezintweni ezimbili ezingabonakali kithi: (1) ‘Izinto ezithenjwayo’—lokhu kungahlanganisa izinto ezithenjisiwe ezizokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo kodwa ezingakenzeki, njengokuqedwa kwabo bonke ububi nokuza kwezwe elisha. (2) “Izinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingabonakali.” Kulo mongo, inkulumo yesiGreki ehunyushwe ngokuthi “ukuboniswa okusobala” isho ukuthi “ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda” bokuba khona kwento engabonakali kithi, njengokuba khona kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, izingelosi kanye nomsebenzi woMbuso wasezulwini. (Heb. 11:3) Sibunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi ithemba lethu liyaphila futhi siyakholelwa ezintweni ezingabonakali okukhulunywa ngazo eZwini likaNkulunkulu? Ngamazwi ethu nangezenzo—izinto ezidingekayo ukuze siphelelise ukholo lwethu.
(Hebheru 11:6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa ngoba lowo oza kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholelwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.
“Umvuzi Walabo Abamfuna Ngobuqotho”
Yini edingekayo uze ujabulise uJehova? UPawulu uyabhala: “Ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa [uNkulunkulu].” Phawula ukuthi uPawulu akasho ukuthi ngaphandle kokholo kunzima ukumjabulisa uNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, uthi akwenzeki ukumjabulisa. Ngamanye amazwi, ukholo luyinto esemqoka kakhulu uma sifuna ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu.
Hlobo luni lokholo olujabulisa uJehova? Ukholo lwethu kuNkulunkulu kumelwe luhlanganise izici ezimbili. Okokuqala, ‘kumelwe sikholelwe ukuthi ukhona.’ Ezinye izinguqulo zithi “ukholelwe ukuthi ungokoqobo.” Singamjabulisa kanjani ngempela uNkulunkulu uma singabaza ukuthi ungokoqobo? Ukholo lweqiniso alugcini nje ngokukholelwa, ingani namademoni ayakholelwa ukuthi uJehova ungokoqobo. (Jakobe 2:19) Ukukholelwa kwethu ekutheni uNkulunkulu ungokoqobo kufanele kusishukumisele esenzweni, okusho ukufakazela ukholo lwethu ngokuphila ngendlela emjabulisayo.—Jakobe 2:20, 26.
Okwesibili, ‘kumelwe sikholelwe ukuthi’ uNkulunkulu ‘ungumvuzi.’ Umuntu onokholo lweqiniso ukholelwa ngokugcwele ukuthi imizamo yakhe yokuphila ngendlela ejabulisa uNkulunkulu ngeke ibe yize. (1 Korinte 15:58) Singamjabulisa kanjani uJehova uma singabaza amandla noma isifiso sakhe sokusivuza? (Jakobe 1:17; 1 Petru 5:7) Umuntu ophetha ngokuthi uNkulunkulu akanandaba nathi, akanandaba nesikwenzayo futhi akaphani akamazi uNkulunkulu weBhayibheli.
Obani abavuzwa uJehova? UPawulu uthi: ‘Yilabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.’ Incwadi ethile yabahumushi beBhayibheli ithi igama lesiGreki elisho “ukufuna ngobuqotho” alisho “ukuphuma uyofuna,” kunalokho, lisikisela ukuza kuNkulunkulu ngenhloso “yokumkhulekela.” Enye incwadi ichaza ukuthi lesi senzo sesiGreki sisikisela umzamo ojulile nokuzikhandla. Yebo, uJehova uvuza labo abanokholo olubashukumisela ukuba bamkhulekele ngothando nangentshiseko ngenhliziyo yonke.—Mathewu 22:37.
(Hebheru 11:33-38) okwathi ngokholo balwa nemibuso bayinqoba, benza ukulunga, bathola izithembiso, bavala imilomo yezingonyama, 34 bamisa amandla omlilo, baphunyuka osikweni lwenkemba, besesimweni esibuthakathaka benziwa baba namandla, baba ngamaqhawe empini, bangquzula amabutho ezinye izizwe. 35 Abesifazane bamukela abafileyo babo ngovuko; kodwa abanye abantu bahlushwa ngoba abafunanga ukwamukela ukukhululwa ngesihlengo esithile, ukuze bazuze uvuko olungcono. 36 Yebo, abanye bathola ukulingwa ngokuhlekwa usulu nangokubhaxabulwa, impela, bathola okungaphezu kwalokho, ngezibopho nangamatilongo. 37 Bakhandwa ngamatshe, baquliswa amacala, banqunywa ngokusahwa, bafa ngokubulawa ngenkemba, bazulazula bembethe izikhumba zezimvu, izikhumba zezimbuzi, beswele, besosizini, bephethwe kabi; 38 futhi izwe lalingabafanele. Bazulazula ezingwadule nasezintabeni nasemihumeni nasemiphandwini yomhlaba.
Qinisa Ukholo Lwakho Ezintweni Ozithembayo
10 KumaHebheru isahluko 11, umphostoli uPawulu uchaza izilingo izinceku eziningi zikaNkulunkulu ezingabizwa ngamagama ezabhekana nazo. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli ukhuluma ngabesifazane bokholo abashonelwa amadodana abo kodwa kamuva abe esevuswa. Ube esekhuluma ngabanye abangafunanga “ukwamukela ukukhululwa ngesihlengo esithile, ukuze bazuze uvuko olungcono.” (Heb. 11:35) Nakuba singenakuqiniseka ngokuthi uPawulu wayekhuluma ngobani, abanye, njengoNabhoti noZakariya, bakhandwa ngamatshe ngenxa yokulalela uNkulunkulu nokwenza intando yakhe. (1 AmaKh. 21:3, 15; 2 IziKr. 24:20, 21) Ngokucacile uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babenethuba ‘lokwamukela ukukhululwa’ ngokuphula ubuqotho babo. Esikhundleni salokho, ukholo lwabo emandleni kaNkulunkulu lwabenza bakwazi ‘ukuvala imilomo yezingonyama’ futhi ‘bamisa amandla omlilo.’—Heb. 11:33, 34; Dan. 3:16-18, 20, 28; 6:13, 16, 21-23.
11 Ngenxa yokholo lwabo, abaprofethi abanjengoMikhaya noJeremiya “bathola ukulingwa ngokuhlekwa usulu . . . nangamatilongo.” Abanye, njengo-Eliya, “bazulazula ezingwadule nasezintabeni nasemihumeni nasemiphandwini yomhlaba.” Bonke bakhuthazela ngoba babenokulindela “okuqinisekisiwe kwezinto ezithenjwayo.”—Heb. 11:1, 36-38; 1 AmaKh. 18:13; 22:24-27; Jer. 20:1, 2; 28:10, 11; 32:2.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Hebheru 11:4) Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo obaluleke kakhulu kunokaKhayini, okuwukholo afakazelwa ngalo ukuthi wayelungile, uNkulunkulu efakaza ngezipho zakhe; futhi ngalo usakhuluma, nakuba afa.
it-1-E 804 ¶5
Ukholo
Izibonelo Zasendulo Zokholo. Ngamunye ‘okuleli fu elikhulu kangaka lofakazi,’ uPawulu akhuluma ngalo, (Heb 12:1) wayenesizathu esizwakalayo sokuba nokholo. Ngokwesibonelo, siyaqiniseka ukuthi u-Abela wayazi ngesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esiphathelene “nenzalo” eyayizolimaza ‘inyoka’ ekhanda. Wazibonela ngawakhe sekufezeka lokho uJehova ayethe kuzokwenzeka kubazali bakhe e-Edene. Lapho u-Adamu nomndeni wakhe sebephumile e-Edene, basebenza kanzima ukuze bathole ukudla ngenxa yokuthi umhlabathi wawuqalekisiwe, uveza ameva namakhakhasi. Cishe u-Abela wabona ukuthi u-Eva wayenxanela umyeni wakhe nokuthi u-Adamu wayebusa umkakhe. Akungabazeki ukuthi unina wayekhuluma ngobuhlungu ayenabo njengoba ayekhulelwe. Kanti nendawo engenela ensimini yase-Edene yayigadwe amakherubi futhi kunenkemba evutha amalangabi. (Gen 3:14-19, 24) Konke lokhu kuyizinto ezingokoqobo u-Abela ‘azibona,’ ezamqinisekisa ngokuthi abantu babezokhululwa ‘ngenzalo ethenjisiwe.’ Ukholo ayenalo lwamenza ‘wanikela kuNkulunkulu ngomhlatshelo,’ owawubaluleke kakhulu kunokaKhayini.—Heb 11:1, 4.
(Hebheru 11:5) Ngokholo u-Enoke wadluliswa ukuze angakuboni ukufa, futhi akatholakalanga ndawo ngoba uNkulunkulu wayemdlulisile; ngoba ngaphambi kokudluliswa kwakhe wafakazelwa ukuthi wayemjabulisile uNkulunkulu.
“Wayemjabulisile UNkulunkulu”
Pho kungayiphi indlela u-Enoke ‘adluliswa’ ukuze “angakuboni ukufa”? Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova wadlulisela u-Enoke ekufeni ngendlela engenabo ubuhlungu, emsindisa kunoma yimiphi imihelo yokufa. Kodwa ngaphambi kwalokho, u-Enoke “wafakazelwa ukuthi wayemjabulisile uNkulunkulu.” Kanjani? Ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, kungenzeka u-Enoke wathola umbono kuNkulunkulu, mhlawumbe owawumbonisa umhlaba usuyipharadesi. Enalolo phawu olucacile lokwamukelwa uJehova, u-Enoke wafa. Ebhala ngo-Enoke namanye amadoda nabesifazane abanokholo umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Bonke laba bafa benokholo.” (Hebheru 11:13) Ngemva kwalokho izitha zakhe kungenzeka zacinga isidumbu sakhe kodwa ‘asitholakalanga,’ mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wasifihla, enzela ukuthi zingasonakalisi noma zisisebenzisele ukukhuthaza inkolo yamanga.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Hebheru 11:1-16) Ukholo luwukulindelwa okuqinisekisiwe kwezinto ezithenjwayo, ukuboniswa okusobala kwezinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingabonakali. 2 Ngoba amadoda asendulo afakazelwa ngalokhu. 3 Ngokholo siyaqonda ukuthi izimiso zezinto zahlelwa ngezwi likaNkulunkulu, kangangokuthi lokho okubonwayo kuvelé ezintweni ezingabonakali. 4 Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo obaluleke kakhulu kunokaKhayini, okuwukholo afakazelwa ngalo ukuthi wayelungile, uNkulunkulu efakaza ngezipho zakhe; futhi ngalo usakhuluma, nakuba afa. 5 Ngokholo u-Enoke wadluliswa ukuze angakuboni ukufa, futhi akatholakalanga ndawo ngoba uNkulunkulu wayemdlulisile; ngoba ngaphambi kokudluliswa kwakhe wafakazelwa ukuthi wayemjabulisile uNkulunkulu. 6 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa ngoba lowo oza kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholelwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho. 7 Ngokholo uNowa, ngemva kokunikwa isixwayiso saphezulu sezinto ezingakabonwa, wabonisa ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe; futhi ngalolu kholo walahla izwe, waba yindlalifa yokulunga okuvumelana nokholo. 8 Ngokholo u-Abrahama, lapho ebizwa, walalela ngokuphuma aye endaweni ayemiselwe ukuyamukela njengefa; waphuma, nakuba ayengazi ukuthi uyaphi. 9 Ngokholo wagogobala ezweni lesithembiso njengokungathi kusezweni lesinye isizwe, futhi wahlala ematendeni no-Isaka noJakobe, izindlalifa kanye naye zesithembiso esifanayo. 10 Ngoba wayelindele umuzi onezisekelo zangempela, omakhi nomenzi wawo nguNkulunkulu. 11 Ngokholo noSara ngokwakhe wathola amandla okukhulelwa inzalo, ngisho nakuba ayesedlulile ebudaleni obumisiwe, njengoba ambheka njengothembekile lowo owayethembisile. 12 Ngakho futhi kumuntu oyedwa, owayesefana nosefile, kwazalwa abantwana abangangezinkanyezi zezulu ngobuningi nabangangezihlabathi ezingasogwini lolwandle, abangenakubalwa. 13 Bonke laba bafa benokholo, nakuba bengakutholanga ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso, kodwa bazibona zikude, bazamukela futhi bavuma obala ukuthi bangabafokazi nezakhamuzi zesikhashana ezweni. 14 Ngoba labo abasho izinto ezinjalo banikeza ubufakazi bokuthi bafuna ngobuqotho indawo yabo siqu. 15 Kodwa nokho, ukuba ngempela baqhubeka bekhumbula leyo ndawo ababephume kuyo, babeyoba nalo ithuba lokubuyela. 16 Kodwa manje bazama ukufinyelela indawo engcono, okungukuthi, eyasezulwini. Ngakho uNkulunkulu akanamahloni ngabo, ukubizwa ngokuthi unguNkulunkulu wabo, ngoba ubalungiselele umuzi.
SEPTHEMBA 23-29
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | HEBHERU 12-13
“Isiyalo Sibonisa Ukuthi UJehova Uyasithanda”
(Hebheru 12:5) kodwa nisikhohlwé ngokuphelele isikhuthazo esinibiza ngokuthi ningamadodana esithi: “Ndodana yami, ungasilulazi isiyalo esivela kuJehova, futhi ungapheli amandla lapho uqondiswa nguye;
Ungabheki “Izinto Ezingemuva”
18 Iseluleko esibuhlungu. Kuthiwani uma sifikelwa umuzwa wokucasuka lapho sikhumbula iseluleko esasithola? Lokhu ngeke kugcine ngokuba buhlungu kodwa futhi kungaba okulimazayo—kusenze ‘siphele amandla.’ (Heb. 12:5) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ‘siyasilulaza’ iseluleko ngokusenqaba noma ‘siphela amandla’ ngokusamukela bese siyaduba, umphumela uyefana—asisivumeli ngempela iseluleko ukuba sisizuzise futhi sisicwenge. Yeka ukuthi kungcono kanjani ukulalela amazwi kaSolomoni: “Bamba isiyalo; ungasidedeli. Silonde, ngoba singukuphila kwakho.” (IzAga 4:13) Njengomshayeli olalela izimpawu zomgwaqo, masamukele isiyalo, sisisebenzise futhi siqhubekele phambili.—IzAga 4:26, 27; funda amaHebheru 12:12, 13.
(Hebheru 12:6, 7) ngoba uJehova uyamyala lowo amthandayo; eqinisweni, ujezisa wonke umuntu amamukela njengendodana.” 7 Nikhuthazela ngenjongo yokuba niyalwe. UNkulunkulu usebenzelana nani ngokungathi ningamadodana. Ngoba iyiphi indodana engayalwa uyise?
“Noma Nini Lapho Nithandaza, Anothi, ‘Baba’”
Ubaba onothando uyaziyala izingane zakhe, ngoba unendaba nokuthi ziyokhula zibe abantu abanjani. (Efesu 6:4) Ubaba onjalo angaqina, kodwa akalokothi abe nokhahlo lapho eyala izingane zakhe. Ngokufanayo, uBaba wethu osezulwini ngezinye izikhathi angakuthola kufaneleka ukuba asiyale. Kodwa isiyalo sikaNkulunkulu sihlale sinikezwa ngothando futhi asinalo unya. NjengoYise, uJesu wayengenalo ukhahlo, ngisho nalapho abafundi bengasheshi ukusabela esiqondisweni.—Mathewu 20:20-28; Luka 22:24-30.
(Hebheru 12:11) Yiqiniso, asikho isiyalo esibonakala okwamanje sengathi siyajabulisa, kodwa sibanga usizi; nokho kamuva labo abaqeqeshwe yiso sibathelela isithelo sokuthula, okuwukuthi, ukulunga.
“Lalelani Isiyalo Nihlakaniphe”
18 Nakuba isiyalo singase sibe buhlungu, kunokuthile okubuhlungu nakakhulu—ukulimala okuba umphumela wokwenqaba isiyalo. (Heb. 12:11) Cabanga ngezibonelo ezimbili—uKhayini neNkosi uZedekiya. Lapho uKhayini eba nenzondo ngo-Abela, uNkulunkulu wathi kuKhayini: “Kungani uvutha intukuthelo, futhi kungani ubuso bakho bunyukubele? Uma uphendukela ekwenzeni okuhle, ngeke yini kube khona ukuphakanyiswa? Kodwa uma ungaphendukeli ekwenzeni okuhle, kukhona isono esicathama emnyango, futhi sinxanela wena; wena-ke, ingabe uzosihlula?” (Gen. 4:6, 7) UKhayini akalalelanga. Isono samqoba. Lokho kwamlethela ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka ngokungenasidingo. (Gen. 4:11, 12) Ubuhlungu besiyalo sikaJehova babungeke bube buhlungu kakhulu ukudlula umphumela awuthola.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Hebheru 12:1) Ngakho-ke, ngenxa yokuthi sinefu elikhulu kangaka lofakazi elisihaqileyo, nathi masilahle konke okusindayo nesono esisithandela kalula, futhi masiwugijime ngokukhuthazela lo mncintiswano obekwe phambi kwethu,
Wugijime Ngokukhuthazela Umncintiswano
11 ‘Ifu elikhulu lofakazi’ akhuluma ngalo lalingezona nje izibukeli, ezazize ngenjongo yokuzobuka umncintiswano kuphela noma yokuzobona umdlali oyintandokazi noma iqembu labadlali ezilithandayo linqoba. Kunalokho, lingabantu ababekade bephakathi emncintiswaneni, onjengowokugijima, futhi abasebewugijime baze bawuqeda. Nakuba manje sebafa, babengabhekwa njengabagijimi abangomakadebona abangakhuthaza abagijimi abasha emncintiswaneni. Cabanga indlela umuntu ongenele umncintiswano angase azizwe ngayo uma azi ukuthi uzungezwe noma ubukelwe abanye abagijimi abamnkantsh’ ubomvu abanqoba kaningi. Ngeke yini lokho kumshukumisele ukuba alikhiphe lonke ijubane lakhe, aze azephule? Lab’ ofakazi basendulo bangafakaza ukuthi lo mncintiswano ongokomfanekiso unganqotshwa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukhandla kangakanani. Ngakho, ukuhlale ekhumbula isibonelo ‘sefu lofakazi,’ kwakungawaqinisa idolo amaKristu angamaHebheru ekhulu lokuqala futhi ‘awugijime ngokukhuthazela umncintiswano’—njengoba singenza nathi namuhla.
(Hebheru 13:9) Ningathatheki yizimfundiso ezihlukahlukene nezingaziwa; ngoba kuhle ngenhliziyo ukuba iqiniswe ngomusa ongafanelwe, hhayi ngokudliwayo, abangazuzanga ngakho labo abazigcina bematasa ngako.
Nikela Ngemihlatshelo Ethokozisa UJehova
10 Ngakho amaHeberu ayedinga ukugwema ‘ukudukiswa yizifundiso eziyizinhlobonhlobo nezingaziwayo’ zabaguqulela abanye ebuJudeni. (Galathiya 5:1-6) Akuzona izimfundiso ezinjalo kodwa ‘umusa [kaNkunkulu] oqinisa inhliziyo’ ukuze ihlale iqinile eqinisweni. Ngokusobala abanye babephikisana ngokudla nangemihlatshelo, ngoba uPawulu wathi inhliziyo ayiqiniswa “ngokudla, abangasizakalanga ngakho abahamba ngakho.” Izinzuzo ezingokomoya ziba umphumela wokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokwazisa isihlengo, hhayi ukukhathazeka okungafanele ngokudla ukudla okuthile nangokugcina izinsuku ezithile. (Roma 14:5-9) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umhlatshelo kaKristu wayenza yangasebenza imihlatshelo yobuLevi.—Heberu 9:9-14; 10:5-10.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Hebheru 12:1-17) Ngakho-ke, ngenxa yokuthi sinefu elikhulu kangaka lofakazi elisihaqileyo, nathi masilahle konke okusindayo nesono esisithandela kalula, futhi masiwugijime ngokukhuthazela lo mncintiswano obekwe phambi kwethu, 2 njengoba sigxilise amehlo ethu kuMmeli Oyinhloko noMphelelisi wokholo lwethu, uJesu. Ngenxa yenjabulo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe wakhuthazelela isigxobo sokuhlushwa, edelela ihlazo, futhi useye wahlala phansi ngakwesokunene sesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu. 3 Ngempela, cabangisisani ngalowo okhuthazelele inkulumo enjalo yezoni ephikisayo emelene nezinzuzo zazo siqu, ukuze ningakhathali niphele amandla emiphefumulweni yenu. 4 Ekulweni kwenu naleso sono anikazabalazi kuze kube seqophelweni legazi, 5 kodwa nisikhohlwé ngokuphelele isikhuthazo esinibiza ngokuthi ningamadodana esithi: “Ndodana yami, ungasilulazi isiyalo esivela kuJehova, futhi ungapheli amandla lapho uqondiswa nguye; 6 ngoba uJehova uyamyala lowo amthandayo; eqinisweni, ujezisa wonke umuntu amamukela njengendodana.” 7 Nikhuthazela ngenjongo yokuba niyalwe. UNkulunkulu usebenzelana nani ngokungathi ningamadodana. Ngoba iyiphi indodana engayalwa uyise? 8 Kodwa uma ningasitholi isiyalo bonke abaye bahlanganyela kuso, ngempela niyimilanjwana, aniwona amadodana. 9 Ngaphezu kwalokho, sasinobaba benyama njengathi ababesiyala, futhi sasibahlonipha. Asiyikuzithoba yini nakakhulu kuBaba wokuphila kwethu okungokomoya siphile? 10 Ngoba bona basiyala izinsuku ezimbalwa ngokwalokho okwakubonakala kukuhle kubo, kodwa yena usiyala ukuze kuzuze thina, sihlanganyele ubungcwele bakhe. 11 Yiqiniso, asikho isiyalo esibonakala okwamanje sengathi siyajabulisa, kodwa sibanga usizi; nokho kamuva labo abaqeqeshwe yiso sibathelela isithelo sokuthula, okuwukuthi, ukulunga. 12 Ngakho qondisani izandla eziyethile namadolo abuthakathaka, 13 futhi niqhubeke nenzela izinyawo zenu izindlela eziqondileyo, ukuze lokho okulunyonga kungaphinyazeki, kodwa kunalokho kuphulukiswe. 14 Phishekelani ukuthula nabantu bonke, nokungcweliswa okungekho muntu oyobona iNkosi ngaphandle kwako, 15 niqaphela ngokucophelela ukuba kungabikho muntu ophucwa umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu; ukuba kungabikho mpande enobuthi evelayo futhi ibange inkathazo nokuba abaningi bangangcoliswa yiyo; 16 ukuba kungabikho sifebe nanoma ubani ongazazisi izinto ezingcwele, njengo-Esawu owaphana ngamalungelo akhe njengezibulo ewenana ngesidlo esisodwa. 17 Ngoba niyazi ukuthi kamuva futhi lapho efuna ukuzuza isibusiso njengefa waliwa, ngoba, nakuba akufuna ngobuqotho ukushintsha umqondo ngezinyembezi, akayitholanga indawo yako.
it-1-E 629
Isiyalo
Ushushiso uJehova angase avumele izinceku zakhe zibhekane nalo lungaba isiyalo, noma luziqeqeshe ukuze zithele izithelo ezinhle zokulunga ezizozijabulela ngokuthula ngemva kovivinyo. (Heb 12:4-11) Ngisho neNdodana kaNkulunkulu yaqeqeshwa ubunzima uYise avumela ukuba ibhekane nabo ukuze ibe umpristi ophakeme onomusa nonozwela.—Heb 4:15.
SEPTHEMBA 30–OKTHOBA 6
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | JAKOBE 1-2
“Into Eholela Esonweni Nasekufeni”
(Jakobe 1:14) Kodwa yilowo nalowo ulingwa ngokuhehwa nangokuhungwa yisifiso sakhe siqu.
Isilingo
Isilingo siwukufisa into ethile, ikakhulu into engafanele. Ake sithi uyathenga bese ubona into oyithandayo. Bese ufikelwa umcabango wokuthi ungayeba kalula ungabanjwa. Kodwa unembeza wakho uyakukhuza, uwuphebeze lowo mcabango uqhubeke nokwenzayo. Usuke usinqobile isilingo.
OKUSHIWO IBHAYIBHELI
Ukufikelwa isilingo akusho ukuthi ungumuntu omubi. IBhayibheli liyavuma ukuthi sonke siyalingwa. (1 Korinte 10:13) Okubalulekile ukuthi senzenjani lapho silingwa. Abanye bayaqhubeka becabanga ngaleso sifiso esibi, bese ekugcineni siyabanqoba. Abanye basheshe basiphebeze leso sifiso bebona ukuthi asilungile.
“Yilowo nalowo ulingwa ngokuhehwa nangokuhungwa yisifiso sakhe siqu.”—Jakobe 1:14.
(Jakobe 1:15) Khona-ke isifiso, lapho sesakhekile, sizala isono; isono, lapho sesifeziwe, siveza ukufa.
Isilingo
IBhayibheli liyasitshela ukuthi yini eyenza umuntu agcine esenze into engafanele. UJakobe 1:15 uthi: “Isifiso [esingafanele] lapho sesakhekile, sizala isono.” Ngamanye amazwi, uma siqhubeka sicabanga ngesifiso ngeke sikwazi ukugwema ukwenza ngokuvumelana naso njengoba nje nowesifazane okhulelwe engeke akwazi ukuvimba ingane uma sekumelwe iphume. Kodwa singakwazi ukugwema ukuba yizigqila zezifiso ezimbi. Singakwazi nokuzinqoba.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Jakobe 1:17) Zonke izipho ezinhle nazo zonke izipho eziphelele zivela phezulu, ngoba zehla zivela kuYise wezinkanyiso zasezulwini, futhi kuye akukho ukushintshashintsha kokuphenduka kwethunzi.
it-2-E 253-254
Ukukhanya
UJehova ‘unguYise wezinkanyiso zasezulwini.’ (Jak 1:17) Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi ‘unguMniki welanga ukuba likhanyise emini, nowezimiso zenyanga nezinkanyezi ukuba zikhanyise ebusuku’ (Jer 31:35) kodwa uphinde abe uMthombo wokukhanyiselwa esikuthola eBhayibhelini. (2Ko 4:6) Imithetho yakhe, izinqumo zakhe zokwahlulelwa kanye neZwi lakhe, kuwukukhanya kulabo abavuma ukuqondiswa yikho. (IHu 43:3; 119:105; IzA 6:23; Isaya 51:4) Umhubi wathi: “Ngokukhanya okuvela kuwe siyakwazi ukubona ukukhanya.” (IHu 36:9; qhathanisa neHu 27:1; 43:3.) Njengoba ukukhanya kwelanga kuqhubeka kukhanya nakakhulu kusukela liphuma kuze “kube semini enkulu,” kanjalo nezindlela zabalungile zikhanyiswa ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu okuqhubeka kukhanya nakakhulu. (IzA 4:18) Ukulandela indlela uJehova ayibekile kusho ukuhamba ekukhanyeni kwakhe. (Isaya 2:3-5) Ngakolunye uhlangothi uma umuntu ebuka izinto ngendlela engafanele noma ngokuba nezifiso ezimbi, lowo muntu usebumnyameni obukhulu. Njengoba uJesu abonisa: “Uma iso lakho lilibi, umzimba wakho wonke uzoba mnyama. Uma eqinisweni ukukhanya okukuwe kungubumnyama, yeka ukuthi lobo bumnyama bukhulu kangakanani!”—Math 6:23; qhathanisa noDut 15:9; 28:54-57; IzA 28:22; 2Pet 2:14.
(Jakobe 2:8) Uma-ke, nikwenza umkhuba ukufeza umthetho wobukhosi ngokuvumelana nalo mbhalo: “Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena,” nenza kahle impela.
it-2-E 222 ¶4
Umthetho
“Umthetho Wobukhosi.” “Umthetho wobukhosi” kufanele ube ovelele nobaluleke kunayo yonke eminye imithetho ebekwe inkosi emayelana nendlela abantu okufanele baphathane ngayo. (Jak 2:8) Isivumelwano soMthetho sasisekelwe othandweni; futhi umthetho wobukhosi othi “kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena” wawungumyalo wesibili emiyalweni okwakusekelwe kuyo wonke uMthetho, nabaProfethi. (Math 22:37-40) Nakuba amaKristu engekho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kodwa esesivumelwaneni esisha, kufanele azithobe ngaphansi komthetho weNkosi uJehova neNdodana yakhe, iNkosi uJesu Kristu.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Jakobe 2:10-26) Ngoba noma ubani ogcina wonke uMthetho kodwa aphambuke kowodwa, ungumaphuli wayo yonke. 11 Ngoba lowo owathi: “Ungaphingi,” wathi futhi: “Ungabulali.” Manje, uma ungaphingi kodwa ubulala, usuyiseqamthetho. 12 Qhubekani nikhuluma ngaleyo ndlela futhi qhubekani nenza ngendlela abenza ngayo labo abazokwahlulelwa ngomthetho wabantu abakhululekile. 13 Ngoba lowo ongasibonisi isihe uyothola isahlulelo ngaphandle kwesihe. Isihe sethaba ngokunqoba phezu kwesahlulelo. 14 Kunanzuzoni, bazalwane, uma umuntu ethi unokholo kodwa engenayo imisebenzi? Lolo kholo alunakumsindisa, akunjalo? 15 Uma umzalwane noma udade ehamba-ze futhi entula ukudla okwanele lolo suku, 16 nokho othile kini athi kuye: “Hamba ngokuthula, ufudumale futhi usuthe,” kodwa ningamniki izidingo zomzimba wakhe, kunanzuzoni? 17 Kanjalo, futhi, nokholo uma lungenayo imisebenzi, lufile. 18 Noma kunjalo, omunye uzothi: “Wena unokholo, mina nginemisebenzi. Ngibonise ukholo lwakho ngaphandle kwemisebenzi, mina ngizokubonisa ukholo lwami ngemisebenzi yami.” 19 Uyakholwa ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu oyedwa, akunjalo? Wenza kahle impela. Nokho namademoni ayakholwa aqhaqhazele. 20 Kodwa ingabe uyathanda ukwazi, wena muntu ongenangqondo, ukuthi ukholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi alusebenzi? 21 U-Abrahama ubaba akuzange yini kuthiwe ulungile ngenxa yemisebenzi ngemva kokuba enikele ngo-Isaka indodana yakhe e-altare? 22 Uyabona ukuthi ukholo lwakhe lwasebenza kanye nemisebenzi yakhe futhi ukholo lwakhe lwapheleliswa ngemisebenzi yakhe, 23 futhi wagcwaliseka umbhalo othi: “U-Abrahama waba nokholo kuJehova, kwabalelwa kuye njengokulunga,” futhi wabizwa ngokuthi “umngane kaJehova.” 24 Niyabona ukuthi umuntu kuzothiwa ulungile ngemisebenzi, hhayi ngokholo lodwa. 25 Ngendlela efanayo uRahabi isifebe, akushiwongo yini ukuthi ulungile ngemisebenzi, ngemva kokuba amukele izithunywa ngokufudumele futhi wazikhipha ngenye indlela? 26 Impela, njengoba umzimba ngaphandle komoya ufile, kanjalo nokholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi lufile.