1-3. Kuyini okwenza ukufa kukaJesu kungafanani lokwaloba ngubani owake waphila?

NGELINYE ilanga eminyakeni engu-2 000 eyadlulayo, enye indoda engelacala yathonisiswa yagwetshelwa amacala engawenzanga, yahlukuluzwa yaze yafa. Kwakungayisikho kokuqala ukuthi umuntu ahlulelwe ngendlela ebuhlungu kangako futhi okudanisayo yikuthi kwakungasoze kube ngokokucina. Kodwa ukufa lokho kwakungafanani lokwaloba ngubani.

² Okwenzakala ngamahora okucina okuhlupheka kwendoda leyo kwatshengisa ukuqakatheka kwesenzakalo leso. Lanxa kwakusemini, kwaba mnyama indawo yonke. ULukha wathi: “Ilanga lalingasakhanyisi.” (ULukha 23:44, 45) Isizakufa, indoda le yakhuluma amazwi angasoze akhohlakale athi: “Sengikwenzile konke.” Ukufa kwendoda leyo kwakuqakathekile kakhulu. Kwakuyisenzo esitshengisa uthando esingakaze senziwe yiloba ngubani.—UJohane 15:13; 19:30.

³ Indoda leyo kwakunguJesu Khristu. Abantu bonke bayalazi ilanga lelo elidanisayo elamhlaka 14 ngenyanga kaNisani 33 C.E., lapho ahlupheka khona futhi wafa. Kodwa kuleqiniso eliqakathekileyo abantu abanengi abangalinanzeleliyo. Lanxa uJesu wahlupheka kakhulu, kulomunye owahlupheka ukwedlula yena ngoba lowomuntu wenza umhlatshelo omkhulu kakhulu ngalelolanga. Wenza isenzo esitshengisa uthando olukhulu kakhulu. Yisenzo bani leso? Impendulo yombuzo lo yethula kuhle indaba eqakatheke ukwedlula zonke: Uthando lukaJehova.

Isenzo Esikhulu Kakhulu Esitshengisa Uthando

4. Umkhokheli webutho lamaRoma wakubona njani ukuthi uJesu wayengasomuntu nje ofanana lathi njalo waphetha ngokuthini?

⁴ Umkhokheli webutho lamaRoma owayebona ngokubulawa kukaJesu wamangaliswa yibunyama obabakhona kanye lokuzamazama komhlaba okwenzakala uJesu esezakufa. Wathi: “UbeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu sibili.” (UMathewu 27:54) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJesu wayengasomuntu nje ofanana lathi. Isotsha lelo lalincedise ukubulala iNdodana kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke! Kodwa iNdodana le yayiligugu kangakanani kuYise?

5. INdodana yahlala loYise okweminyaka emingaki ingakabuyi emhlabeni?

⁵ IBhayibhili lithi uJesu ‘ulizibulo kukho konke okwadalwayo.’ (KwabaseKholose 1:15) INdodana kaJehova yayikhona kungakadalwa umhlaba lezinye izinto ezikhona. Kodwa-ke yahlala loYise okwesikhathi esinganani? Abanye abezesayensi bafanisela ukuthi konke okwadalwayo kungabe sekuleminyaka engamabhiliyoni angu-13 ubudala. Akucabange ukuthi yisikhathi eside kanganani leso. Lanxa ukufanisela lokhu kuqondile, isikhathi sonke leso kasingeke silingane leminyaka eyaphilwa yiNdodana kaJehova! Yayisenzani okweminyaka yonke leyo?

6. (a) INdodana kaJehova yayisenzani ingakabuyi emhlabeni? (b) UJehova leNdodana yakhe bathandana okunganani?

⁶ INdodana yayithokoza ngokuba ‘yisisebenzi esiyingcitshi’ eceleni kukaYise. (IZaga 8:30) IBhayibhili lithi: “Zonke izinto zaba khona ngaye futhi akukho ngitsho lokukodwa okukhona okungazange kwenziwe ngaye.” (UJohane 1:3) Ngakho uJehova leNdodana yakhe basebenza ndawonye bedala zonke ezinye izinto. Baba lesikhathi esihle futhi esithokozisayo bebonke! Kujayelekile ukuthi umzali lomntanakhe bathandane ngendlela emangalisayo. Lokhu kwenziwa yikuthi uthando ‘lumanyanisa ngokupheleleyo.’ (KwabaseKholose 3:14) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJehova loJesu bayathandana kakhulu lokuthi bamanyene ngoba balesikhathi eside bendawonye.

7. UJehova wathini ngesikhathi uJesu ebhabhathizwa?

⁷ Ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova wathuma iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni wasesenza isimanga sokuthi izalwe ibe ngumuntu wenyama. Ukwenza njalo kwakusitsho ukuthi kuzaba lesikhathi lapho uJehova leNdodana yakhe ababengasoze babe bonke ezulwini. Wayeyibona ekhonale ezulwini iNdodana yakhe ikhula yaze yaba yindoda epheleleyo. UJesu wathi eseleminyaka engaba ngu-30 wabhabhathizwa. Akulasidingo sokuthi size sicabangele ukuthi uJehova wayesizwa njani ngeNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ngoba wathi: “Le yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo futhi engiyamukelayo.” (UMathewu 3:17) Kumele ukuthi uJehova wathokoza kakhulu ebona uJesu ehlala ethembekile njalo esenza konke okwakuphrofethiwe ngaye!—UJohane 5:36; 17:4.

8, 9. (a) Kuyini okwenzakala kuJesu ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E., futhi uJehova wezwa njani ngakho? (b) Kungani uJehova wavuma ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ihlupheke futhi ife?

⁸ Kodwa uJehova wezwa njani ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E.? Wezwa njani lapho uJesu ethengiswa futhi ebotshwa lixuku labantu ebusuku? Wezwa njani lapho uJesu etshiywa ngabangane bakhe futhi ethonisiswa ngokungekho emthethweni? Wezwa njani lapho uJesu ehlekwa, ekhafulelwa njalo etshaywa ngenqindi? Wezwa njani lapho uJesu ebhaxabulwa emhlane? UJehova wezwa njani ngesikhathi iNdodana yakhe ibethelwa izandla lenyawo esigodweni njalo itshiywa ilenga ngapha abantu beyithethisa? Wezwa njani lapho iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ikhala kuye iphakathi kobuhlungu obukhulu? Wezwa njani lapho eyibona iphela futhi kungokokuqala ukuthi ingabi khona selokhu kwadalwa izinto zonke?—UMathewu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:38-44, 46; UJohane 19:1.

⁹ Asingeke siwathole amazwi okuchaza ubuhlungu uJehova abuzwayo ngesikhathi ebona iNdodana yakhe isifa. Esingenelisa ukukuchaza yisizatho esenza uJehova wavuma ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ife. Kungani vele wazimisela ukuthi azwe ubuhlungu obungako? UJehova uyasitshela impendulo yombuzo lo kuJohane 3:16 othi: “UNkulunkulu wawuthanda kakhulu umhlaba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu otshengisa ukuthi uyakholwa kuyo angabhujiswa kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.” UJehova wathuma iNdodana yakhe ngoba ulothando. Khonalokho akwenzayo kwaba yisipho esikhulu esitshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda.

Ukuchasiswa Kothando LukaNkulunkulu

10. Abantu balasiphi isidingo futhi kwenzakaleni kulokho okutshiwo libala elithi “uthando”?

¹⁰ Litshoni ibala leli elithi “uthando”? Abantu abanengi bathi uthando yinto esingeke siphile singelayo. Kusukela bezalwa baze bayekufa, abantu bayakufuna ukuthandwa futhi abanye baze bafe lokufa kubangelwa yikungathandwa. Kodwa akulula ukuluchasisa uthando. Abantu balengcazelo ezinengi zothando ngoba kulamabhuku lezingoma kanye lenkondlo ezinengi ezikhuluma ngothando. Kodwa akula okuluchasisa kuhle uthando. Ibala leli lisetshenziswa kakhulu okokuthi sekunzima ukutsho ukuthi litshoni sibisibili.

11, 12. (a) Kungaphi lapho esingafunda khona okunengi ngothando futhi kungani? (b) Yiwaphi amabala amane asinceda sizwisise ukuthi uthando kuyini njalo phakathi kwawo yiliphi elisetshenziswa kakhulu eMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (c) Kuyini i-a·gaʹpe?

¹¹ IBhayibhili lifundisa ngokucacileyo ukuthi uthando luyini. Isichazamazwi okuthiwa yi-Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words sithi: “Umuntu olothando ukhanya ngezenzo.” Okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lezenzo zikaJehova kusitshengisa ukuthi uyazithanda kakhulu izidalwa zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, khona nje ukuthi uJehova wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe kutshengisa ukuthi ulothando olumangalisayo. Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo, sizabona ezinye izibonelo zendlela uJehova atshengisa ngazo uthando. Ukuhlolisisa amabala amane esiGrikhi ayesetshenziswa kudala kwenza silizwisise ngcono ibala elithi “uthando.”a Elinye lamabala la elandise ukusetshenziswa eMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi ngelithi a·gaʹpe. Esinye isichazamazwi seBhayibhili sithi ibala leli “liluchasisa kuhle kakhulu uthando.” Kungani?

¹² I-a·gaʹpe luthando oluqondiswa yizimiso. Alusomuzwa nje obakhona ngenxa yento eyenziwe ngomunye umuntu kumbe ayikhulumileyo. Uthando lolo lubanzi, lwenza umuntu abe lendaba labanye futhi abenzele okuhle elenhloso ezinhle. Okunye okuhle yikuthi i-a·gaʹpe kayizifuneli okwayo. Ngokwesibonelo, khangela futhi kuJohane 3:16. Kutshiwo bani nxa kuthiwa uNkulunkulu wawuthanda kakhulu “umhlaba” waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa? Kutshiwo bonke abantu abalesono abangancedwa ngumhlatshelo kaJesu. Lanxa uJehova elomusa kubo bonke abantu, abathanda kakhulu yilabo abazama ngamandla wonke ukuphila ngendlela emthokozisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Abrahama owayethembekile waba ngumngane kaJehova. (UJakhobe 2:23) UJehova ufuna labo abangaphili ngezimiso zakhe baphenduke njalo batshintshe izindlela zabo. (2 UPhetro 3:9) Okuhle yikuthi abanengi bayakwenza lokhu. Abanjalo uyabemukela ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe.

13, 14. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi i-a·gaʹpe itsho uthando olusuka enhliziyweni?

¹³ Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi i-a·gaʹpe itsho uthando olungelandaba labantu futhi olungaqakathekanga. Iqiniso yikuthi i-a·gaʹpe itsho ukuthanda omunye umuntu ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngokwesibonelo, uJohane wasebenzisa ibala elithi a·gaʹpe ngesikhathi ebhala ukuthi, “uBaba uyayithanda iNdodana.” (UJohane 3:35) KuJohane 5:20 wasebenzisa ibala elithi phi·leʹo ngesikhathi ebhala amazwi akhulunywa nguJesu athi, “uBaba uyayithanda kakhulu iNdodana.” Uthando lukaJehova lugoqela ukuba lendaba labanye. Kodwa uthando lwakhe aluqondiswa yimizwa nje kuphela. Luhlala luqondiswa yizimiso kanye lokwahlulela kwakhe okutshengisa inhlakanipho yakhe.

¹⁴ Njengoba sibonile, zonke impawu zikaJehova zenza sifise ukusondela kuye sibe ngabangane bakhe. Kodwa uthando lona lukhanga ukwedlula zonke impawu zakhe. Kuyathokozisa ukuthi uthando luqakatheke ukwedlula zonke izimpawu. Kuyini okwenza sitsho njalo?

“UNkulunkulu Uluthando”

15. IBhayibhili lithini ngophawu lukaJehova lothando njalo kungani lokhu kumangalisa? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁵ IBhayibhili lilokunye elikutshoyo ngothando elingakutshoyo ngezinye izimpawu zobuntu bukaJehova. IMibhalo kayitsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungamandla kumbe ukuthi uyikwahlulela okuhle loba ukuthi uyinhlakanipho. Ulazo izimpawu lezo, ungumthombo wazo njalo ngeke waqathaniswa laloba ngubani ekutshengiseni impawu lezo. Kodwa nxa iBhayibhili selikhuluma ngophawu lwakhe lwesine lithi: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.”b (1 UJohane 4:8) Kutshoni lokhu?

16-18. (a) Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi “uNkulunkulu uluthando”? (b) Kuzo zonke izidalwa ezisemhlabeni, kungani kuqondile ukuthi kube ngumuntu omela uphawu lukaJehova lothando?

¹⁶ Umutsho othi “uNkulunkulu uluthando” awutsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulingana lothando. Kasingeke siwuphendulele umutsho lo sithi “uthando nguNkulunkulu” ngoba uJehova ngeke alinganiswe lophawu lolo. Ulothando futhi ulemizwa etshiyeneyo kanye lempawu ezitshiyeneyo. Lanxa kunjalo, uthando lujulile kuJehova. Elinye ibhuku lithi ngokuphathelane levesi le: “Uthando yibunguye bukaNkulunkulu kumbe imvelo yakhe.” Singakucabanga ngalindlela: Amandla kaJehova amenza enelise ukwenza okuthile. Ukwahlulela kwakhe okuhle kanye lenhlakanipho yakhe kuqondisa indlela enza ngayo. Kodwa uthando lukaJehova yilo olumfuqa ukuthi enze okuthile. Okunye yikuthi uthando lwakhe luhlezi lukhona lapho esebenzisa ezinye izimpawu zakhe.

¹⁷ UJehova uyisibonelo esihle sibili endabeni yokutshengisa uthando. Ngakho nxa sifuna ukufunda ngothando olulezimiso, kumele sifunde ngoJehova. Abantu labo balalo uphawu lolu oluhle. Kodwa kungani belalo? Ngesikhathi edala izinto, uJehova watshela iNdodana yakhe wathi: “Asenze umuntu ngomfanekiso wethu, afanane lathi.” (UGenesisi 1:26) Kuzo zonke izidalwa ezisemhlabeni, umuntu nguye kuphela owenelisa ukuthanda futhi nxa ekwenza lokhu uyabe elingisela uYise osezulwini. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wasebenzisa izidalwa ezitshiyeneyo ukuthi zimele izimpawu zakhe eziqakatheke ukwedlula zonke. Lanxa kunjalo, uJehova wakhetha ukuthi umuntu kube nguye omela uthando, uphawu lwakhe oluqakatheke kakhulu.—UHezekheli 1:10.

¹⁸ Nxa singathanda ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi kasizifuneli okwethu siyabe sitshengisa uphawu lukaJehova oluqakatheke ukwedlula zonke. Kunjengoba nje umphostoli uJohane watsho ukuthi: “Siyathanda ngoba yena wasithanda kuqala.” (1 UJohane 4:19) Kodwa uJehova wasithanda kuqala ngaziphi izindlela?

UJehova Nguye Owaqala Ukuthatha Inyathelo

19. Kungani sisithi uthando yilo olwenza uJehova wadala zonke izinto?

¹⁹ Uthando kalulutsha. Phela yilo olwenza uJehova wadala izinto. Ayisikho ukuthi wayelesizungu edinga okungamlibazisa. Kanti njalo akulalutho uJehova aluswelayo umuntu angamnika lona. Kodwa uthando lwakhe olukhanya ngezenzo yilo olwamenza wadala izingilosi labantu ukuze athokoze ndawonye labo. Waqala ngokudala iNdodana yakhe eyiyo yodwa yasisiba ‘yisiqalo sezinto zonke ezadalwa nguNkulunkulu.’ (ISambulo 3:14) Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wasebenzisa iNdodana yakhe ukuthi adale zonke ezinye izinto, eqalisa ngezingilosi. (UJobe 38:4, 7; KwabaseKholose 1:16) Izidalwa lezi ezilamandla zikhaliphile, zilenkululeko njalo zilemizwa. Ziyenelisa lokuthandana kanye lokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 3:17) Ngakho izingilosi ziyenelisa ukuthanda ngenxa yokuthi zathandwa kuqala.

20, 21. U-Adamu lo-Eva babelabuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda, kodwa bona benzani ngakho?

²⁰ Kwaba yinto efananayo lasebantwini. UJehova wayebathanda kakhulu abantu kusukela ekuqaliseni. Ngokwesibonelo loba ngaphi u-Adamu lo-Eva ababekhangela khona ensimini ye-Edeni ababefakwe kuyo, babezibonela ngawabo ukuthi uYise uyabathanda. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenza insimu e-Edeni ngasempumalanga, wasembeka khonapho umuntu ayembumbile.” (UGenesisi 2:8) Wake waba sesivandeni esihle kumbe ephakhi enhle kakhulu yini? Kuyini okwakuthokozisa kakhulu? Yikubona ilanga lithutsha emahlamvini ezihlahla eziminyeneyo yini? Yibuhle bamaluba alemibala etshiyeneyo yini? Ngumsindo wezinyoni ezazihlabelela kamnandi kumbe ngumsindo wokuhuba kwamanzi esifudlana? Ukunukelela kwamaluba ke? Akulaphakhi ekhona lamuhla esingayifanisa lensimu yase-Edeni.

²¹ Phela insimu leyo yayihlanyelwe nguJehova ngokwakhe! Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi yayinhle okwamagama. Kwakulezihlahla zonke ezinhle lezithela izithelo ezimnandi kakhulu. Isivande leso sasithola amanzi eneleyo, sisikhulu njalo silemihlobohlobo yezinyamazana ezinhle. U-Adamu lo-Eva babelakho konke okwakungenza ukuphila kwabo kuthokozise njalo kube ngokupheleleyo, okugoqela lomsebenzi osuthisayo kanye lobudlelwano obuhle. UJehova wabathanda kuqala, ngakho babe lezizatho eziqinileyo zokutshengisa ukuthi bayamthanda. Kodwa behluleka ukwenza njalo. Kulokuthi bamlalele ngoba bemthanda uYise wasezulwini, bahlamuka kuye ngenxa yobugovu.—UGenesisi isahluko 2.

22. UJehova wenzani ngokuhlamuka kuka-Adamu lo-Eva okwatshengisa ukuthi uthando lwakhe luqotho?

²² Kumele ukuthi lokho kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uJehova. Kodwa ukuhlamuka lokho kwabangela ukuthi uJehova angasabathandi yini abantu? Hatshi ngoba “uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube nini lanini.” (IHubo 136:1) Ngakho ngenxa yokuthi uyabathanda abantu, wahle walungiselela ukukhulula loba yibaphi abantwana baka-Adamu lo-Eva ababelenhliziyo eziqotho. Njengoba sibonile, amalungiselelo la ayegoqela umhlatshelo weNdodana yakhe owenza uJehova walahlekelwa kakhulu.—1 UJohane 4:10.

23. Yisiphi esinye isizatho esenza uJehova abe ‘nguNkulunkulu othokozayo’ njalo yiwuphi umbuzo oqakathekileyo ozaphendulwa esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²³ Bekulokhu kunguJehova oqalisayo ukutshengisa uthando ebantwini kusukela ekuqaliseni. “Yena wasithanda kuqala” ngezindlela ezinengi. Uthando lukhuthaza ukumanyana lentokozo, yikho kungamangalisi ukuthi uJehova uchazwa ‘njengoNkulunkulu othokozayo.’ (1 KuThimothi 1:11) Kodwa lokhu kwenza kube lombuzo oqakathekileyo othi, ‘UJehova uthanda ngamunye wethu yini?’ Umbuzo lo sizaxoxa ngawo esahlukweni esilandelayo.

1. Yiwuphi umbuzo abantu abanengi abazibuza wona okugoqela lamaKhristu eqiniso?

UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU uyakuthanda yini? Abanye bayavuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthanda wonke umuntu nje, njengoba kutshiwo kuJohane 3:16. Kodwa bayazibuza ukuthi: ‘Kambe mina uNkulunkulu uyangithanda sibili?’ AmaKhristu eqiniso lawo angazibuza umbuzo onjalo. Enye indoda yakhuluma amazwi la ngesikhathi idanile: “Ngikuthola kunzima ukukholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulendaba lami.” Lawe uyake uthandabuze ngendlela enjalo yini?

2, 3. Ngubani ofuna sicabange ukuthi uJehova kasithandi futhi kasiqakathekisi, njalo singalwisana njani lomcabango onjalo?

² USathane ufuna sicabange ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu kasithandi futhi kasiqakathekisi. Wandise ukukhohlisa abantu ngokubenza bazigqaje ngobuhle babo. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 11:3) Uyakuthanda futhi ukwenza ababuthakathaka bazizwe bengasibantu balutho. (UJohane 7:47-49; 8:13, 44) Lokhu ukwenza ikakhulu ‘kulezinsuku zokucina.’ Abantu abanengi bakhulele ezimulini ‘ezingelathando.’ Ikanti abanye bandise ukuhlutshwa ngabantu abalolaka, abangelandaba labanye futhi abalenkani. (2 KuThimothi 3:1-5) Ngenxa yokuhlala isikhathi eside behlutshwa, bebandlululwa, loba bezondwa, abantu abanjalo bangabe sebekwamukele ukuthi akulamuntu ongabathanda loba ukuthi abalancedo.

³ Ungalilahli ithemba nxa kuyikuthi uyake ube lemicabango enjalo. Ngezinye izikhathi sizithwalisa nzima kungelasizatho. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lenzelwe ukuthi ‘liqondise izinto’ futhi ‘lidilize izinto eziqine njengezinqaba.’ (2 KuThimothi 3:16; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 10:4) IBhayibhili lithi: “Sizaqinisekisa inhliziyo zethu phambi kwakhe kuloba yikuphi inhliziyo zethu ezingasisola ngakho, ngoba uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulezinhliziyo zethu njalo wazi izinto zonke.” (1 UJohane 3:19, 20) Asixoxeni ngendlela ezine iMibhalo esinceda ngazo ukuthi ‘siqinisekise inhliziyo zethu’ ukuze singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda.

UJehova Uyakuqakathekisa

4, 5. Umzekeliso kaJesu wentaka utshengisa njani ukuthi siqakathekile kuJehova?

⁴ Okokuqala, iBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uqakathekisa inceku yakhe ngayinye. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wathi: “Intaka ezimbili azithengiswa ngohlamvu lwemali olungatsho lutho yini? Lanxa kunjalo ayikho leyodwa ewela phansi uYihlo engakwazi. Ngitsho lenwele ezisemakhanda enu zibaliwe zonke. Ngakho lingesabi, lina liqakatheke kakhulu kulentaka ezinengi.” (UMathewu 10:29-31) Cabanga ukuthi amazwi la ayesitshoni kulabo ababemlalele.

⁵ Singazibuza ukuthi umuntu wayengayithengelani intaka. Impendulo elula yikuthi ngesikhathi sikaJesu, intaka yiyo inyoni eyayitshiphe ukwedlula zonke kwezidliwayo. Nanzelela ukuthi nxa umuntu wayelendibilitshi eyodwa, wayengathenga intaka ezimbili. Kodwa uJesu waphinda watshengisa ukuthi nxa umuntu wayengathenga ngendibilitshi ezimbili, wayethola intaka ezinhlanu hatshi ezine. Inyoni yesihlanu kwakungathi ayiqakathekanga njengoba yayisiba yimbasela. Mhlawumbe izidalwa lezo zazingaqakathekanga ebantwini, kodwa uMdali wazo wayezibona njani? UJesu wathi: “Ayikho leyodwa [ngitsho laleyo eyimbasela] uNkulunkulu ayikhohlwayo.” (ULukha 12:6, 7) Khathesi sesiwuzwisisa sibili umcijo kaJesu. Nxa uJehova eqakathekisa intaka eyodwa nje, pho umuntu yena umqakathekisa kakhulu kangakanani! Njengoba uJesu watsho, uJehova wazi konke ngathi. Ngitsho lenwele zethu zibaliwe!

6. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayengakhulumi into engeke yenzakale lapho esithi inwele zethu zibaliwe?

⁶ Inwele zethu zibaliwe! Abanye bangacabanga ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngento engeke yenzakale. Kodwa ake ucabange ngethemba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo. UJehova usazi kuhle okokuthi uyenelisa ukusidala kutsha! Usiqakathekisa kakhulu okokuthi ukhumbula konke ngathi, okugoqela i-DNA yethu kanye lakho konke okwenzakale empilweni zethu.a Ngakho ukubala izinwele zethu kuyinto elula kakhulu kuye ngoba umuntu munye ngamunye ulenwele ezingaba yi-100 000 ekhanda.

UJehova Ubonani Kithi?

7, 8. (a) Kuyini uJehova akuqakathekisayo ezincekwini zakhe? (b) Yiphi eminye imisebenzi esiyenzayo eqakathekiswa nguJehova?

⁷ Okwesibili, iBhayibhili lisitshela lokho uJehova akuqakathekisayo ezincekwini zakhe. Ngamazwi alula nje, uthanda impawu ezinhle esilazo kanye lemizamo yethu yokwenza okuhle. INkosi uDavida yatshela indodana yayo uSolomoni yathi: “UJehova uyazihlola zonke inhliziyo azwisise imicabango lenhloso zomuntu.” (1 ImiLando 28:9) Njengoba uNkulunkulu ehlola amabhiliyoni ezinhliziyo zabantu emhlabeni lo ogcwele inzondo lodlakela, kumele ukuthi uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ethola inhliziyo ethanda ukuthula, iqiniso kanye lokulunga! Kuyini okwenzakalayo nxa uNkulunkulu ethola inhliziyo emthandayo, efuna ukufunda ngaye futhi efuna ukutshela abanye ngalolo lwazi? UJehova usitshela ukuthi uyabananzelela labo abatshela abanye ngaye. Uphinda abe ‘lebhuku elokukhumbula labo abamesabayo labacabangisisa ngebizo lakhe.’ (UMalakhi 3:16) Izimpawu ezinjalo ziqakathekile kuye.

⁸ Yiphi eminye imisebenzi emihle uJehova ayiqakathekisayo? Uqakathekisa imizamo yethu yokulingisela iNdodana yakhe uJesu Khristu. (1 UPhetro 2:21) Omunye umsebenzi uNkulunkulu awuqakathekisayo ngowokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. URoma 10:15 uthi: “Ayisibuhle benyawo zalabo abatshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana lezinto ezinhle!” Kungenzakala ukuthi inyawo zethu asiziboni zizinhle. Kodwa lapha zimela imizamo eyenziwa zinceku zikaJehova ekutshumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Yonke imizamo enjalo mihle futhi iligugu kuye.—UMathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

9, 10. (a) Kungani sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho? (b) Kuyini uJehova angeke akucabange ngathi?

⁹ UJehova uqakathekisa lokubekezela kwethu. (UMathewu 24:13) Khumbula ukuthi uSathane ufuna utshiye ukukhonza uJehova. Nxa ungahlala uthembekile kuJehova uyabe utshengisa ukuthi uSathane ulamanga. (IZaga 27:11) Ngezinye izikhathi ukubekezela akulula. Ukugula, inhlupho zemali, ukukhathazeka kanye lezinye inhlupho kungenza ukuphila kube nzima. Phela nxa esikukhangeleleyo kungaphuza siyaphela amandla. (IZaga 13:12) Ukubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho kuligugu kakhulu kuJehova. Lokho yikho okwenza iNkosi uDavida yacela ukuthi uJehova agcine inyembezi zayo ‘esigubhini sesikhumba.’ Ngokuqiniseka yaphinda yathi: “Azibhalwanga yini ebhukwini lakho?” (IHubo 56:8) UJehova uyazikhumbula inyembezi zethu kanye lokubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho. Inyembezi lezo lokubekezela kwethu kuligugu kuye.

¹⁰ Lanxa kunjalo inhliziyo yethu ingakwala ukuthi siqakathekile kuNkulunkulu. Ingasitshela ukuthi: ‘Kodwa kulabanye abanengi abenza kuhle ukwedlula wena. Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyadana kakhulu nxa ekuqathanisa labo!’ Kodwa uJehova kasiqathanisi labanye futhi uyazwisisa njalo kasicabangeli okubi. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:4) Nxa uJehova ehlola inhliziyo uyakubona konke okuhle esikwenzayo futhi uyakuqakathekisa kungelani lokuthi kuncane kangakanani.

UJehova Ubona Okuhle Esikwenzayo

11. Kuyini esingakufunda ngoJehova endleleni ahlulela ngayo u-Abhija?

¹¹ Okwesithathu, nxa uJehova esihlola ukwenza ngonanzelelo edinga okuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wathi bonke abemuli yeNkosi uJerobhowami babezabulawa kodwa wathi u-Abhija owayengomunye wamadodana enkosi nguye yedwa owayezangcwatsha. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba “nguye yedwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli athole okuhle kuye phakathi kwabendlu kaJerobhowami.” (1 AmaKhosi 14:1, 10-13) UJehova wahlola inhliziyo yendoda le wathola ‘okuhle kuyo.’ Lanxa kwakungabe kukuncane, uJehova wabona kuqakathekile ukuthi kubhalwe eLizwini lakhe. Wanika u-Abhija umvuzo ngenxa yokuhle ayekwenzile, etshengisa umusa lanxa wayengowemuli yabahlamuki.

12, 13. (a) Indaba yeNkosi uJehoshafathi itshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova ukhangela okuhle kithi lanxa senze isono? (b) UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi ungumzali olothando?

¹² Esinye isibonelo esihle ngesiphathelane lenkosi eyayilungile uJehoshafathi. Lapho inkosi le isenza ngendlela etshengisa ubuwula, umphrofethi kaJehova wayitshela wathi: “UJehova ukuzondele kakhulu ngenxa yalokhu okwenzileyo.” La ngamazwi enza umuntu acabangisise! Kodwa umlayezo kaJehova awuzange uphelele khonapho. Waphinda wathi: “Lanxa kunjalo kulezinto ezinhle ezitholakale kuwe.” (2 ImiLando 19:1-3) Kwakufanele sibili ukuthi uJehova amzondele uJehoshafathi kodwa ukuzonda lokho akuzange kumenze angaboni okuhle enkosini le. Lokhu kwenza uJehova angafanani lathi abantu abalesono. Thina sijayele ukungaboni okuhle kwabanye nxa sibazondele. Ikanti nxa singenza isono sijayele ukukhulelwa yikudana, ukuyangeka lokuzisola besekubangela ukuthi singaboni okuhle kithi. Lanxa kunjalo, ungakhohlwa ukuthi uJehova uyasithethelela nxa singaphenduka ezonweni zethu sizimisele ukungaziphindi.

¹³ Nxa uJehova ekuhlola, uyazilahla izono ezinjalo njengomuntu ogebha igolide olahla amatshe angelancedo abesegcina igolide. UJehova laye uzibona ziligugu kakhulu impawu ezinhle olazo lemisebenzi emihle oyenzayo. Wake wakunanzelela yini ukuthi abazali abalothando bayagcina imidwebo kumbe eminye imisebenzi yabantwababo yesikolo lanxa sekudlule amatshumi eminyaka? UJehova ungumzali olothando ukwedlula bonke. Nxa singaqhubeka sithembekile kuye, kasoze akhohlwe imisebenzi yethu emihle kanye lezimpawu zethu ezinhle. Iqiniso yikuthi uJehova ukubona kuyinto engalunganga ukukhohlwa lezozinto, futhi yena kakaze abe ngongalunganga. (KumaHebheru 6:10) Kulokunye futhi uJehova akwenzayo nxa esihlola.

14, 15. (a) Kungani siqakathekile kuJehova lanxa singabantu abalesono? Nika umzekeliso. (b) Kuyini uJehova akwenzayo ngokuhle akuthola kithi futhi uzibona njani izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo?

¹⁴ UJehova kahlali ekhangele esikuphambanisayo kodwa ubona lalokho esenelisa ukukwenza. Nanku umzekeliso: Abantu abathanda izinto ezidwetshiweyo bangenza loba yini ukuze balungise imidwebo engasekho esimeni esihle. Ngokwesibonelo, kulomuntu owadubula umdwebo kaLeonardo da Vinci owawubiza imali engamadola ayizigidi ezingaba ngu-30 owawuseNational Gallery eseLondon, e-England. Umdwebo lo owawusuleminyaka engu-500 awuzange ulahlwe kodwa walungiswa. Kungani walungiswa? Kungenxa yokuthi wawuligugu ebantwini abathanda imidwebo. Kambe wena awuqakathekanga yini ukwedlula umdwebo nje? Uqakathekile kakhulu kuNkulunkulu lanxa ulesono owasithola ku-Adamu. (IHubo 72:12-14) UJehova uNkulunkulu, onguye owadala abantu uzasiqeda isono ebantwini bonke abamthandayo.—ImiSebenzi 3:21; KwabaseRoma 8:20-22.

¹⁵ Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova ubona okuhle kithi esingeke sakubona thina ngokwethu. Nxa singaqhubeka simkhonza, uzasincedisa ukuthi sithuthukise impawu ezinhle esilazo size sibe ngabantu abapheleleyo. UJehova uyabaqakathekisa labo abathembekileyo kuye kungelani lokuthi umhlaba kaSathane ubaphatha njani.—UHagayi 2:7.

UJehova Utshengisa Uthando Lwakhe Ngezenzo

16. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhulu obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda futhi sazi njani ukuthi inhlawulo inceda ngamunye wethu?

¹⁶ Okwesine yikuthi uJehova usitshengisa ngezindlela ezinengi ukuthi uyasithanda. Umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaKhristu ukwenza kucace ukuthi uSathane ulamanga nxa esithi asiqakathekanga njalo asithandwa. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kabuhlungu kanye lobuhlungu obukhulu uJehova abuzwa lapho ebona iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo isifa, kutshengisa ukuthi bayasithanda. Kuyadanisa ukuthi abantu abanengi bakuthola kunzima ukukholwa ukuthi isipho lesi singabanceda. Bazibona bengaqakathekanga. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi umphostoli uPhawuli wayeke wahlukuluza abalandeli bakaKhristu. Lanxa kunjalo, wabhala wathi: ‘INdodana kaNkulunkulu yangithanda yazinikela ngenxa yami.’—KwabaseGalathiya 1:13; 2:20.

17. UJehova usebenzisani ukuze asidonsele kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe?

¹⁷ UJehova utshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokusinceda esebenzisa umhlatshelo kaKhristu. UJesu wathi: “Akulamuntu ongeza kimi engazange adonswe nguBaba ongithumileyo.” (UJohane 6:44) UJehova ngokwakhe usidonsela eNdodaneni yakhe lasekuphileni okungapheliyo. Njani? Usebenzisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela ofinyelela umuntu ngamunye. Uphinda asebenzise lomoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asincede sizwisise iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini njalo silisebenzise lanxa silesono. Amazwi uJehova awatshela abako-Israyeli ayasebenza lakithi. Wathi: “Ngikuthande ngothando olungapheliyo, yikho ngikusondeze kimi ngothando oluqotho.”—UJeremiya 31:3.

18, 19. (a) Kuyini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda futhi sazi njani ukuthi ulendaba lomuntu ngamunye? (b) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisiqinisekisa njani ukuthi uJehova uyasilalela futhi ulozwelo?

¹⁸ Isibusiso sokuthandaza ngeyinye indlela etshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda kakhulu. IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandaze kokuphela.’ (1 KwabaseThesalonika 5:17) UJehova uyasilalela nxa sikhuleka, yikho iBhayibhili lisithi ‘uyayilalela imithandazo.’ (IHubo 65:2) Kazange aphe loba ngubani umsebenzi lo, ngitsho leNdodana yakhe uqobo. Ake ucabange: UMdali wazo zonke izinto usikhuthaza ukuthi sikhululeke ukukhuluma laye ngomkhuleko. Kodwa uphongusilalela nje engelandaba lalokho esikutshoyo kumbe indlela esizizwa ngayo? Hatshi.

¹⁹ UJehova ulozwelo. Kuyini uzwelo? Omunye umKhristu othembekileyo osekhulile wathi: “Uzwelo yibuhlungu bakho engibuzwa enhliziyweni yami.” UJehova ulendaba lobuhlungu esibuzwayo yini? Mayelana lokuhlupheka kwabantu bako-Israyeli, iBhayibhili lithi: “Kulo lonke usizi lwabo, laye waba losizi.” (U-Isaya 63:9) UJehova kazange aphongubona inhlupho zabo atshiye kunjalo, kodwa wabazwela abantu bakhe. Amazwi akhe awakhuluma ngezinceku zakhe atshengisa kuhle indlela azizwa ngayo ngabo. Athi: “Loba ngubani othinta lina uthinta inhlamvu yelihlo lami.”b (UZakhariya 2:8) Ukuxhotshwa ilihlo kubuhlungu sibili! Ngakho ivesi le itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasikhathalela futhi uzwa ubuhlungu nxa sisizwa ubuhlungu.

20. NgokukaRoma 12:3, yikuphi ukucabanga okungaqondanga okungamelanga sibe lakho?

²⁰ AmaKhristu akumelanga azikhukhumeze loba azigqaje ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uyawathanda njalo uyawaqakathekisa. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Ngomusa omkhulu engiwuphiweyo ngitshela wonke umuntu phakathi kwenu ukuthi angacabangi ukuthi ungcono kulalokho ayikho khona, kodwa acabange ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi usebenzisa kuhle ingqondo, kusiya ngokholo ngamunye aluphiwe nguNkulunkulu.” (KwabaseRoma 12:3) Kuyasithokozisa ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uyasithanda, kodwa kasingakhohlwa ukuthi bekungasifanelanga, sikuthole ngenxa yomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu.—ULukha 17:10.

21. Yiwaphi amanga kaSathane okungamelanga siwakholwe njalo kuyini okumele sihlale sikukhumbula?

²¹ Kasizimiseleni ukwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi singakholwa amanga kaSathane athi uNkulunkulu kasiqakathekisi njalo kasithandi. Kasingavumi ukuthi izinto ezenzakala empilweni zethu zisenze sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke asithande, kumbe ukuthi kayiboni imisebenzi emihle esiyenzayo. Singaqali ukucabanga ukuthi izono zethu zinkulu kakhulu okokuthi ngitsho legazi leNdodana yakhe eligugu ngeke lizihlambulule. Kasingawakholwa amanga la ngoba avela kuSathane! Asihlaleni sikhumbula iqiniso eliphefumulelweyo elakhulunywa nguPhawuli. Wathi: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngitsho lokufa, loba ukuphila, loba izingilosi, loba ohulumende, loba izinto ezikhona khathesi loba ezizakuza, loba amandla, loba ukuphakama, loba ukutshona, loba yini edaliweyo, akusoze kusehlukanise lothando lukaNkulunkulu asitshengisa lona ngoKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.”—KwabaseRoma 8:38, 39.

1, 2. (a) Umama ujayele ukwenzani nxa usane lwakhe lungakhala ebusuku? (b) Ngubani olozwelo olukhulu kulolwethu?

USANE luyakhala phakathi kobusuku. Umama uhle avuke masinyane. Selokhu wabelethayo kabuquthi ubuthongo. Usefunde ukwehlukanisa lokho okuyabe kukhalelwa lusane lwakhe. Ngakho usekwazi nxa usane lwakhe lukhalela ukumunyiswa, ukuphathwa, kumbe ukutshintshwa isitshubo. Umama uyavuka kuphela kungelandaba ukuthi usane lukhalelani. Inhliziyo yakhe kayimvumeli ukuthi angabi lendaba lokufunwa lusane lwakhe.

² Okwenza umama abe lozwelo ngosane lwakhe yikuthi abantu badalwe belalo uphawu lolu. Kodwa uzwelo lukaJehova uNkulunkulu lona ludlula khatshana olwethu abantu. Ukucabangisisa ngophawu lolu kuzasinceda ukuthi sisondele kakhulu kuJehova. Ngakho okwakhathesi asixoxeni ngokuthi uzwelo kuyini lokuthi uNkulunkulu ulutshengisa njani.

Kuyini Uzwelo?

3. Litshoni ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukuba lomusa” kumbe “ukuba lozwelo”?

³ EBhayibhilini uzwelo lomusa kuyahambelana. Kulamabala amanengana esiHebheru lawesiGrikhi alomqondo wokuba lozwelo. Ngokwesibonelo, kulebala lesiHebheru elithi ra·chamʹ, elandise ukuhunyutshwa ngokuthi “ukuba lomusa” kumbe “ukuba lozwelo.” Elinye ibhuku lithi ibala leli “litsho indlela esizwa ngayo nxa singabona umuntu esimthandayo ethwele nzima edinga uncedo lwethu.” UJehova uyalisebenzisa ibala leli nxa ekhuluma ngaye ngokwakhe futhi lihambelana lelithi “isibeletho” elingachasiswa ngokuthi “uzwelo lukamama.”a—U-Eksodusi 33:19; UJeremiya 33:26.

4, 5. IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo olukhulu?

⁴ IBhayibhili lisinceda sizwisise uzwelo lukaJehova ngokusebenzisa umzekeliso kamama onakekela umntanakhe. U-Isaya 49:15 uthi: “Kambe owesifazana angamkhohlwa yini umntanakhe omunyayo? Angayekela yini ukuyizwela indodana ayithwala ngesisu sakhe? Lanxa owesifazana engakhohlwa, mina kangisoze ngalikhohlwa loba sekutheni.” Umzekeliso lo othinta inhliziyo utshengisa ukujula kozwelo lukaJehova ebantwini bakhe. Njani?

⁵ Kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi umama angakhohlwa ukumunyisa kumbe ukunakekela usane lwakhe. Ngoba phela usane ludinga ukuthandwa lokunakekelwa ngunina ubusuku lemini. Kodwa kuyadanisa ukuthi abanye omama abalandaba labantwababo, ikakhulu ‘kulezinsuku zokucina’ ezilabantu ‘abangelathando.’ (2 KuThimothi 3:1, 3) Kodwa uJehova uthi ‘kasoze asikhohlwe loba sekutheni.’ Uzwelo alalo ngezinceku zakhe kalupheli. Lulamandla ukwedlula uzwelo umama angaba lalo ngosane lwakhe. Eyinye indoda yathi ikhuluma ngo-Isaya 49:15 yathi: “La ngamazwi atshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulothando olukhulu. Akula eyinye ivesi eMibhalweni yesiHebheru eluveza ngalindlela uthando lukaNkulunkulu.”

6. Abantu abanengi abalesono bacabanga ukuthi uzwelo kuyini, kodwa kuyini uJehova asiqinisekisa ngakho?

⁶ Ukuba lozwelo kutshengisa ukuthi umuntu ubuthakathaka yini? Abantu abanengi bacabanga njalo. Ngokwesibonelo, esinye isikhwicamfundo seRoma okuthiwa nguSeneca esaphila ngesikhathi sikaJesu sathi “ukuba lozwelo yikuba buthakathaka engqondweni.” USeneca wayesekela imfundiso yamaStoic eyayisithi umuntu kumele abekezelele inhlupho engatshengiseli. Wayekholwa ukuthi umuntu ohlakaniphileyo angabancedisa sibili abanye kodwa akumelanga abazwele ngoba lokho kungamenza angabi lokuthula. Umuntu onjalo uzicabanga yena kuphela futhi kunzima ukuthi abe lozwelo. Kodwa uJehova kanjalo! Uyasiqinisekisa eLizwini lakhe ukuthi “ulozwelo olukhulu futhi ulesihawu.” (UJakhobe 5:11) Njengoba sizabona, ukuba lozwelo akutsho ukuba buthakathaka kodwa kutshengisa ukuthi umuntu ulesibindi. Kasihloleni ukuthi uJehova ulutshengisa njani uphawu lolu njengoba engumzali osithandayo.

Uzwelo LukaJehova Kwabako-Israyeli

7, 8. Ama-Israyeli ahlupheka njani eGibhithe futhi uJehova wenzani ngakho?

⁷ Uzwelo lukaJehova lukhanya ngokucacileyo endleleni aphatha ngayo isizwe sako-Israyeli. Ngemva kokufa kukaJosefa, ama-Israyeli aqalisa ukuphathwa njengezigqili eGibhithe futhi ayecindezelwa kabuhlungu. AmaGibhithe “enza impilo yabo yaba buhlungu ngokubanika imisebenzi enzima. Babevoxa udaka betshaya izitina njalo babesetshenziswa njengezigqili.” (U-Eksodusi 1:11, 14) Ngenxa yalobo bunzima, ama-Israyeli akhala kuJehova ecela uncedo. UNkulunkulu olozwelo wenzani?

⁸ UJehova wezwa ubuhlungu enhliziyweni. Wathi: “Sengikubonile sibili ukuhlupheka kwabantu bami eGibhithe njalo sengikuzwile ukukhala kwabo ngenxa yalabo ababasebenzisa ngenkani. Ngibazi mhlophe ubuhlungu ababuzwayo.” (U-Eksodusi 3:7) UJehova wayebazwela lapho ebabona bekhala ngenxa yokuhlupheka kwabo. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 24 sebhuku leli, uJehova uNkulunkulu uyabuzwa ubuhlungu esibuzwayo. Kazange acine ngokubazwela kuphela abako-Israyeli kodwa wabancedisa. U-Isaya 63:9 uthi: “Wabahlenga ngenxa yothando lwakhe lozwelo lwakhe.” Wabakhulula eGibhithe ‘ngesandla esilamandla.’ (UDutheronomi 4:34) Ngemva kwalokho wabanika ukudla ngendlela eyisimangaliso njalo wabakhokhela baze bayafika elizweni ayebathembise lona.

9, 10. (a) Kuyini okwakusenza uJehova akhulule abako-Israyeli kanenginengi? (b) Ensukwini zikaJeftha, uJehova wakhulula abako-Israyeli kukuphi ukucindezelwa futhi kuyini okwamenza wenza njalo?

⁹ UJehova kazange acine khonapho ukuba lozwelo kwabako-Israyeli. Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli sebehlala eLizweni Lesithembiso, babelokhu besenza izinto ezimbi futhi lokho kwabenza bahlupheka. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi babezitshiya izenzo lezo ezimbi besebecela uncedo kuJehova. Wayebakhulula kanenginengi ‘ngoba wayebazwela abantu bakhe.”—2 ImiLando 36:15; ABahluleli 2:11-16.

¹⁰ Cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala ngensuku zikaJeftha. Abako-Israyeli basebekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga yikho uJehova wavumela ukuthi bacindezelwe ngama-Amoni okweminyaka engu-18. Ngokuya kwesikhathi baphenduka. IBhayibhili lithi: “Basusa onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe phakathi kwabo basebekhonza uJehova. Lokhu kwenza wehluleka ukubekezelela ukuhlupheka kwama-Israyeli.” (ABahluleli 10:6-16) Babesithi bangaphenduka ezonweni zabo, uJehova wayebazwela ngenxa yobunzima ababekubo. Ngakho wanika uJefitha amandla okukhulula abako-Israyeli ezitheni zabo.—ABahluleli 11:30-33.

11. Sifundani ngozwelo endleleni uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli?

¹¹ Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo isizwe sako-Israyeli isifundisani ngokuba lozwelo? Okunye esikufundayo yikuthi ukuba lozwelo akupheleli ekuzweleni abantu abahluphekayo nje kuphela. Khumbula isibonelo sikamama olozwelo. Nxa angezwa usane lwakhe lukhala uyathatha inyathelo enze okuthile. UJehova laye wenza okuthile nxa abantu bakhe bekhala. Uzwelo lwakhe lumenza abancedise ebunzimeni abakubo. Okunye esikufunda endleleni uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli yikuthi ukuba lozwelo akutsho ukuba buthakathaka ngoba uphawu lolu lwenza uJehova wathatha inyathelo lokulwela abantu bakhe. Kodwa uJehova uba lozwelo ezincekwini zakhe ziliqembu kuphela yini?

UJehova Ulozwelo Emuntwini Ngamunye

12. UMthetho wawusitshengisa njani isihawu sikaJehova emuntwini ngamunye?

¹² UMthetho uNkulunkulu awunika isizwe sako-Israyeli wawutshengisa ukuthi ulozwelo emuntwini ngamunye. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela ayenakekela ngayo abayanga. UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi zikhona izimo ezazingenza um-Israyeli acine esengumyanga. Kwakumele baphathwe njani abayanga? UJehova walaya ama-Israyeli wathi: “Ungenzi inhliziyo yakho ibe lukhuni kumbe ube ngoncitshanayo kumfowenu ongumyanga. Ungamniki ukhonona enhliziyweni yakho kodwa kumele umnike ngomusa ngoba lokho kuzakwenza uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho abusise yonke imisebenzi yakho kanye lakho konke okwenzayo.” (UDutheronomi 15:7,10) UJehova waphinda watshela ama-Israyeli ukuthi angavuni emaphethelweni amasimu awo kumbe adobhe okuseleyo ukuze kudojwe ngabayanga. (ULevi 23:22; URuthe 2:2-7) Nxa abako-Israyeli babewulandela umlayo lo, sasingasoze sibekhona isidingo sokuthi abayanga bako-Israyeli bahambe becela ukudla. Umlayo lo wawutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo sibili.

13, 14. (a) Amazwi kaDavida asiqinisekisa njani ukuthi uJehova ukhathalela ngamunye wethu? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi uJehova useduze lalabo “abalenhliziyo ezidabukileyo” kumbe “abadanileyo”?

¹³ Lasesikhathini esiphila kuso, uNkulunkulu wethu olothando ukhathalela ngamunye wethu. Singaba leqiniso lokuthi uyazibona zonke inhlupho esilazo ngoba umhubi uDavida wabhala wathi: “Amehlo kaJehova akhangele abalungileyo, lendlebe zakhe ziyezwa ukukhala kwabo becela uncedo. UJehova useduze lalabo abalenhliziyo ezidabukileyo, uyabasiza abadanileyo.” (IHubo 34:15, 18) Omunye ohlolisisa iBhayibhili wakhuluma ngabantu abatshiwo emavesini la wathi: ‘Ngabalezinhliziyo ezidatshulwe yisazela, ukuzikhangelela phansi, lokuzibona bengelancedo ngenxa yezono abake bazenza.’ Abanjalo bangabona angani uJehova ukhatshana labo lokuthi abasilutho kuye ngakho ngeke abe lendaba labo. Kodwa akunjalo. Amazwi kaDavida asenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJehova ngeke abatshiye abantu abanjalo. UNkulunkulu wethu olozwelo uyakwazi ukuthi simdinga kakhulu ngezikhathi ezinjalo yikho uba seduze lathi.

¹⁴ Cabanga ngokwake kwenzakala. Umama othile ohlala e-United States wagijimisela umntanakhe oleminyaka emibili esibhedlela ngoba wayevaleka, ebulawa yisifuba. Ngemva kokumhlola, amadokotela atshela umama lo ukuthi ayezalalisa umntanakhe okwelanga elilodwa. Umama lo walala ngaphi mhlalokho? Walala esibhedlela esitulweni esasiseduze lombheda womntanakhe! Njengoba umntanakhe wayegula, wayefuna ukuba seduze laye. Lathi singakhangelela ukuthi uBaba wethu olothando enze okwedlula lokho ngoba senziwe ngomfanekiso wakhe. (UGenesisi 1:26) Amazwi aduduzayo akuHubo 34:18 asitshela ukuthi uJehova uba ‘seduze’ lathi nxa ‘inhliziyo zethu zidabukile’ kumbe nxa ‘sidanile.’ Uhlala elesihawu futhi elungele ukusinceda.

15. UJehova uncedisa njani ngamunye wethu?

¹⁵ UJehova uncedisa njani ngamunye wethu? Kazikhiphi izinto ezibangela ukuhlupheka, kodwa usincedisa ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo nxa sicela usizo kuye. Usincedisa esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili elilezeluleko ezisincedayo empilweni. UJehova usinike lababonisi abafaneleyo ebandleni, abalozwelo nxa benceda abakhonza labo. (UJakhobe 5:14, 15) Uphinda asiphe ‘umoya wakhe ongcwele nxa siwucela kuye’. (IHubo 65:2; ULukha 11:13) Umoya lo usinika “amandla amakhulu futhi angajayelekanga” asinceda ukuthi sibekezele kuze kube yisikhathi lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ususa zonke inhlupho. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:7) Kumele simbonge sibili uJehova ngokusincedisa ngezindlela lezi. Kuyazikhanyela sibili ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olozwelo olukhulu.

16. Yisiphi isibonelo esikhulu esitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo njalo inhlawulo inceda bani?

¹⁶ Indlela enkulu uJehova atshengisa ngayo ukuthi ulozwelo yikunikela ngeNdodana yakhe eligugu ukuthi ihlawulele izono zethu. UJehova wenza umhlatshelo lo ukuze sithole insindiso. Inhlawulo kaJesu inceda umuntu ngamunye. UZakhariya uyise kaJohane uMbhabhathizi wathi ekhuluma ngenhlawulo le wathi ‘uNkulunkulu ulozwelo olukhulu.’—ULukha 1:78.

Kunini Lapho uJehova Angelazwelo Khona?

17-19. (a) IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi uzwelo lukaJehova lulalapho olucina khona? (b) Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uJehova angasabazweli abantu bakhe?

¹⁷ Akumelanga sicabange ukuthi uzwelo lukaJehova luhlala lukhona loba sekutheni. IBhayibhili litshengisa ngokucacileyo ukuthi uJehova kabi lozwelo ebantwini abenza izinto ezimbi ngabomo. (KumaHebheru 10:28) Ukuze sibone ukuthi kungani esenza njalo, ake sixoxe ngesibonelo sabantu bako-Israyeli.

¹⁸ Lanxa uJehova wabakhulula kanenginengi ezitheni zabo, uzwelo lwakhe lwacina lufike ekucineni. Basebekhonza izithombe, sebeze behamba lazo khona kanye ethempelini likaJehova! (UHezekheli 5:11; 8:17, 18) IBhayibhili lithi: “Babezihleka izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso, beseyisa amazwi azo njalo bechothoza labaphrofethi bakhe. Ulaka lukaJehova lwacina lusehlela phezu kwabantu bakhe baze basala bengasancediseki.” (2 ImiLando 36:16) Abako-Israyeli basebexhwale kakhulu okokuthi kwakungasavumi ukuthi uJehova aqhubeke ebazwela. Ababekwenza kwamzondisa sibili uJehova.

¹⁹ Wayengaselaso isizatho sokubazwela abantu bakhe. Wathi: “Angisoze ngibe lesihawu loba ngibazwele kumbe ngibe lomusa kubo. Akulanto ezangivimba ukuthi ngibatshabalalise.” (UJeremiya 13:14) Ngakho iJerusalema yabhujiswa lethempeli layo, abako-Israyeli bathunjwa ngabaseBhabhiloni. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi kuba lempumela emibi sibili nxa abantu abalesono behlamuka futhi besenza ukuthi uzwelo lukaNkulunkulu lufike ekucineni!—IZililo 2:21.

20, 21. (a) Kuyini okuzakwenzakala nxa uzwelo lukaNkulunkulu solufike ekucineni? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ UJehova kakatshintshi. Uzwelo lwakhe lumenze wathuma oFakazi bakhe ukuthi batshumayele ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso’ kubo bonke abantu. (UMathewu 24:14) Nxa abantu abalenhliziyo eziqotho belalela, uJehova uyabancedisa ukuthi bawuzwisise umlayezo woMbuso. (ImiSebenzi 16:14) Kodwa umsebenzi lo awusoze uhlale ukhona kuze kube nini lanini. Phela uyabe engaselazwelo uJehova nxa angayekela umhlaba lo omubi ulokhu ukhona kuze kube nini lanini. Nxa uzwelo lukaNkulunkulu solufike ekucineni, uzawubhubhisa umhlaba lo. Lakhonapho okuzamenza enze njalo yisihawu ‘ngebizo lakhe elingcwele’ langezinceku zakhe ezizinikeleyo kuye. (UHezekheli 36:20-23) UJehova uzasusa ububi abesetshintsha umhlaba lo ube mutsha. Ngokuphathelane labantu ababi, uJehova uthi: “Angisoze ngibazwele futhi angisoze ngibe lesihawu kubo. Ngizabehlisela okufanele izenzo zabo.”—UHezekheli 9:10.

²¹ Kuze kube yilesosikhathi, uJehova uzaqhubeka ebazwela abantu, ngitsho lalabo abazabhujiswa. Enye indlela etshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo olukhulu yikuthi uzimisele ukusithethelela nxa siphenduka ezonweni zethu. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngemizekeliso emihle eseBhayibhilini eveza ukuthi uJehova uthethelela ngokupheleleyo.

1-3. (a) Yiwuphi umthwalo onzima umhubi uDavida awuthwalayo, kodwa kuyini okwamenza wahlaliseka? (b) Kuyini okungasihlupha nxa singenza isono, kodwa uJehova usiqinisekisa ngani?

UMHUBI uDavida wabhala wathi: “Sengicwile phakathi kwezono zami, zinjengomthwalo osindayo, angisenelisi ukuzithwala. Sengimdambiyana futhi ngicobekile.” (IHubo 38:4, 8) UDavida wayekwazi ukuthi umzwangedwa olecala ungumthwalo onzima kakhulu. Kodwa kuyini okwamenza wahlaliseka? Wayezwisisa ukuthi lanxa uJehova esizonda isono, kamzondi umuntu owenze isono abesephenduka ngeqiniso atshiye okubi akwenzayo. Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzimisele ukumtshengisa isihawu umuntu ophendukayo yikho wathi: ‘Phela wena Jehova uzimisele ukuthethelela.’—IHubo 86:5.

² Umzwangedwa wethu ungasihlupha lathi ngokusenza sizisole nxa singenza isono. Ukuzisola okunjalo kuyanceda kakhulu ngoba kwenza sithathe inyathelo lokulungisa esiyabe sikuphambanisile. Kodwa kulengozi yokuthi singacina sizisola ngokwedlulisileyo. Singaqalisa ukuzitshela ukuthi uJehova kasoze asithethelele lanxa singaze siphenduke njani. Nxa ‘singakhulelwa yikudana,’ uSathane angazama ukusenza sikhalale kumbe sicabange ukuthi asiselancedo kuJehova lokuthi asisafanelanga ukumkhonza.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 2:5-11.

³ Le yiyo yini indlela uJehova asibona ngayo? Hatshi! Ukuthethelela kuyingxenye yothando lukaJehova olukhulu. Uyasiqinisekisa eLizwini lakhe ukuthi uzimisele ukusithethelela nxa siphenduka ngeqiniso langenhliziyo yonke. (IZaga 28:13) Ukuze sikuzwisise lokhu, asihloleni ukuthi kungani uJehova ethethelela lokuthi usithethelela njani.

Okwenza UJehova ‘Azimisele Ukuthethelela’

4. Kuyini uJehova akukhumbulayo futhi lokho kwenza asiphathe njani?

⁴ UJehova uyakwazi lokho esingenelisi ukukwenza. IHubo 103:14 lithi: “Uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwe njani, uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” Kakhohlwa ukuthi sibunjwe ngothuli lokuthi siyaphambanisa ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Umutsho othi “uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwe njani” usikhumbuza indlela iBhayibhili elifanisa ngayo uJehova lombumbi, thina lisifanisa lembiza ebunjwa nguye. (UJeremiya 18:2-6) UJehova uMbumbi wethu usiphatha ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa ukuthi siyaphambanisa ngenxa yesono esilaso, aphinde akhangele indlela esilalela ngayo nxa esiqondisa.

5. Incwadi yabaseRoma ithi isono silamandla anganani?

⁵ UJehova uyazwisisa ukuthi isono silamandla kangakanani. ILizwi lakhe lithi isono silamandla amakhulu. Encwadini yabaseRoma umphostoli uPhawuli waveza ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo ukuthi isono silamandla kanganani. Wathi: ‘Singaphansi kwesono’ njengamasotsha angaphansi komkhokheli wawo (KwabaseRoma 3:9); isono ‘sibusa’ abantu njengenkosi (KwabaseRoma 5:21); ‘sihlala’ phakathi kwethu (KwabaseRoma 7:17, 20); “umthetho” waso uqhubeka usebenza kithi, futhi uhlose ukusilawula. (KwabaseRoma 7:23, 25) Isono silamandla amakhulu kakhulu emizimbeni yethu.—KwabaseRoma 7:21, 24.

6, 7. (a) UJehova ubabona njani labo abaphenduka ngenhliziyo yonke? (b) Kungani kungamelanga sone ngabomo sizitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzasithethelela?

⁶ UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi lanxa singaze sizame njani ngeke senelise ukumlalela ngokupheleleyo. Kodwa okuhle yikuthi uzimisele ukusithethelela nxa singaphenduka ngenhliziyo yonke. IHubo 51:17 lithi: “Umhlatshelo okuthokozisayo yinhliziyo ezisolayo. Inhliziyo edabukileyo futhi esebuhlungwini awusoze uyilahle, awu Nkulunkulu.” UJehova kasoze ayilahle “inhliziyo edabukileyo” ngenxa yokuzisola ngesono esenziweyo.

⁷ Kodwa lokhu sekusitsho ukuthi sesingona sikhululekile yini sizitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuba lesihawu kithi ngoba esazi ukuthi silesono? Hatshi! Isihawu sikaJehova silalapho esiphelela khona. Ngeke abathethelele labo abenza izono ngabomo bengatshengisi ukuphenduka. (KumaHebheru 10:26) Kodwa uzimisele ukuthethelela nxa ebona inhliziyo yomuntu ozisolayo. Okwakhathesi asixoxeni ngeminye imizekeliso eseBhayibhilini etshengisa indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo lokuthi ulothando.

UJehova Usithethelela Ngesilinganiso Esinganani?

8. Nxa uJehova esithethelela izono zethu kufanana lokuthi uyabe esenzani njalo lokhu kusenza simthembe kukuphi?

⁸ Ngesikhathi uDavida ezisola ngesono ayesenzile wathi: “Ngacina ngisivuma isono sami, angilifihlanga icala lami. . . . Wena wasuthethelela iziphambeko lezono zami.” (IHubo 32:5) Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘ukuthethelela’ lingatsho “ukuphakamisa” into uyisuse lapho ekhona kumbe “ukuyithwala.” Ukusetshenziswa kwalo lapha kutsho ukususa “isazela, isono, kumbe iphutha.” Ngakho singathi uJehova wathwala izono zikaDavida wahamba lazo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokhu kwamnceda uDavida ukuthi angaqhubeki ezisola. (IHubo 32:3) Lathi singamthemba ngokupheleleyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi uzasithethelela nxa silokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu njalo sicele ukuthethelelwa.—UMathewu 20:28.

9. UJehova uzilahlela khatshana kangakanani izono zethu?

⁹ UDavida waphinda wasebenzisa omunye umutsho ochaza indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo. Wathi: “Uthethe izono zethu wazibeka khatshana lathi, njengokuqhelelana kwempumalanga lentshonalanga.” (IHubo 103:12) Impumalanga iqhelelane kangakanani lentshonalanga? Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi impumalanga yindawo ekhatshana kulazo zonke nxa usentshonalanga, akusoze kwahlangana loba sekutheni. Esinye isikhwicamfundo sithi umutsho lo utsho “indawo ekhatshana kakhulu esingeke siyifinyelele.” Ngakho amazwi kaDavida aphefumulelweyo asitshela ukuthi nxa uJehova esithethelela, uyazisusa izono zethu azise khatshana kakhulu lathi.

10. Kungani kungamelanga sisale sizisola nxa uJehova esesithethelele?

¹⁰ Wake wazama yini ukukhipha itshatha esigqokweni esimhlophe? Kungenzeka ukuthi lanxa wazama ngazo zonke indlela lasala lilokhu likhanya. Nanzelela ukuthi uJehova uchaza njani indlela enelisa ngayo ukuthethelela. Uthi: “Lanxa izono zenu zibomvu gebhu, zizakwenziwa zibe mhlophe njengongqwaqwane. Lanxa zibomvu njengegazi, zizakuba mhlophe nke njengoboya bezimvu.” (U-Isaya 1:18) Kasingeke senelise ukuzihlambulula esonweni ngamandla ethu. Kodwa uJehova uyenelisa ukwenza ukuthi izono ezibomvu njengegazi zibe mhlophe nke njengongqwaqwane kumbe njengoboya bezimvu. Ngakho nxa uJehova angasithethelela akumelanga sisale sizisola okwempilo yethu yonke.

11. UHezekhiya wathini ngendlela uJehova athethelela ngayo?

¹¹ Engomeni ethintayo uHezekhiya ayibhala uJehova esemsilise emkhuhlaneni owaphosa wambulala, wathi kuye: “Izono zami zonke usuziphosele ngemva kwakho.” (U-Isaya 38:17) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uJehova uthatha isono somuntu ophendukileyo asijikele ngemva kwakhe lapho angasoze aphinde asibone khona. Esinye isichazamazwi sithi umcijo olapha ungabekwa kanje: “Wenze angani [izono zami] kazizange zenzakale.” Lokhu kuyasiduduza kakhulu.

12. Umphrofethi uMikha wayichasisa njani indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo?

¹² Umphrofethi uMikha wakhuluma amazwi atshengisa ukuthi wayekholwa ukuthi uJehova uyabathethelela abantu bakhe nxa bephenduka ngeqiniso. Wathi: “Nguphi uNkulunkulu onjengawe, oxolela izono leziphambeko zalabo abaseleyo abalilifa lakhe? . . . Aphosele zonke izono zabo enzikini yolwandle.” (UMikha 7:18, 19) Cabanga ukuthi amazwi la ayesitshoni kulabo ababephila ngalesosikhathi. Kwakungeke kwenzeke ukuthi into ejikelwe “enzikini yolwandle” iphinde iyethathwa. Ngakho amazwi kaMikha ayetshengisa ukuthi nxa uJehova esixolela, uyazisusa izono zethu ngokupheleleyo.

13. Atshoni amazwi kaJesu athi “usithethelele izikwelede zethu”?

¹³ UJesu wasikhuthaza ukuthi sithandaze sisithi: “Usithethelele [izikwelede zethu].” (UMathewu 6:12, amabala angaphansi) UJesu wafanisa isono lesikwelede. (ULukha 11:4) Nxa singenza isono siba ‘lesikwelede’ kuJehova. Mayelana lokutshiwo libala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwa ngokuthi ‘ukuthethelela,’ elinye ibhuku lithi: “Yikutshiya umuntu olesikwelede ungasamthonisisi.” UJehova wenza okufananayo nxa esithethelela, uyacitsha isikwelede obekufanele sisibhadale. Lokhu kumele kubaduduze sibili abantu abaphenduka ngehliziyo yonke ezonweni zabo. UJehova kasoze athonise isikwelede asesicitshile!—IHubo 32:1, 2.

14. Umutsho othi “izono zenu zesulwe” wenza sicabange wuphi umfanekiso?

¹⁴ Intethelelo kaJehova iyachasiswa futhi lakumiSebenzi 3:19 othi: “Phendukani njalo liguquke ukuze izono zenu zesulwe.” Ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “zesulwe” lithethwe ebaleni lesiGrikhi elingatsho “ukucitsha kumbe ukutshabalalisa.” Ezinye izikhwicamfundo zithi umfanekiso ovezwa lapha ngowomuntu ocitsha okubhaliweyo. I-inki eyayisetshenziswa endulo yayenziwe ngelahle, lenhlaka lamanzi. Ngemva kokubhala nge-inki enjalo, umuntu wayengathatha isipontshi esimanzi acitshe lokho akubhalileyo. Lo ngumfanekiso omuhle sibili otshengisa isihawu sikaJehova. Nxa esithethelela, kuba angani uthatha isipontshi acitshe ngaso izono zethu.

15. Kuyini uJehova afuna sikwazi ngaye?

¹⁵ Njengoba sesibonile, kuyazicacela ukuthi uJehova ufuna sihlale sikwazi ukuthi uzimisele sibili ukuthethelela izono, ingqe nje ebona ukuthi siphenduke ngeqiniso. Akulasidingo sokuthi sesabe ukuthi uzaphinda asithonisise ngenxa yezono lezo. Umcijo lo uvezwa kokunye futhi iBhayibhili elisitshela khona ngesihawu sikaJehova esikhulu: Nxa angaxolela, uyakhohlwa ngakho.

“Angisoze Ngibe Ngisasikhumbula Isono Sabo”

16, 17. Litshoni iBhayibhili nxa lisithi uJehova uyakhohlwa izono zethu?

¹⁶ UJehova wathembisa labo abasesivumelwaneni esitsha wathi: “Ngizabathethelela icala labo njalo angisoze ngibe ngisasikhumbula isono sabo.” (UJeremiya 31:34) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi nxa uJehova esesithethelele uyabe engasenelisi ukuzikhumbula yini izono zethu? Hatshi. IBhayibhili lisitshela ngezono zabantu abanengi abathethelelwa nguJehova, okugoqela loDavida. (2 USamuyeli 11:1-17; 12:13) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova ulokhe ezazi izono abazenzayo. Izono zabo, ukuphenduka kwabo kanye lokuxolelwa kwabo nguNkulunkulu kwagcinelwa ukuthi kuncede thina. (KwabaseRoma 15:4) Manje iBhayibhili litshoni nxa lisithi uJehova ‘kakhumbuli’ izono zalabo asebaxolele?

¹⁷ Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘khumbula’ kalitsho ukuphinda ucabange okwenzakala kudala kuphela. Isichazamazwi seBhayibhili okuthiwa yi-Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament sithi ibala leli ligoqela “lokuthatha inyathelo elifaneleyo.” Ngakho ‘ukukhumbula’ isono kutsho ukuthatha inyathelo lokujezisa umuntu owonileyo. (UHoseya 9:9) Kodwa nxa uNkulunkulu esithi, “angisoze ngibe ngisasikhumbula isono sabo,” uyabe esiqinisekisa ukuthi nxa angasithethelela, kaphindi asebenzise izono lezo ukuthi ajezise izoni eziphendukayo. (UHezekheli 18:21, 22) Yikho-ke uJehova uyakhohlwa, okutsho ukuthi usibona singaselaso isono leso ngakho kasoze abe elokhu esisola kumbe esijezisa. Akududuzi yini ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu uyasixolela futhi akhohlwe izono zethu?

UJehova Kayivimbi Impumela Yesono Esisenzileyo

18. Kungani ukuthethelelwa kungatsho ukuthi umuntu kasoze ahlutshwe yiloba yiphi impumela yesono asenzileyo?

¹⁸ Njengoba uJehova ezimisele ukuthethelela sekusitsho yini ukuthi umuntu angaphenduka kasoze ahlutshwe yiloba yiphi impumela yesono asenzayo? Ngitsho lakancane. Kasingeke sone besesicabanga ukuthi akusoze kusihambele kubi. UPhawuli wathi: “Loba yini umuntu ayihlanyelayo uzavuna yona.” (KwabaseGalathiya 6:7) Isono esisenzileyo singasilethela inhlupho ezithile. Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi ziyabe zivela kuJehova. Nxa sekuvele ubunzima, umKhristu akumelanga acabange ukuthi, ‘Mhlawumbe uJehova uyangijezisa ngezono engazenzayo.’ (UJakhobe 1:13) Kodwa uJehova kayivimbi eminye impumela yezenzo zethu ezimbi. Eminye impumela ebuhlungu njalo esingeke siyibalekele ihlanganisa ukuchitheka komtshado, ukuzithwala ungazimiselanga, imikhuhlane ethelelwana emacansini kanye lokucina abantu bengasakuthembi futhi bengasakuhloniphi. Khumbula ukuthi lanxa uDavida wathethelelwa isono asenza loBhathisheba lesokubulala u-Uriya, uJehova kazange amvikele uDavida ukuthi angehlelwa yimpumela ebuhlungu.—2 USamuyeli 12:9-12.

19-21. (a) Umthetho okuLevi 6:1-7 wawunceda njani ophambanisileyo lalowo ophanjaniselweyo? (b) Nxa esikwenzileyo kuzwise abanye ubuhlungu, uJehova uyathokoza nxa singenzani?

¹⁹ Izono zethu zingaba leminye impumela emibi ikakhulu nxa esikwenzileyo kuzwise abanye ubuhlungu. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngendaba ekuLevi isahluko 6. Esahlukweni lesi sitshelwa ngom-Israyeli owayengathatha impahla yomunye ngobuqili loba ngodlakela abesephika ukuthi ulecala, aze abe lesibindi sokufunga amanga. Umuntu lowo ucina engajeziswanga ngoba kungelabufakazi bokuthi kwenzakaleni. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi, isoni leso sihlutshwa ngumzwangedwa besesicina sivuma isono saso. Kumele senze izinto ezintathu ukuze uNkulunkulu asithethelele: Kufanele sibisele lokho esikutshontshileyo, besesingezelela okukodwa kokuhlanu ezintweni lezo. Ngemva kwalokho kumele sihambise lenqama ukuze ibe ngumnikelo wecala. Umthetho ubususithi: “Umphristi uzamhlawulela phambi kukaJehova njalo uzathethelelwa.”—ULevi 6:1-7.

²⁰ Umthetho lo wawutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulesihawu ngoba wawunceda othathelwe impahla yakhe ukuthi iphendukiswe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwakumkhulula lokuzwa isoni sesivuma icala laso ekucineni. Umthetho wawunceda lalowo okhathazwe ngumzwangedwa waze wavuma ukuthi ulecala futhi walungisa akuphambanisileyo. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengeke amthethelele nxa wayengayekela ukwenza njalo.

²¹ Lanxa singekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi, uMthetho lo wenza sizwisise indlela uJehova athethelela ngayo. (KwabaseKholose 2:13, 14) UNkulunkulu uyathokoza nxa sisenza okusemandleni ethu ukuthi silungisise esikuphambanisileyo okuzwise abanye ubuhlungu. (UMathewu 5:23, 24) Lokhu kungatsho ukuthi sivume isono sethu besesixolisa kulowo esimoneleyo. Ngemva kwalokho sesingacela uxolo kuJehova sisebenzisa umhlatshelo kaJesu besesisiba leqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu usesixolele.—KumaHebheru 10:21, 22.

22. Kuyini uJehova angakwenza lanxa esesithethelele?

²² UJehova angasixolela futhi asikhuze ngokufaneleyo njengokwenziwa ngumzali olothando. (IZaga 3:11, 12) Lanxa kunjalo kungadingeka ukuthi umKhristu amiswe ukuba ngumdala, inceku ekhonzayo kumbe ukuba liphayona. Kungaba buhlungu ukuthi alahlekelwe yizibusiso lezi okwesikhathi esithile. Kodwa ukukhuzwa okunjalo kuyabe kungatsho ukuthi uJehova kamthethelelanga. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova usikhuza ngoba esithanda. Ukuvuma lokulalela kwethu kunceda thina.—KumaHebheru 12:5-11.

23. Kungani kungamelanga sicabange ukuthi uJehova ngeke abe lesihawu kithi futhi kungani kumele silingisele ukuthethelela kwakhe?

²³ Kuyathokozisa ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu “uzimisele ukuthethelela.” Lanxa singaze senze isono esinjani, akumelanga sicabange ukuthi uJehova ngeke abe lesihawu kithi. Singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzasithethelela nxa singaphenduka ngeqiniso, sithathe amanyathelo okulungisa esikuphambanisileyo futhi sikhuleke ngenhliziyo yonke sicele ukuthethelelwa ngesisekelo segazi likaJesu elachithekayo. (1 UJohane 1:9) Kasilingiseleni ukuthethelela kwakhe endleleni esiphathana ngayo. UJehova kawoni kodwa uyasithethelela ngothando ngakho lathi abantu abalesono kumele sizame ngamandla ukuthethelelana.

1, 2. Bukhulu kangakanani ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu futhi iBhayibhili lilugcizelela njani uphawu lolu?

ABANGANE bayazidlela behlezi phandle futhi bezixoxela behleka ngapha bebuka indawo, bekholisa lokothamela ilanga eselibantubahle. Kwenye indawo, umlimi ukhangele izilimo zakhe eseziswaba futhi uyabobotheka esuthiseka njengoba izulu lithwala futhi liqalisa ukuthonta. Ikanti kwenye indawo, indoda lomkayo bakholisa ukubona umntanabo omncane eqalisa ukucathula.

² Abantu bonke laba bakholisa izinto zonke lezi ngenxa yobuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu kungelani lokuthi bayakwazi lokhu loba hatshi. Abantu abasontayo bandise ukuthi “uNkulunkulu muhle bakithi!” Kodwa iBhayibhili lona ligcizelela ukwedlula lapho. Lithi: “Ubuhle bakhe buyamangalisa!” (UZakhariya 9:17) Kodwa kukhanya angani balutshwana lamuhla abantu abakwaziyo sibili ukuthi amazwi la atshoni. Ubuhle bukaJehova uNkulunkulu bugoqelani vele futhi uphawu lolu lusinceda njani?

Ubuhle Buyingxenye Eqakathekileyo Yothando LukaNkulunkulu

3, 4. Kuyini ubuhle futhi kungani ubuhle bukaJehova buhamba ndawonye lothando lwakhe?

³ Ibala elithi “ubuhle” lijayelekile ezindimini ezinengi zalamuhla. IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi ubuhle buqakathekile lokuthi ibala leli litsho ukuba lobuntu kanye lesimilo. Konke uJehova akwenzayo kuhle. Zonke impawu zakhe ezigoqela amandla, ukwahlulela ngokulunga kanye lenhlakanipho zilobuhle phakathi. Ubuhle bungachasiswa ngokuthi yikutshengiswa kothando lukaJehova. Kungani sisitsho njalo?

⁴ Ubuhle bukhanya kulokho okwenzelwa abanye. Umphostoli uPhawuli watshengisa ukuthi umuntu omuhle ungcono kulomuntu olungileyo. (KwabaseRoma 5:7) Umuntu olungileyo angakhangelelwa ukuthi alandele lokho okufunwa ngumthetho kunjengoba kunjalo, kodwa umuntu omuhle wenza okwedlula lapho. Usukumela phezulu, edinga indlela zokunceda abanye. Njengoba sizabona, yiyo kanye indlela uJehova amuhle ngayo. Kuyacaca ukuthi uthando lukaJehova olungapheliyo yilo oluveza ubuhle obunjalo.

5-7. Kungani uJesu wala ukubizwa ngokuthi “Mfundisi Omuhle” futhi yiliphi iqiniso eliqakathekileyo ayeligcizelela ngokutsho njalo?

⁵ UJehova kafanani laloba ngubani ngobuhle bakhe. Kulendoda eyafika kuJesu esezabulawa izombuza umbuzo, yafika yathi, “Mfundisi Omuhle.” UJesu wayiphendula wathi: “Kungani ungibiza ngokuthi ngimuhle? Kakho omuhle ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu kuphela.” (UMakho 10:17, 18) Impendulo le ingakumangalisa. Kungani uJesu wayiqondisa indoda le? Kanti uJesu ‘wayengasoMfundisi Omuhle’ yini?

⁶ Kukhanya angani indoda le yasebenzisa amazwi athi “Mfundisi Omuhle” ifuna ukumkhukhumeza. UJesu wayethobekile ngakho wadumisa uYise osezulwini olobuhle obungeke baqathaniswa. (IZaga 11:2) Kodwa uJesu wayegcizelela lelinye iqiniso eliqakathekileyo. UJehova nguye olelungelo lokusitshela ukuthi kuyini okuhle loba okubi. Ngesikhathi u-Adamu lo-Eva besidla isihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi babezama ukuthatha ilungelo leli. Kodwa uJesu kenzanga njengabo ngoba yena watshiyela uYise ukuthi kube nguye otshoyo ukuthi okuhle yikuphi.

⁷ Okunye futhi yikuthi uJesu wayekwazi ukuthi konke okuhle okungelasici kuvela kuJehova. Nguye osinika ‘zonke izipho ezinhle lezipheleleyo.’ (UJakhobe 1:17) Kasihloleni ukuthi ubuhle bukaJehova bukhanya njani ekupheni kwakhe.

Ubufakazi Bokuthi UJehova Muhle

8. UJehova utshengise njani ubuhle kubo bonke abantu?

⁸ Akulamuntu owake waphila ongakaze ancedwe yibuhle bukaJehova. IHubo 145:9 lithi: “UJehova ulomusa kubo bonke.” Yibuphi obunye ubufakazi bokuthi ubuhle bakhe bunceda wonke umuntu? IBhayibhili lithi: “Wafakaza ngokwenza izinto ezinhle, elinika izulu elivela ezulwini kanye lezikhathi zenala, elisuthisa ngokudla njalo egcwalisa izinhliziyo zenu ngentokozo.” (ImiSebenzi 14:17) Siyakukholisa ukudla ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wenza umhlaba ngendlela emangalisayo. Sasingasoze sibe lakho ukudla ngabe uJehova kazange adale umjikelezo wamanzi owenza kube “lezikhathi zenala.” UJehova utshengise bonke abantu ubuhle bakhe hatshi labo abamthandayo kuphela. UJesu wathi: ‘Wenza ukuthi ilanga lakhe liphume kwababi labahle, lezulu line kwabalungileyo labangalunganga.’—UMathewu 5:45.

9. I-apula litshengisa njani ubuhle bukaJehova?

⁹ Abantu abanengi bawuthatha lula umusa omkhulu abawutshengisiweyo ngenxa yokuthi ilanga liqhubeka liphuma, izulu lisina futhi kusiba lezikhathi zenala. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga nge-apula. Litholakala ezindaweni ezilomumo womkhathi ongatshisiyo futhi ongaqandi kakhulu. Lihle nxa ulikhangele futhi limnandi okumangalisayo. Ubukwazi yini ukuthi emhlabeni wonke kulemihlobo yama-apula engaba ngu-7 500. Kulabomvu, aligolide, alithanga, aluhlaza futhi kawalingani, amanye mancane okokuthi angaba ngangomqokolo kuthi amanye angalingana lama-orenji amakhulu. Nxa uphethe intanga ye-apula ikhanya incane kakhulu kodwa ikhula ibe yinkalakatha yesihlahla esihle. (INgoma Yezingoma 2:3) Minyaka yonke ngesikhathi sentwasa isihlahla se-apula siba lamaluba amahle njalo asiphambanisi ukuthela izithelo ngekwindla. Izihlahla ezinengi zama-apula zithela izithelo okweminyaka engu-75 futhi sinye ngasinye singakhipha izithelo ezingagcwala amabhokisi angu-20 alesisindo samakhilogremu angu-19 ngomnyaka!

10, 11. Ukwenelisa ukubona, ukuhogela, ukuthinta, ukuzwa kanye lokunambitha kutshengisa njani ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁰ Ubuhle bakhe obungapheliyo benza uJehova asiphe umzimba ‘owenziwe ngendlela emangalisayo’ futhi olemizwa eyenzelwe ukusinceda ukuthi sizwisise imisebenzi yakhe futhi isithokozise. (IHubo 139:14) Cabanga ngezibonelo esixoxe ngazo ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi. Kuyini okwabonwa ngabantu esikhulume ngabo endimeni yokuqala okwenza bathokoza? Yikubobotheka komntwana othabileyo, ukuna kwezulu, lobuhle besibhakabhaka nxa ilanga litshona. Ilihlo lomuntu lenziwe ngendlela yokuthi lenelise ukubona imibala edlula 300 000! Umuntu uyenelisa ukuzwa ukutshintsha kwelizwi lomuntu amthandayo, ukuvunguza komoya ezihlahleni kanye lokuhleka komntwana omncane. Kuyini okwenza senelise ukubona kanye lokuzwa izinto ezinjalo? IBhayibhili lithi: “Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, konke kwenziwe nguJehova.” (IZaga 20:12) Kuyini okunye esikuphiwe nguJehova okwenza sikholise ukuphila?

¹¹ Umuzwa wokuhogela amaphunga atshiyeneyo lawo utshengisa ubuhle bukaJehova. Amakhala omuntu ayenelisa ukwehlukanisa amaphunga angaba ngu-10 000 atshiyeneyo. Amanye amaphunga angagoqela uqhatshi lokudla okuthandayo, amaluba, amahlamvu awele phansi, intuthu ephuma emlilweni. Umuzwa wokuthinta wenza wenelise ukujabulela ukuphephethwa ngumoya ebusweni, ukugonwa ngumuntu omthandayo kanye lokuzwa ukuthi isithelo sibutshelezi okunganani. Nxa ungafaka ukudla okuthile emlonyeni, uyenelisa ukukunambitha. Emlonyeni wakho kuba lemihlobohlobo yobunandi njengoba ulimi lwakho lunambitha futhi lusehlukanisa amakhemikhali amanenginengi esithelo. Kuliqiniso ukuthi silezizatho ezinengi zokukhuluma ngoJehova sisithi: “Buyamangalisa ubuhle bakho! Kunengi okuhle okugcinele labo abakwesabayo.” (IHubo 31:19) Kodwa uJehova ubagcinele njani ubuhle labo abamesabayo?

Ubuhle Obuzasinceda Kuze Kube Nini Lanini

12. Kuyini esikunikwa nguJehova okuqakatheke kakhulu futhi asinike khona kusinceda njani?

¹² UJesu wathi: “Kubhaliwe ukuthi: ‘Umuntu akumelanga aphile ngesinkwa sodwa, kodwa langawo wonke amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.’” (UMathewu 4:4) ILizwi likaJehova lingcono kulokudla ngoba lona liyasinceda ukuthi sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo. ESahlukweni 8 sebhuku leli, sibonile ukuthi kulezinsuku zokucina uJehova usebenzise amandla akhe ukuze ancedise abantu bakhe ukuthi bamkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. Kunengi sibili uJehova asinika khona ukuze siqinise ukholo lwethu njalo sibe ngabangane bakhe.

13, 14. (a) Kuyini okwabonwa ngumphrofethi uHezekheli futhi kutshoni kithi? (b) Yiziphi izinto eziqinisa ukholo uJehova azinike izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo?

¹³ Umphrofethi uHezekheli wabona umbono omayelana lokubuyiselwa kokukhonza kweqiniso kanye lokukhazinyuliswa kwethempeli. Embonweni lo wabona isifula esasisuka kulelothempeli. Isifula lesi sasilokhu sisiba banzi saze sacina sesingumfula omkhulu otshonayo. Umfula lo wawuletha izibusiso loba ngaphi lapho owawugelezela khona. Ekhunjini lwawo, kwakulezihlahla ezazithela izithelo njalo zilamahlamvu ayengawokwelapha. Umfula lowo waze waletha lempilo lezilimo oLwandle Olufileyo futhi oluletswayi! (UHezekheli 47:1-12) Kodwa konke lokho kwakusitshoni?

¹⁴ Umbono wethempeli owabonwa nguHezekheli wawusitsho ukuthi uJehova uzabuyisela ukukhonza kweqiniso. Njengoba nje umfula wawuletha izibusiso loba ngaphi lapho ogelezela khona, uNkulunkulu uzaqhubeka esinika ukudla okuqinisa ukholo size siyengena emhlabeni omutsha. Ubelokhu ebabusisa sibili abantu bakhe kusukela ngo-1919. Ubekwenza njani lokhu? Ubebafundisa iqiniso esebenzisa iBhayibhili, amabhuku asekelwe eBhayibhilini, imihlangano emikhulu lemincane. UJehova usebenzise konke lokhu ukuze afundise abantu ngesipho esedlula zonke. Isipho lesi ngumhlatshelo kaKhristu wenhlawulo owenza bonke abathanda uJehova ngeqiniso njalo abamesabayo babe ngabahlanzekileyo futhi babe lethemba lokuphila okungapheliyo.a Ngakho ezikhathini lezi zokucina abantu bakaJehova bazaqhubeka bethola ukudla okunengi okuqinisa ukholo, ngapha abantu bomhlaba lo belambele iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu.—U-Isaya 65:13.

15. Ubuhle bukaJehova buzakhanya njani ebantwini abathembekileyo ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaKhristu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane?

¹⁵ Kodwa umfula owabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni kawusoze ume ukugeleza ekupheleni komumo lo wezinto. Uzaqhubeka ugeleza kakhulu langesikhathi sokubusa kukaKhristu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane. Ngemva kwalokho, uJehova uzasebenzisa uMbuso kaMesiya ukuze aqede isono ebantwini abathembekileyo, ngaleyondlela esebenzisa ngokugcweleyo umhlatshelo kaJesu. Ngalesosikhathi sizajabula kakhulu ngobuhle bukaJehova.

Ezinye Izingxenye Zobuhle BukaJehova

16. IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi ubuhle bukaJehova buhambisana lezinye izimpawu zakhe zobuntu futhi yiziphi ezinye zakhona?

¹⁶ Ubuhle bukaJehova kabugoqeli ukupha kwakhe kuphela. UNkulunkulu watshela uMosi wathi: “Ngizakwenza ukuthi ubuhle bami budlule phambi kobuso bakho njalo ngizamemezela ibizo likaJehova phambi kwakho.” Indaba le iqhubeka isithi: “UJehova wadlula phambi kwakhe ememeza esithi: ‘UJehova, uJehova, uNkulunkulu olozwelo lesihawu, ophuza ukuthukuthela, ogcwele uthando oluqotho kanye leqiniso.’” (U-Eksodusi 33:19; 34:6) Ngakho ubuhle bukaJehova buhambisana lezinye izimpawu zakhe ezinhle. Ake sixoxe ngezimbili zakhona.

17. Uyini umusa futhi uJehova uwutshengise njani ebantwini abalesono?

¹⁷ ‘Umusa.’ Uphawu lolu lusitshela okunengi ngendlela uJehova aphatha ngayo izidalwa zakhe. UJehova ulomusa futhi ulozwelo, kafanani labantu abalezikhundla eziphezulu bona abandise ukungabi lomusa kanye lokuba ngontandokayiphikiswa. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wathi ku-Abrama: “Ngicela uphakamise amehlo akho ulapho omi khona, ukhangele enyakatho laseningizimu, empumalanga lasentshonalanga.” (UGenesisi 13:14) AmaBhayibhili amanengi kawalifaki ibala elithi “ngicela.” Kodwa izikhwicamfundo zeBhayibhili zithi umutsho wesiHebheru ugoqela ibala elitshintsha umutsho lo ukuthi ungabi ngumlayo kodwa ube yisicelo esithobekileyo. Kulezinye futhi izimo ezinjalo. (UGenesisi 31:12; UHezekheli 8:5) Ake ucabange, uMbusi wendawo yonke uthi “ngicela” ebantwini abalesono! Akukujabulisi yini ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ulomusa, kafanani labantu bomhlaba lo abalodlakela lesihluku futhi abangontandokayiphikiswa?

18. Kungani sisithi uJehova ‘ugcwele iqiniso’ njalo kungani amazwi la esinika isibindi?

¹⁸ ‘Ugcwele iqiniso.’ Abantu abanengi emhlabeni lamuhla kabasathembekanga. Kodwa iBhayibhili lisikhumbuza ukuthi “uNkulunkulu kasimuntu ukuthi angaqamba amanga.” (AmaNani 23:19) Yikho loThithusi 1:2 esithi: ‘UNkulunkulu ngeke aqambe amanga.’ Ubuhle bakhe kabumvumeli ukuthi enze njalo. Ngakho izithembiso zikaJehova zithembeke ngokupheleleyo; amazwi akhe ayagcwaliseka ngazo zonke izikhathi. Yikho ebizwa ngokuthi ‘nguNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ (IHubo 31:5) Kakhulumi manga loba sekutheni. Kazifihli njalo kancitshani lenhlakanipho yakhe kodwa uyazifundisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo.b Ngokwesibonelo ufundisa abantu bakhe ukuthi baphile ngeqiniso elivela kuye ukuze ‘baqhubeke behamba eqinisweni.’ (3 UJohane 3) Kodwa ubuhle bukaJehova kumele busithinte njani thina?

‘Jabula Ngenxa Yezinto Ezinhle Ezivela KuJehova’

19, 20. (a) Kuyini uSathane akwenzayo ukuze u-Eva athandabuze ubuhle bukaJehova njalo kwaba lempumela bani? (b) Ubuhle bukaJehova kumele busenze sizizwe njani, futhi kungani kumele kube njalo?

¹⁹ USathane wenza ukuthi u-Eva athandabuze ubuhle bukaJehova ngesikhathi emlinga esivandeni sase-Edeni. UJehova wayetshele u-Adamu wathi: “Ungadla zonke izithelo zezihlahla ezisensimini uze usuthe.” UJehova wayethe bangadli isihlahla esisodwa zwi phakathi kwezazingadlula izinkulungwane ezazisesivandeni. Kodwa nanzelela indlela uSathane abuza ngayo u-Eva umbuzo wokuqala: “Kuliqiniso yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthe lingadli zonke izihlahla ezisensimini?” (UGenesisi 2:9, 16; 3:1) USathane watshila amazwi kaJehova esenzela ukuthi u-Eva acabange ukuthi uJehova wayebancitsha okuthile okuhle. Kuyadanisa ukuthi waphumelela. U-Eva waqalisa ukuthandabuza ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu owayemnike konke ayelakho njalo abantu abanengi benza njengaye.

²⁰ Siyakwazi ukuthi ukuthandabuza okunjalo kwenza kwaba losizi kanye lokuhlupheka okukhulu. Ngakho asicabangisiseni ngamazwi akuJeremiya 31:12 athi: ‘Bazajabula ngenxa yezinto ezinhle ezivela kuJehova.’ Ubuhle bukaJehova kumele busenze sigcwale intokozo. UNkulunkulu ugcwele ubuhle, ngakho akulasikhathi lapho okumele sicabange ukuthi wenza izinto elenhloso ezimbi. Singamthemba ngokupheleleyo ngoba ufuna labo abamthandayo bathole okuhle kakhulu.

21, 22. (a) Yiziphi ezinye indlela ofisa ukutshengisa ngazo ukuthi uyabonga ngobuhle bukaJehova? (b) Yiluphi uphawu lukaJehova esizaxoxa ngalo esahlukweni esilandelayo futhi lutshiyene njani lobuhle?

²¹ Okunye okusithokozisa kakhulu yikuba lethuba lokutshela abanye ngobuhle bukaNkulunkulu. Mayelana lezinceku zikaJehova, iHubo 145:7 lithi: “Kazisoze ziwuvale umlomo nxa zikhumbula ubuhle bakho obumangalisayo.” Ubuhle bukaJehova buyasinceda nsuku zonke ekuphileni kwethu. Kungani ungazijayezi ukubonga uJehova nsuku zonke ngobuhle bakhe, ukubeke kucace ukuthi ubongani. Ukucabanga ngobuhle bukaJehova kuzakwenza umbonge nsuku zonke njalo uqakathekise lesibusiso akuphe sona sokutshela abanye ngaye. Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda ukuthi simlingisele uNkulunkulu wethu omuhle. Nxa lathi singadinga izindlela zokwenza okuhle njengoJehova, sizasondela kakhulu kuye. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Mngane wami othandekayo, ungalingiseli okubi kodwa lingisela okuhle. Owenza okuhle uvela kuNkulunkulu kodwa lowo owenza okubi kakamboni uNkulunkulu.”—3 UJohane 11.

²² Ubuhle bukaJehova buhambisana lezinye impawu zakhe ezinhle. Ngokwesibonelo, uNkulunkulu ‘ugcwele uthando oluqotho.’ (U-Eksodusi 34:6) Uphawu lolu lutshiyene lobuhle ngoba lona kalusizi uwonkewonke, kodwa uJehova ulutshengisa izinceku zakhe. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, sizafunda okunengi ngokuthi ukwenza njani lokhu.

1, 2. Kungani kungathiwa iNkosi uDavida yayikujayele ukuhlutshwa ngabantu ababengekho qotho kuyo?

INKOSI UDAVIDA yayikujayele ukuhlutshwa ngabantu abangathembekanga. Kwake kwaba lokuxokozela embusweni wayo ngesikhathi abanye bebumba icebo lokuyivukela. Abantu okwakukhangelelwe ukuthi babe ngabangane bayo babeyidla izithende. Ngokwesibonelo, omunye wabo yinkosikazi yayo yokuqala uMikhali. Ekuqaliseni “yayimthanda kakhulu uDavida,” futhi akuthandabuzwa ukuthi yayimsekela emsebenzini wakhe wokuba yinkosi. Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi uMikhali ‘waqalisa ukumeyisa enhliziyweni yakhe,’ waze wambona “njengohlanya.”—1 USamuyeli 18:20; 2 USamuyeli 6:16, 20.

² Omunye kwakungumeluleki kaDavida okwakuthiwa ngu-Ahithofeli. Iseluleko sakhe sasiqakathekiswa angathi lilizwi elivela kuJehova. (2 USamuyeli 16:23) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi umeluleki lo waba ngumthengisi, wazihlanganisa leqembu elalihlamukela uDavida. Kwakungubani umkhokheli waleliqembu elihlamukayo? Kwakungu-Abhisalomu indodana kaDavida! Iqhalaqhala leli lalilokhu ‘lihuga abako-Israyeli,’ lizenza inkosi. Ukuhlamuka kuka-Abhisalomu kwabangela ukuthi iNkosi uDavida icine isibaleka ukuze ingabulawa.—2 USamuyeli 15:1-6, 12-17.

3. Kuyini uDavida ayeqiniseka ngakho?

³ Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kwakungaselamuntu owayelokhu ethembekile kuDavida yini? Ekuhluphekeni kwakhe konke uDavida kazange athandabuze ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wayemsekela. UDavida wakhuluma ngoJehova wathi: “Emuntwini oqotho lawe uqotho.” (2 USamuyeli 22:26) Kuyini ubuqotho futhi kungani uJehova eyisibonelo esihle endabeni le?

Kuyini Ubuqotho?

4, 5. (a) Kutshoni “ukuba qotho”? (b) Ukuthembeka kwezinto ezingaphiliyo kutshiyene njani lokuba qotho kwabantu?

⁴ EMibhalweni yesiHebheru ibala elithi ‘ubuqotho’ litsho ukunamathela entweni ethile ungayitshiyi loba kutheni ngenxa yokuthi uyayithanda. Umuntu oqotho ulothando.a Lezinto ezingaphiliyo kungathiwa zithembekile. Ngokwesibonelo, umhubi wathi inyanga ‘ingufakazi othembekileyo esibhakabhakeni’ ngoba ayiyekeli ukuphuma ebusuku. (IHubo 89:37) Kodwa inyanga ngeke ithembeke ngendlela umuntu angathembeka ngayo. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba umuntu othembekileyo uyabe etshengisa uthando kodwa izinto ezingaphiliyo zona kazenelisi ukuba lothando.

⁵ Ngokwalokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili ukuba qotho yinto esuka enhliziyweni. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi umuntu oqotho uyabe emthanda lowo aqotho kuye. Ubuqotho obunjalo abutshintshi. Abufanani lamagagasi olwandle aphetshulwa ngumoya uwase le lale. Umuntu olothando oluqotho kamtshiyi lowo aqotho kuye lanxa izimo zingaze zibe njani.

6. (a) Banjani abantu lamuhla endabeni yokuba qotho? (b) Yiphi indlela engcono ukwedlula zonke yokufunda ngobuqotho futhi kungani kunjalo?

⁶ Balutshwane abantu abaqotho lamuhla. Kujayelekile ukuthi abangane babulalane kumbe “bazimisele ukulimazana” njalo labatshadileyo sebetshiya omkabo. (IZaga 18:24; UMalakhi 2:14-16) Ubuqili sebande kakhulu okokuthi lathi singatsho amazwi atshiwo ngumphrofethi uMikha athi: “Oqotho senyamalele emhlabeni.” (UMikha 7:2) Kodwa uJehova uhlala eqotho loba sekutheni, kafanani lathi abantu. Ngakho singafunda ngobuqotho ngokuhlola indlela uJehova abutshengisa ngayo.

Akulamuntu Oqotho NjengoJehova

7, 8. Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi uJehova nguye yedwa oqotho?

⁷ IBhayibhili lithi uJehova ‘nguye yedwa oqotho.’ (ISambulo 15:4) Kungani iBhayibhili lisitsho njalo lona liyake likhulume ngokuthi izingilosi labantu baqotho? (UJobe 1:1; ISambulo 4:8) Kuthiwani ngoJesu Khristu? Kanti ayisuye yini iBhayibhili elithi ‘ungoqotho’ kaNkulunkulu? (IHubo 16:10) Manje kungani kuthiwa uJehova nguye yedwa oqotho?

⁸ Okokuqala, khumbula ukuthi ubuqotho buyingxenye yothando. Ngakho njengoba ‘uNkulunkulu eluthando’ futhi eyisibonelo esikhulu ekutshengiseni uthando, akulamuntu oqotho njengaye. (1 UJohane 4:8) Kuliqiniso ukuthi abantu lezingilosi bangatshengisa impawu ezinhle uNkulunkulu alazo, kodwa uJehova uqotho ukwedlula loba ngubani. Njengoba ‘enguSimakade,’ uselesikhathi eside kakhulu eqotho ukwedlula loba yisiphi isidalwa esisemhlabeni loba esisezulwini. (UDanyeli 7:9) Ngakho-ke uJehova uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu endabeni yobuqotho. Akulasidalwa esingatshengisa uphawu lolu njengaye. Cabanga ngezinye izibonelo.

9. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova “uqotho kukho konke akwenzayo”?

⁹ UJehova “uqotho kukho konke akwenzayo.” (IHubo 145:17) Kungani kutshiwo njalo? IHubo 136 lilempendulo. KuleloHubo kuqanjwe indlela uJehova asindisa ngayo, okugoqela lendlela asindisa ngayo abako-Israyeli eLwandle Olubomvu. Ivesi ngayinye yehubo leli icina ngamazwi athi: “Uthando lwakhe oluqotho luhlala kuze kube nini lanini.” Ihubo leli likhona emibuzweni ongacabangisisa ngayo esekhasini 289. Ngesikhathi ubala isahluko leso uzazibonela ngawakho indlela ezitshiyeneyo uJehova atshengisa ngazo ukuthi uqotho ebantwini bakhe. Enye indlela uJehova atshengisa ngayo ukuthi uqotho ebantwini bakhe yikuthi uyalalela nxa bekhuleka kuye becela usizo njalo uyabancedisa ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (IHubo 34:6) Uthando lukaJehova oluqotho ngeke lutshintshe nxa izinceku zakhe zihlala zithembekile kuye.

10. Kuyini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho ezincekwini zakhe?

¹⁰ Okunye futhi okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho ezincekwini zakhe yikuthi izimiso zakhe azitshintshi. UJehova kafanani labantu abaphongutshintsha nje ngoba yena katshintshi indlela abona ngayo okulungileyo lokungalunganga. Kusukela endulo ubelokhu ekuzonda ukusebenzelana lamadimoni, ukukhonza izithombe kanye lokubulala. Watshela umphrofethi u-Isaya ukuthi athi: “Lizaze liguge ngilokhu nginjalo.” (U-Isaya 46:4) Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi sizancedakala nxa singalandela imithetho ecacileyo eseLizwini likaNkulunkulu ephathelane lokuziphatha.—U-Isaya 48:17-19.

11. Nika izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe.

¹¹ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho yikuthi uhlala egcwalisa izithembiso zakhe. Konke akukhulumayo kuyagcwaliseka yikho wathi: ‘Ilizwi eliphuma emlonyeni wami kalisoze liphenduke kimi lingafezanga lutho, kodwa lizakwenza loba yini engiyifunayo. Loba sekutheni, ilizwi lami lizaphumelela kulokho engilithuma ukuthi likwenze.’ (U-Isaya 55:11) Ngokuhlala egcwalisa lokho akuthembisayo, uJehova utshengisa ukuthi uqotho ebantwini bakhe. Kababambisi ilitshe loba sekutheni. Lokhu yikho okwenza uJoshuwa wathi: “Asikho lesisodwa isithembiso esihle uJehova ayesenze kwabako-Israyeli esingazange sigcwaliseke. Konke ayebathembise khona kwenzakala.” (UJoshuwa 21:45) Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova kasoze asidanise ngokwehluleka ukugcwalisa lokho akuthembisileyo.—U-Isaya 49:23; KwabaseRoma 5:5.

12, 13. Kuyini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uthando oluqotho lukaJehova alupheli?

¹² Njengoba sesibonile, iBhayibhili lithi uthando lukaJehova oluqotho “luhlala kuze kube nini lanini.” (IHubo 136:1) Kungani kutshiwo njalo? Esinye isizatho yikuthi nxa uJehova angasithethelela kuhle kuphelele khonapho. ESahlukweni 26 sibonile ukuthi uJehova kaphindi akhumbule izono ezindala asezithethelele. Njengoba ‘sonke sonile njalo sisilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu,’ ngamunye wethu kumele abonge ukuthi uthando oluqotho lukaJehova alupheli.—KwabaseRoma 3:23.

¹³ Kodwa kulokunye okutshengisa ukuthi uthando oluqotho lukaJehova alupheli. ILizwi lakhe lithi olungileyo “uzakuba njengesihlahla esihlanyelwe emifuleni yamanzi, esithela izithelo ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, esilamahlamvu angabuniyo. Konke akwenzayo kuzaphumelela.” (IHubo 1:3) Akucabange ngesihlahla esihle esilamahlamvu angabuniyo! Singafanana laso nxa singalithanda ngenhliziyo yonke iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Sizaphila isikhathi eside, silokuthula futhi sizathola izibusiso khathesi lasesikhathini esizayo. Abantu abalalelayo bazancedwa luthando lukaJehova oluqotho kuze kube phakade emhlabeni omutsha olokulunga.—ISambulo 21:3, 4.

UJehova “Kasoze Abalahle Abaqotho Kuye”

14. UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi uyabuqakathekisa ubuqotho bezinceku zakhe?

¹⁴ UJehova utshengise kanengi ukuthi uqotho. Njengoba engaguquki, ukuthembeka kwakhe ezincekwini zakhe eziqotho akutshintshi loba sekutheni. Umhubi wabhala wathi: “Ngangimncane, khathesi sengimdala, kodwa angikaze ngibone olungileyo elahliwe, loba abantwabakhe beswele ukudla. Ngoba uJehova uthanda ukwahlulela okuhle, kasoze abalahle abaqotho kuye.” (IHubo 37:25, 28) UJehova kufanele akhonzwe ngoba unguMdali. (ISambulo 4:11) Lanxa ephakeme kangako, uJehova uyabuqakathekisa ubuqotho bethu.—UMalakhi 3:16, 17.

15. Chasisa ukuthi indlela uJehova asindisa ngayo abako-Israyeli yayitshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho.

¹⁵ Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova ulothando oluqotho, uhlala ezisiza izinceku zakhe eziphakathi kohlupho. Umhubi wathi: “Uyabalinda abaqotho bakhe, abakhulule ezandleni zababi.” (IHubo 97:10) Cabanga ngendlela aphatha ngayo abako-Israyeli. Esebasindise ngendlela eyisimangaliso eLwandle Olubomvu bahlabelela uJehova besithi: “Ukhokhele abantu obahlengileyo ngothando lwakho oluqotho.” (U-Eksodusi 15:13) Lokhu kwakutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulothando oluqotho sibili. Yikho uMosi watshela abako-Israyeli wathi: “Ayisikho ukuthi uJehova walihawukela njalo walikhetha ngenxa yokuthi laliyisizwe esilabantu abanengi ukwedlula zonke ezinye izizwe. Phela lina lalivele liyisizwe esincane kulazo zonke. Kodwa kungenxa yokuthi uJehova walithanda njalo wayefuna ukugcwalisa isifungo asenza kubokhokho benu, yikho uJehova walikhipha ngesandla esilamandla ukuze alikhulule elizweni lobugqili, emandleni kaFaro, inkosi yaseGibhithe.”—UDutheronomi 7:7, 8.

16, 17. (a) Abako-Israyeli batshengisa njani ukuthi babengabongi, kodwa uJehova wabatshengisa njani isihawu? (b)Kwakhanya njani ukuthi ‘babengasancediseki’ futhi yisiphi isixwayiso esisitholayo?

¹⁶ Abako-Israyeli behluleka ukubonga uthando lukaJehova oluqotho ngoba ngemva kokubasindisa “baqhubeka bemonela, bemhlamukela oPhezukonke.” (IHubo 78:17) Okweminyaka eminengi eyalandelayo babelokhu bemhlamukela uJehova bekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga njalo belandela amasiko abahedeni. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kazange asephule isivumelwano ayesenze labo. Wasebenzisa umphrofethi uJeremiya ukuthi atshele abantu bakhe athi: ‘Phenduka wena Israyeli ohlamukayo, angisoze ngikukhangele ngizondile ngoba ngiqotho.’ (UJeremiya 3:12) Njengoba sifundile eSahlukweni 25, abako-Israyeli abanengi abazange baphenduke lanxa uNkulunkulu wabo “wayelokhu ebaxwayisa esebenzisa izithunywa zakhe.” Kodwa bona “babezihleka izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso, beseyisa amazwi azo njalo bechothoza labaphrofethi bakhe.” Kwaphetha ngani? “Ulaka lukaJehova lwacina lusehlela phezu kwabantu bakhe baze basala bengasancediseki.”—2 ImiLando 36:15, 16.

¹⁷ Sifundani kulokhu? Ukuthi ukuba qotho kukaJehova akutsho ukuthi uyaphonguyekela nje abantu bazenzele umathanda kumbe ukuthi bangamqila azithulele. UJehova “ogcwele uthando oluqotho” uba lesihawu ebantwini nxa kulesizatho sokwenza njalo. Kodwa kwenzakalani nxa umuntu owonileyo esephulela izigodo endlebeni? Endabeni enjalo uJehova unamathela ezimisweni zakhe ezilungileyo amjezise lowomuntu. UMosi watshelwa ukuthi uJehova “kayekeli ukumjezisa umuntu olecala.”—U-Eksodusi 34:6, 7.

18, 19. (a) Ukujezisa kukaJehova abantu ababi kutshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho? (b) UJehova uzatshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho ezincekwini zakhe ezahlukuluzwa zaze zafa?

¹⁸ Ukujezisa kukaNkulunkulu abantu ababi kutshengisa ukuthi uqotho. Njani? Obunye ubufakazi balokhu sibuthola ebhukwini leSambulo lapho uJehova athuma khona izingilosi eziyisikhombisa wazitshela wathi: “Hambani liyethululela emhlabeni imiganu eyisikhombisa yentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu.” Lapho ingilosi yesithathu ithululela umganu wayo “emifuleni lasemithonjeni yamanzi” yatshintsha yaba ligazi. Ingilosi yasisithi kuJehova: “Wena okhona lowayekhona njalo oqotho, utshengise ukuthi ulungile ngokukhipha izahlulelo lezi ngoba bathulula igazi labangcwele lelabaphrofethi. Usubaphe igazi ukuze balinathe futhi lokho kubafanele.”—ISambulo 16:1-6.

¹⁹ Nanzelela ukuthi ngesikhathi ingilosi ibika isigwebo leso, ithi uJehova ‘uqotho.’ Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi ukutshabalalisa kukaJehova abantu ababi kutshengisa ukuthi uqotho ezincekwini zakhe ezahlukuluzwa zaze zafa. UJehova uyafisa ukuphinda ababone abantu labo ababeqotho kuye, yikho uzabavusa ngoba basenkumbulweni yakhe. (UJobe 14:14, 15) UJehova kabakhohlwa abantu abathembekileyo kuye lanxa bengaze bafe “ngoba kuye bonke bayaphila.” (ULukha 20:37, 38) Ngakho ukuvuswa kwabafileyo kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho sibili.

Uthando Oluqotho LukaJehova Lusinika Ithuba Lokusindiswa

20. Ngobani ‘abayizitsha zesihawu’ njalo uJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho kubo?

²⁰ Kusukela endulo uJehova ubelokhu ethembekile ebantwini abaqotho. Singathi okwezinkulungwane zeminyaka uJehova ubelokhu ‘ebekezelela izitsha zolaka ezifanele ukubhujiswa.’ Ngenxa yani? Ukuze “inotho yenkazimulo yakhe esezitsheni zesihawu yaziwe, leyo ayevele wayilungisela inkazimulo yakhe.” (KwabaseRoma 9:22, 23) ‘Izitsha zesihawu’ yilabo abagcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele ukuze bayebusa loKhristu eMbusweni wakhe. (UMathewu 19:28) Ngokuvula indlela yokuthi izitsha lezi zisindiswe, uJehova wayetshengisa ukuthi uqotho ku-Abrahama ngoba wayenze laye isivumelwano wathi: “Ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizazitholela isibusiso ngenxa yokuthi ulalele ilizwi lami.”—UGenesisi 22:18.

21. (a) UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi uqotho ‘exukwini elikhulu’? (b) Ukuthembeka kukaJehova kukwenza ufise ukwenzani?

²¹ UJehova uqotho ‘lasexukwini elikhulu’ elizasinda “ekuhluphekeni okukhulu” beseliphila phakade emhlabeni olipharadayisi. (ISambulo 7:9, 10, 14) Lanxa abantu laba belesono, uJehova utshengisa ukuthi uqotho ngokubanika ithuba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni olipharadayisi. Ukwenza njani lokhu? Usebenzisa inhlawulo okuyindlela enkulu ukwedlula zonke yokutshengisa ukuthi uqotho. (UJohane 3:16; KwabaseRoma 5:8) Uthando lukaJehova oluqotho lwenza labo abathanda ukulunga basondele kuye. (UJeremiya 31:3) Kawuzizwa useduze loJehova yini ngenxa yokuthembeka akutshengise abantu lalokho azabatshengisa khona? Kasitshengiseni ukuthi siyambonga uNkulunkulu ngothando lwakhe, siqhubeke simkhonza sithembekile.

1-3. (a) Kuyini okwenza uJesu wafuna ukuba njengoYise? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni lesi?

WAKE wabona yini umfana omncane ezama ukulingisela uyise? Angabe elingisela indlela uyise ahamba ngayo, ukukhuluma kwakhe kumbe izinto ajayele ukuzenza. Ngokuya kwesikhathi umfana lo angalingisela ubuntu bukayise kanye lendlela uyise aqakathekisa ngayo izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza. Okumenza afune ukuba njengoyise yikuthi uyamthanda.

² Kuthiwani ngobudlelwano obuphakathi kukaJesu loYise osezulwini? UJesu wathi: “Ngiyamthanda uBaba.” (UJohane 14:31) Akulamuntu ongathanda uJehova ngendlela uJesu athanda ngayo uYise. Phela uJesu wahlala loYise okwesikhathi eside ezinye izidalwa zingakabi khona. Yikho indlela amthanda ngayo yiyo eyabangela ukuthi afune ukuba njengoYise.—UJohane 14:9.

³ Ezahlukweni ezidlulileyo zebhuku leli, sixoxe ngendlela uJesu alingisela ngayo amandla, ukwahlulela okuhle kanye lenhlakanipho kaJehova. Kodwa uJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi ulothando njengoYise? Asixoxeni ngezindlela ezintathu uJesu atshengisa ngazo ukuthi ulothando: Ukuzinikela kwakhe, isihawu sakhe kanye lokuthethelela kwakhe.

“Kakho Olothando Olwedlula Lolu”

4. Kungani uJesu eyisibonelo esihle kakhulu endabeni yokuba lothando olulokuzinikela?

⁴ UJesu uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu endabeni yokutshengisa uthando olulokuzinikela. Ukuzinikela kutsho ukungagijimisi okufunwa nguwe kuphela kodwa ube lendaba lokufunwa ngabanye. UJesu walutshengisa njani uthando olunjalo? Yena ngokwakhe wathi: “Kakho olothando olwedlula lolu, ukuthi umuntu anikele ngempilo yakhe ngenxa yabangane bakhe.” (UJohane 15:13) UJesu kazange abanjwe ngamandla ukuthi anikele ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu. Akulamuntu owake watshengisa uthando ngendlela enkulu kangaka. UJesu waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulothando ngezinye futhi indlela.

5. Kungani ukusuka kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezulwini kutshengisa ukuthi ilothando olukhulu?

⁵ INdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa yayilesikhundla esiphezulu ezulwini ingakabuyi emhlabeni. Yayiseduze kakhulu loJehova kanye lezingilosi ezinengi ezisezulwini. Lanxa kunjalo, iNdodana le ethandekayo ‘yazidela yatshiya konke eyayilakho yaba njengenceku njalo yaba ngumuntu.’ (KwabaseFiliphi 2:7) Yavuma ngokuzithandela ukuthi ibuye emhlabeni izophila labantu abalesono emhlabeni ‘ongaphansi kwamandla kaSathane.’ (1 UJohane 5:19) Lokho okwenziwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu kutshengisa ukuthi ilothando olukhulu kakhulu.

6, 7. (a) UJesu watshengisa ngaziphi indlela ukuthi ulothando olukhulu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo esithintayo sothando olungazifuneli okwalo esibhalwe kuJohane 19:25-27?

⁶ UJesu watshengisa ngezindlela ezinengi ukuthi ulothando olukhulu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni. Kazange aqakathekise okwakufunwa nguye ngoba wadela ukukhomba ngophakathi wagxila enkonzweni eyayinceda abanye. Yikho wathi: “Amakhanka alemilindi lenyoni zilezidleke, kodwa iNdodana yomuntu yona ayilandawo yokubeka ikhanda.” (UMathewu 8:20) Njengoba wayeyingcitshi yokubaza, uJesu wayengabaza impahla zendlini ezinhle azithengise azuze imali enengi njalo wayengazakhela indlu enhle. Kodwa kazange asebenzise ubungcitshi bakhe ukuthi azinothise.

⁷ Esinye isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayelothando sibhalwe kuJohane 19:25-27. Cabanga ngezinto uJesu ayengabe ekhathazeke ngazo ngesikhathi esezakufa. Ngesikhathi esizwa ubuhlungu esigodweni wayekhathazeke ngabafundi bakhe, umsebenzi wokutshumayela lokuthi wayezaqhubeka ethembekile yini kuYise. Phela ithemba labantu bonke lalisemahlombe akhe! Okunye uJesu ayekhathazeke ngakho yikuthi unina ayemthanda futhi okungenzeka ukuthi wayesengumfelokazi wayesezasala enakekelwa ngubani. Ngakho wacela umphostoli uJohane ukuthi anakekele uMariya amgcine njengonina omzalayo, ngemva kwalokho umphostoli lo wahamba loMariya wayamgcina emzini wakhe. Lanxa wayesezakufa, uJesu waba leqiniso lokuthi unina usala egcinwe kuhle lokuthi uyanakekelwa ezindabeni zokukhonza. Le kwakuyindlela engcono kakhulu yokutshengisa uthando olungazifuneli okwalo!

“Wabazwela Usizi”

8. Litshoni ibala lesiGrikhi elisetshenziswe eBhayibhilini ukuze kuchazwe isihawu sikaJesu?

⁸ UJesu wayelesihawu njengoYise. IMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayesenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuthi ancede labo ababehlupheka ngoba wayebazwela kakhulu. IBhayibhili lisebenzisa ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “wabazwela usizi” ukuze lichaze isihawu sikaJesu. Esinye isikhwicamfundo sithi: ‘Ibala leli litsho umuzwa olamandla ovela ngaphakathi komuntu. Libala lesiGrikhi elilamandla ukwedlula wonke elichaza ukuba lesihawu.’ Cabanga ngezinye izenzakalo lapho isihawu esikhulu esabangela ukuthi uJesu enze okuthile.

9, 10. (a) Kwakutheni uJesu labaphostoli baze bacine sebedinga indawo ethuleyo? (b) UJesu wenzani ngesikhathi ephanjaniswa lixuku futhi kungani wenza njalo?

⁹ Isihawu samenza wafundisa abantu ngoJehova. Indaba ebhalwe kuMakho 6:30-34 itshengisa isizatho esasisenza uJesu abazwele abantu. Kubone ngelihlo lengqondo okwakusenzakala lapho. Abaphostoli babethabe bemanzi te ngoba babevela kwenza umsebenzi omkhulu wokutshumayela. Babuyela kuJesu bambikela konke ababekubonile lababekuzwile. Kodwa kwakulexuku elikhulu elalibuthanele uJesu labafundi bakhe baze baswela lesikhathi sokudla. Njengomuntu owayelelihlo elibukhali, uJesu wananzelela ukuthi abaphostoli basebediniwe yikho wathi kubo: “Wozani lina lodwa siye endaweni engelabantu siyephumula kancane.” Bagada isikepe baqonda enyakatho yoLwandle lwaseGalile besiya endaweni ethuleyo. Kodwa ixuku labantu lababona besuka ikanti abanye bezwa ngakho. Ixuku lonke leli lagijima liqonde ekhunjini olusenyakatho, laze laqalela lesikepe ukuyafika khona!

¹⁰ UJesu wacaphuka yini ngokuphanjaniswa kwakhe efuna ukuphumula? Ngitsho lakancane! Wathinteka lapho efica izinkulungwane zabantu zimlindele. UMakho wabhala wathi: “Wabona kulabantu abanengi, wabazwela usizi ngoba babenjengezimvu ezingelamelusi, waseqalisa ukubafundisa izinto ezinengi.” UJesu wabona ukuthi umuntu ngamunye wayedinga ukuncediswa ezindabeni zokukhonza. Babenjengezimvu ezazinhlanhlatha, zingelamelusi owayengazinqanda kumbe azivikele. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo ababengelazwelo babengabananzi abantu laba. (UJohane 7:47-49) Yikho wabazwela wahle waqalisa ukubafundisa “ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (ULukha 9:11) Nanzelela ukuthi uJesu wabazwela abantu laba engakaboni lokuthi babezakwamukela yini lokho ayezabafundisa khona. Ngamanye amazwi, ayisikho ukuthi waba lesihawu ngemva kokubafundisa kodwa sona yiso esamenza wabafundisa.

11, 12. (a) Ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili abantu ababelobulephero babephathwa njani, kodwa uJesu wenzani ngesikhathi elandwa yindoda “eyayigcwele ubulephero”? (b) Kufanele ukuthi indoda elobulephero yezwa njani ngesikhathi uJesu eyibamba futhi isibonelo somunye udokotela sikutshengisa njani lokhu?

¹¹ Isihawu senza uJesu wancedisa ababehlupheka. Abantu ababelemikhuhlane etshiyeneyo babesondela kuJesu ngoba babenanzelela ukuthi wayelesihawu. Lokhu kwakhanya lapho uJesu elandwa ngeyinye indoda “eyayigcwele ubulephero” ngesikhathi kulexuku labantu elalimlandela. (ULukha 5:12) Ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili, abantu ababelobulephero babehlaliswa bodwa ukuze bangatheleli abanye umkhuhlane lo. (AmaNani 5:1-4) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi abakhokheli abangorabi bafaka eyabo imithetho eyayicindezela abantu ababelobulephero.a Kodwa nanzelela indlela uJesu ayiphatha ngayo indoda le. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kwafika indoda elobulephero yamncenga iguqile isithi: ‘Ngiyakwazi ukuthi nxa ufuna ungangenza ngihlambuluke.’ UJesu wayizwela usizi welula isandla sakhe wayibamba wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyafuna, hlambuluka.’ Masinyane nje ubulephero banyamalala yasala isihlambulukile.” (UMakho 1:40-42) UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi indoda le yayisephula umthetho ngokuba phakathi kwabantu. Kulokuthi ayixotshele khatshana, uJesu wathinteka kakhulu waze wenza okwakungalindelwanga, wayibamba!

¹² Ubona angani indoda le yezwa njani ngesikhathi uJesu eyibamba? Ngokwesibonelo, uPaul Brand oyingcitshi yokwelapha ubulephero ulandisa ngokwenzakala ngesikhathi eselapha indoda ethile e-India. Esayihlola wayigona indoda le waseyichazela esebenzisa umtoliki ukuthi wayezayelapha njani. Indoda le elobulephero yaqalisa ukukhala. Udokotela wayibuza wathi: “Kulolutho olubi engilukhulumileyo yini?” Umtoliki waseyibuza indoda le ngolimi lwayo, wasetshela udokotela wathi: “Hatshi dokotela. Uthi ukhaliswa yikuthi umgonile. Wena ungowokuqala ukumthinta ngemva kweminyaka eminengi engakaze athintwe ngumuntu.” Indoda eyayilobulephero eyalanda uJesu yathokoza sibili uJesu eyithinta, kodwa yancedakala okudlula lapho. Umkhuhlane owawusubangele ukuthi abantu bayininele khatshana wahle waphela du ngemva kokuthintwa kwayo nguJesu kanye nje kuphela!

13, 14. (a) UJesu wahlangana labantu ababesiya ngaphi esebanga edolobheni leNayini futhi kuyini okwakuzwisa usizi? (b) Isihawu sikaJesu samenza wamnceda njani umfelokazi weNayini?

¹³ Isihawu senza uJesu wancedisa ababefelwe. Kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu uJesu ukubona abantu behlupheka. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendaba ekuLukha 7:11-15 eyenzakala ngemva komnyaka lenyanga ezingu-9 uJesu eqalise inkonzo yakhe. Ngelinye ilanga wathi esezafika egedini ledolobho okuthiwa yiNayini eliseGalile wahlangana labantu ababesiya emngcwabeni. Imfa le yayizwisa usizi sibili ngoba ijaha elalifile lalizelwe laba yilo lodwa kunina owayengumfelokazi. Kungenzakala ukuthi abantu babeke beza emngcwabeni womkakhe, yikho kwakungayisikho kokuqala ukuthi umfelokazi lo abuthanelwe ngabantu. Khathesi kwasekufe indodana yakhe okungenzakala ukuthi yiyo yodwa eyayimgcinile. Ixuku labantu elalimphelekezela lalihlanganisa abantu ababekhala lababehlabela izingoma. (UJeremiya 9:17, 18; UMathewu 9:23) UJesu wamzwela kakhulu umama lo owayehlulukelwe, ehamba eceleni kohlaka olwalulesidumbu somntanakhe.

¹⁴ ‘Wamzwela usizi’ umfelokazi lo wasekhuluma ngelizwi eliduduzayo wathi: “Thula, ungakhali.” Wasondela wathinta uhlaka, ababethwele uhlaka bama mpo bemangele futhi kungenzakala lokuthi ixuku elalilandela khonapho lalo lahle lama. Ekhuluma ngelizwi elilamandla, uJesu wathi emuntwini owayefile: “Jaha, ngithi kuwe, vuka!” Kwasekusenzakalani? “Lakanye ijaha lelo lavuka lahlala laqalisa ukukhuluma” okomuntu ovuka ebuthongweni! Ngemva kwalokho iBhayibhili lithi uJesu ‘walibuyisela kunina.’

15. (a) Okwenziwa nguJesu kutshengisa njani ukuthi umuntu olesihawu ukhanya ngokuthatha inyathelo lokunceda abanye? (b) Singamlingisela njani uJesu endabeni le?

¹⁵ Esikufunda ezindabeni lezi yikuthi umuntu olesihawu uyathatha inyathelo lokunceda abantu abathwele nzima, kaphongubukela nje. UJesu wayesithi angabona abanye abantu behlupheka abazwele, abesesenza okuthile ngakho. Singamlingisela njani? Kumele sitshumayele izindaba ezinhle futhi senze abafundi. Isizatho esikhulu sokwenza umsebenzi lo yikuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu. Kodwa asikhumbuleni ukuthi umsebenzi lo udinga ukuthi sibe lesihawu. Nxa singabazwela abantu njengoJesu, sizakwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sibatshele izindaba ezinhle. (UMathewu 22:37-39) Kanti njalo kumele sibe lesihawu kubazalwane bethu abahluphekayo kumbe abahlulukelweyo. Lanxa singenelisi ukwenza izimangaliso zokwelapha abagulayo kumbe ezokuvusa abafileyo njengoJesu, singatshengisa ukuthi silesihawu ngokubaduduza langokubancedisa ngalokho abangabe bekudinga.—Kwabase-Efesu 4:32.

“Baba, Bathethelele”

16. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi wayengumuntu othethelelayo ngitsho lalapho ebethelwa esigodweni?

¹⁶ Enye indlela eqakathekileyo uJesu atshengisa ngayo ukuthi ulothando njengoYise yikuthi ‘wayezimisele ukuthethelela.’ (IHubo 86:5) Ukuzimisela kwakhe ukuthethelela kwakhanya ngitsho lalapho esebethelwe esigodweni. Kanje uJesu wathini ngesikhathi ebulawa kabuhlungu, izipikili sezihlabe zatshona ezandleni lasenyaweni zakhe? Wacela ukuthi uJehova abajezise yini labo ababembulala? Hatshi, kulokuthi enze njalo yena wathi: “Baba, bathethelele ngoba abakwazi abakwenzayo.”—ULukha 23:34.b

17-19. UJesu watshengisa ngaziphi indlela ukuthi wayemthethelele umphostoli uPhetro lanxa wayemphike kathathu?

¹⁷ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu uyathethelela yindlela aphatha ngayo uPhetro. UPhetro wayemthanda kakhulu uJesu. Ebusuku bokucina uJesu esemhlabeni, uPhetro wamtshela wathi: “Nkosi, ngizimisele ukuhamba lawe ejele lokufa lawe.” Kodwa ngemva nje kwamahola amalutshwane, uPhetro waphika ukuthi uyamazi uJesu! IBhayibhili liyasitshela okwenzakalayo ngesikhathi esemphika okwesithathu. Lithi: “INkosi yasitshibilika yamkhangela yamuthi nhlo.” Wazisola kakhulu “waphuma phandle wakhala kabuhlungu.” UJesu wathi esebulewe, kungenzeka umphostoli lo wazibuza ukuthi, ‘Kambe iNkosi yami ingithethelele yini?’—ULukha 22:33, 61, 62.

¹⁸ Akuthathanga isikhathi eside ukuthi uPhetro athole impendulo. UJesu wavuswa ekuseni ngoNisani 16 njalo kukhanya angani wahle wayavakatshela uPhetro mhlalokho. (ULukha 24:34; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:4-8) Kungani uJesu wazinika isikhathi sokuyabona umphostoli lo owayemphike wemba phansi? Wayengabe efuna ukuqinisekisa uPhetro owayesephendukile esonweni sakhe ukuthi iNkosi yakhe yayilokhu isamthanda njalo isamqakathekisa. Kodwa kulokunye futhi uJesu akwenzayo ukuze aqinisekise uPhetro.

¹⁹ Ngemva kwesikhathi uJesu wabonakala kubafundi bakhe eLwandle lwaseGalile. Wambuza kathathu uPhetro ukuthi uyamthanda yini. Esembuze okwesithathu waphendula esithi: “Nkosi, wena uyazazi zonke izinto, uyakwazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.” Njengoba uJesu wayesenelisa ukubona okusenhliziyweni, wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi uPhetro uyamthanda sibili. Kodwa uJesu wanika uPhetro ithuba lokuthi akwenze kucace ukuthi wayelokhu emthanda. Okunye akwenzayo yikumnika umsebenzi wokupha ‘amazinyane ezimvu zakhe ukudla.’ (UJohane 21:15-17) UPhetro wayephiwe umsebenzi wokutshumayela. (ULukha 5:10) Kodwa lapha uJesu watshengisa ukuthi uyamthemba kakhulu ngokumnika omunye futhi umsebenzi oqakathekileyo wokunakekela bonke ababezakuba ngabalandeli bakaKhristu. Ngemva kwalokho, uJesu wambeka ukuthi akhokhele emsebenzini owawuzakwenziwa ngabafundi. (ImiSebenzi 2:1-41) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uPhetro wathokoza kakhulu esenanzelele ukuthi uJesu wayemthethelele njalo wayelokhu emthemba.

Uyalwazi Yini “Uthando LukaKhristu”?

20, 21. Singenzani ukuze silwazi “uthando lukaKhristu”?

²⁰ ILizwi likaJehova liluchaza kuhle uthando lukaKhristu. Ngakho kumele silwazi kuhle “uthando lukaKhristu oluqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula ulwazi.” (Kwabase-Efesu 3:19) Njengoba sesibonile, izindaba ezisemaVangelini eziphathelane lempilo kanye lenkonzo kaJesu zisifundisa okunengi ngothando lukaKhristu. Kodwa ‘ukwazi uthando’ lolu akutsho ukufunda nje lokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo ngaye.

²¹ Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘ukwazi’ litsho ukuba lolwazi “oluthole ngokwenzakale empilweni yakho kumbe ngalokho okwenzileyo.” Sizazwisisa indlela uJesu ayesizwa ngayo nxa sitshengisa uthando njengaye, sizimisela ukuba lesihawu kubafowethu ngokubancedisa langothethelela abanye ngenhliziyo yonke. Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sesilwazi “uthando lukaKhristu oluqakathekele ukwedlula ukwazi.” Asihlaleni sikhumbula ukuthi nxa singalingisela uKhristu sizasondela kakhulu kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu olothando.

1-3. Ukulingisela uJehova ekutshengiseni uthando kuba layiphi impumela?

“UKUPHA kuyathokozisa kakhulu ukwedlula ukwamukela.” (ImiSebenzi 20:35) Amazwi la akhulunywa nguJesu futhi agcizelela iqiniso eliqakathekileyo elokuthi ukuthanda abanye ngenhliziyo yonke kunceda thina ngoba kwenza sithokoze. Njengoba nje ukuthandwa kuthokozisa, ukupha kanye lokuthanda abanye kuthokozisa kakhulu.

² UBaba wethu osezulwini ukwazi kuhle lokhu ukwedlula loba ngubani. Njengoba sibonile ezahlukweni ezidlulileyo, uJehova uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu ekutshengiseni uthando. Utshengise uthando ngezindlela ezimangalisayo futhi uselesikhathi eside ukwedlula wonke umuntu. Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi uJehova ubizwa ngokuthi ‘nguNkulunkulu othokozayo.’—1 KuThimothi 1:11.

³ UNkulunkulu wethu olothando ufuna sizame ukuba njengaye, ikakhulu endabeni yokutshengisa uthando. Incwadi yabase-Efesu 5:1, 2 ithi: “Lingiselani uNkulunkulu njengoba lingabantwabakhe abathandayo. Qhubekani liphila impilo yothando.” Nxa singalingisela uJehova ekutshengiseni uthando, sizaba ngabantu abaphanayo okuzasenza sithokoze. Kanti njalo sizathokoziswa yikwazi ukuthi sithokozisa uJehova osikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandane.’ (KwabaseRoma 13:8) Kodwa kulezinye futhi izizatho zokuthi ‘siqhubeke siphila impilo yothando.’

Kungani Uthando Luqakathekile?

4, 5. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sitshengise esikhonza labo uthando?

⁴ Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sithande esikhonza labo? Ngamazwi alula nje, uthando yilo olutshengisa ukuthi singamaKhristu eqiniso. Nxa singelathando ngeke sizwanane lamaKhristu esikhonza lawo futhi loJehova uyabe engasayamukeli inkonzo yethu. Nanzelela ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu likutshengisa njani lokhu.

⁵ Ngobusuku bokucina esemhlabeni, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Ngilinika umlayo omutsha wokuthi lithandane. Thandanani ngendlela lami engilithande ngayo. Nxa lithandana, abantu bonke bazakwazi ukuthi lingabafundi bami.” (UJohane 13:34, 35) Amazwi athi ‘ngendlela engilithande ngayo’ atshengisa ukuthi sikhangelelwe ukuthanda abanye ngendlela uJesu abathanda ngayo. ESahlukweni 29 sibonile ukuthi uJesu uyisibonelo esikhulu ekutshengiseni uthando olulokuzinikela ngoba wayengagijimisi okufunwa nguye kodwa wayekhangela okufunwa ngabanye. Lathi kumele sitshengise uthando olungazifuneli okwalo, futhi kumele silutshengise ngokucacileyo luze lukhanye lakulabo abangayisibo oFakazi. Iqiniso yikuthi uthando olunjalo luphawu olutshengisa ukuthi singabalandeli bakaKhristu beqiniso.

6, 7. (a) Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi ukuthanda abanye kuqakathekile? (b) Amazwi kaPhawuli aku-1 Khorinte 13:4-8 akhuluma ngani?

⁶ Ingaphi ingozi yokungabi lothando? Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: ‘Nxa ngingelathando, ngiyinsimbi elomsindo loba ekhencezayo.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:1) Insimbi ekhencezayo ilomsindo odakayo. Amanye amaBhayibhili athi “insimbi ekhalayo” kumbe “izenge elikhalela phezulu.” Le yimizekeliso efaneleyo sibili! Umuntu ongelathando unjengensimbi ekhalela phezulu elomsindo odakayo kulokuthi ikwenze ukholise. Kunzima ukuthi umuntu onjalo azwanane labanye. UPhawuli waphinda wathi: ‘Nxa ngilalo lonke ukholo olungasusa izintaba kodwa ngingelathando, angisilutho.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:2) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi umuntu ongelathando “kalancedo” lanxa angaze enzeni! (The Amplified Bible) IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi into uNkulunkulu ayiqakathekisayo yikuthi sibe lothando.

⁷ Kodwa singalutshengisa njani uphawu lolu endleleni esiphatha ngayo abanye? Ukuze siphendule umbuzo lo, kasihloleni amazwi kaPhawuli aku-1 Khorinte 13:4-8. Emavesini la uPhawuli kakhulumi ngendlela uNkulunkulu asithanda ngayo kumbe indlela thina esimthanda ngayo. Kodwa ukhuluma ngendlela okumele sibathande ngayo abanye echasisa lokho uthando oluyikho lalokho olungakwenziyo.

Lokho Uthando Oluyikho

8. Ukubekezela kungasinceda njani endleleni esiphatha ngayo abafowethu?

⁸ “Uthando luyabekezela.” Ukubekezela kutsho ukuba lesineke lanxa abanye abantu bekuphambanisela. (KwabaseKholose 3:13) Siyasidinga isineke esinjalo. Kulengqondo ukulindela ukuthi lapha lalaphaya abafowethu labodadewethu basicaphule kumbe ukuthi lathi sibacaphule ngoba sonke silesono. Kodwa isineke lokuzibamba kungasinceda ukuthi sibekezele nxa abafowethu besiphambanisele njalo singaphambanisi ukuthula kwebandla.

9. Singatshengisa njani umusa kwabanye?

⁹ ‘Uthando lulomusa.’ Umusa ukhanya ngokunceda abanye kanye lokubatshela amazwi aduduzayo. Uthando lusenza sidinge izindlela zokutshengisa umusa, ikakhulu kulabo abakudinga kakhulu ukuncediswa. Ngokwesibonelo, kungabe kulothile esikhonza laye osekhulile ongabe elesizungu futhi edinga ukuvakatshelwa ukuze akhuthazwe. Owesifazana owondla yedwa abantwana kumbe udadewethu ohlala labantu abangakhonziyo angadinga ukuncediswa. Umuntu ogulayo kumbe olenhlupho angafuna ukuzwa amazwi aduduzayo akhulunywa ngumngane othembekileyo. (IZaga 12:25; 17:17) Nxa thina singaqalisa ukutshengisa umusa ngezindlela ezinjalo, kuhle kukhanye ukuthi uthando lwethu luqotho.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 8:8.

10. Uthando lusinceda njani ukuthi sisekele iqiniso lanxa kunzima ukwenza njalo?

¹⁰ ‘Uthando luthokoziswa liqiniso.’ Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha umutsho lo ngokuthi: ‘Uthando lujabulela ukusekela iqiniso.’ Uthando lwenza sisekele iqiniso futhi ‘sikhulume iqiniso komunye lomunye.’ (UZakhariya 8:16) Ngokwesibonelo, nxa umuntu esimthandayo angenza isono esikhulu sizalandela izimiso zikaJehova kulokuthi sizame ukufihla isono leso kumbe ukuqamba amanga loba ukwenza angani akulalutho olukhulu olwenzakeleyo. Okwenza senze njalo yikuthi siyamthanda uJehova kanye lalowo owenze isono. Kuliqiniso ukuthi kungaba nzima ukukwamukela ukuthi kwenzakele lokhu. Kodwa nxa sifuna ukuthi lowo esimthandayo asizakale sizazama ngamandla wonke ukuthi athole iseluleko esilothando esivela kuNkulunkulu futhi asisebenzise. (IZaga 3:11, 12) NjengamaKhristu alothando, sifisa “ukuthembeka kukho konke.”—KumaHebheru 13:18.

11. Ngenxa yokuthi ‘uthando lubekezelela zonke izinto,’ kuyini okumele sizame ukukwenza nxa esikhonza labo besiphambanisele?

¹¹ ‘Uthando lubekezelela zonke izinto.’ Umutsho lo utsho ukuthi “lusibekela zonke izinto.” (Kingdom Interlinear) U-1 Phetro 4:8 uthi: “Uthando lusibekela izono ezinengi.” Ngakho nxa sibathanda abafowethu labodadewethu asisoze sihambe sitshela abanye ngamaphutha abawenzayo. Izikhathi ezinengi, ukuphambanisa kwesikhonza labo kuncane kakhulu futhi kungasibekelwa luthando.—IZaga 10:12; 17:9.

12. Umphostoli uPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayekholwa ukuthi uFilimoni uzakwenza okuqondileyo futhi thina singafundani esibonelweni sikaPhawuli?

¹² ‘Uthando lukholwa zonke izinto.’ IBhayibhili elahunyutshwa nguMoffatt lithi uthando “luhlala luzimisele ukukholwa okuhle kakhulu.” Nxa silothando kasiphongusola esikhonza labo, sisenza angani balenhloso ezimbi kukho konke abakwenzayo. Uthando lwenza sibathembe abazalwane bethu njalo sikholwe ukuthi bazakwenza “okuhle kakhulu.”a Nanzelela isibonelo salokho encwadini uPhawuli ayibhalela uFilimoni. Wakhuthaza uFilimoni owayebalekelwe yisigqili sakhe okwakuthiwa ngu-Onesimu, esasesingumKhristu ukuthi asamukele ngomusa. Kulokuthi uPhawuli abambe uFilimoni ngamandla, wamncenga ngendlela elothando. Watshengisa ukuthi wayemthemba uFilimoni ukuthi uzakwenza okuqondileyo yikho wathi: “Ngikwazi mhlophe ukuthi uzangilalela, yikho ngikubhalela nje ngisazi ukuthi uzakwenza okwedlula engikutshoyo.” (Ivesi 21) Nxa sibathemba abafowethu labodadewethu sizahlala sibakhuthaza futhi ukwenza njalo kuzatshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda sibili.

13. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silethemba lokuthi abafowethu bazakwenza okuqondileyo?

¹³ ‘Uthando luthemba zonke izinto.’ Uthando luyakholwa luphinde luthembe. Uthando lusenza sithembe ukuthi abafowethu bazakwenza okuqondileyo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa umfowethu “esephambuka engananzeleli,” siyathemba ukuthi uzayamukela imizamo yokumqondisa. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:1) Kasilahli ithemba ngalabo abangasaqinanga ekukhonzeni. Siba lesineke ebantwini abanjalo, sizame ngamandla wonke ukubancedisa baqine ekukhonzeni. (KwabaseRoma 15:1; 1 KwabaseThesalonika 5:14) Lanxa umuntu esimthandayo engatshiya uJehova, kasilahli themba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga uzaphenduka njengendodana yolahleko esemzekelisweni kaJesu.—ULukha 15:17, 18.

14. Kuyini okumele sikubekezele ngezinye izikhathi futhi uthando lungasinceda ukuthi senzeni?

¹⁴ ‘Uthando luqinisela ezintweni zonke.’ Ukubekezela kusenza senelise ukuhlala siqinile nxa silenhlupho kumbe nxa othile angasidanisa. Izilingo okumele sizibekezelele aziveli ebantwini abangakhonzi uJehova kuphela. Ngezinye izikhathi, zingavela lasebandleni ngokwalo. Esikhonza labo bangasidanisa ngenxa yokuthi balesono. Omunye umuntu ongakhethanga kuhle amazwi akhe angasiphoxa sisale sisizwa ubuhlungu. (IZaga 12:18) Mhlawumbe indaba ethile ebandleni kayixazululwanga ngendlela ebesiyikhangelele. Indlela umfowethu othile aziphatha ngayo ingasidanisa, isenze sizibuze ukuthi, ‘UmKhristu angenza njani into enje?’ Nxa sisehlelwa yizinto ezinjalo, sizalitshiya yini ibandla sime ukukhonza uJehova? Ngeke sikwenze lokhu nxa silothando! Uthando lwenza singaphandlwa yikuphambanisa komfowethu sicine singasaboni okuhle akwenzayo kumbe okusebandleni. Uthando lwenza sihlale sithembekile kuNkulunkulu futhi sisekela ibandla kungelani lokuthi abantu abalesono benzani kumbe bathini.—IHubo 119:165.

Lokho Uthando Olungakwenziyo

15. Kuyini umhawu futhi uthando lungasinceda njani ukuthi singabi lawo?

¹⁵ “Uthando alulamhawu.” Umhawu yikuba lomona ngalokho abanye abalakho, kungaba yimpahla yabo, izibusiso abazitholileyo kumbe iziphiwo abalazo. Ukuba lomhawu kuyingozi ngoba kuyasilimaza njalo kuphambanisa lokuthula okusebandleni. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singabi lomoya wokuba lomona? (UJakhobe 4:5) Ngebala elilodwa nje, luthando. Uphawu lolu lungasenza senelise ukuthokoza lalabo okukhanya angathi impilo yabo ibahambela ngcono kuleyethu. (KwabaseRoma 12:15) Uthando lusinceda ukuthi singacaphuki nxa omunye umuntu enconywa ngenxa yeziphiwo alazo kumbe okuhle akufezileyo.

16. Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu, kungani kungamelanga sizitshaye isifuba ngalokho esikufezayo enkonzweni kaJehova?

¹⁶ ‘Uthando aluzitshayi isifuba, aluzikhukhumezi.’ Uthando lusinceda ukuthi singabukisi ngeziphiwo esilazo kumbe esikufezileyo. Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu, ngeke sitshone sizigqaja ngesiyabe sikufezile enkonzweni kumbe ngemisebenzi esilayo ebandleni. Ukuzitshaya isifuba okunjalo kungenza abanye bazikhangelele phansi futhi bazibone bengasilutho nxa beziqathanisa lathi. Uthando alusivumeli ukuthi sizitshaye isifuba ngenxa yezibusiso uNkulunkulu asinike zona ekumkhonzeni. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 3:5-9) Ngoba vele uthando “aluzikhukhumezi.” Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha umutsho lo ngokuthi, “kalugcini imicabango yokuziqakathekisa.” Uthando lusenza singaziboni singcono kakhulu kulabanye.—KwabaseRoma 12:3.

17. Uthando lwenza sibaphathe njani abanye futhi kuyini esingasoze sikwenze?

¹⁷ ‘Uthando aluziphathi ngendlela engafanelanga.’ Umuntu oziphatha ngendlela engafanelanga wenza izinto ezicaphula abanye. Ukwenza njalo kutshengisa ukuthi kabathandi abanye futhi kazihluphi ngokuthi bazizwa njani. Kodwa umuntu olothando kenzi izinto ezingathokozisi abanye. Phela uthando lwenza umuntu abe lobuntu, aziphathe ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu futhi ahloniphe abanye. Uthando alusivumeli ukuthi ‘siziphathe ngendlela elihlazo’ okutsho ukwenza loba yini engethusa kumbe izwise abafowethu ubuhlungu.—Kwabase-Efesu 5:3, 4.

18. Kungani umuntu olothando engawomeleli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yakhe?

¹⁸ ‘Uthando aluzifuneli okwalo.’ Elinye iBhayibhili liyibeka kanje ivesi le: “Uthando kaluwomeli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yalo.” Umuntu olothando kawomeleli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yakhe, angani imibono yakhe ihlala iqondile. Kasebenzisi ikhono lakhe lokuba ligabazi ekukhulumeni ukuthi enze labo abalemibono etshiyene leyakhe bakholwe ukuthi owakhe umbono yiwo oqondileyo. Ukwenza njalo kungatshengisa ukuthi umuntu uyazigqaja futhi iBhayibhili lithi: “Nxa umuntu eziphakamisa okulandelayo yikuphahlazeka.” (IZaga 16:18) Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu labodadewethu sizayihlonipha imibono yabo, futhi nxa kuvuma sitshintshe umbono wethu. Ukuvuma ukutshintsha kuvumelana lamazwi kaPhawuli athi: “Umuntu ngamunye kangazifuneli okunceda yena kodwa kaqhubeke esenza okunceda abanye.”—1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:24.

19. Uthando lusinceda ukuthi senzeni nxa abanye bangasicaphula?

¹⁹ ‘Uthando alucaphuki, alugcini izikhwili.’ Uthando kaluphangisi ukuthukuthela ngezinto ezikhulunywa kumbe zenziwe ngabanye. Kuliqiniso ukuthi kujayelekile ukuthi sicaphuke nxa abanye bengakhuluma okusicaphulayo. Lanxa silesizatho esihle sokuzonda, uthando kalusivumeli ukuthi sihlale sizondile. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:26, 27) Kasifuni kuwagcina enhliziyweni amazwi asizwise ubuhlungu, kumbe isenzo esisicaphulileyo, senze angathi sikubhale ebhukwini lezikwelede ukuze singakukhohlwa. Kodwa uthando lusenza silingisele uNkulunkulu wethu olothando. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 26, uJehova uyaxolela nxa kulesizatho esihle sokwenza njalo. Nxa engasixolela uyakhohlwa, okutsho ukuthi kasoze aphinde asijezisele izono lezo. Siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi kasibambeli izikhwili.

20. Kumele senzeni nxa esikhonza laye angawona futhi abesehlupheka ngenxa yalokho?

²⁰ ‘Uthando aluthokoziswa ngokungalunganga.’ Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha ivesi le ngokuthi: ‘Uthando kaluthokozi nxa abanye abantu benze izono.’ IBhayibhili elahunyutshwa nguMoffat lithi: “Uthando kaluthokozi nxa abanye bengaphambanisa.” Uthando kaluthokozeli okubi, ngakho asikuthathi lula loba yikuphi ukuziphatha okubi. Kumele senzeni nxa esikhonza laye angawona futhi abesehlupheka ngenxa yokona kwakhe? Uthando kalungeke lusivumele ukuthi sithokoze, angathi sithi, ‘Ukhawulile! Vele kufanele ahlupheke!’ (IZaga 17:5) Kodwa siyathokoza nxa umzalwane owonileyo ethatha amanyathelo okulungisisa indaba yakhe ukuze aphinde akhonze kuhle.

“Indlela Engcono Kulazo Zonke”

21-23. (a) UPhawuli wayesitshoni lapho esithi “uthando alupheli”? (b) Kuyini esizaxoxa ngakho esahlukweni sokucina?

²¹ “Uthando alupheli.” UPhawuli wayesitshoni lapha? Emavesini la wayekhuluma ngezipho zomoya amaKhristu akuqala ayelazo. Izipho lezo zazitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelisekela ibandla lelo elalisanda kubunjwa. Kodwa kwakungayisiwo wonke amaKhristu ayesenelisa ukusilisa, ukuphrofetha, kumbe ukukhuluma ngezindimi. Lanxa kunjalo kwakungelandaba ngoba izipho lezo zazizaphela ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Kodwa kulokuthile okwakungasoze kuphele futhi wonke amaKhristu kwakumele abe lakho. Kwakungafanani laloba yisiphi isipho esiyisimangaliso. UPhawuli wakubiza ngokuthi ‘yindlela engcono kulazo zonke.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 12:31) Yiphi indlela leyo? Yindlela yothando.

²² Uthando lobuKhristu uPhawuli ayeluchasisa “alupheli,” okutsho ukuthi alusoze lufike komlindi uyacina. Kuze kube lamuhla, uthando lobuzalwane yilo uphawu olwenza sibone abalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso. Siyalubona uthando olunjalo emabandleni aboFakazi bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Uthando lolo luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini ngoba uJehova uthembisa ukuthi uzanika izinceku zakhe ukuphila okungapheliyo. (IHubo 37:9-11, 29) Sengathi singaqhubeka sizama ngazo zonke izindlela ‘ukuphila impilo yothando.’ Singenza njalo sizathola intokozo enkulu evela ekupheni. Kanti njalo nxa singaqhubeka sithanda abanye kuze kube nini lanini, siyabe silingisela uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu olothando.

²³ Kunengi esesikufundile ebhukwini leli ngempawu ezinhle uJehova alazo. Sifunde okunengi ngamandla akhe, ukwahlulela kwakhe okuhle, inhlakanipho yakhe lothando lwakhe. Ngemva kokuxoxa ngendlela okumele sitshengise ngayo ukuthi siyathandana kungaba kuhle ukuthi sizibuze umbuzo lo: ‘Ngingatshengisa njani ukuthi ngiyamthanda sibili uJehova?’ Sizaxoxa ngombuzo lo esahlukweni sokucina.