1, 2. (a) Kuyini okwenzakala kuJosefa? (b) UJehova wamenzelani uJosefa?

UJOSEFA wayesebunzimeni obukhulu. Wazithola esevalelwe ejele lanxa wayengonanga lutho. Inkosikazi yenkosi yakhe yayimqambele amanga yathi ubefuna ukuyibamba iganyavu. Kodwa lokhu kwakungayisikho kokuqala ukuthi uJosefa aphathwe kubi. Eleminyaka engu-17 waphosa wabulawa ngabanewabo abacina bemthengisile ukuthi ayekuba yisigqili elizweni elikhatshana. Esekhonale inkosikazi yenkosi yakhe yazama ukumyenga ukuthi alale layo kodwa yena wala. Lokho kwenza owesifazana lo waqamba amanga wathi uJosefa ubefuna ukumbamba iganyavu, yikho uJosefa wafakwa ejele. Kwasekukhanya angani akulamuntu owayengamlamulela.

² Kodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ‘othanda ukulunga lokwahlulela okuhle’ wayekhangele. (IHubo 33:5) Kazange avume ukuthi uJosefa aqhubeke ephathwa kubi, yikho wenza ukuthi acine ekhululiwe. Wambusisa ngokwenza ukuthi afakwe esikhundleni esiphezulu futhi aphiwe udumo olukhulu. (UGenesisi 40:15; 41:41-43; IHubo 105:17, 18) Kwacina kuzikhanyele ukuthi uJosefa wayengelacala futhi wasebenzisa isikhundla leso ayesiphiwe ukuthi ancede abantu bakaNkulunkulu.—UGenesisi 45:5-8.

3. Kungani kungamangalisi ukuthi sonke sifuna ukuphathwa kuhle?

³ Indaba le iyasiduduza ngoba lathi siyake siphathwe kubi kumbe sibone abanye bephathwa kubi. Sonke siyafuna ukuphathwa kuhle. Lokhu akumangalisi ngoba uJehova wasidala ngomfanekiso wakhe. Njengoba uJehova esahlulela kuhle, lathi sifuna ukubona abanye besahlulelwa kuhle. (UGenesisi 1:27) Nxa sifuna ukumazi kuhle uJehova, kufanele sizwisise ukuthi ukuqakathekisa kangakanani ukwahlulela okuhle. Lokhu kuzasisondeza kuye futhi kusenze simlingisele.

Kutshoni Ukwahlulela Kuhle?

4. Abantu bacabanga ukuthi kutshoni ukwahlulela kuhle?

⁴ Abantu bandise ukucabanga ukuthi ukwahlulela kuhle yikusebenzisa imithetho ngendlela engelabandlululo. Ibhuku elithi Right and Reason—Ethics in Theory and Practice lithi: “Ukwahlulela kuhle yikunika umuntu umvuzo loba isijeziso esimfaneleyo usebenzisa imithetho kumbe lokho abantu abavunyelwa ukuthi bakwenze kumbe bangakwenzi.” Kodwa uJehova yena wenza okwedlula lapho ngoba nxa esahlulela kabotshwa yimithetho.

5, 6. (a) Atshoni amabala asetshenziswe eBhayibhilini ahunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukwahlulela okuhle”? (b) Kutshoni ukuthi uNkulunkulu wahlulela kuhle?

⁵ Nxa sifuna ukuzwisisa ukuthi kutshoni ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle kumele sikhangele amabala asetshenziswa ngesikhathi kubhalwa iBhayibhili. EMibhalweni yesiHebheru kusetshenziswa amabala amathathu nxa kukhulunywa ngokwahlulela okuhle. Ibala elandise ukuhunyutshwa ngokuthi “ukwahlulela okuhle” lingahunyutshwa langokuthi “okulungileyo.” (UGenesisi 18:25) Amanye amabili andise ukuhunyutshwa ngokuthi “ukulunga.” EMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi, ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukulunga” litsho “ukwenza okuqondileyo.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi akulamehluko phakathi kokulunga lokwahlulela kuhle.—U-Amosi 5:24.

⁶ Ngakho nxa iBhayibhili lisithi uNkulunkulu wahlulela kuhle litsho ukuthi uhlala esenza okulungileyo futhi kabandlululi. (KwabaseRoma 2:11) Akufiki ngitsho lakancane engqondweni yakhe ukuthi ahlulele kubi. U-Elihu wathi: “UNkulunkulu weqiniso ngeke enze okubi, uSomandla kakwenzi okungalunganga!” (UJobe 34:12) Yikho ngeke kwenzakale ukuthi uJehova ahlulele kubi. Ngenxa yani?

7, 8. (a) Kungani uJehova engeke ahlulele kubi? (b) Kuyini okwenza uJehova abaphathe kuhle abantu?

⁷ Isizatho sokuqala yikuthi ungcwele. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 3, uJehova kalasici njalo uqotho. Ngakho ngeke enze okungalunganga loba ahlulele kubi. Lokhu kutshoni? Kutsho ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini kasoze asiphathe kubi loba sekutheni. UJesu wayengakuthandabuzi lokhu. Ngobusuku ezavuka ebulawa wakhuleka wathi: “Baba Ongcwele, bakhangele ngenxa yebizo lakho.” (UJohane 17:11) EMibhalweni uJehova nguye yedwa obizwa ngokuthi ‘nguBaba Ongcwele.’ Lokhu kuqondile ngenxa yokuthi akula omunye ubaba ongcwele njengoJehova. UJesu wayemthemba ngenhliziyo yonke uYise ukuthi wayezabagcina kuhle abafundi bakhe ngoba ungcwele, kalasici futhi ngeke awone.—UMathewu 23:9.

⁸ Isizatho sesibili yikuthi uJehova ulothando olungapheliyo. Lokhu kwenza abaphathe kuhle abantu. Phela okwenza umuntu aphathe abanye kubi kumbe ababandlulule ngokuthi bangumhlobo bani kumbe ngokunye nje yikuthi uyabe engabathandi. Kodwa uNkulunkulu yena uluthando, yikho iBhayibhili lisithi: “UJehova ulungile, uthanda izenzo ezinhle.” (IHubo 11:7) UJehova uphinda athi: “Mina Jehova ngithanda ukwahlulela kuhle.” (U-Isaya 61:8) Kuyasithokozisa ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakuthanda ukwenza okulungileyo lokwahlulela kuhle.—UJeremiya 9:24.

UJehova Ulesihawu Futhi Wahlulela Kuhle

9-11. (a) IBhayibhili likuveza njani ukuthi isihawu sikaJehova lokwahlulela kuhle kuhamba ndawonye? (b) Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo abantu abalesono itshengisa njani ukuthi ulesihawu futhi wahlulela kuhle?

⁹ UJehova kaphambanisi nxa esahlulela ngenxa yokuthi uphelele. UMosi wamdumisa wathi: “Yena uliDwala, wonke umsebenzi wakhe uphelele, ngenxa yokuthi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile. UnguNkulunkulu othembekileyo, kakwenzi okungalunganga, ulungile futhi uqotho.” (UDutheronomi 32:3, 4) Ngakho uJehova wahlulela kuhle zikhathi zonke, kaphonguyekelela abantu futhi kalasihluku.

¹⁰ Isihawu sikaJehova lokwahlulela kuhle kwakhe kuhamba ndawonye. IHubo 116:5 lithi: “UJehova ulozwelo futhi ulungile, uNkulunkulu wethu ulesihawu.” Ivesi le isifundisa ukuthi uJehova ulungile futhi ulozwelo loba isihawu. Kuyakhanya ukuthi isihawu lokwahlulela kuhle akuphikisani. UJehova uyenelisa ukwahlulela kuhle lokuba lesihawu ngasikhathi sinye. Nansi isibonelo esingasinceda sikuzwisise lokhu.

¹¹ Bonke abantu bazalwa belesono futhi kufanele bathole umvuzo wesono, oyikufa. (KwabaseRoma 5:12) Kodwa uJehova akumthokozisi ukufa komuntu owenza okubi. “UnguNkulunkulu ozimiseleyo ukuthethelela, olozwelo futhi olesihawu.” (UNehemiya 9:17) Lanxa kunjalo ngeke aphonguyekela nje abantu besenza okungalunganga ngoba yena ungcwele. Manje ubatshengisa njani isihawu abantu abazelwe belesono? Lokhu ukwenza esebenzisa inhlawulo kaJesu. Inhlawulo le iqakatheke kakhulu ngoba yenza abantu basindiswe. ESahlukweni 14 sizafunda okunengi ngesipho lesi esitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda. Inhlawulo iveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu wahlulela kuhle futhi ulesihawu. Yenza uJehova abe lesihawu ebantwini abaphendukayo kodwa ngesikhathi esifananayo esiba leqiniso lokuthi ulandela izimiso zakhe.—KwabaseRoma 3:21-26.

Ukwahlulela Kuhle KukaJehova Kwenza Simthande

12, 13. (a) Kungani ukwahlulela kuhle kukaJehova kusenza sisondele kuye? (b) UDavida wafundani ngoJehova futhi lokhu kwenza sizizwe njani?

¹² Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle akwenzi simesabe kodwa kwenza sisondele kuye. IBhayibhili lenza kucace ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulozwelo nxa esahlulela. Kasiboneni ezinye izindlela uJehova atshengisa ngazo ukuthi wahlulela kuhle.

¹³ Okokuqala yikuba qotho ezincekwini zakhe. Umhubi uDavida wakubona lokhu. Okwenzakala empilweni yakhe lalokho akufundayo ngoNkulunkulu kwenza wabona ukuthi uthembekile ebantwini bakhe. Yikho wathi: “UJehova uthanda ukwahlulela okuhle, kasoze abalahle abaqotho kuye. Bazahlala belindiwe.” (IHubo 37:28) Lokhu kuyasiduduza kakhulu. UNkulunkulu wethu kasoze wabalahla labo abathembekileyo kuye. Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi uzahlala esithanda futhi esinakekela ngoba ulungile.—IZaga 2:7, 8.

14. UMthetho uJehova awunika ama-Israyeli utshengisa njani ukuthi ulendaba lalabo abahluphekayo?

¹⁴ Enye indlela uJehova atshengisa ngayo ukuthi wahlulela kuhle yikuncedisa abasebunzimeni. UMthetho awunika ama-Israyeli utshengisa ukuthi ulendaba labantu abahluphekayo. Ngokwesibonelo, wabatshela lokho okwakumele bakwenze ukuze banakekele izintandane labafelokazi. (UDutheronomi 24:17-21) UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi impilo ingaba nzima kakhulu nxa umuntu angafelwa ngumzali loba ngumkakhe. Yikho yena waba nguBaba wezintandane lomvikeli wabafelokazi, waba leqiniso lokuthi ‘bahlulelwa kuhle.’a (UDutheronomi 10:18; IHubo 68:5) UJehova waxwayisa ama-Israyeli ukuthi nxa ayengahlukuluza abesifazana labantwana ababengenelisi ukuzivikela, wayezakuzwa ukukhala kwabo. Wathi: “Ulaka lwami luzavutha.” (U-Eksodusi 22:22-24) UJehova kaphangisi ukuzonda kodwa nxa ebona umuntu ephatha kubi abanye uyathukuthela.—IHubo 103:6.

15, 16. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova kakhethi?

¹⁵ UJehova usitshela ukuthi yena “kabandlululi muntu futhi kavumi ukufunjathiswa.” (UDutheronomi 10:17) Kafanani labantu abalezikhundla abahlulela ngokuthi umuntu ukhangeleka njani kumbe ukuthi unothile yini. UJehova kakhethi. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi kabandlululi? Uphe bonke abantu ithuba lokuthi bamkhonze futhi babe lethemba lokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kuzo zonke izizwe, uyamamukela umuntu omesabayo futhi owenza okulungileyo.” (ImiSebenzi 10:34, 35) UJehova unike wonke umuntu ithuba leli kungelani lokuthi ungumhlobo bani, uvela kuliphi ilizwe kumbe ukuthi ulesikhundla bani emphakathini. Lokhu kutshengisa uJehova wahlulela kuhle kakhulu.

¹⁶ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle yindlela aphatha ngayo umuntu owonileyo. Ake sibone ukuthi ukwenza njani lokhu.

Uyabajezisa Labo Okumele Bajeziswe

17. Kungani izinto ezimbi esizibonayo kungamelanga zisenze sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalunganga?

¹⁷ Abanye bangahle bazibuze ukuthi yindaba emhlabeni kulokuhlupheka okungaka futhi kusenzakala izinto ezimbi nxa kuyikuthi uJehova uyakuzonda okubi. Izinto ezimbi esizibonayo akumelanga zisenze sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalunganga. Okwenza abantu benze izinto ezimbi kangaka yikuthi balesono abasithola ku-Adamu. Okunye futhi okwenza sihlupheke yikuthi abantu abanengi abafuni ukulalela uNkulunkulu. Kodwa sekuseduze ukuthi aqede konke ukuhlupheka lokuphathwa kubi kwabantu.—UDutheronomi 32:5.

18, 19. Sazi njani ukuthi uJehova uzabajezisa labo abephula imithetho yakhe ngabomu?

¹⁸ Lanxa uJehova elesihawu esikhulu kulabo abafuna ukusondela kuye, kasoze avumele abantu ukuthi baqhubeke bengcolisa ibizo lakhe. (IHubo 74:10, 22, 23) UNkulunkulu ngeke aqilwe, uzabajezisa bonke abephula imithetho yakhe ngabomu. UJehova nguNkulunkulu ‘olozwelo lesihawu, ophuza ukuthukuthela futhi ogcwele uthando oluqotho kanye leqiniso. Kodwa kayekeli ukumjezisa umuntu olecala.’ (U-Eksodusi 34:6, 7) Endulo uJehova wabajezisa labo ababesephula imithetho yakhe ngabomo.

¹⁹ Ngokwesibonelo, ama-Israyeli amhlamukela kanengi uJehova. Lokhu akwenza langesikhathi esehlala eLizweni Lesithembiso. Lanxa lokhu ‘kwamzwisa ubuhlungu’ uJehova, kazange ahle abalahle abako-Israyeli. (IHubo 78:38-41) Wabatshengisa isihawu futhi wabanika amathuba amanengi okuthi batshintshe izenzo zabo. Wabancenga esithi: “Angithokozi nxa umuntu owenza okubi esifa, engikufunayo yikuthi umuntu owenza okubi atshiye okubi akwenzayo ukuze aqhubeke ephila. Yikho phendukani litshiye izenzo zenu ezimbi. Kungani kumele life lina bantu bako-Israyeli?” (UHezekheli 33:11) UJehova waqhubeka ethuma abaphrofethi bakhe ukuthi baxwayise abako-Israyeli ngoba wayengafuni ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe. Kodwa abanengi babo babengelandaba loJehova njalo kabazange balalele. Yikho wacina ebanikela ezitheni zabo ukuze kukhanye ukuthi yena unguNkulunkulu ongcwele futhi owahlulela kuhle.—UNehemiya 9:26-30.

20. (a) Lokho uJehova akwenza kwabako-Israyeli kusifundisani ngaye? (b) Kungani kuqondile ukuthi isilwane simele ukwahlulela kuhle kukaJehova?

²⁰ Indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli isifundisani ngaye? Sifunda ukuthi uyakubona konke okungalunganga okwenzakalayo futhi kuyamdanisa kakhulu. (IZaga 15:3) Sifunda lokuthi uJehova uzimisele ukuthethelela labo abaphendukayo. Lokhu kuyasiduduza. Okunye esikufundayo yikuthi uyabekezela anike abantu isikhathi sokuthi batshintshe. Ngenxa yalokho abantu abanengi bacina becabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasoze abajezise abenza okubi. Kodwa lokho uNkulunkulu akwenza kwabako-Israyeli kusifundisa ukuthi ukubekezela kwakhe kulalapho okucina khona. UJehova uzahlala esahlulela kuhle. Kafanani labantu abesabayo kwezinye izikhathi ukuqondisa umuntu nxa ephambanisa. Yena kesabi ukuqondisa loba ngubani nxa ephambanisa. Yikho ukwahlulela kwakhe okuhle kumelwa yisilwane ngoba silesibindi.b (UHezekheli 1:10; ISambulo 4:7) Ngakho singaqiniseka ukuthi uzasigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe sokubhubhisa abantu abenza okubi labaphatha abanye kubi. Ngamafitshane singathi uJehova wahlulela kuhle ngoba uyabajezisa labo okumele bajeziswe, kodwa abatshengise isihawu labo okufanele batshengiswe isihawu.—2 UPhetro 3:9.

Sondela KuNkulunkulu Wethu Owahlulela Kuhle

21. Nxa sicabangisisa ngendlela uJehova ahlulela ngayo, kumele simbone njani futhi kungani kumele senze njalo?

²¹ UJehova kasomahluleli olenhliziyo elukhuni ofuna nje ukujezisa labo abonayo. Kodwa unguBaba wethu olothando ofuna ukuhlala esenzela okuhle. Ulungile futhi wahlulela kuhle zikhathi zonke, yikho engayekeli ukujezisa labo okufanele bajeziswe kodwa esiba lozwelo ebantwaneni bakhe abadinga uncedo lwakhe kanye lokuthethelelwa.—IHubo 103:10, 13.

22. UJehova usinike liphi ithemba futhi lokhu kutshengisani?

²² Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokuthi nxa esahlulela kacabangi kuphela ngokujezisa abantu abenza okubi kodwa usinika lethemba lokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo singaselasono. Siwulindele ngabomvu umhlaba omutsha lapho okuzakuba khona ‘lokulunga.’ (2 UPhetro 3:13) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi inhloso kaNkulunkulu yikusindisa abantu hatshi ukubajezisa. Nxa singakuzwisisa lokhu kuzasenza sifise ukusondela kuye. Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo sizaxoxa ngezinye izindlela uJehova atshengisa ngazo ukuthi wahlulela kuhle.

1. Sizwa njani nxa sibona abantu bephathwa kubi?

UZWA njani nxa ubona abantu bephathwa kubi? Ngokwesibonelo, ubungezwa njani nxa ungezwa ukuthi kulomfelokazi osegugile oqilwe imali yakhe yonke kumbe ukuthi kulosane olulahlwe ngunina, loba ukuthi kulendoda ebotshelwe icala engalenzanga? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ubungezwa ubuhlungu. Akusithokozisi ukubona abantu behlukuluzwa yikho sizonda kakhulu nxa singabona abantu bephathwa kubi. Siyabe sifuna ukuthi owonileyo ajeziswe njalo kulungiswe wonke umonakalo ayabe ewenzile. Nxa lokhu kungenzakalanga singazibuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakubona yini okwenzakalayo lokuthi kukhona yini azakwenza.

2. UHabakhukhi wathini ngezinto ezimbi ayezibona futhi kungani uJehova engazange amsole?

² Kusukela kudala izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo zazike zizibuze imibuzo enjengale ephezulu. Ngokwesibonelo, umphrofethi uHabakhukhi wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu wathi: “Kungani ungiyekela ngibona okubi? Kungani ubekezelela abantu abahlukuluza abanye? Kungani impahla zabantu zithunjwa futhi kulodlakela olungaka? Kungani abantu behlala bexabana futhi besilwa?” (UHabakhukhi 1:3) UJehova kazange amsole uHabakhukhi ngemibuzo yakhe ngoba nguye owadala umuntu wamenza waba lesifiso sokubona abanye bephathwa kuhle. Indlela esizwa ngayo nxa sibona abantu behlukuluzwa iyafanana lendlela uJehova azwa ngayo.

UJehova Uyakuzonda Ukubona Abantu Bephathwa Kubi

3. Indlela uJehova abona ngayo okubi itshiyene njani lendlela thina esibona ngayo?

³ UJehova uyakubona konke okungalunganga okwenzakalayo. Ngokwesibonelo wakubona okwakusenziwa ngabantu ngesikhathi sikaNowa. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova wabona ukuthi ukuxhwala komuntu kwasekukukhulu emhlabeni lokuthi imicabango yomuntu kanye lezifiso zenhliziyo yakhe kwakukubi sonke isikhathi.” (UGenesisi 6:5) Ivesi le itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakubona konke okungalunganga okwenzakala emhlabeni. Thina siyabe sisazi lokho okwenzakale kithi kuphela kumbe okwenzakale kwabanye. Kodwa uJehova yena ukwazi okwenzakala emhlabeni wonke. Kanti njalo uyakubona okusezinhliziyweni zethu kanye lemicabango engalunganga esingabe silayo.—UJeremiya 17:10.

4, 5. (a) IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova uyabazwela labo abaphathwa kubi? (b) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyabazi ubuhlungu bokuphathwa kubi?

⁴ Nxa uJehova ebona abantu bephathwa kubi uzwa ubuhlungu futhi uyabazwela. Wayebazwela abantu bakhe “nxa bebubula ngenxa yokucindezelwa lokuhlutshwa yizitha zabo.” (ABahluleli 2:18) Mhlawumbe uyake ukunanzelele ukuthi nxa abantu betshona bebona izinto ezimbi zisenzakala, bacina bengasazihluphi ngakho. UJehova yena kanjalo. Lanxa sekwedlule iminyaka engaba ngu-6 000 ebona abantu bephathwa kubi, ulokhu ekuzonda okubi. IBhayibhili lithi uyalwenyanya ‘ulimi oluqamba amanga lezandla ezichitha igazi labantu abangelacala’ kanye ‘lofakazi wamanga ohlala ehutshuza amanga.’—IZaga 6:16-19.

⁵ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda ukubona abantu bephathwa kubi yindlela akhuza ngayo abakhokheli bako-Israyeli ababengalunganga. Wathuma umphrofethi wakhe ukuthi ababuze athi: “Akumelanga likwazi okulungileyo na?” Ngemva kwalokho waveza isihluku sabo egcekeni wasesitsho okuzakwenzakala kubo, wathi: “Bazakhala kuJehova becela usizo, kodwa kasoze abaphendule. Ngalesosikhathi uzabafihlela ubuso bakhe ngenxa yezenzo zabo ezimbi.” (UMikha 3:1-4) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova kathokozi nxa ebona abantu bephathwa kubi. Uyabazwela ngoba laye uyabazi ubuhlungu bokuphathwa kubi. Phela uSathane useleminyaka leminyaka emchothoza. (IZaga 27:11) Okunye okwazwisa uJehova ubuhlungu kakhulu yikubona iNdodana yakhe ‘eyayingenzanga sono’ ibulawa njengesigebenga. (1 UPhetro 2:22; U-Isaya 53:9) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJehova uyabubona ubuhlungu abantu ababuzwayo nxa bephathwa kubi lokuthi uyabazwela.

6. Sizwa njani nxa singaphathwa kubi futhi kungani sisizwa ngaleyondlela?

⁶ Lanxa sikwazi ukuthi uJehova uyakubona konke okubi okwenzakalayo, siyacaphuka nxa singaphathwa kubi kumbe singabona abanye bephathwa kubi. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi senziwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu. (UGenesisi 1:27) Yena ulungile njalo uyakuzonda ukubona abantu bephathwa kubi. Pho kungani evumela ukuthi abantu baphathwe kubi?

Indaba Yobukhosi BukaNkulunkulu

7. Chasisa ukuthi ubukhosi bukaJehova bahlaselwa njani.

⁷ Nxa sifuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu evumela ukuthi abantu baphathwe kubi kumele siqale sizwisise okwenzakala ensimini ye-Edeni. Njengoba sibonile, uJehova ulelungelo lokubusa umhlaba kanye labo bonke abahlala kuwo ngoba unguMdali. (IHubo 24:1; ISambulo 4:11) Kodwa abantu bathi besanda kudalwa, ubukhosi bukaJehova bahlaselwa. Njani? UJehova watshela u-Adamu ukuthi angadli izithelo zesihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi. Kuyini okwakuzakwenzakala nxa wayengekela ukulalela? UNkulunkulu wamtshela wathi: “Uzakufa sibili.” (UGenesisi 2:17) Umlayo uNkulunkulu ayewunike u-Adamu lo-Eva wawunganzima. Lanxa kunjalo uSathane wenza u-Eva wabona angathi umlayo lo ubancitsha inkululeko. Wamqambela amanga wamtshela ukuthi nxa wayengadla izithelo zesihlahla leso wayengasoze afe. Wathi kuye: “Alisoze life loba sekutheni. UNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuthi ngalo kanye ilanga elizasidla ngalo, amehlo enu azavuleka futhi lizakuba njengoNkulunkulu, likwazi okuhle lokubi.”—UGenesisi 3:1-5.

8. (a) USathane wayefuna u-Eva acabangeni? (b) USathane wabuhlasela njani ubukhosi bukaJehova?

⁸ Ngamanye amazwi uSathane wayesitsho ukuthi uJehova uqambela u-Eva amanga futhi kulento eqakathekileyo amfihlela yona. USathane wenza u-Eva wacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalathando. Lokhu kwalingcolisa ibizo likaJehova. Akukhulumayo kwenza kwakhanya angathi uJehova kabusi kuhle. USathane kazange ale ukuthi uJehova nguMbusi wendawo yonke kodwa wasola indlela abusa ngayo. Ngamanye amazwi wayesithi uJehova kalalungelo lokubusa futhi kalandaba labantu ababusayo.

9. (a) Ukungalaleli kuka-Adamu lo-Eva kwabangelani njalo yiphi imibuzo eqakathekileyo eyabakhona? (b) Kungani uJehova engazange ahle abhubhise u-Adamu lo-Eva kanye loSathane?

⁹ U-Adamu lo-Eva abazange bamlalele uJehova, badla isihlahla ababetshelwe ukuthi bangasidli. Ngenxa yalokho bafa njengoba nje uNkulunkulu wayetshilo. Kodwa amanga kaSathane enza kwaba lemibuzo eminengi eqakathekileyo enjengokuthi: UJehova ulalo yini sibili ilungelo lokubusa abantu kumbe kumele bazibuse? Ubusa kuhle yini? UJehova wayengahle abhubhise u-Adamu lo-Eva kanye loSathane. Kodwa ukwenza njalo kwakungenza kukhanye angathi uSathane ubeqinisile ngoba yena wayengazange asole amandla kaJehova kodwa wayesole indlela awasebenzisa ngayo. Ngakho ukubabhubhisa kwakungasoze kutshengise ukuthi uNkulunkulu unguMbusi omuhle. Manje kuyini okwasokumele uNkulunkulu akwenze ukuze kukhanye ukuthi nguye okumele abuse? Kwasokumele abanike ithuba lokuthi bazibuse.

10. Abantu baphumelele yini ukuzibusa?

¹⁰ Abantu baphumelele yini ukuzibusa? Hatshi. Lanxa sebezame imihlobo etshiyeneyo yabohulumende, okwenzakalayo kutshengisa ukuthi okutshiwo liBhayibhili kuliqiniso. Lithi: “Nxa umuntu ebuswa ngomunye umuntu uyalimala.” (UmTshumayeli 8:9) Yikho umphrofethi uJeremiya wathi: “Awu Jehova, ngiyakwazi ukuthi umuntu kalamandla okuqondisa indlela yakhe. Umuntu kaliphiwanga ilungelo lokuqondisa izinyathelo zakhe.”—UJeremiya 10:23.

11. Kungani uJehova wavumela ukuthi abantu bahlupheke?

¹¹ UJehova wayevele ekwazi ukuthi nxa abantu bangazibusa inhlupho zizaqhubeka zisanda. Manje kungani wavumela ukuthi abantu bazibuse? Nanku umzekeliso ongasinceda sikuzwisise lokhu: Ake sithi ulomntwana okumele ahlinzwe ukuze elatshwe umkhuhlane oyingozi. Uyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlinzwa lokhu kuzamzwisa ubuhlungu futhi lawe kuyakukhathaza kakhulu. Kodwa uyakwazi lokuthi angelatshwa ngalindlela uzasila. UNkulunkulu wayekwazi ukuthi nxa abantu bangazibusa kuzakuba lobuhlungu lokuhlupheka emhlabeni. (UGenesisi 3:16-19) Kodwa wayekwazi lokuthi nxa bangaphiwa ithuba bazibuse bazazibonela ukuthi nguNkulunkulu kuphela ongenelisa ukuqeda zonke inhlupho zingaphindi zibe khona.

Indaba Yokuba Qotho Kwabantu

12. USathane ubasola esithini abantu?

¹² Ngesikhathi uSathane esola indlela uNkulunkulu abusa ngayo waqamba amanga ngoNkulunkulu futhi wangcolisa ibizo lakhe. Kodwa kulokunye akwenzayo. Wasola abantu wathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yezinto abanike zona. Ngokwesibonelo wathi uJobe kamthandi uNkulunkulu kodwa umkhonza ngenxa yempahla amnike yona. Wathi kuJehova: “Kawumbiyelanga yini yena lendlu yakhe lakho konke alakho? Uwubusisile umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, lezifuyo zakhe zigcwele ilizwe lonke. Kodwa ake welule isandla sakho utshabalalise konke alakho, uzabona uzakuthethisa ekukhangele.”—UJobe 1:10, 11.

13. Wayesitshoni uSathane ngesikhathi esola uJobe njalo abantu bangena njani endabeni le?

¹³ USathane wathi uJehova unika uJobe izibusiso esenzela ukuthi amthande futhi amkhonze. Ngamanye amazwi ayekutsho yikuthi uJobe kamthandi uJehova kodwa umkhonzela ukuthi aqhubeke embusisa. Wathi nxa impahla kaJobe yayingamphelela wayezamthuka uNkulunkulu. USathane wayekwazi ukuthi uJobe wayengafanani labanye ngoba wayeyindoda ‘eqotho, ehlala isenza okulungileyo, emesabayo uNkulunkulu futhi ixwaya okubi.’a Ngakho nxa uSathane wayengenza ukuthi uJobe angabi qotho kuNkulunkulu, kwakuzakhanya angathi uyenelisa ukudukisa loba ngubani. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uSathane wayengasoli uJobe kuphela kodwa wayesola wonke umuntu ofuna ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Yikho wathi kuJehova: “Umuntu [hatshi uJobe kuphela] uzadela konke alakho ukuze avikele impilo yakhe.”—UJobe 1:8; 2:4.

14. Abantu batshengise njani ukuthi okwatshiwo nguSathane kungamanga?

¹⁴ Kusukela kudala izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi zitshengise ukuthi lokho okwatshiwo nguSathane kungamanga. Ziqhubeke zithembekile njengoJobe lanxa zisebunzimeni. Lokhu kwenza uJehova athokoze futhi aphendule uSathane othi abantu abasoze baqhubeke bekhonza uNkulunkulu nxa belezinhlupho. (KumaHebheru 11:4-38) Abantu abamthandayo uNkulunkulu abazange bayekele ukumkhonza lanxa izimo zinzima. Kodwa baqhubeke bethembela kuJehova ukuthi abanike amandla okubekezela.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 4:7-10.

15. Yiwuphi umbuzo abantu abangazibuza wona ngendlela uJehova ahlulela ngayo?

¹⁵ Indlela uJehova ayiphatha ngayo indaba yokuhlaselwa kobukhosi bakhe kanye lokusolwa kwabantu abamkhonzayo itshengisa ukuthi uhlala esenza okuqondileyo. IBhayibhili liphinda likhulume ngendlela uNkulunkulu ahlulela ngayo abantu endulo kanye lezinye izizwe. Lisitshela lokuthi uzakwahlulela abantu esikhathini esizayo. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi indlela uJehova ahlulela ngayo endulo lazakwahlulela ngayo esikhathini esizayo iqondile?

Kakho Owahlulela Kuhle NjengoJehova

16, 17. Yiziphi izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi abantu kabahluleli kuhle?

¹⁶ IBhayibhili lithi ‘zonke izindlela zikaJehova zilungile.’ (UDutheronomi 32:4) Kodwa thina ngeke sithi zonke izindlela zethu zilungile ngenxa yokuthi ngezinye izikhathi asahluleli kuhle ngoba siyabe singayazi yonke indaba. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngo-Abrahama. Wancenga uJehova ukuthi angabhubhisi idolobho leSodoma lanxa abantu bakhona babesenza izinto ezimbi. Wambuza wathi: “Kambe uzatshabalalisa abenza okubi uhlanganise labalungileyo yini?” (UGenesisi 18:23-33) UJehova kazange enze njalo, wamelela uLothi lamadodakazi akhe ukuthi baqale bafike eZowari ‘wasenisa isalufa kanye lomlilo phezu kweSodoma.’ (UGenesisi 19:22-24) Kodwa thina abantu kasahluleli kuhle kwezinye izikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo uJona wamemezela ukuthi idolobho leNiniva lizabhujiswa ngenxa yokuthi abantu balapho babesenza izinto ezimbi. Kodwa bathi bekuzwa lokho batshintsha futhi uJehova waba lesihawu kubo. UJona “wazonda wabila” ngoba yena wayefuna ukuthi lokho ayekukhulumile kwenzakale.—UJona 3:10–4:1.

¹⁷ UJehova waqinisekisa u-Abrahama ukuthi uzasindisa abalungileyo nxa esebhubhisa ababi. Kodwa uJona yena kwakusamele afunde ukuthi uJehova ulesihawu. Nxa ababi betshintsha izindlela zabo, ‘uzimisele ukubathethelela.’ (IHubo 86:5) Abanye abantu baphatha kubi abanye ukuze babatshengise ukuthi balamandla. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi nxa bangaba lozwelo abantu bazabadelela. Kodwa uJehova kanjalo. Uhlala ezimisele ukuba lesihawu kuloba ngubani okumele atshengiswe isihawu.—U-Isaya 55:7; UHezekheli 18:23.

18. Yiziphi izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle?

¹⁸ Lanxa uJehova elesihawu kayekeli ukujezisa abenza okubi. Ngesikhathi abantu bakhe sebetshiye ukukhonza kweqiniso, uJehova wathi kubo: “Ngizalahlulela ngokufanele izenzo zenu, ngilithonisise ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezenyanyekayo elizenzayo. Angisoze ngilizwele futhi angisoze ngibe lesihawu kini, kodwa ngizalipha umvuzo wezenzo zenu.” (UHezekheli 7:3, 4) Ngakho nxa abantu bengafuni ukutshintsha izenzo zabo, uJehova uyabajezisa. Okuhle ngoJehova yikuthi indaba yakhona uyabe engayiphumputhi. Ngokwesibonelo wathi esizwa insolo ngeSodoma leGomora wathi: “Ngizakwehla ngiyebona ukuthi abakwenzayo kuyahambelana yini lensolo esifike kimi.” (UGenesisi 18:20, 21) Kumele simbonge uJehova ngokuthi kahluleli njengabantu kodwa uqala ayihlolisise indaba! Yikho iBhayibhili lisithi “unguNkulunkulu othembekileyo, kakwenzi okungalunganga.”—UDutheronomi 32:4.

Themba Ukuthi UJehova Wahlulela Kuhle

19. Singenzani nxa singazwisisi indlela uJehova ahlulela ngayo?

¹⁹ Kwezinye izikhathi iBhayibhili kalisitsheli ukuthi kungani uJehova wahlulela abantu ngendlela ethile kumbe ukuthi uzabahlulela njani esikhathini esizayo. Nxa kunzima ukuzwisisa ezinye izindaba loba iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini esingatshelwa okunengi ngazo, kumele silindele uNkulunkulu njengomphrofethi uMikha owabhala wathi: “Ngizamlindela ngesineke uNkulunkulu umsindisi wami.”—UMikha 7:7.

20, 21. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzahlala esenza okuqondileyo?

²⁰ Singamthemba uJehova ukuthi uzahlala esenza okuqondileyo. Lanxa abantu bengakhanya bengelandaba lokuphathwa kubi kwabanye, uJehova uthembisa ukuthi uzabajezisa abahlukuluza abanye. Uthi: “Ukuphindisela ngokwami, yimi engizabuyisela.” (KwabaseRoma 12:19) Umphostoli uPhawuli wayemthemba uNkulunkulu yikho wathi: “UNkulunkulu kalunganga yini? Hatshi!” (KwabaseRoma 9:14) Lathi nxa singalindela uJehova siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthemba.

²¹ Okwakhathesi siphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima.’ (2 KuThimothi 3:1) Abantu abanengi bayahlupheka ngoba ‘bayacindezelwa.’ (UmTshumayeli 4:1) Kodwa uJehova katshintshanga. Ulokhu ekuzonda ukubona abantu bephathwa kubi njalo uyabazwela abahlukuluzwayo. Nxa singahlala sithembekile kuJehova futhi sisekele ubukhosi bakhe, uzasinika amandla okubekezela kuze kube yisikhathi lapho esusa konke okubi esebenzisa uMbuso wakhe.—1 UPhetro 5:6, 7.

1, 2. Kungani abantu abanengi bengawuhloniphi umthetho, kodwa thina siyibona njani imithetho kaNkulunkulu?

‘UMTHETHO uligodi elingelamkhawulo, uginya konke.’ Umutsho lo wawusebhukwini elalotshwa ngo-1712. Umlobi walo wayesola imithetho eyayisetshenziswa nxa kuthethwa amacala emthethwandaba. Kwakuthatha iminyaka leminyaka ukuze indaba ilungiswe, umuntu owoniweyo aze aphelelwe yimali elokhu etshitsha emthethwandaba. Imithetho yamazwe amanengi ayizwisiseki, igcwele ubandlululo futhi ihlala itshintshatshintsha. Lokhu sekwenze abantu abanengi bangawuhloniphi umthetho.

² Kodwa umthetho kaNkulunkulu awufanani lowabantu. Eminyakeni engaba engu-2 700 eyadlulayo, enye indoda yathi: “Ngiwuthanda okwamagama umthetho wakho!” (IHubo 119:97) Kungani umhubi wayewuthanda kangaka umthetho kaNkulunkulu? Wayewuthanda ngoba wawungokaJehova uNkulunkulu hatshi ohulumende babantu. Nxa uqhubeka ufunda ngemithetho kaJehova uzacina uyithanda njengomhubi. UJehova nguMahluleli omkhulu futhi imithetho yakhe iphakeme. Yikho ukufunda ngemithetho leyo kuzakwenza ubone indlela acabanga ngayo.

UMahluleli Omkhulu Osinika Imithetho

3, 4. UJehova utshengise njani ukuthi ulelungelo lokusitshayela imithetho?

³ IBhayibhili lithi: “Munye kuphela otshaya imithetho longuMahluleli.” (UJakhobe 4:12) UJehova nguye yedwa olelungelo lokutshaya imithetho eqondisa konke akudalayo. Ufake imithetho eqondisa izinkanyezi lezinye izinto ezisemkhathini. (UJobe 38:33) Izingilosi lazo ziqondiswa yimithetho kaNkulunkulu. Zonke uzihlele kuhle futhi wazipha imisebenzi okumele ziyenze.—IHubo 104:4; KumaHebheru 1:7, 14.

⁴ UJehova uphinde wapha labantu imithetho. Ngokwesibonelo usinike umzwangedwa. Umzwangedwa unjengomthetho osinceda sikwazi lokho uJehova athi kuqondile lokungaqondanga. (KwabaseRoma 2:14) U-Adamu lo-Eva babelomzwangedwa opheleleyo, yikho uJehova wabanika imithetho emilutshwane. (UGenesisi 2:15-17) Kodwa thina usinike imithetho eminengi ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Imithetho le iyasinceda ukuthi senze intando yakhe. UJehova wanika uNowa lo-Abrahama loJakhobe imithetho okwakumele bayifundise izimuli zabo. (UGenesisi 6:22; 9:3-6; 18:19; 26:4, 5) Wathi esekhethe isizwe sako-Israyeli wasinika imithetho esebenzisa uMosi. Nxa imithetho le isiyonke ibizwa ngokuthi nguMthetho kaMosi futhi iyasinceda ukuthi sizwisise indlela uJehova ahlulela ngayo.

UMthetho KaMosi

5. UMthetho kaMosi wawunzima futhi uphica yini?

⁵ Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi uMthetho kaMosi wawulemilayo eminenginengi enzima ukuzwisisa. Kodwa lokhu akusilo qiniso. Kulemilayo edlula engu-600 kuwo. Kungakhanya angani minengi kakhulu kodwa cabanga ngalokhu: Kwathi kusiyafika umnyaka ka-2000 imithetho yelizwe le-United States yayisiminengi okokuthi yayingagcwala amapheji edlula 150 000. Baqhubeka bengezelela eminye imithetho okokuthi kusiyaphela iminyaka emibili nje bayabe sebengezelele iminye engu-600. Ngakho imithetho yabantu minengi kakhulu ukwedlula leyo uNkulunkulu ayinika ama-Israyeli. Lanxa kunjalo uMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawuqondisa ama-Israyeli lasezindabeni okungakhulunywa ngazo emithethweni yabantu. Asixoxeni ngeminye imithetho uNkulunkulu abanika yona.

6, 7. (a) UMthetho kaMosi utshiyene njani leminye imithetho futhi yiwuphi umthetho omkhulu ukwedlula yonke? (b) Ama-Israyeli ayengatshengisa njani ukuthi ayavuma ukubuswa nguJehova?

⁶ UMthetho kaMosi wawufundisa ama-Israyeli ukuthi aqakathekise ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ngakho utshiyene lemithetho efakwa ngabantu. Umthetho omkhulu ukwedlula yonke ngothi: “Lalela we Israyeli: UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye. Kumele umthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke langomphefumulo wakho wonke langamandla akho wonke.” UNkulunkulu wayefuna abantu bakhe batshengise njani ukuthi bayamthanda? Wayefuna bamkhonze, bazithobe ngaphansi kobukhosi bakhe.—UDutheronomi 6:4, 5; 11:13.

⁷ Ama-Israyeli ayengatshengisa ukuthi ayavuma ukubuswa nguJehova ngokulalela labo ababebakhokhela, kungelani lokuthi ngabazali, izinduna, abahluleli, abaphristi lamakhosi. Phela abantu laba babemela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Yikho loba ngubani owayebahlamukela kwakufanana lokuthi uhlamukela uJehova. Kodwa nxa abakhokhelayo babengaphatha kubi abantu bakhe, wayezabathukuthelela. (U-Eksodusi 20:12; 22:28; UDutheronomi 1:16, 17; 17:8-20; 19:16, 17) Wonke nje ama-Israyeli kwakumele ahloniphe ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu.

8. UMthetho wawuwancedisa njani ama-Israyeli ukuthi ahlale engcwele?

⁸ UMthetho wawufundisa ama-Israyeli ukuthi abe ngcwele. Amabala ahunyutshwa ngokuthi “ngcwele” lokuthi “ubungcwele” atholakala izikhathi ezedlula 280 eMthethweni kaMosi. UMthetho wawunceda abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi behlukanise phakathi kokuhlanzekileyo lokungahlanzekanga. Wakhuluma ngezinto ezedlula 70 ezazingenza um-Israyeli abe ngongcolileyo. Imithetho le yayikhuluma ngokuthi ahlale ehlanzekile, adleni lokuthi enzeni nxa esiya ngaphandle. Imithetho enjalo yayinceda abantu ukuthi babe lempilakahle.a Kodwa kulenye indlela eqakathekileyo eyayibanceda ngayo. Yayisenza ukuthi bahlale bethandwa nguJehova futhi bangenzi imikhuba emibi eyayisenziwa yizizwe ezazingomakhelwane babo. Kasixoxeni ngeminye yakhona.

9, 10. Yiphi imithetho ephathelane lezemacansini uJehova ayinika ama-Israyeli futhi imithetho le yayiwanceda ngani?

⁹ UMthetho kaMosi wawusithi nxa umuntu angaya emacansini uyaba ngongcolileyo okwesikhathi esithile lanxa etshadile. Owesifazana wayesithi angabeletha ahlale isikhathi esithile engongcolileyo. (ULevi 12:2-4; 15:16-18) Lokhu kwakungatsho ukuthi ukuya emacansini kwabantu abatshadileyo lokuba labantwana kwakukubi kuJehova. (UGenesisi 1:28; 2:18-25) Kodwa uJehova wanika abantu bakhe imithetho leyo ukuze bahlale behlanzekile futhi bangaphanjaniswa yikukhonza kwamanga. Phela izizwe ezazingomakhelwane babo zazihlanganisa ukukhonza lezemacansini. Enkolweni yamaKhenani kwakulezifebe zesilisa lezesifazana. Lokhu kwenza abantu abanengi baziphatha ngendlela eyenyanyekayo. Kodwa uMthetho wona wawungavumeli ama-Israyeli ukuthi ahlanganise ukukhonza lezemacansini.b Kwakulokunye futhi umthetho owawunceda ngakho.

¹⁰ Imithetho eyayinikwe ama-Israyeli yayiwafundisa ukuthi alesono.c Njani? Wonke umuntu uzalwa elesono sika-Adamu. Isono lesi sidluliselwa ebantwini nxa beqhubeka bezalana. (KwabaseRoma 5:12) UMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi bayizoni. (IHubo 51:5) Wawubakhumbuza lokuthi kumele sithethelelwe futhi sihlawulelwe ukuze senelise ukusondela kuNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele.

11, 12. (a) UMthetho wawuwafundisani ama-Israyeli? (b) UMthetho wawuwavikela njani ama-Israyeli?

¹¹ UMthetho wawucacisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle. Wawufundisa ama-Israyeli ukuthi kumele isigwebo sihambelane lecala elenziweyo. UMthetho wawusithi: “Impilo kumele iphindiselwe ngempilo, ilihlo ngelihlo, izinyo ngezinyo, isandla ngesandla, unyawo ngonyawo.” (UDutheronomi 19:21) Ngakho umuntu kwakumele aphiwe isijeziso esihambelana lecala alenzileyo. Yonke imilayo yoMthetho kaMosi yayitshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle. Ukuzwisisa lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi sizwisise lomhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaJesu Khristu esizafunda ngawo eSahlukweni 14.—1 KuThimothi 2:5, 6.

¹² UMthetho wawuvikela abantu ukuthi bangaphathwa kubi ngabahluleli. Ngokwesibonelo kwakusithi umuntu angamangalelwa, kwakumele kube labofakazi ababili ukuze kubonakale ukuthi akumangalelwayo kuliqiniso yini. Umuntu owayefakaza amanga wayejeziswa kabuhlungu. (UDutheronomi 19:15, 18, 19) Loba ngubani owahlulelayo kwakungamelanga avume ukufunjathiswa. (U-Eksodusi 23:8; UDutheronomi 27:25) Lasendabeni zamabhizimusi abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele balandele imithetho yakhe. (ULevi 19:35, 36; UDutheronomi 23:19, 20) UMthetho kaMosi wawuwanceda kakhulu ama-Israyeli ngoba wawusenza ukuthi aphathwe kuhle.

Imithetho Eyayifundisa Abako-Israyeli Ukuthi Baphathane Kuhle Njalo Babe Lesihawu

13, 14. Kuyini okwakutshiwo nguMthetho okwakusenza ukuthi owonileyo lowoniweyo baphathwe ngendlela efaneleyo?

¹³ UMthetho kaMosi wawulukhuni yini kumbe wawubavumela abahluleli ukuthi babe lesihawu emuntwini owonileyo? INkosi uDavida yaphefumulelwa ukuthi ibhale ithi: “Imithetho kaJehova iphelele.” (IHubo 19:7) UDavida wayekwazi ukuthi uMthetho wawufundisa abantu ukuthi babe lozwelo futhi bangabandlululi. Wawukwenza njani lokhu?

¹⁴ Kwamanye amazwe kukhanya angani umthetho awubancedi kangako labo abonelweyo. Ngokwesibonelo, amasela angahlala isikhathi esithile ejele kodwa abatshontshelweyo bona bayabe belokhu bengayitholanga impahla yabo. Phezu kwalokho imithelo abayibhadalayo yiyo esetshenziswa ukunakekela izibotshwa. Kodwa ko-Israyeli ayengekho amajele esilawo lamuhla. Owonileyo kwakumele ajeziswe kodwa lokho kwakumele kwenziwe ngendlela efaneleyo. (UDutheronomi 25:1-3) Isela kwakumele libhadale lokho elalikutshontshile futhi lingezelele lokunye phezulu. Indlela elalibhadala ngayo yayitshiyana kusiya ngalokho elikutshontshileyo. Abahluleli babephiwe ilungelo lokukhetha ukuthi isela lizabhadalani kusiya ngezimo lokuthi liyazisola yini ngalokho elikwenzileyo. Lokhu yikho okwenza ukuthi okwakumele kubhadalwe lisela kuLevi 6:1-7 kube kulutshwana kulalokho okuku-Eksodusi 22:7.

15. UMthetho wawutshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova ulesihawu futhi wahlulela kuhle?

¹⁵ UMthetho wawukwenza kucace ukuthi akusiwo wonke umuntu owayesona ngabomo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa indoda ibulele umuntu ingahlosanga yayingasoze ibhadale umphefumulo ngomphefumulo nxa yayingathatha inyathelo elifaneleyo lokubalekela edolobheni lokuphephela. Amadolobho la ayesezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo elizweni lako-Israyeli. Nxa abahluleli abakhethiweyo sebelihlolile icala, kwakumele umuntu lo ahlale edolobheni lokuphephela kuze kufe umphristi omkhulu. Ngemva kwalokho wayengakhululeka ukuhlala loba ngaphi ayefuna ukuhlala khona. Umthetho lo wawutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulesihawu kodwa ngesikhathi esifananayo wawugcizelela ukuqakatheka kwempilo yomuntu.—AmaNani 15:30, 31; 35:12-25.

16. UMthetho wawuvikela njani amalungelo omuntu munye ngamunye?

¹⁶ UMthetho wawuvikela amalungelo omuntu munye ngamunye. Cabanga ngendlela owawuvikela ngayo labo ababelezikwelede. UMthetho wawungavumeli ukuthi umuntu angene emzini walowo olesikwelede sakhe ukuze athathe impahla eyisibambiso. Kwakumele ame phandle besekusithi lowo olesikwelede sakhe abuye azomqhubela impahla ezakuba yisibambiso. Yikho indlu yalowo olesikwelede kwakungamelanga ingenwe kungelamvumo. Nxa lowo ozothonisa isikwelede angathatha isembatho salowo olesikwelede sakhe, kwakumele asibuyisele ilanga lingakatshoni ukuze lowo olesikwelede asigqoke kumbe asembathe ebusuku.—UDutheronomi 24:10-14.

17, 18. Indlela abako-Israyeli ababesilwa ngayo ezimpini yayitshiyene njani leyezinye izizwe?

¹⁷ UJehova wapha abako-Israyeli lemithetho okwakumele bayilandele nxa besilwa izimpi. Babengaphongusuka nje bayehlasela ezinye izizwe befuna ukutshengisa ukuthi balamandla kodwa babesilwa ‘izimpi zikaJehova’ kuphela. (AmaNani 21:14) Izikhathi ezinengi abako-Israyeli kwakumele baqale bakhulume labayakulwa labo ukuze benze ukuthula. Nxa abantu bedolobho okwakumele balihlasele bengafuni ukwenza ukuthula, abako-Israyeli babengalihlasela kodwa belandela ababekutshelwe nguJehova. Amabutho ako-Israyeli ayengafanani lamanye amasotsha ngoba ayengavunyelwa ukubamba abesifazana iganyavu kumbe ukuphongubulala nje kungelasizatho. Kwakumele ahloniphe lemvelo, engagamuli izihlahla zesitha ezithela izithelo.d Amanye amasotsha ayengelayo imithetho enjalo.—UDutheronomi 20:10-15, 19, 20; 21:10-13.

¹⁸ Akukwethusi yini ukuzwa ukuthi kwamanye amazwe abantwana abancane bayafundiswa ukuthi babe ngamasotsha? Ko-Israyeli umuntu oleminyaka engaphansi kwengu-20 wayengangeni ebuthweni. (AmaNani 1:2, 3) Kanti njalo nxa indoda isesaba yayivunyelwa ukuthi ingayi empini. Lendoda eyayisanda kutshada yayivunyelwa ukuthi ingayi empini okomnyaka wonke ukuze iqale ibone izibulo layo lizalwa ingakayi emsebenzini lo oyingozi. UMthetho wawusithi kumele “ihlale emzini wayo ithokozise umkayo.”—UDutheronomi 20:5, 6, 8; 24:5.

19. UMthetho wawubavikela njani abesifazana, abantwana, izimuli, abafelokazi kanye lezintandane?

¹⁹ UMthetho wawuphinda uvikele abesifazana labantwana kanye lezimuli. Wawulaya abazali ukuthi banakekele abantwababo ngazo zonke izikhathi futhi babafundise ngoNkulunkulu. (UDutheronomi 6:6, 7) Wawungavumeli ukuthi abantu abayizihlobo baye emacansini ndawonye futhi ababesephula umthetho lo babejeziswa ngokubulawa. (ULevi isahluko 18) Wawungavumeli ukuthi umuntu otshadileyo alale lomuntu ongasomkakhe. Lokhu kwandise ukubangela ukuchitheka kwemizi njalo kutshiya abantu besizwa ubuhlungu futhi bedubeka. UMthetho wawunakekela abafelokazi lezintandane futhi wawungavumeli ngitsho lakancane ukuthi baphathwe kubi.—U-Eksodusi 20:14; 22:22-24.

20, 21. (a) Kungani uMthetho kaMosi wawuvumela isithembo? (b) Kungani uJehova wavumela ama-Israyeli ukuthi adivose omkawo?

²⁰ Kodwa abanye bangazibuza ukuthi kungani uMthetho wawuvumela isithembo. (UDutheronomi 21:15-17) Okungasinceda ukuthi sizwisise uMthetho kaMosi yikukhumbula ukuthi amasiko ako-Israyeli lendlela ababephila ngayo itshiyene lendlela esiphila ngayo lamuhla. (IZaga 18:13) UJehova wathi edala u-Adamu lo-Eva wenza kwacaca ukuthi indoda kumele ibe lomfazi oyedwa futhi wayefuna ukuthi bahlale ndawonye kuze kube nini lanini. (UGenesisi 2:18, 20-24) Kodwa ngesikhathi uJehova esipha ama-Israyeli uMthetho, isithembo sasesivele sikhona. UJehova wayekwazi kuhle ukuthi abantu bakhe ‘babeyiziqholo’ njalo babezahlala besephula imithetho yakhe ecacileyo, njengomthetho wokuthi bangakhonzi izithombe. (U-Eksodusi 32:9) Yikho wakhetha ukuthi abatshiye baqhubeke belandela eminye imikhuba eyayisikhona ngalesosikhathi. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova kazange atshele ama-Israyeli ukuthi athathe isithembo. Kodwa wabapha imithetho eyayivikela abesifazana ukuthi bangaphathwa kubi ngamadoda.

²¹ Abanye bayazibuza ukuthi kungani uMthetho kaMosi wawuvumela ukuthi indoda idivose umkayo nxa ilezizatho ezizwakalayo. (UDutheronomi 24:1-4) UJesu wathi uNkulunkulu wayevumele amaJuda ukuthi akwenze lokhu ngenxa yokuthi ‘izinhliziyo zabo zazilukhuni.’ Kodwa lokhu kwakungokwesikhatshana. UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthi balandele isimiso uJehova ayevele esifakile ekuqaliseni.—UMathewu 19:8.

UMthetho Wawubafundisa Ukuthi Babe Lothando

22. UMthetho kaMosi wawubanceda njani abako-Israyeli ukuthi babe lothando?

²² Ukhona yini umthetho kahulumende owaziyo okhuthaza abantu ukuthi bathandane? UMthetho kaMosi wawuqakathekisa uthando ukwedlula zonke izinto. KuDutheronomi kukhulunywa ngothando izikhathi ezedlula 20. Umlayo wesibili owawuqakathekile eMthethweni ngothi: “Kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho ngendlela ozithanda ngayo.” (ULevi 19:18; UMathewu 22:37-40) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele bathandane futhi bathande labantu bezizweni ababehlala labo. Kwakumele bathande labaswelayo, babancedise ngokubapha abangelakho njalo bangabaphathi kubi. Babetshelwe lokuthi baphathe kuhle izifuyo zabo.—U-Eksodusi 23:6; ULevi 19:14, 33, 34; UDutheronomi 22:4, 10; 24:17, 18.

23. Kuyini okwenziwa ngumlobi weHubo 119 njalo kuyini esingazimisela ukukwenza?

²³ Kambe sikhona yini esinye isizwe esilemithetho emihle njengaleyo eyaphiwa ama-Israyeli? Akula lesisodwa, yikho umhubi wabhala wathi: “Ngiwuthanda okwamagama umthetho wakho!” Kodwa kazange aphelele ekukhulumeni kuphela, watshengisa langezenzo ukuthi uyawuhlonipha futhi uyawulandela. Waqhubeka wathi: “Ngicabangisisa ngawo ilanga lonke.” (IHubo 119:11, 97) Umhubi wayehlala ebala imithetho kaJehova. Asikuthandabuzi ukuthi ukuyibala kwamenza wayithanda kakhulu. Lokhu kwenza wamthanda kakhulu uJehova, uMenzi waleyo mithetho. Kwangathi lawe ungaqhubeka ufunda ngemithetho kaNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle. Ungenza njalo uzasondela kuye ube ngumngane wakhe.

1, 2. IBhayibhili lithi abantu bakusiphi isimo njalo yiphi indlela eyodwa kuphela abangaphuma ngayo?

“KONKE okudaliweyo kuqhubeka kububula ndawonye futhi kusebuhlungwini kuze kube khathesi.” (KwabaseRoma 8:22) Evesini le umphostoli uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngesimo esibuhlungu esikuso. Abantu bangabona angani akulandlela yokuphuma ekuhluphekeni, esonweni lasekufeni. Kodwa uJehova yena kafanani labantu ngoba akulalutho olumehlulayo. (AmaNani 23:19) UnguNkulunkulu owahlulela kuhle futhi kulesipho esiligugu asinike sona ukuze asikhulule ekuhluphekeni. Isipho leso yinhlawulo.

² Inhlawulo yisipho esikhulu ukwedlula zonke uJehova asinike abantu ukuze abakhulule esonweni lasekufeni. (Kwabase-Efesu 1:7) Yenza sibe lethemba lokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo, kungaba sezulwini loba emhlabeni olipharadayisi. (ULukha 23:43; UJohane 3:16; 1 UPhetro 1:4) Kodwa kuyini inhlawulo? Isifundisani ngokwahlulela kuhle kukaJehova?

Kungani Kwakudingakala Inhlawulo?

3. (a) Kungani kwakumele abantu bahlawulelwe? (b) Kungani uNkulunkulu engazange abayekele abantwana baka-Adamu baphile kuze kube nini lanini?

³ Okwenza kwadingakala inhlawulo yikuthi u-Adamu kazange alalele uNkulunkulu yikho waba lesono futhi isono leso wasidlulisela ebantwaneni bakhe. Yiso esenza abantu bagule, bahlupheke futhi bafe. (UGenesisi 2:17; KwabaseRoma 8:20) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Imbadalo yesono yikufa.” (KwabaseRoma 6:23) Yikho uNkulunkulu wayengasoze abayekele abantwana baka-Adamu baphile kuze kube nini lanini ngoba nxa wayengabayekela wayezabe engasawulandelanga umthetho lo. Lokhu kwakuzakwenza izingilosi labantu babone angani imithetho kaNkulunkulu ayiqakathekanga, besekusiba lokungahleleki endaweni yonke.

4, 5. (a) USathane wathini ngoNkulunkulu njalo kuyini okwenza uJehova wafuna ukulungisa umonakalo owawusudalwe nguSathane? (b) USathane wazisola ngani izinceku zikaJehova?

⁴ Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 12, ukuhlamuka kukaSathane lo-Adamu lo-Eva kwenza kwaba lemibuzo eqakathekileyo. USathane walingcolisa kakhulu ibizo likaNkulunkulu. Akutshoyo kwenza kwakhanya angani uJehova ungumqambimanga futhi unguMbusi ololunya onguntandokayiphikiswa njalo oncitsha izidalwa zakhe inkululeko. (UGenesisi 3:1-5) Kwasekukhanya angathi useyiphambanisile injongo kaNkulunkulu yokugcwalisa umhlaba ngabantu abalungileyo. Kwasekungathi uNkulunkulu wehlulekile ukwenza lokho ayekuhlosile. (UGenesisi 1:28; U-Isaya 55:10, 11) Ngabe uJehova wayekela ukulungisa umonakalo owawusudalwe nguSathane, izingilosi labantu babezabona angani uNkulunkulu kenelisi ukubusa ngendlela efaneleyo.

⁵ USathane waphinda wasola lezinceku zikaJehova esithi zimkhonza ngenxa yalokho ezingakuthola kuye lokuthi nxa zingahlukuluzwa kazisoze zihlale zithembekile kuye. (UJobe 1:9-11) Ukutshengisa ukuthi uSathane wayeqamba amanga kwakuqakatheke ukwedlula ukuqeda inhlupho zabantu. Yikho uJehova wabona kufanele ukuthi aphendule ukusola kukaSathane. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayezakwenza njani lokhu futhi wayezabasindisa njani abantu?

Inhlawulo Yimbadalo Elingana Lomonakalo Oyabe Wenziwe

6. Yiwaphi amabala asetshenziswa eBhayibhilini nxa kuchasiswa indlela uNkulunkulu asindisa ngayo abantu?

⁶ Indlela uJehova alungisa ngayo umonakalo owadalwa nguSathane itshengisa ukuthi ulesihawu futhi wahlulela kuhle. IBhayibhili liyibiza ngokuthi yinhlawulo, yintengo kumbe yikubuyisana. (IHubo 49:8; UDanyeli 9:24; KwabaseGalathiya 3:13; KwabaseKholose 1:20; KumaHebheru 2:17) Akula omunye umuntu owayengaba lendlela elula kangaka yokulungisa umonakalo lo. Kodwa uJesu wayichasisa ngcono indlela kaNkulunkulu yokukhulula abantu esonweni lasekufeni. Wathi: “Njengoba nje leNdodana yomuntu ingalandanga ukuzosetshenzelwa kodwa yalanda ukuzosebenza lokunikela ngempilo yayo ibe yinhlawulo [ngesiGrikhi, lyʹtron] yabanengi.”—UMathewu 20:28.

7, 8. (a) EMibhalweni litshoni ibala elithi “inhlawulo”? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi inhlawulo kumele ilingane lokulahlekileyo?

⁷ Kuyini inhlawulo? Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi inhlawulo livela ebaleni eliyisenzo elitsho “ukukhulula loba ukuyekela.” Lalisetshenziswa nxa kukhulunywa ngemali eyayibhadalwa ukuze kukhululwe izibotshwa empini. Ngakho inhlawulo yimbadalo ekhitshwayo ukuze kukhululwe ulutho oluthile. EMibhalweni yesiHebheru ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “inhlawulo” ngelithi koʹpher futhi livela ebaleni eliyisenzo elitsho ‘ukusibekela.’ Ibala leli yilo futhi elisetshenziswe kuGenesisi 6:14 lapho uJehova etshela uNowa ukuthi ‘ahuqe’ umkhumbi ngethara. Lokhu kusinceda sizwisise ukuthi ukuhlawulela kutsho lokusibekela izono.—IHubo 65:3.

⁸ Isichazamazwi okuthiwa yi-Theological Dictionary of the New Testament sithi ibala elithi koʹpher lisetshenziswa nxa kuchasiswa into elingana lenye. Ngakho ukuze kuhlawulelwe isono, kumele kubhadalwe intengo ehambelana lomonakalo owenziwe yisono. UMthetho kaNkulunkulu owawuphiwe ama-Israyeli wawusithi: “Impilo kumele iphindiselwe ngempilo.”—UDutheronomi 19:21.

9. Kungani abantu ababethembekile babenikela ngemihlatshelo yezinyamazana njalo uJehova wayeyibona njani imihlatshelo yabo?

⁹ Kusukela ngesikhathi sika-Abela kusiyaphambili abantu ababethembekile kuNkulunkulu babenikela ngemihlatshelo yezinyamazana. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi babekwazi ukuthi balesono lokuthi kumele bakhululwe kuso. Kwakutshengisa lokuthi bayasikholwa isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokubakhulula esebenzisa ‘inzalo’ yakhe. (UGenesisi 3:15; 4:1-4; ULevi 17:11; KumaHebheru 11:4) UJehova wayeyamukela imihlatshelo yabo futhi wavuma ukuthi babe yizinceku zakhe. Kodwa imihlatshelo yezinyamazana yayingeke ihlawulele izono zabo ngoba izinyamazana kazisilutho nxa ziqathaniswa labantu. (IHubo 8:4-8) Yikho iBhayibhili lisithi: “Ngeke kwenzakale ukuthi igazi lezinkunzi lelezimbuzi lisuse izono.” (KumaHebheru 10:1-4) Imihlatshelo enjalo yayimela umhlatshelo kaJesu.

‘Inhlawulo Efaneleyo’

10. (a) Ngumuntu onjani owayengaba yinhlawulo efaneleyo futhi kungani kunjalo? (b) Kungani kwakudingeka umhlatshelo womuntu oyedwa kuphela?

¹⁰ Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: ‘Ku-Adamu bonke bayafa.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:22) Ngakho-ke ukuze abantu bahlawulelwe kwakumele kufe umuntu ongelasono njengo-Adamu. (KwabaseRoma 5:14) Njengoba uJehova enguNkulunkulu owahlulela kuhle, inhlawulo kwakumele ilingane lempilo epheleleyo u-Adamu ayeyilahlile. Yikho umuntu ongelasono nguye kuphela owayengaba “yinhlawulo efaneleyo yabantu bonke.” (1 KuThimothi 2:6) Kwakungadingeki ukuthi kufe abantu abanengi abangelasono ukuze kuhlawulelwe umuntu ngamunye. Umphostoli uPhawuli wachasisa wathi: “Isono sangena emhlabeni ngomuntu oyedwa [u-Adamu], lokufa kwangena ngesono.” (KwabaseRoma 5:12) “Njengoba ukufa kweza ngomuntu” oyedwa, uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ‘umuntu’ oyedwa ukuthi ahlawulele bonke abantu emhlabeni. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:21) Wakwenza njani lokhu?

11. (a) Kungani uJesu ‘wafela abantu bonke’? (b) Kungani u-Adamu lo-Eva babengeke bancedwe yinhlawulo? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

¹¹ UJehova wathuma indodana yakhe eyayingelasono ukuthi izonikela ngokuphila kwayo. URoma 6:23 uthi: “Imbadalo yesono yikufa.” Ngakho uJesu wathi enikela ngokuphila kwakhe, ‘wafela abantu bonke.’ Ngamanye amazwi ukufa kwakhe kwaba yimbadalo yesono sika-Adamu. (KumaHebheru 2:9; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 5:21; 1 UPhetro 2:24) Inhlawulo kaJesu izakwenza abantu bathole izibusiso ezimangalisayo. Labo abakhetha ukulalela uNkulunkulu bazathola impilo engapheliyo ngoba isono lokufa kuyabe sekukhitshiwe.a—KwabaseRoma 5:16.

12. Nika umzekeliso otshengisa ukuthi ukubhadalwa kwesikwelede esisodwa kunganceda abantu abanengi.

¹² Ake sithi uhlala edolobheni elilenkampani enkulu futhi abantu abanengi kulelodolobho basebenza kuyo. Lonke lihola kuhle futhi alisweli lutho. Kodwa besekusithi ngelinye ilanga inkampani ivalwe ngenxa yokuthi umaneja ubesezidlela imali inkampani yaze yasala ingaselamali. Lokhu kwenza liphelelwe ngumsebenzi futhi lingenelisi ukunakekela izimuli zenu lokubhadala izindleko. Wonke umuntu usala ehlupheka ngenxa yobuhwaba bomuntu oyedwa nje. Kukhanya kungaselathemba lokuthi izinto zizalunga. Kodwa besekusithi omunye umuntu onothileyo azwe ngobunzima elikubo abasekhetha ukulinceda. Uyakwazi ukuthi inkampani le ibinceda abantu abanengi yikho uyasibhadala isikwelede senkampani abeseyivula. Ukubhadalwa kwalesosikwelede kunceda wonke umuntu okugoqela izisebenzi, izimuli zazo kanye labanye ababedlelwe imali zabo. Injalo lenhlawulo kaJesu, inceda abantu abanengi kakhulu.

Ngubani Owasihlawulelayo?

13, 14. (a) UJehova wenzani ukuze abantu bahlawulelwe? (b) Inhlawulo yabhadalwa kubani njalo lokhu kusifundisani ngoJehova?

¹³ UJehova nguye kuphela owayengasinika ‘iMvana esusa isono somhlaba’ ukuze isihlawulele. (UJohane 1:29) Kodwa uNkulunkulu kazange aphonguthuma loba yiphi ingilosi ukuthi izokhulula abantu. Wathuma lowo owayengaphendula insolo kaSathane ngendlela engcono kakhulu eyayizakwenza ukuthi uSathane angaphindi athi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngeke zihlale zithembekile nxa zingahlukuluzwa. UJehova walahlekelwa kakhulu lapho ethuma iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa. Phela ‘wayethokoza ukuba layo’ ezulwini. (IZaga 8:30) INdodana kaNkulunkulu layo ‘yazidela yatshiya konke eyayilakho’ ezulwini. (KwabaseFiliphi 2:7) UJehova wenza isimangaliso ngokuthatha ukuphila kweNdodana yakhe eyiyo yodwa wakufaka esibelethweni sentombi engumJuda okwakuthiwa nguMariya. (ULukha 1:27, 35) INdodana le yayizabizwa ngokuthi nguJesu. IBhayibhili limbiza langokuthi ngu-Adamu wokucina ngoba laye wayengelasono njengo-Adamu. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:45, 47) Ngakho uJesu wayenganikela ngempilo yakhe ukuze ibe yinhlawulo yabantu abanengi.

¹⁴ Inhlawulo le yayizabhadalwa kubani? IHubo 49:7 likubeka kucace ukuthi inhlawulo ibhadalwa “kuNkulunkulu.” Kodwa kayisuye yini uJehova owenza ukuthi kube lenhlawulo? Nguye. Manje lokhu akufanani yini lokukhipha imali kwesinye isikhwama sebhulugwe uyifake kwesinye? Hatshi. Khumbula ukuthi inhlawulo isifundisa into eqakatheke kakhulu. Isifundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wahlulela kuhle. Ngesikhathi uJehova enikela ngoJesu, watshengisa ukuthi uyazilandela izimiso zakhe zokwahlulela lanxa lokho kwenza ukuthi azwe ubuhlungu kakhulu.—UGenesisi 22:7, 8, 11-13; KumaHebheru 11:17; UJakhobe 1:17.

15. Kungani kwakumele uJesu ahlupheke futhi afe?

¹⁵ Ekuqaliseni komnyaka ka-33 C.E., uJesu Khristu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze abhadale inhlawulo. Wavuma ukuthi abotshelwe into ayengayenzanga, etheswe icala njalo abethelwe esigodweni sokuhlutshwa. Kungani uJesu wahlupheka kangako? Kwakumele ahlupheke ukuze kukhanye ukuthi uSathane wayeqamba amanga lapho esithi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngeke zihlale zithembekile kuye nxa zisebunzimeni. Yikho okwenza uNkulunkulu wangavumi ukuthi uHerodi abulale uJesu eseselusane. (UMathewu 2:13-18) Kodwa esekhulile wayesezwisisa ngokugcweleyo insolo kaSathane futhi indlela enza ngayo yatshengisa ukuthi uSathane ngumqambimanga.b UJesu wahlala ‘eqotho, engelacala, engangcoliswanga futhi ehlukaniswe lezoni’ lanxa wahlukuluzwa. Lokhu kwenza kwacaca ukuthi uJehova ulazo izinceku ezihlala zithembekile lanxa zisebunzimeni. (KumaHebheru 7:26) Yikho uJesu wathi esesifa wamemeza wathi: “Sengikwenzile konke.”—UJohane 19:30.

UJesu Uqedisa Umsebenzi Wakhe Wokuhlawulela Abantu

16, 17. (a) UJesu wawuqedisa njani umsebenzi wakhe wokuhlawulela abantu? (b) Kungani kwakumele uJesu ame “phambi kukaNkulunkulu emele thina”?

¹⁶ Lanxa uJesu wayesefele abantu, wayengakawuqedi umsebenzi wakhe wokubahlawulela. Ngelanga lesithathu efile, uJehova wamvusa. (ImiSebenzi 3:15; 10:40) Ngokwenza njalo wayenika iNdodana yakhe umvuzo wokuthi ithembekile futhi wayipha lethuba lokuqedisa umsebenzi wayo wokuhlawulela abantu njengoba inguMphristi Omkhulu. (KwabaseRoma 1:4; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:3-8) Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: ‘UKhristu wathi efika engumphristi omkhulu wangena endaweni engcwele kwaba kanye kuphela elegazi lakhe hatshi igazi lembuzi lelamajongosi, wenza ukuthi sikhululwe kuze kube nini lanini. Phela uKhristu kangenanga endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso wendawo yoqobo, kodwa khathesi ungene ezulwini ngokwalo ukuze abonakale phambi kukaNkulunkulu emele thina.’—KumaHebheru 9:11, 12, 24.

¹⁷ UKhristu kangenanga legazi lakhe ezulwini. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:50) Kodwa wangena lalokho okwakumelwa ligazi lelo, okutsho impilo epheleleyo ayenikele ngayo. Wafika wethula inhlawulo yezono zethu phambi kukaNkulunkulu. UJehova wawamukela yini umhlatshelo lowo? Wawamukela njalo lokho kwabonakala ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., ngesikhathi umoya ongcwele uthululelwa kubafundi ababengaba yi-120 ababeseJerusalema. (ImiSebenzi 2:1-4) Lokho kwakuthokozisa kakhulu kodwa kwakusesekunengi okwakuzatholwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngenxa yomhlatshelo kaJesu.

Lokho Inhlawulo Esinceda Ngakho

18, 19. (a) Yiwaphi amaqembu amabili azancedwa yinhlawulo kaJesu? (b) Yiziphi izibusiso ezitholwa ‘lixuku elikhulu’ khathesi futhi lizatholani esikhathini esizayo?

¹⁸ Encwadini yakhe eyayisiya kwabaseKholose, uPhawuli wachaza ukuthi uNkulunkulu wavulela abantu ithuba lokuthi babuyisane laye babe ngabangane bakhe esebenzisa umhlatshelo kaJesu. UPhawuli waphinda wathi kulamaqembu amabili atshiyeneyo ancedwa yinhlawulo. Iqembu lokuqala ‘yizinto ezisezulwini,’ elesibili “yizinto ezisemhlabeni.” (KwabaseKholose 1:19, 20; Kwabase-Efesu 1:10) Iqembu lokuqala ngelamaKhristu angu-144 000 aphiwe ithemba lokukhonza engabaphristi ezulwini kanye lelokubusa umhlaba eloJesu Khristu. (ISambulo 5:9, 10; 7:4; 14:1-3) AmaKhristu la azasebenza loJesu phakathi kweminyaka eyinkulungwane enceda abantu abasemhlabeni ukuthi bathole izibusiso ezizanikwa bonke abalokholo enhlawulweni kaJesu.—1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:24-26; ISambulo 20:6; 21:3, 4.

¹⁹ ‘Izinto ezisemhlabeni’ ngabantu abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni oliPharadayisi. USambulo 7:9-17 uthi ‘balixuku elikhulu’ elizasinda “ekuhluphekeni okukhulu” okuzayo. Kodwa inhlawulo kaJesu iyabanceda lakhathesi. “Sebegezise izembatho zabo egazini leMvana, bazenza zaba mhlophe.” UJehova ubanika izibusiso ezinengi khathesi ngenxa yokuthi bayakholwa enhlawulweni kaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo uyabamukela ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe ngoba ubabona belungile. (UJakhobe 2:23) Inhlawulo yenza benelise ‘ukusondela esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa omkhulu belenkululeko yokukhuluma.’ (KumaHebheru 4:14-16) Nxa bengaphambanisa, uJehova uyabathethelela. (Kwabase-Efesu 1:7) Balomzwangedwa ohlanzekileyo lanxa belesono. (KumaHebheru 9:9; 10:22; 1 UPhetro 3:21) Akudingakali ukuthi balindele umhlaba omutsha ukuthi babe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu, kodwa bayenelisa ukuba ngabangane bakhe khathesi! (2 KwabaseKhorinte 5:19, 20) Phakathi kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaJesu ‘bazakhululwa ebugqilini bokonakala, bathole inkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’—KwabaseRoma 8:21.

20. Ukucabangisisa ngenhlawulo kuzakunceda njani?

²⁰ Siyambonga “uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Khristu” ngokuthi wasipha inhlawulo! (KwabaseRoma 7:25) Inhlawulo iveza inhlakanipho kaJehova emangalisayo kodwa kulula ukuyizwisisa. (KwabaseRoma 11:33) Ukucabangisisa ngenhlawulo kwenza simthande kakhulu uJehova futhi sifise ukusondela kuye. Lathi njengomhubi silezizatho ezinengi zokudumisa uJehova ngoba “uthanda ukulunga lokwahlulela okuhle.”—IHubo 33:5.

1, 2. Kunini lapho uJesu azonda khona futhi kwakutheni?

UJESU wathi efika ethempelini likaJehova, wabona into eyamzondisa kakhulu. Kungaba nzima ukumcabanga ezondile ngoba wayeyindoda emnene kakhulu. (UMathewu 21:5) Lanxa wayezondile kazange adlulise amalawulo ngoba wayesenelisa ukuzithiba.a Kodwa kuyini okwakuzondise indoda le ethanda ukuthula? Yayizondiswe yizinto ezimbi eyayizibona zisenzakala endlini kaNkulunkulu.

² UJesu wayelithanda kakhulu ithempeli elaliseJerusalema. Kwakuyiyo yodwa indawo emhlabeni wonke okwakukhonzwa khona uYise osezulwini. AmaJuda ayevela ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo ayehamba umango omude ezokhonza ethempelini lelo. Lalabo ababengasiwo maJuda ababesesaba uNkulunkulu babebuya bezokhonza egcekeni lethempeli. Kodwa uJesu wathi esanda kuqalisa inkonzo yakhe, wangena ethempelini wabona okubi kakhulu okwakusenzakala lapho. Ithempeli laseliyimakethi kulokuthi libe yindlu yokukhonzela! Kwakulabantu abathengisayo kanye labatshintsha imali. Kwakukubi ngani lokho? Babengasalihloniphi ithempeli, sebelenza indawo yokuqilela abantu.—UJohane 2:14.

3, 4. Kuyini okwakusenzakala endlini kaJehova futhi uJesu wenzani?

³ Abakhokheli benkolo basebefake umthetho wokuthi umthelo wethempeli kwakumele ubhadalwe ngohlobo lwemali yesiliva olulodwa nje kuphela. Yikho izivakatshi kwakumele zitshintshe imali yazo ukuze zithole leyomali efunakalayo. Abatshintsha imali bafaka amatafula abo phakathi kwethempeli. Babesithi nxa betshintshela umuntu imali, bambhadalise imali enengi. Abanye babethengisa izifuyo ethempelini futhi labo babeyitshaya imali. Izivakatshi ezazifuna ukunikela imihlatshelo zazingathenga kuloba yiwuphi umthengisi owayekhona edolobheni, kodwa ababekhokhela ethempelini babengemukeli imihlatshelo enjalo. Babesamukela iminikelo eyayithengwa khona kanye ethempelini. Lokhu kwakusenza abathengisa ethempelini badulise kakhulu ngoba babesazi ukuthi abantu bazathenga kubo ngenkani.b Ababekwenza kwakukubi kakhulu ngoba kwasekufanana lokuthi batshontshela abantu imali yabo.

⁴ UJesu kazange atshone ephozisa amaseko. Wahle wenza isaswebhu waxotsha imihlambi yezinkomo leyezimvu ethempelini. Ngemva kwalokho waya kulabo ababetshintsha imali wagenqula amatafula abo, imali yesiliva yachitheka yagcwala phansi! Watshela amadoda ayethengisa amajuba wathi: “Susani izinto lezi lapha!” (UJohane 2:15, 16) Kukhanya akulamuntu owaba lesibindi sokuphikisana loJesu.

UJesu Wayelingisela UYise

5-7. (a) Kungani uJesu wayekuqakathekisa ukuthi abantu baphathwe kuhle futhi kuzasinceda ngani ukuhlola lokho ayekwenza? (b) UJesu wenzani ukuze kucace ukuthi uSathane wayeqamba amanga njalo uzakwenzani esikhathini esizayo?

⁵ Abantu ababethengisa ethempelini baphinda baphenduka ngoba ngemva kweminyaka engaba mithathu uJesu waphinda wabaxotsha ethempelini. Wakhuluma amazwi ayeke akhulunywa nguJehova ngesikhathi esola abantu ababesenza indlu yakhe “ubhalu lwamasela.” (UMathewu 21:13; UJeremiya 7:11) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJesu wathi ebona ukungcoliswa kwethempeli likaNkulunkulu kanye lokuqilwa kwabantu wazizwa ngendlela uYise azizwa ngayo. Akumangalisi lokhu ngenxa yokuthi uJesu wayefundiswe nguYise okweminyaka eminengi kakhulu bebonke ezulwini. Wafunda ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda kakhulu ukubona abantu bephathwa kubi, yikho laye wayekuzonda. Ngakho nxa sifuna ukuzwisisa ukuthi uJehova ukuqakathekisa kangakanani ukwahlulela okuhle, kumele sihlole lokho uJesu Khristu ayekwenza.—UJohane 14:9, 10.

⁶ UJesu wayekhona lapho uSathane esithi uJehova uNkulunkulu ungumqambimanga futhi ubusa kubi. Lawa kwakungamanga aluhlaza tshoko! Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wezwa uSathane esithi abantu bakhonza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yalokho abangakuthola kuye. Lokhu kwayizwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Kumele ukuthi uJesu wathokoza kakhulu esizwa ukuthi uJehova wayezasebenzisa yena ukuthi atshengise ukuthi uSathane uqamba amanga. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 1:20) Wayezakwenza njani lokhu?

⁷ ESahlukweni 14 sibonile ukuthi uJesu Khristu wahlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwenza kwacaca ukuthi uSathane wayeqamba amanga lapho esithi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zimkhonza ngenhloso ezingayisizo. Watshengisa lokuthi uSathane wayeqamba amanga lapho esithi uJehova ubusa kubi. Njengoba enguMmeli Omkhulu kaJehova, uzakwenza ukuthi wonke umuntu ezulwini lasemhlabeni alandele imithetho kaJehova. (ImiSebenzi 5:31) Lokho uJesu akwenzayo layekufundisa abantu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni kwatshengisa ukuthi laye uyakuthanda ukwahlulela kuhle njengoJehova. UJehova wathi ekhuluma ngeNdodana yakhe wathi: “Ngizafaka umoya wami kuyo njalo izacacisela izizwe ukuthi ukulunga kuyini.” (UMathewu 12:18) UJesu wakwenza njani lokho?

UJesu Wacacisa Ukuthi “Ukulunga Kuyini”

8-10. (a) Imithetho yabakhokheli benkolo abangamaJuda yayisenza ukuthi abesifazana labantu abangayisiwo maJuda baphathwe njani? (b) Abakhokheli benkolo benzani okwenza kwaba nzima ukugcina umthetho kaJehova weSabatha?

⁸ UJesu wayewuthanda uMthetho kaJehova futhi wayephila ngawo. Kodwa abakhokheli benkolo bona babewuphendulela uMthetho futhi bewusebenzisa kubi. UJesu wathi kubo: ‘Maye kini babhali labaFarisi, bazenzisi. Alizihluphi ngezindaba eziqakathekileyo zoMthetho eziphathelane lokwahlulela okuhle, ukuba lesihawu kanye lokuthembeka!’ (UMathewu 23:23) Kuyakhanya ukuthi babengacacisi ukuthi “ukulunga kuyini” lanxa kwakumele bafundise abantu uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Cabanga ngezibonelo ezilandelayo.

⁹ UJehova watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi bangenzi imikhuba yezizwe ezazingomakhelwana babo. (1 AmaKhosi 11:1, 2) Kodwa abanye abakhokheli benkolo babekhuthaza abantu ukuthi benyanye abantu abangasiwo maJuda. Ibhuku elalilemithetho yabakhokheli bamaJuda lalisithi: “Inkomo akumelanga zitshiywe ezindlini zabantu abangasiwo maJuda ngoba kucatshangelwa ukuthi balala lezinyamazana.” Indlela ababebandlulula ngayo abantu abangayisiwo maJuda yayingalunganga futhi ingavumelani lalokho okwakutshiwo eMthethweni kaMosi. (ULevi 19:34) Eminye imithetho ababeyifakile yayiseyisa abesifazana. Babesithi owesifazana akumelanga ahambe eceleni komkakhe kodwa kumele ahambe ngemva kwakhe. Owesilisa kwakungamelanga akhulume lowesifazana phakathi kwabantu lanxa wayengumkakhe. Abesifazana babefanana lezigqili ngoba babengavunyelwa ukufakaza emthethwandaba. Kwakulomthandazo lapho amadoda ayebonga khona uNkulunkulu ngokuthi ayengayisibo bafazi.

¹⁰ Abakhokheli benkolo bagqibela uMthetho kaNkulunkulu ngemithetho eminengi ababeyifakile. Ngokwesibonelo, umthetho weSabatha wawungavumeli ukuthi umuntu asebenze ngeSabatha. Ilanga lelo lalibekelwe ukukhonza kanye lokuphumula. Kodwa abaFarisi babesenza umthetho lowo usinde. Babesithi balelungelo lokutsho ukuthi umsebenzi okwakungamelanga wenziwe ngeSabatha yiwuphi. Baqamba imisebenzi engu-39 eyehlukeneyo, enjengokuvuna lokuzingela. Lokhu kwenza kwaba lemibuzo eminengi enjengokuthi nxa umuntu wayengabulala umkhaza ngelanga leSabatha, kwakungathiwa uyazingela yini? Nxa wayengakha izikhwebu zamabele ezilutshwana edlula nje, uyabe evuna yini? Nxa wayengelapha umuntu ogulayo, uyabe esebenza yini? Imibuzo enjengale yayiphendulwa ngokufaka eminye imithetho eminenginengi eyayithwalisa abantu nzima.

11, 12. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi kavumelani lamasiko abaFarisi ayengekho eMibhalweni?

¹¹ UJesu wabancedisa njani abantu labo ukuthi bazwisise ukuthi kutshoni ukwenza okulungileyo? Ayekwenza layekufundisa kwenza kwacaca ukuthi okwakutshiwo ngabakhokheli benkolo kwakungamanga. Ngokwesibonelo wabatshela ukuthi imithetho eminenginengi ababeyifakile yayingaqondanga. Wathi: ‘Lenza ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu libe yinto engelancedo ngenxa yesiko lenu elilidlulisela kwabanye.’—UMakho 7:13.

¹² UJesu wathi abaFarisi babekhuluma amanga ngomthetho weSabatha lokuthi babengazwisisi ukuthi umthetho lo wawufakelweni. Wachasisa ukuthi ulelungelo lokwelapha abantu ngelanga leSabatha ngoba ‘uyiNkosi yeSabatha.’ (UMathewu 12:8) Ukuze lokhu kucace welapha abagulayo ngelanga leSabatha ebonwa yibo bonke abantu. (ULukha 6:7-10) Lokhu kwakutshengisa azakwenzela abantu emhlabeni wonke ngesikhathi esebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane. Iminyaka le izakuba liSabatha lokucina lapho abantu bonke abathembekileyo abazaphumula khona ebunzimeni besono lokufa osekuleminyaka eminengi kuhlupha abantu.

13. UJesu wanika abalandeli bakhe wuphi umthetho futhi wawehlukene njani lokaMosi?

¹³ UJesu waphinda wacacisa ukuthi ukulunga kuyini ngokunika abalandeli bakhe umthetho omutsha obizwa ngokuthi ‘ngumthetho kaKhristu.’ Umthetho lo waqalisa ukusebenza eseqede inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:2) Wawungafanani loMthetho kaMosi ngoba wona wawusekelwe ezimisweni hatshi emilayweni ebhaliweyo. Kodwa wawulayo imilayo ecacileyo. UJesu wabiza omunye wemilayo le ngokuthi ‘ngumlayo omutsha.’ Wafundisa abalandeli bakhe bonke ukuthi bathandane njengoba nje laye wayebathanda. (UJohane 13:34, 35) Kuyacaca ukuthi uthando yilo okwakumele lube luphawu lwabo bonke abaphila ‘ngomthetho kaKhristu.’

UJesu Wayesenza Okulungileyo

14, 15. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazithoba futhi kungani lokhu kududuza?

¹⁴ UJesu kacinanga ngokufundisa ngothando kuphela, kodwa waphila ‘ngomthetho kaKhristu.’ Wawulandela kukho konke akwenzayo. Ake sixoxe ngezindlela ezintathu uJesu atshengisa ngazo ukuthi ukulunga kuyini.

¹⁵ Okokuqala, uJesu wazama ngamandla wonke ukwenza okulungileyo. Izikhathi ezinengi okwenza abantu benze izinto ezingalunganga yikuzigqaja baze bacine besenza izinto abangelamvumo yokuzenza. UJesu kazange enze njalo. Ngelinye ilanga kulendoda eyafika kuJesu yathi: “Mfundisi, tshela umfowethu ukuthi angabele lami ilifa.” UJesu waphendula wathini? Wathi: “Ndoda, ngubani ongibeke ukuthi ngibe ngumahluleli loba umlamuli wenu lobabili?” (ULukha 12:13, 14) Lokhu kusifundisani ngoJesu? Lanxa uJesu wayekhaliphe ukwedlula bonke abantu futhi elamandla ayewaphiwe nguNkulunkulu, kazange ayingene indaba yamadoda la. Wayesazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengamphanga imvumo yokulungisa indaba le. Langesikhathi esezulwini uJesu wayethobekile, wayengenzi lutho angalutshelwanga nguYise. (UJuda 9) Konke lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJesu ulobuntu obuhle ngoba uyazithoba avume ukuthi uJehova amtshele okumele akwenze.

16, 17. (a) UJesu wakucacisa njani ukulunga ngesikhathi etshumayela? (b) UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi ulesihawu?

¹⁶ Okwesibili, uJesu waphinda wacacisa ukuthi ukulunga kuyini ngokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Wayengakhethi kodwa wazimisela ukuthi atshumayeze yonke imihlobo yabantu, kungelani lokuthi banothile kumbe bangabayanga. AbaFarisi bona babebakhangelela phansi abayanga labantu abangafundanga. Babebabiza ngebizo lokweyisa elithi ʽam-ha·ʼaʹrets okutsho ukuthi “abantu bomhlaba.” UJesu watshengisa ukuthi lokho ababekwenza kwakungaqondanga. Walingisela uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle ngokutshumayeza “abantu bemihlobo yonke.” Kanti njalo wayesidla labo, ebanika ukudla, ebelapha, waze wavusa labafileyo.c—1 KuThimothi 2:4.

¹⁷ Okwesithathu, uJesu wayelesihawu ebantwini. Wayebamukela abantu abayizoni. (UMathewu 9:11-13) Wayehlala ezimisele ukunceda abantu ababengelamandla okuzivikela. Ngokwesibonelo, wayengavumelani labakhokheli benkolo ababefundisa abantu ukuthi bangabathembi abantu abangayisiwo maJuda. Wabatshengisa isihawu wabafundisa lanxa yena wayevele ethunywe kumaJuda. Wavuma lokusilisa inceku yenduna yebutho lamaRoma, waze wathi: “Kulo lonke elako-Israyeli angikamtholi umuntu olokholo olukhulu kangaka.”—UMathewu 8:5-13.

18, 19. (a) UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi uyabahlonipha abesifazana? (b) Isibonelo sikaJesu sikuveza njani ukuthi ukulunga lesibindi kuhamba ndawonye?

¹⁸ UJesu wayengavumelani lemibono abantu abanengi ababelayo ngabesifazana. Yena wazimisela ukwenza okulungileyo. Abesifazana abangamaSamariya labo kwakuthiwa bangcolile njengabantu abangayisiwo maJuda. Kodwa uJesu kazange ayekele ukutshumayeza owesifazana ongumSamariya emthonjeni waseSikhari. Owesifazana lo waba ngumuntu wokuqala uJesu amtshela ukuthi unguMesiya owayethenjisiwe. (UJohane 4:6, 25, 26) AbaFarisi babesithi abesifazana akumelanga bafundiswe uMthetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa uJesu wasebenzisa isikhathi sakhe esinengi ebafundisa. (ULukha 10:38-42) Abesifazana babengathenjwa ukuthi bafakaze kodwa uJesu watshengisa ukuthi uyabahlonipha ngokubanika isibusiso sokuthi babe ngabokuqala ukumbona esevusiwe. Wabatshela ukuthi bayebikela abaphostoli bakhe indaba le eyayiqakatheke kakhulu.—UMathewu 28:1-10.

¹⁹ Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi uJesu wenza kwacaca sibili ukuthi ukulunga kuyini lanxa izikhathi ezinengi lokhu kwakungamfaka engozini. Isibonelo sikaJesu sisifundisa ukuthi kumele sibe lesibindi nxa sifuna ukwenza okulungileyo. Yikho wayebizwa ngokuthi ‘yisilwane sakoJuda.’ (ISambulo 5:5) Khumbula ukuthi isilwane simela isibindi. Ngakho esikhathini esizayo uJesu ‘uzakwenza ukuthi kube lokulunga emhlabeni’ wonke.—U-Isaya 42:4.

INkosi EnguMesiya ‘Yenza Ukuthi Kube Lokulunga Emhlabeni’

20, 21. INkosi enguMesiya ibancedise njani abantu ukuthi benze okulungileyo?

²⁰ Kusukela uJesu esiba yiNkosi enguMesiya ngo-1914, uncede abantu ukuthi benze okulungileyo. Njani? Wenze ukuthi isiphrofetho sakhe esikuMathewu 24:14 sigcwaliseke. Abalandeli bakaJesu bafundisa abantu emazweni wonke iqiniso ngoMbuso kaJehova. Batshumayeza yonke imihlobo yabantu njengoJesu. Kabakhethi ukuthi umuntu mncane kumbe mdala, unothile loba ungumyanga kumbe ukuthi ngowesilisa loba owesifazana. Banika wonke umuntu ithuba lofunda ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle.

²¹ UJesu uncedisa labasebandleni ukuthi benze okulungileyo ngoba uyinhloko yebandla. Ubeke abadala abathembekileyo ebandleni ukuze balikhokhele. IBhayibhili libabiza ngokuthi ‘yizipho ezingabantu.’ (Kwabase-Efesu 4:8-12) Amadoda la alingisela uJesu Khristu ngokwelusa kuhle umhlambi kaNkulunkulu oligugu. Ahlala ekhumbula ukuthi uJesu ufuna zonke izimvu zakhe ziphathwe kuhle kungelani lokuthi zenza msebenzi bani ebandleni loba ukuthi zilani empilweni.

22. UJehova uzwa njani nxa ebona abantu bephathwa kubi futhi unike iNdodana yakhe umsebenzi wokwenzani?

²² Sekuseduze ukuthi uJesu enze ukuthi kube lokulunga emhlabeni wonke. Kunengi okubi okwenzakalayo. Abantwana abancane bayafa ngendlala ngenxa yokuthi imali obekumele isetshenziswe ukubanakekela isetshenziswa ukuthenga izikhali ezidulayo lokwenza ezinye izinto zokuzithokozisa. Amamiliyoni abantu ayafa umnyaka ngamunye ngenxa yezinto ezenziwa ngabantu ngabomu. Lokhu kwenza uJehova athukuthele kakhulu. Unike iNdodana yakhe umsebenzi wokuqeda konke ukuphathwa kubi kwabantu emhlabeni kungaphindi kube khona.—ISambulo 16:14, 16; 19:11-15.

23. UKhristu uzakwenzani ngemva kwe-Amagedoni?

²³ Kodwa ukubhubhisa abantu ababi ayisikho kodwa okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulungile. Uphinde wabeka iNdodana yakhe ukuthi ibe “nguMbusi Wokuthula.” Ngemva kwempi ye-Amagedoni uJesu uzabusa “ngokulunga,” enze ukuthi kube lokuthula emhlabeni wonke. (U-Isaya 9:6, 7) Uzasusa konke okungalunganga okwenze umhlaba waba lokuhlupheka losizi. Uzaqhubeka esahlulela kuhle njengoJehova kuze kube nini lanini. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi lathi silingisele uJehova ngokwenza okulungileyo. Manje singakwenza njani lokhu? Sizaxoxa ngakho esahlukweni esilandelayo.

1-3. (a) Kungani kumele simbonge uJehova? (b) UJehova ufuna senzeni?

AKE uzibone usemkhunjini osucwila emanzini. Kukhanya kungaselathemba lokuthi ungaphuma. Kodwa kusenjalo kufike omunye umuntu ehamba ngesinye isikepe akukhiphe akuhambise endaweni ephephileyo, abesesithi: “Ungesabi, ususendaweni ephephileyo khathesi.” Uzwa kusithi hu! Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ubungambonga kakhulu umuntu lo ngoba ngabe kafikanga ubuzaphelela emanzini.

² Umzekeliso lo usinceda sizwisise esakwenzelwa nguJehova. Kumele simbonge kakhulu ngoba wasipha inhlawulo esikhulula esonweni lasekufeni. Nxa singatshengisa ukuthi silokholo emhlatshelweni lo oligugu, uJehova uzasithethelela izono zethu futhi asiphe impilo engapheliyo. (1 UJohane 1:7; 4:9) Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 14, uJehova utshengise ukuthi uyasithanda kakhulu ngokusipha inhlawulo. Manje singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyambonga uJehova ngalokho asenzele khona?

³ Kumele senze lokho uJehova afuna sikwenze ngoba nguye owasikhululayo. Wathuma umphrofethi uMikha ukuthi athi: “Ukutshelile okuhle, wena muntu. Kambe uJehova ufunani kuwe? Akufunayo nje yikuthi wenze okulungileyo lokuthi uthande ubuqotho, njalo uhambe loNkulunkulu wakho ngokuzithoba.” (UMikha 6:8) Ngakho uJehova ufuna ‘senze okulungileyo.’ Kutshoni lokhu?

Zama Ngamandla Wonke Ukuba “Lokulunga Kweqiniso”

4. Sazi njani ukuthi uJehova ufuna siphile ngezimiso zakhe ezilungileyo?

⁴ UJehova ufuna siphile ngezimiso zakhe ezisitshela ukuthi yikuphi okulungileyo lokungalunganga. Ngakho ukwenza okulungileyo kutsho ukulandela izimiso zakhe. U-Isaya 1:17 uthi: “Fundani ukwenza okuhle njalo lahlulele kuhle.” ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sidinge ukulunga.’ (UZefaniya 2:3) Liphinda lisitshele ukuthi ‘sigqoke ubuntu obutsha obadalwa ngentando kaNkulunkulu futhi obuvumelana lokulunga kweqiniso.’ (Kwabase-Efesu 4:24) Nxa sifuna ukwenza okulungileyo kumele sibalekele udlakela, ukungcola kanye lobufebe ngenxa yokuthi loba ngubani owenza izinto lezi wephula imithetho kaNkulunkulu.—IHubo 11:5; Kwabase-Efesu 5:3-5.

5, 6. (a) Kungani kungekho nzima ukulandela izimiso zikaJehova? (b) IBhayibhili litshengisa njani ukuthi ukudinga ukulunga yinto okumele siqhubeke siyenza?

⁵ Kunzima yini ukulandela izimiso zikaJehova ezilungileyo? Hatshi. Nxa simthanda uJehova sizazimisela ukulandela izimiso zakhe. Sifuna ukuphila ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu wethu ngenxa yokuthi siyamthanda. (1 UJohane 5:3) Khumbula ukuthi uJehova “uthanda izenzo ezinhle.” (IHubo 11:7) Nxa sifuna ukulingisela ukwahlulela kuhle kukaNkulunkulu kumbe ukulunga kwakhe kumele sithande lokho akuthandayo besesizonda lokho akuzondayo.—IHubo 97:10.

⁶ Akulula ukuthi sihlale sisenza okulungileyo ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Kumele sitshiye imikhuba emibi futhi sikhiphe ubuntu obudala sigqoke ubuntu obutsha. IBhayibhili lithi ubuntu lobu ‘benziwa bube butsha’ ngolwazi oluqondileyo. (KwabaseKholose 3:9, 10) Amabala athi ‘benziwa bube butsha’ atshengisa ukuthi ukugqoka ubuntu obutsha asikwenzi kanye kuphela kodwa yinto okumele siqhubeke sizama ngamandla wonke ukuyenza. Lanxa singazama kangakanani ukwenza okulungileyo, ngezinye izikhathi siyake sicabange okubi, sikhulume kubi kumbe senze izinto ezimbi ngenxa yokuthi silesono.—KwabaseRoma 7:14-20; UJakhobe 3:2.

7. Kuyini okungamelanga sikwenze nxa singehluleka ukwenza okulungileyo?

⁷ Sihlala sizama ukwenza okulungileyo kodwa kwezinye izikhathi siyaphambanisa. Nxa singaphambanisa akumelanga sizitshele ukuthi esikwenzileyo akukubi kangako. Lanxa kunjalo akumelanga silahle ithemba, sicabange ukuthi amaphutha ethu enza singafaneli ukukhonza uJehova. UNkulunkulu wethu olesihawu uzimisele ukusithethelela nxa siphenduka ngenhliziyo yonke. Umphostoli uJohane wabhala amazwi la aduduzayo athi: “Ngilibhalela izinto lezi ukuze lingasenzi isono. Kodwa nxa loba ngubani angenza isono, silomsizi kuBaba. Umsizi lo nguJesu Khristu.” (1 UJohane 2:1) UJehova usiphe inhlawulo kaJesu ukuze simkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo lanxa silesono. Ukwazi lokhu kwenza sizame ngazo zonke izindlela ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu wethu osithandayo.

Izindaba Ezinhle Zitshengisa Ukuthi UJehova Ulungile

8, 9. Ukutshunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle kutshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle?

⁸ UJehova nguNkulunkulu olungileyo futhi owahlulela kuhle. Singamlingisela ngokutshela abanye izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso wakhe ngazo zonke izikhathi. Ukutshunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle kutshengisa njani ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulungile?

⁹ UJehova kasoze abhubhise abantu abangalunganga engaqalanga wabaxwayisa. UJesu wathi ekhuluma ngokwakuzakwenzakala ezinsukwini zokucina wathi: “Izindaba ezinhle kumele ziqale zitshunyayelwe ezizweni zonke.” (UMakho 13:10; UMathewu 24:3) Ibala elithi “ziqale” litshengisa ukuthi kulezinye izinto ezizakwenzakala ngemva kokutshunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle. Okunye kwakhona yikuhlupheka okukhulu. UJehova uzabhubhisa bonke abantu abenza okubi abesetshintsha umhlaba ube lipharadayisi. (UMathewu 24:14, 21, 22) Akulamuntu ongasola uJehova esithi kabahlulelanga kuhle abenza okubi ngoba uyabe ebaxwayisile wabanika ithuba lokutshintsha izindlela zabo ukuze bangabhujiswa.—UJona 3:1-10.

10, 11. Nxa sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle siyabe silingisela uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle?

¹⁰ Nxa sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle siyabe silingisela uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle. Njani? Okokuqala, nxa sizama ngamandla wonke ukunceda abanye ukuthi basindiswe siyabe sisenza lokho uNkulunkulu akufunayo. Ake sibuyele emzekelisweni wesikepe esesicwila. Nxa sebekukhiphile esikepeni esicwilayo bakufaka esikepeni sokuhlenga abantu, ngeke ufise yini ukunceda abanye asebecwila? Lathi kumele sibancede abanye ukuze basinde nxa uJehova esebhubhisa abantu ababi. Lanxa abanengi bengalaleli nxa sibatshumayeza, uJehova ulokhu ebabekezelela. Ngakho kumele siqhubeke sizama ukubanceda ukuthi “baphenduke” ukuze bathole ithuba lokusindiswa.—2 UPhetro 3:9.

¹¹ Nxa sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle kubo bonke abantu esihlangana labo, siyabe silingisela uJehova ngenye indlela eqakathekileyo. IBhayibhili lithi: “UNkulunkulu kakhethi kodwa kuzo zonke izizwe, uyamamukela umuntu omesabayo futhi owenza okulungileyo.” (ImiSebenzi 10:34, 35) Ngakho lathi asibabandlululi abantu nxa sitshumayela. Sitshumayeza bonke abantu kungelani lokuthi bangumhlobo bani, balesikhundla bani emphakathini kumbe banothile yini. Sinika bonke ithuba lokuzwa izindaba ezinhle lelokukhetha ukuthi bazamkhonza yini uNkulunkulu.—KwabaseRoma 10:11-13.

Kumele Sibaphathe Njani Abanye?

12, 13. (a) Kungani kungamelanga sisole kumbe sahlulele abanye? (b) UJesu wayesitshoni lapho esithi “yekelani ukwahlulela” futhi ‘yekelani ukusola’? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹² Singalingisela uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle ngokuphatha abanye ngendlela yena asiphatha ngayo. Kulula kakhulu ukuthi sahlulele abanye, sikhulume kubi ngabo futhi sisole abakwenzayo. Kodwa ngubani ongafuna ukuthi uJehova ahlale elandelela konke akuphambanisayo futhi amsole lanxa esenza okuhle? UJehova kasiphathi njalo. Umhubi wathi: “Aluba wena ubukhangela esikuphambanisayo awu Jah, ngubani obengama phambi kwakho Jehova?” (IHubo 130:3) Siyambonga kakhulu uNkulunkulu wethu olesihawu futhi owahlulela kuhle ngokuthi kalandeleli esikuphambanisayo. (IHubo 103:8-10) Manje thina singamlingisela njani?

¹³ Akumelanga sahlulele abanye ngendaba ezingelani lathi loba ezingaqakathekanga. ENtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, uJesu waxwayisa wathi: “Yekelani ukwahlulela ukuze lani lingahlulelwa.” (UMathewu 7:1) IVangeli likaLukha lithi uJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Liyekele lokusola abanye ukuze lani lingasolwa.”a (ULukha 6:37) UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi abantu bayakuthanda ukwahlulela abanye lokubasola. Nxa babekhona kulabo ababemlalele ababelomkhuba wokusola abanye kwakumele bawutshiye.

14. Kungani kumele ‘siyekele ukwahlulela’ abanye?

¹⁴ Kungani kumele ‘siyekele ukwahlulela abanye’? Kungenxa yokuthi kasilalungelo lokwenza njalo. Umfundi uJakhobe wathi: ‘Munye kuphela otshaya imithetho longuMahluleli. Manje wena ungubani ukuthi wahlulele umakhelwane wakho?’ (UJakhobe 4:12; KwabaseRoma 14:1-4) Ngakho uJehova nguye kuphela olelungelo lokwahlulela abantu. Esinye isizatho yikuthi silesono futhi isono singenza sahlulele abanye ngendlela engayisiyo. Zinengi izinto ezingaphambanisa indlela esibona ngayo abanye. Izinto lezo zingagoqela ubandlululo, ukuzigqaja, umhawu kanye lokuzibona silungile. Silokunye futhi esingenelisi ukukwenza. Kasingeke sibone okusenhliziyweni yomuntu kumbe sazi konke okwenzakala empilweni yakhe. Manje thina singobani ukuthi sesingasola abafowethu labodadewethu sisithi balenhloso ezimbi loba kabenzi konke abangakwenza ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu? Ukucabanga ngalokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi singahlali silandelela lokho abakuphambanisayo. Kungcono kakhulu ukuthi silingisele uJehova ngokubona okuhle kwesikhonza labo kulokugxila emaphutheni abo!

15. Izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu kumele zibaphathe njani abanye futhi kungani?

¹⁵ Kumele sibaphathe njani abanye emulini? Emulini kumele kube lothando lokuthula kodwa kuyadanisa ukuthi izimuli ezinengi ziphathana ngendlela ebuhlungu. Kwandile ukuzwa ngamadoda ahlukuluza omkawo, abesifazana abaphatha kubi omkabo kumbe abazali abatshela abantwababo amazwi ahlabayo mhlawumbe baze babatshaye kabuhlungu. Izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu akumelanga zikhulume amazwi ahlabayo futhi ziphathe kubi abanye. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:29, 31; 5:33; 6:4) Amazwi kaJesu athi ‘siyekele ukwahlulela’ futhi ‘siyekele ukusola’ ayasebenza lasemulini. Khumbula ukuthi ukwenza okulungileyo kugoqela ukuphatha abanye ngendlela uJehova abaphatha ngayo. Phela uNkulunkulu wethu kasiphathi ngesihluku, “ulozwelo olukhulu” kulabo abamthandayo. (UJakhobe 5:11) Lesi yisibonelo esihle kakhulu okumele sisilingisele!

Abadala Kumele ‘Bahlulele Kuhle’

16, 17. (a) Kuyini uJehova akhangelele ukuthi abadala bakwenze? (b) Kuyini okumele kwenziwe nxa isoni singaphenduki ngenhliziyo yonke njalo kungani lokho kuqakathekile?

¹⁶ Sonke kumele sibaphathe kuhle abanye kodwa abadala abasebandleni lobuKhristu bona balomlandu omkhulu endabeni le. U-Isaya wathi ekhuluma ‘ngabakhokheli’ kumbe abadala wathi: “Khangelani! Inkosi izabusa ngokulunga, labakhokheli abazabusa bazakwahlulela kuhle.” (U-Isaya 32:1) UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi abadala bahlulele kuhle. Manje bangakwenza njani lokhu?

¹⁷ Amadoda la ayakunanzelela ukuthi kumele agcine ibandla lihlanzekile ngoba uNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo ungcwele futhi ulungile. Ngezinye izikhathi abadala kuyabe kumele bancedise umuntu oyabe enze isono esikhulu. Lokhu bakwenza bekhumbula ukuthi uJehova ufuna ukuthi bamtshengise isihawu lowo owonileyo nxa kufanele. Ngakho bayazama ukumnceda ukuthi aphenduke. Kodwa benzani nxa engaphenduki ngenhliziyo yonke lanxa sekwenziwe imizamo eminengi yokumnceda? Benza lokho okutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Lithi: “Susani umuntu owenza okubi phakathi kwenu.” Lokhu kutsho ukumsusa ebandleni. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 5:11-13; 2 UJohane 9-11) Kuyabadanisa abadala ukuthatha inyathelo leli kodwa bayananzelela ukuthi kuqakathekile ukugcina ibandla lihlanzekile. Lanxa kunjalo, bayathemba ukuthi ngelinye ilanga lowo owonileyo uzaphenduka ebandleni.—ULukha 15:17, 18.

18. Kuyini okumele abadala bakukhumbule nxa beseluleka abanye?

¹⁸ Abadala baphinda balingisele uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle ngokweluleka abanye besebenzisa iBhayibhili. Lanxa bengahlali belandelela lokho abanye abakuphambanisayo, kungenzakala ukuthi omunye esikhonza laye ‘aphambuke engananzeleli.’ Nxa sekunjalo abadala ‘bayazama ukumbuyisela endleleni eqondileyo.’ Lokhu ‘bakwenza bemnene’ ngoba bayakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu kahluleli ngesihluku futhi kasiphathi kubi. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:1) Abadala kabangeke bamhalade umuntu lowo owonileyo kumbe bamkhuze ngamazwi abuhlungu. Kodwa bameluleka ngendlela elothando ukuze bamkhuthaze ukuthi enze okulungileyo. Lanxa kumele bamvezele egcekeni lokho akuphambanisileyo, akumelanga bakhohlwe ukuthi ulokhu eyimvu esemhlambini kaJehova.b (ULukha 15:7) Nxa abadala beseluleka umuntu ngomusa futhi betshengisa ukuthi bayamthanda, kuzaba lula ukuthi asamukele iseluleko sabo.

19. Yiziphi izinqumo okumele abadala bazenze futhi kuyini okubaqondisayo ekwenzeni izinqumo ezinjalo?

¹⁹ Izikhathi ezinengi abadala kumele benze izinqumo eziphathelane lalabo abakhonza labo. Ngokwesibonelo, bayahlangana ukuze baxoxe ngokuthi bakhona yini abanye abazalwane ebandleni asebengaba ngabadala loba izinceku ezikhonzayo. Abadala bayakwazi ukuthi kuqakathekile ukungabandlululi. Kabalandeli imizwa yabo kodwa balandela lokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo mayelana labantu okumele babe ngabadala kumbe zinceku ezikhonzayo. ‘Kababandlululi futhi kabakhethi.’—1 KuThimothi 5:21.

20, 21. (a) Kuyini okumele abadala bahlale bekwenza futhi kungani kufanele benze njalo? (b) Kuyini abadala abangakwenza ukuze bancede “abahlulukelweyo”?

²⁰ Kulezinye indlela abadala abangatshengisa ngazo ukuthi balingisela uNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokukhuluma ngokuthi abadala “bazakwahlulela kuhle,” u-Isaya waqhubeka wathi: “Ngamunye uzakuba njengendawo yokucatshela umoya, abe yisiphephelo sokucatshela izulu elina ngamandla, njengezifula zamanzi elizweni elingelamanzi, lanjengomthunzi wedwala elikhulu elizweni elomileyo.” (U-Isaya 32:2) Ngakho abadala kumele bahlale bekhuthaza futhi beduduza labo abakhonza labo.

²¹ Lamuhla abantu bakaJehova bayakufuna ukukhuthazwa ngenxa yezinhlupho ezibehlelayo. Badala, kuyini elingakwenza ukuze lincede “abahlulukelweyo”? (1 KwabaseThesalonika 5:14) Balaleleni ngesineke. (UJakhobe 1:19) Umuntu ohlulukelweyo angafuna ukuxoxa lomuntu amthembayo amtshele okusenhliziyweni yakhe. (IZaga 12:25) Bancedeni abadanileyo babone ukuthi uJehova uyabaqakathekisa futhi uyabathanda lokuthi abafowabo labodadewabo labo bayabathanda. (1 UPhetro 1:22; 5:6, 7) Okunye elingakwenza yikukhuleka labo kumbe ukubakhulekela. Kungabaduduza kakhulu ukuzwa umdala ebaqamba emthandazweni wakhe. (UJakhobe 5:14, 15) UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle uyayibona yonke imizamo eliyenzayo yokunceda abadanileyo.

22. Yiziphi izindlela esingalingisela ngazo uJehova futhi uzwa njani nxa sisenza okulungileyo?

²² Ukulingisela uJehova kusenza sisondele kakhulu kuye! Simlingisela ngokulandela izimiso zakhe ezilungileyo langokutshela abanye izindaba ezinhle ezisindisa ukuphila. Singatshengisa ukuthi sahlulela kuhle njengaye ngokukhangela okuhle okwenziwa ngabanye kulokuthi silandelele amaphutha abawenzayo. Badala, lingalingisela uNkulunkulu wethu owahlulela kuhle ngokugcina ibandla lihlanzekile, ngokweluleka abanye lisebenzisa iMibhalo langokungabandlululi nxa lisenza izinqumo. Okunye futhi elingakwenza yikukhuthaza lokuqinisa abadanileyo. Kufanele ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebona abantu bakhe bezama ngamandla wonke ukwahlulela kuhle ‘lokwenza okulungileyo’!