1, 2. Kuyini uJehova ayefuna kwenzakale ngosuku lwesikhombisa, kodwa kwenzakalani?

NGEMVA kokudala abantu ngosuku lwesithupha, uJehova “wakhangela konke ayekwenzile, wakubona kukuhle kakhulu.” (UGenesisi 1:31) Kodwa ekuqaliseni kosuku lwesikhombisa u-Adamu lo-Eva balalela uSathane bahlamukela uJehova. Lanxa babeyizidalwa ezinhle kulazo zonke uJehova ayezidalile, baba lesono futhi babezacina befile. Lokhu kwakudanisa sibili.

² Kwakungakhanya angani lokho uJehova ayehlose ukuthi kwenzakale ngosuku lwesikhombisa kwakungeke kusaphumelela. Usuku lolu lwaluzathatha izinkulungwane zeminyaka njengezinye insuku eziyisithupha ezasezidlulile. UJehova wayethe usuku lolu lungcwele njalo wayefuna ukuthi ekupheleni kwalo wonke umhlaba ube usulipharadayisi elihlala abantu abangelasono. (UGenesisi 1:28; 2:3) Kodwa njengoba u-Adamu lo-Eva basebehlamukile kwakuzakwenzakala njani lokho? Wayezakwenzani uNkulunkulu? UJehova kwasekumele atshengise ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu.

3, 4. (a) UJehova wayiveza njani inhlakanipho yakhe ngemva kokuhlamuka kuka-Adamu lo-Eva? (b) Kuyini esizakunanzelela nxa sesifunda ngenhlakanipho kaJehova?

³ UJehova kazange apholise amaseko. Wahle wagweba u-Adamu lo-Eva kanye loSathane, wasesitsho ukuthi uzalulungisa njani uhlupho lolu olwaselukhona. (UGenesisi 3:15) UJehova wayezawulungisa wonke umonakalo owawudalwe ngabahlamuki laba kodwa lokhu kwakuzathatha izinkulungwane zeminyaka. Icebo alibumbayo lilula kodwa liyamangalisa okokuthi singaqhubeka sifunda futhi sicabangisisa ngalo okwempilo yethu yonke. Kanti njalo konke uJehova akuhlosileyo kuzakwenzakala. Uzaqeda isono lokufa kanye lazo zonke izinto ezimbi, anike abantu abathembekileyo impilo engapheliyo futhi engelanhlupho. Konke lokhu kuzakwenzakala usuku lwesikhombisa lungakapheli ukuze uJehova agcwalise injongo yakhe ngomhlaba langabantu ngaso kanye isikhathi asibekileyo!

⁴ Inhlakanipho kaJehova iyamangalisa sibili. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: ‘Ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kujule kakhulu!’ (KwabaseRoma 11:33) Ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kujule kakhulu okokuthi asingeke sikuzwisise ngokupheleleyo lanxa singaze sizame kangakanani. Ukwazi lokhu kumele kusenze sithobeke, sinanzelele ukuthi sibancane kakhulu kulaye. (UJobe 26:14) Kasiqaleni ngokuchasisa ukuthi iyini inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu.

Iyini Inhlakanipho KaNkulunkulu?

5, 6. Ukuhlakanipha lolwazi kungenelana njani futhi ulwazi lukaJehova lukhulu kangakanani?

⁵ Inhlakanipho kayifanani lolwazi. Amakhompiyutha angagcina ulwazi olunengi kodwa ngeke sithi ahlakaniphile. Lanxa kunjalo umuntu ngeke kuthiwe uhlakaniphile engelalwazi. (IZaga 10:14) Ngokwesibonelo nxa ufuna ukwelatshwa umkhuhlane othile, ungadinga umuntu ongelalwazi ngemithi yini? Kawungeke! Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi umuntu kumele aqale abe lolwazi ukuze ahlakaniphe.

⁶ UJehova ulolwazi olunengi futhi olungapheliyo. Njengoba ‘eyiNkosi yaphakade,’ nguye yedwa obelokhu ekhona kusukela nininini. (ISambulo 15:3) Ukubonile konke obekusenzakala. IBhayibhili lithi: “Akulanto edaliweyo efihlakeleyo phambi kwakhe, kodwa zonke izinto ziyakhanya futhi zisegcekeni emehlweni alowo okumele silandise kuye.” (KumaHebheru 4:13; IZaga 15:3) UJehova unguMdali yikho uzazi kuhle zonke izinto azidalileyo. Ukubonile konke abantu abakwenzileyo kusukela ngesikhathi ebadala. Uhlola inhliziyo yomuntu munye ngamunye, akulalutho angaluboniyo. (1 ImiLando 28:9) UJehova uyathokoza nxa esibona sikhetha ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi sihlakaniphile ngoba wasidala silenkululeko yokuzikhethela. Kanti njalo ‘uyayilalela imithandazo’ yethu lanxa singakhuleka ngasikhathi sinye. (IHubo 65:2) UJehova kakhohlwa.

7, 8. UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa, ulokuqedisisa kanye lenhlakanipho?

⁷ UJehova kalalwazi kuphela kodwa uphinde abe lokuqedisisa. Akulalutho olumphicayo, konke nje uyakuhlolisisa abone ukuthi kungenelana njani. Uyenelisa ukuhlola ulutho abesesitsho ukuthi luhle loba lubi, luqakathekile kumbe aluqakathekanga. Ubona lezinto ezifihlakeleyo lokusenhliziyweni yomuntu. (1 USamuyeli 16:7) Ngakho uJehova uyazwisisa futhi uyaqedisisa. Lokhu kuqakatheke ukwedlula ukuba lolwazi kodwa inhlakanipho yona iqakatheke ukwedlula konke lokho.

⁸ Ukuze umuntu ahlakaniphe kumele abe lolwazi ngento ethile, ayizwisise kuhle abesesebenzisa lolo lwazi ukuthi enze okuhle. Yikho eBhayibhilini ibala elithi “ukuhlakanipha” lisitsho “ukwenza okuhle.” Inhlakanipho kaJehova iyasebenza yikho ephumelela kukho konke akwenzayo. UJehova wazi konke njalo uzwisisa yonke into yikho ehlala esenza izinqumo ezinhle futhi esenelisa ukwenza konke akuhlosileyo. Le yinhlakanipho emangalisayo sibili! UJesu wathi: “Ukuhlakanipha kukhanya ngemisebenzi yakho ukuthi kulungile.” (UMathewu 11:19) Kunjalo lokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu. Konke akudalileyo ezulwini lasemhlabeni kutshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu kakhulu.

Indalo Itshengisa Ukuthi UJehova Uhlakaniphile

9, 10. (a) UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi ulokuhlakanipha okumangalisayo? (b) Indlela i-cell elenziwe ngayo itshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova uhlakaniphile?

⁹ Izikhathi ezinengi singabona into enhle siyayibuka sizibuze ukuthi ngubani owenze into enhle kangaka. Phela ubuhle bento ethile buveza inhlakanipho yalowo owayenzayo. (U-Eksodusi 31:1-3) UJehova nguye onika abantu inhlakanipho enjalo futhi inhlakanipho yakhe yedlula khatshana eyabantu. INkosi uDavida yathi: “Ngiyakudumisa ngoba ngenziwe ngendlela emangalisayo. Imisebenzi yakho iyamangalisa, lokhu ngikwazi mhlophe.” (IHubo 139:14) Ukufunda ngendlela umuntu adalwe ngayo kuzasenza sibone ukuthi uJehova ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo.

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo umuntu uqalisa eli-cell elilodwa elibunjwa nxa iqanda likamama lihlangana lenhlanyelo evela kubaba. Masinyane nje ngemva kwalokho i-cell lelo liyaqalisa ukwehlukana libe ngama-cell amanengi. Umzimba womuntu ungaba lama-cell amancane kakhulu angamabhiliyoni lamabhiliyoni. Mancane okokuthi ama-cell angaba yi-10 000 angalingana lekhanda le-pin. Lanxa kunjalo linye ngalinye lidalwe ngendlela emangalisayo. Lenziwe ngobungcitshi ukwedlula loba yiwuphi umtshina owenziwe ngabantu. Abezesayensi bathi i-cell linjengedolobho eligonjolozelwe ngumduli, elilamagedi, lamafekithali, lemigwaqo, lezimota, lezinto zokukhulumisana, lendawo ezenza amagetsi, lezokulahlela izibi, lezikhali zokuzivikela kanye lesigodlo. I-cell lingenza elinye i-cell elifanana lalo xathu ngemva kwamahora amalutshwana nje!

11, 12. (a) Kuyini okwenza ukuthi ama-cell angafanani futhi lokhu kuhambelana njani leHubo 139:16? (b) Ingqondo yomuntu itshengisa njani ukuthi ‘senziwe ngendlela emangalisayo’?

¹¹ Kodwa ayisiwo wonke ama-cell afananayo. Nxa ama-cell osane olungakazalwa eqhubeka esehlukana, aqalisa ukusebenza ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo. Amanye ama-cell athumeza imilayezo esuka emzimbeni isiya engqondweni, kuthi amanye abe ngawamathambo, awemisipha, awegazi kumbe awamehlo. I-cell ngayinye ilesiphala solwazi okuthiwa yi-DNA esilemilayezo yonke efunakalayo eyenza ukuthi elinye i-cell lingafanani lamanye. UDavida wathi: “Amehlo akho angibona ngiqalisa nje ukubunjwa esiswini sikamama, zonke izitho zomzimba wami zazibhaliwe ebhukwini lakho.”—IHubo 139:16.

¹² Ezinye izitho zomzimba zenziwe ngendlela enzima ukuzwisisa. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngengqondo yomuntu. Abanye bathi akulamuntu ongazwisisa indlela ingqondo ebunjwe ngayo. Ilama-cell angaba yi-100 bhiliyoni athumeza imilayezo esuka engqondweni isiya emzimbeni. Inani lama-cell la lingalingana lelezinkanyezi ezisemthaleni wethu. I-cell ngalinye liyathumezelana imilayezo lamanye ama-cell ayizinkulungwane. Abezesayensi bathi ingqondo yomuntu iyenelisa ukugcina lonke ulwazi esingaluthola emabhukwini akuwo wonke ama-library emhlabeni futhi iyenelisa ukuqhubeka ingenisa olunye ulwazi. Lanxa sekuleminyaka eminengi izingcitshi zesayensi zihlola indlela ingqondo esebenza ngayo, ziyavuma ukuthi ngeke zakuzwisisa ngokugcweleyo ukuthi isebenza njani.

13, 14. (a) Ubunyonyo lezinye izidalwa kutshengisa njani ukuthi ‘kuhlakaniphile’ futhi lokhu kusifundisani ngoMdali wazo? (b) Ubulembu butshengisa njani ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova?

¹³ Kulokunye uJehova akudalayo okutshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo. IHubo 104:24 lithi: “Minengi imisebenzi yakho Jehova! Yonke uyenze ngokuhlakanipha. Umhlaba ugcwele lokho okwenzileyo.” Inhlakanipho kaJehova iyakhanya kukho konke akudalileyo. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili lithi ubunyonyo ‘buhlakaniphile.’ (IZaga 30:24) Indlela ubunyonyo obenza ngayo itshengisa ukuthi buhlelekile. Obunye ubunyonyo buyazenzela ukudla ikanti obunye bona bugcina izibungu ezenza ukudla. Ezinye futhi izidalwa zadalwa zisenelisa ukwenza izinto ezimangalisayo. Ngokwesibonelo impukane yenza izinto ezingeke zenziwe yindizamtshina, njengokuphapha nyovane. Inyoni zadalwa zisenelisa ukuphapha zisiya endaweni ezikhatshana ziqondiswa zinkanyezi lamandla ayimaginethi asemhlabeni. Abezesayensi bachitha iminyaka eminengi behlola indlela izidalwa lezi ezidalwe ngayo. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo sibili!

¹⁴ Izingcitshi zesayensi sezifunde okunengi ezintweni ezidaliweyo. Kulabomanjinela abenza izinto belingisela abakubona kokudaliweyo. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye abantu bamangaliswa yindlela ubulembu besayobe obubukeka ngayo. Kodwa omanjinela bona bafisa ukukopa indlela obenziwe ngayo. Phela ubulembu bungakhanya bungaqinanga kodwa kulobunye obuqine ukwedlula insimbi. Nxa ubulembu bungelukwa bube ngangomambule, bungenelisa ukubamba indizamtshina ephaphayo! Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJehova wenze izinto zonke lezi ‘ngenhlakanipho.’

Izingilosi Lezinkanyezi Zitshengisa Ukuhlakanipha KukaJehova

15, 16. (a) Izinkanyezi zitshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova uhlakaniphile? (b) Izingilosi zitshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo?

¹⁵ Inhlakanipho kaJehova ikhanya kuzo zonke izinto azidalayo. ESahlukweni 5 sifunde ukuthi izinkanyezi azizange ziphongufakwa nje emkhathini kodwa zihlelwe kuhle. UJehova wafaka “imithetho eqondisa izinto ezisemkhathini” ukuze ahlele izinkanyezi. Wazihlela zaba yimithala njalo imithala leyo ingamaqembu atshiyeneyo. (UJobe 38:33) UJehova ubiza izinkanyezi ngokuthi ‘libutho.’ (U-Isaya 40:26) Kodwa kulelinye ibutho elitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulenhlakanipho.

¹⁶ ESahlukweni 4 sibonile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubizwa ngokuthi “nguJehova wamabutho” ngoba nguye okhokhela zonke izingilosi. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ulamandla. Kodwa kuyiveza njani inhlakanipho yakhe? Khumbula ukuthi uJehova loJesu bahlala besebenza. (UJohane 5:17) Ngakho kumele ukuthi lezingilosi lazo zihlala zisebenza. Khumbula futhi ukuthi ziphakeme kulabantu, zilenhlakanipho enkulu futhi zilamandla amakhulu. (KumaHebheru 1:7; 2:7) Lanxa zilamandla kangako uJehova nguye ozinika imisebenzi yokwenza futhi ziyathokoza ngemisebenzi eziyenzayo. Bezilokhu zilalela ‘lokho akutshoyo’ futhi ‘zisenza intando yakhe’ okwamabhiliyoni eminyaka. (IHubo 103:20, 21) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulokuhlakanipha okukhulu!

UJehova ‘Nguye Yedwa Ohlakaniphileyo’

17, 18. Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi uJehova ‘nguye yedwa ohlakaniphileyo’ njalo okwatshiwo nguPhawuli kusifundisani ngenhlakanipho kaJehova?

¹⁷ Nxa sibona bonke ubufakazi lobu, akusimangalisi ukuthi iBhayibhili lithi uJehova ‘nguye yedwa ohlakaniphileyo.’ (KwabaseRoma 16:27) NguJehova kuphela olenhlakanipho epheleleyo. Nguye uMthombo wayo yonke inhlakanipho. (IZaga 2:6) Lokhu yikho okwenza uJesu wathemba inhlakanipho kaJehova kulokuthi azithembe lanxa wayehlakaniphe ukwedlula zonke izidalwa.—UJohane 12:48-50.

¹⁸ Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngokuhlakanipha kukaJehova wathi: “Inotho kaNkulunkulu lokuhlakanipha kwakhe kanye lolwazi lwakhe kujule kakhulu! Izahlulelo zakhe ngeke uzihlole uzizwisise ngokugcweleyo njalo ngeke sizazi zonke izindlela zakhe.” (KwabaseRoma 11:33) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uPhawuli wayemangaliswa yinhlakanipho kaJehova. Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukujula” lihambelana lebala elisetshenziswa nxa kukhulunywa ngomgodi ongelamkhawulo. Ngakho ngeke siyizwisise inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu njengoba nje singeke sizwisise ukuthi igodi elingelamkhawulo litshona lifike ngaphi. Ngeke sibe lolwazi olungangolukaJehova. (IHubo 92:5) Lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi sibancane kakhulu kuye.

19, 20. (a) Kungani uJehova efananisa inhlakanipho yakhe lengqungqulu? (b) UJehova utshengise njani ukuthi uyenelisa ukubona ikusasa?

¹⁹ Kulenye indlela uJehova atshengise ngayo ukuthi ‘nguye yedwa ohlakaniphileyo.’ Nguye kuphela owenelisa ukubona okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova ufananisa inhlakanipho yakhe lengqungqulu. Kulenye ingqungqulu elesisindo esingaba ngamakhilogremu amahlanu kodwa elamehlo amakhulu kulawomuntu. Ingqungqulu le iyenelisa ukubona izinto ezincane lanxa yona iyabe ikhatshana kakhulu! UJehova ngokwakhe wakhuluma ngengqungqulu wathi: “Amehlo ayo abona okukhonale khatshana.” (UJobe 39:29) Yikho loJehova laye uyenelisa ukubona izinto ezikhonale khatshana, izinto ezingakenzakali!

²⁰ IBhayibhili lileziphrofetho ezinengi ezitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukubona okungakenzakali. UJehova wakhuluma ngokuthi ngobani ababezanqoba lokuthi yiziphi izizwe ezazizakuba lamandla lalezo ezazizanqotshwa. Wachasisa lokuthi izizwe lezo zazizanqoba njani. Ezinye iziphrofetho zakhulunywa kusasele iminyaka eminengi kakhulu ukuthi zigcwaliseke.—U-Isaya 44:25–45:4; UDanyeli 8:2-8, 20-22.

21, 22. (a) Kungani kungaqondanga ukucabanga ukuthi uJehova uyakwazi konke ozakhetha ukukwenza empilweni? Nika isibonelo. (b) Sazi njani ukuthi uJehova uyisebenzisa kuhle inhlakanipho yakhe?

²¹ Kodwa lokhu kutsho yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu usekubonile konke ozakhetha ukukwenza empilweni yakho? Abanye bakholwa ukuthi konke okwenzakalayo kuyabe kuhlelwe nguNkulunkulu. Kodwa lokho kuyabe sekusitsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu kenelisi ukuzibamba ukuthi angaboni okuzakwenzakala kusasa. Ngokwesibonelo nxa ulephimbo elimnandi lokuhlabela, ubungatshona uhlabela yini sonke isikhathi? Ngitsho sibili! Ngendlela efananayo uJehova uyenelisa ukubona okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo kodwa uyakhetha ukuthi kuyini afuna ukukubona. Nxa ubengahlela izinto ezenzakala empilweni zethu, ubeyabe esesithathela inkululeko yethu yokuzikhethela. UJehova ngeke akwenze lokho ngoba ukuzikhethela yisipho asinika sona.—UDutheronomi 30:19, 20.

²² Okubi ukwedlula lokho yikuthi imfundiso leyo itsho ukuthi uJehova kalamusa futhi kasithandi. Kodwa lelo akusilo qiniso! IBhayibhili lifundisa ukuthi uJehova “uhlakaniphile enhliziyweni.” (UJobe 9:4; amabala angaphansi.) Lokhu akutsho ukuthi ulenhliziyo enjengeyomuntu kodwa iBhayibhili landise ukusebenzisa ibala leli nxa lichasisa lokho umuntu ayikho. Konke uJehova akwenzayo ukwenza ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda. Ngakho lendlela asebenzisa ngayo inhlakanipho yakhe itshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda.—1 UJohane 4:8.

23. Kuyini okumele sikwenze njengoba sesikwazi ukuthi uJehova ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo?

²³ Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi singayithemba inhlakanipho kaJehova. UJehova ulokuhlakanipha okukhulu kakhulu yikho iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lisithi: “Themba uJehova ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi okwakho ukuzwisisa. Mdinge kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa izindlela zakho.” (IZaga 3:5, 6) Yikho-ke kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka sifunda okunengi ngenhlakanipho kaJehova ukuze sisondele kuye.

1, 2. Yiphi incwadi uJehova asibhalele yona njalo uyibhaleleni?

UYAKHUMBULA yini isikhathi owamukela ngaso incwadi eyayivela emuntwini omthandayo ohlala khatshana? Zilutshwana izinto ezingasithokozisa ngendlela esithokoza ngayo nxa singathola incwadi evela emuntwini esimthandayo. Sijabula kakhulu nxa singezwa ukuthi uziphilele lokuthi kwenzakalani empilweni yakhe kanye lalokho afuna ukukwenza. Ukuhlala sikhulumisana labantu esibathandayo lanxa behlala khatshana kwenza sizwe siseduze labo.

² UJehova laye usibhalele incwadi. Incwadi le liLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili. Siyathokoza kakhulu nxa silibala ngoba yikho lapho asitshela khona ukuthi ungubani lokuthi kuyini akwenzileyo kanye lalokho azakwenza. UJehova usinike iLizwi lakhe ngenxa yokuthi ufuna sibe seduze laye. Ukhethe indlela engcono kakhulu yokukhuluma lathi. Indlela iBhayibhili elibhalwe ngayo kanye lalokho elikumumetheyo kutshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu.

Kungani UJehova Wakhetha Ukuthi ILizwi Lakhe Libhalwe?

3. UJehova wasebenzisa yiphi indlela ngesikhathi enika uMosi uMthetho?

³ Abanye bacabanga ukuthi besizakuzwisisa ngcono lokho uJehova asitshela khona aluba ubekhuluma lathi esezulwini kulokuthi asebenzise iBhayibhili. UJehova wake wakhuluma labantu esezulwini esebenzisa izingilosi. Ngokwesibonelo, wenza njalo ngesikhathi enika ama-Israyeli uMthetho. (KwabaseGalathiya 3:19) Ama-Israyeli athi esizwa ilizwi elalivela ezulwini esaba kakhulu aze acela ukuthi uJehova akhulume lawo esebenzisa uMosi. (U-Eksodusi 20:18-20) Ngakho uJehova watshela uMosi imithetho engaba ngu-600, yena waseyidlulisela ebantwini.

4. Kwakuzakwenzakalani aluba uMosi kayibhalanga phansi imithetho kaNkulunkulu?

⁴ Kodwa kwakuzakwenzakalani ngabe uMthetho lo kawuzange ubhalwe phansi? UMosi wayezakwenelisa yini ukukhumbula kuhle wonke amazwi oMthetho lo ngokulandelana kwawo aphinde awatshele isizwe sonke engaphambanisanga? Abantu babezakwenelisa yini ukukhumbula konke uMosi abatshele khona besebekutshela abantwababo ukuze labo bakutshele izizukulwane ezizayo? Hatshi, abantu babengeke bayizwisise kuhle imithetho kaNkulunkulu aluba yayingabhalwanga phansi. Cabanga ukuthi kuyini okungenzakala nxa ubungazama ukutshela abantu abaludwendwe indaba ethile ngokuqalisa utshele osekuqaliseni kodwendwe ubususithi laye atshele olandelayo kuze kuyefika ekucineni besenza njalo. Kungenzakala ukuthi lokho umuntu osekucineni azakuzwa kuzabe kutshiyene kakhulu lalokho umuntu osekuqaliseni akuzwileyo. Kodwa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lona alizange liphambaniseke. Ngenxa yani?

5, 6. UJehova watshela uMosi ukuthi enzeni njalo kungani iBhayibhili liyisipho esihle kakhulu?

⁵ UJehova wakhetha ukuthi amazwi akhe abhalwe phansi. Wathi kuMosi: “Kumele ubhale phansi amazwi la ngoba ngenza isivumelwano lawe labantu bako-Israyeli ngokuvumelana lamazwi la.” (U-Eksodusi 34:27) Ngakho ngo-1513 B.C.E., uMosi waqalisa ukubhala lokho ayekutshelwa nguNkulunkulu. Okweminyaka engu-1 610 uJehova ‘uNkulunkulu wakhuluma kanengi langezindlela ezinengi’ labantu abangu-40 ababhala iBhayibhili. (KumaHebheru 1:1) Phakathi kweminyaka leyo abanye babekopa imibhalo leyo bayigcine ukuze iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lingatshabalali.—U-Ezra 7:6; IHubo 45:1.

⁶ IBhayibhili yisipho esihle kakhulu esisiphiwe nguJehova. Wake wamukela incwadi owayithanda kakhulu yini okokuthi waze wayigcina ukuze ubulokhu uyiphinda ukuyibala? Mhlawumbe yakukhuthaza kakhulu yikho wawusufuna ukuhlala uyibala. Linjalo leBhayibhili. UJehova wenza ukuthi libhalwe ukuze senelise ukuhlala silibala njalo sicabangisise ngalokho elikutshoyo. (IHubo 1:2) ‘IMibhalo ingasiduduza’ kuloba yibuphi ubunzima esingabe siphakathi kwabo.—KwabaseRoma 15:4.

Kungani UJehova Wasebenzisa Abantu Ukuthi Babhale IBhayibhili?

7. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uhlakaniphile?

⁷ UJehova watshengisa ukuthi uhlakaniphile ngokusebenzisa abantu ukuthi babhale iLizwi lakhe. Ngabe uJehova wasebenzisa izingilosi ukuthi zibhale iBhayibhili, besizalikholisa ngendlela esilikholisa ngayo yini? Hatshi. Izingilosi zazingabhala konke ezikwaziyo ngoJehova, zibhale langokuthi kungani zimthanda futhi zimkhonza. Zazingasitshela langezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekileyo ezisemhlabeni. Kodwa kwakungabanzima ukuzwisisa okubhalwe zingilosi ngenxa yokuthi zona ziphelele njalo zilolwazi olunengi ukwedlula olwethu.—KumaHebheru 2:6, 7.

8. UJehova wavumela abantu ababhala iBhayibhili ukuthi benzeni? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

⁸ IBhayibhili lilemicabango kaNkulunkulu futhi liyasithinta inhliziyo nxa silibala ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa abantu ukuthi balibhale. (2 KuThimothi 3:16) Izikhathi ezinengi wayebavumela ukuthi bazikhethele ‘amazwi athokozisayo lamazwi aqondileyo futhi aliqiniso’ ababengawasebenzisa. (UmTshumayeli 12:10, 11) Lokhu yikho okwenza ukuthi indlela izindaba ezilandiswe ngayo eBhayibhilini itshiyane. Kanti njalo abantu abalibhalayo babelobuntu obutshiyeneyo futhi besenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo.a Lanxa kunjalo “babekhuluma okuvela kuNkulunkulu njengoba babeqhutshwa ngumoya ongcwele.” (2 UPhetro 1:21) Yikho kuthiwa iBhayibhili ‘lilizwi likaNkulunkulu.’—1 KwabaseThesalonika 2:13.

9, 10. Kungani iBhayibhili lisithinta inhliziyo?

⁹ Siyakukholisa kakhulu ukubala iBhayibhili futhi silizwisisa ngcono ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa abantu ukuthi balibhale. Abantu labo babenjengathi. Babelenhlupho ezinjengezethu futhi besehlelwa yizilingo lathi ezisehlelayo ngoba labo babelesono njengathi. Ngezinye izikhathi uJehova wayebaphefumulela ukuthi babhale lokho ababekuzwa ezinhliyweni zabo. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 12:7-10) Ngakho bachasisa ubunzima ababephakathi kwabo ngendlela izingilosi ezazingeke zibuchasise ngayo.

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo iNkosi uDavida yenza izono ezinkulu kakhulu, yasibhala ihubo itshela uNkulunkulu konke okwakusenhliziyweni yayo futhi imcela ukuthi ayithethelele. Yabhala yathi: “Ungihlambulule esonweni sami, ngoba ngizazi mhlophe iziphambeko zami, lesono sami sihlezi siphambi kwami. Ngazalwa ngilesono, ngavele ngaba yisoni ngiqalisa nje ukuba khona esiswini sikamama. Ungangixotshi phambi kwakho njalo ungawususi kimi umoya wakho ongcwele. Umhlatshelo okuthokozisayo yinhliziyo ezisolayo. Inhliziyo edabukileyo futhi esebuhlungwini awusoze uyilahle, awu Nkulunkulu.” (IHubo 51:2, 3, 5, 11, 17) Nxa sibala amazwi la siyazwisisa ukuthi uDavida wayephakathi kobuhlungu obunganani. Ingilosi yayingeke yenelise ukubhala amazwi anjengakaDavida.

Kungani Kwabhalwa Ibhuku Elikhuluma Ngabantu?

11. Kungani uJehova wenza ukuthi kubhalwe izindaba eziphathelane labanye?

¹¹ Kulokunye futhi okwenza iBhayibhili lisithinte inhliziyo. Lisitshela okunengi ngabantu ababekhonza uNkulunkulu lalabo ababengamkhonzi. Liyasitshela ngenhlupho ababelazo kanye lokuhle okwenzakala kubo. Siphinda sibale langokuthi izinto abakhetha ukuzenza zaphetha ngani. Izindaba ezinjalo zabhalwa eBhayibhilini ukuze ‘zisifundise.’ (KwabaseRoma 15:4) UJehova usebenzisa izibonelo zabantu laba abake baphila ukuze sizwisise lokho asifundisa khona. Asixoxeni ngabanye babo.

12. Izindaba eziseBhayibhilini zabantu ababengathembekanga zisinceda njani?

¹² IBhayibhili lisitshela ngabantu ababengathembekanga lababesenza izinto ezimbi kanye lokuthi kwenzakalani kubo. Nxa sibala ngabo kuba lula ukuzwisisa ukuthi kungani izinto abazenzayo zizimbi. Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi ukungathembeki kubi. Kodwa lokhu sikuzwisisa ngcono nxa singabala lokho okwenziwa nguJudasi ngesikhathi ethengisa uJesu. (UMathewu 26:14-16, 46-50; 27:3-10) Izindaba ezinjengalezi zisithinta inhliziyo zisincede sibone izifiso loba imikhuba emibi esingabe silayo besesiyibalekela.

13. IBhayibhili lisinceda njani ukuthi siqhubeke sisenza okuhle?

¹³ IBhayibhili liphinda lisitshele ngezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezinengi ezazithembekile. Nxa sibala ngazo siyayibona indlela ezazizimisele ngayo ukuhlala ziqotho. Sibona lezinto ezinhle labobantu abazenzayo esingazilingisela ukuze sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. Okunye okuhle esingakulingisela lukholo lwabo. IBhayibhili liyachasisa ukuthi ukholo luyini lokuthi luqakathekile ukuze sithokozise uNkulunkulu. (KumaHebheru 11:1, 6) Kodwa liphinda libe lezibonelo zabantu abatshengisa ukuthi balokholo. Ngokwesibonelo u-Abrahama watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo oluqinileyo ngesikhathi efuna ukunikela ngo-Isaka. (UGenesisi, isahluko 22; KumaHebheru 11:17-19) Izindaba lezi ziyasinceda sizwisise ukuthi kutshoni sibili ukuba lokholo. UJehova kasikhuthazi ukuthi senze okuhle kuphela kodwa uphinda asinike lezibonelo esingazilingisela. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo!

14, 15. IBhayibhili lisitshelani ngomunye owesifazana owayesethempelini njalo indaba yakhe isifundisani ngoJehova?

¹⁴ Izindaba eziseBhayibhilini zisifundisa okunengi ngoJehova. Ngokwesibonelo kukhona esingakufunda endabeni yowesifazana owabonwa nguJesu ethempelini. UJesu wayehlezi duze lamabhokisi eminikelo futhi wayebona abantu abatshiyeneyo bephosela iminikelo yabo. Abantu abanengi abanothileyo babenikela ngalokho ‘abakucuphe enothweni yabo.’ Kusenjalo uJesu wabona umfelokazi owayengumyanga. Wafika wanikela ‘ngokuzinhlamvu kwemali okubili okungatsho lutho.’b Kwakuyimali yokucina ayelayo. UJesu wakunanzelela lokhu wasesithi: “Umfelokazi lo ongumyanga unikele ukwedlula bonke abanye.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayebona umfelokazi lo enikele ukwedlula bonke abanye.—UMakho 12:41-44; ULukha 21:1-4; UJohane 8:28.

¹⁵ Kuyamangalisa ukuthi lanxa kwakulabantu abanengi ethempelini ngalelolanga, uJesu wambona umfelokazi lo futhi wakhuluma kuhle ngaye. UJehova laye waba leqiniso lokuthi indaba yakhe iyabhalwa eBhayibhilini. Indaba le itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa konke esikwenzayo. Uyajabula nxa sinikela ngomphefumulo wonke kungelani lokuthi esikunikeleyo kuncane nxa kuqathaniswa lokwabanye. Siyambonga uJehova ngokusebenzisa isibonelo somfelokazi lo ukuze asifundise lokho.

Lokho Okungatholakaliyo EBhayibhilini

16, 17. Indlela iBhayibhili elibhalwe ngayo iyiveza njani inhlakanipho kaJehova?

¹⁶ Nxa ubhalela umuntu omthandayo incwadi, kawungeke ubhale yonke into. Uyabe uzakhetha ukuthi kuyini ozakubhala. UJehova laye wakhetha ayefuna kubhalwe eLizwini lakhe. Wakhetha ukuthi kubhalwe ngabantu abathile lanxa singatshelwa konke ngabo. (UJohane 21:15) Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibhili liyasitshela ukuthi uJehova ubahlulela njani abantu kodwa alisitsheli konke esingafisa ukukwazi. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulenhlakanipho enkulu. Njani?

¹⁷ Indlela iBhayibhili elibhalwe ngayo yenza sihlole inhliziyo zethu ukuze sikwazi ukuthi thina singabantu abanjani. UHebheru 4:12 uthi: ‘Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila njalo lilamandla, libukhali ukwedlula loba yiphi inkemba esika inxa zombili futhi lihlaba lize lehlukanise umphefumulo lomoya, njalo liyenelisa ukuveza imicabango lenhloso zenhliziyo.’ OkuseBhayibhilini kuyasinceda ukuthi sihlole imicabango yethu kanye lenhloso yethu yokwenza izinto. Labo abalibalayo iBhayibhili behlose ukusola bandise ukungazizwisisi izindaba ezingelazimpendulo ezingabasuthisa. Abantu abanjalo bangathandabuza lokuthi uJehova ulothando, ulenhlakanipho lokwahlulela kuhle.

18, 19. (a) Kungani kungamelanga sikhathazeke kakhulu nxa singazitholanga izimpendulo zemibuzo esingaba layo ngendaba esiyabe siyibala? (b) Kumele silibale njani iBhayibhili ukuze silizwisise futhi indlela elibhalwe ngayo iyiveza njani inhlakanipho kaJehova?

¹⁸ Nxa singataditsha iBhayibhili silenhloso yokusondela kuJehova asisoze simsole nxa singazitholanga izimpendulo zemibuzo esingaba layo ngendaba esiyabe siyibala. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sesikwazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu onjani. Ukuqhubeka sibala iBhayibhili kwenza simazi ngcono uJehova. Ngakho nxa sesihlangana lendaba ethile eBhayibhilini engaba nzima ukuyizwisisa sizakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulothando futhi uhlala esenza okuqondileyo ngazo zonke izikhathi.

¹⁹ Ukuze silizwisise iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, kumele silibale silenhloso yokufunda ngoNkulunkulu hatshi eyokusola. Abantu abakhaliphileyo babhala amabhuku azwisiswa ‘ngabahlakaniphileyo labafundileyo’ kuphela. Kodwa iBhayibhili lona lingazwisiswa yiloba ngubani olenhliziyo eqotho. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlakaniphile sibili.—UMathewu 11:25.

Ibhuku ‘Elilokuhlakanipha Okuncedayo’

20. Kungani kumele simlalele uJehova nxa esifundisa indlela okumele siphile ngayo njalo kuyini okutholakala eBhayibhilini okungenza siphile impilo emnandi?

²⁰ UJehova usebenzisa iLizwi lakhe ukuze asifundise indlela okumele siphile ngayo. Njengoba enguMdali wethu, uyakwazi okungenza sithokoze. Wonke umuntu uyafuna ukuthokoza lokuthandwa lokuba lemuli ejabulayo kanye labangane abamthandayo. IBhayibhili ‘lilokuhlakanipha okuncedayo’ okungenza siphile impilo emnandi. (IZaga 2:7) Ingxenye ngayinye yebhuku leli ilesahluko esitshengisa indlela esingasebenzisa ngayo lokho esikufundiswa liBhayibhili. Kasixoxeni ngokunye elisitshela khona esingakusebenzisa ezimpilweni zethu.

21-23. Yikuphi okutshiwo liBhayibhili okungasinceda ukuthi singabambi izikhwili futhi singahlali sizondile?

²¹ Uyake ukunanzelele yini ukuthi abantu ababamba izikhwili labahlala bezondile kabathokozi? Umuntu obamba isikhwili uzithwalisa nzima ngoba uyabe engaselakuthula futhi esehlala ecabanga ngobuhlungu abuzwiswe ngumuntu omoneleyo. Odokotela bathi nxa umuntu ehlala ezondile angacina eselomkhuhlane wenhliziyo kumbe esetshona egulagula. Kusasele iminyaka eminengi ukuthi odokotela bakuthole lokhu, iBhayibhili lathi: “Yekela ukuzonda, utshiye ulaka.” (IHubo 37:8) Singakwenza njani lokho?

²² ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Ukuzwisisa komuntu kuyalwehlisa sibili ulaka lwakhe, njalo kuyinto enhle kuye ukungabi lendaba lokuqalwa.” (IZaga 19:11) Umuntu ozwisisayo ngowenelisa ukubona okungangale kolutho. Kakhangeli kuphela ukuthi umuntu wenzeni loba ukuthi utheni kodwa uyahlolisisa lokuthi kuyini okubangele ukuthi enze njalo. Nxa singazama ukuzwisisa umuntu osoneleyo lokuthi bekutheni aze akhulume akukhulumileyo, kasisoze simcaphukele loba simbambele isikhwili.

²³ IBhayibhili lisicebisa lisithi: “Qhubekani libekezelelana futhi lithethelelana ngenhliziyo yonke lanxa umuntu engabe elesizatho sokusola omunye.” (KwabaseKholose 3:13) Amazwi athi “qhubekani libekezelelana” atsho ukuthi akumelanga sizonde nxa abanye besenza izinto esingazithandiyo. Lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi singabambi izikhwili. ‘Ukuthethelela’ khona kutsho ukuthi siyabe singasamzondelanga umuntu osiphambanisileyo. UNkulunkulu wethu uyakwazi ukuthi kumele sithethelele abanye nxa kulesizatho esizwakalayo sokwenza njalo. Lokhu akuncedi labo abasoneleyo kuphela kodwa kunceda lathi ukuthi sihlaliseke engqondweni lasenhliziyweni. (ULukha 17:3, 4) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lilenhlakanipho enkulu!

24. Ukulandela lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili kuzasinceda ngani?

²⁴ UJehova ukhuluma lathi esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda kakhulu. Wasebenzisa abantu ababekhokhelwa ngumoya wakhe ukuthi asibhalele incwadi elenhlakanipho yakhe. Le yindlela engcono kulazo zonke ayikhethayo ukuthi akhulume lathi. Konke okuseBhayibhilini ‘kuthembekile.’ (IHubo 93:5) Nxa singalandela okutshiwo liBhayibhili njalo sikufundise labanye, sizasondela kuNkulunkulu wethu olenhlakanipho emangalisayo. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukugcwalisa injongo yakhe lokukhuluma okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo.

1, 2. Yiphi imfihlo eqakathekileyo okumele siyazi futhi ukuyazi kusinceda ngani?

IZIKHATHI ezinengi nxa umuntu esazi enye into abanye abangayaziyo kuba nzima ukuthi ayigcine esifubeni sakhe. Kodwa iBhayibhili lithi: “Kuludumo kuNkulunkulu ukugcina indaba iyimfihlo.” (IZaga 25:2) UJehova unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke futhi unguMdali, ngakho ulelungelo lokusifihlela ezinye izinto kuze kube yisikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo sokuthi asitshele zona.

² Kodwa kulemfihlo eqakathekileyo uJehova ayiveze eLizwini lakhe. Ibizwa ngokuthi ‘yimfihlo engcwele yentando yakhe.’ (Kwabase-Efesu 1:9) Kuyajabulisa ukufunda ngayo kodwa okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi ukuyazi kungenza sisindiswe futhi siyizwisise ngcono inhlakanipho kaJehova enkulu.

UJehova Usivezela Imfihlo Yakhe Kancane Kancane

3, 4. Isiphrofetho esikuGenesisi 3:15 senza ukuthi abantwana baka-Adamu lo-Eva babe laliphi ithemba, kodwa kuyini ‘okwakusayimfihlo engcwele’?

³ U-Adamu lo-Eva bathi sebewonile kwakhanya angani injongo kaJehova yokuthi umhlaba wonke ube lipharadayisi elihlala abantu abangelasono yayingasoze isaphumelela. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wahle wakhuluma ukuthi wayezalulungisa njani uhlupho olwaselukhona. Wathi: “Ngizakwenza ukuthi kube lokuzondana phakathi kwakho [inyoka] lowesifazana, laphakathi kwenzalo yakho lenzalo yowesifazana. Izacobodisa ikhanda lakho njalo wena uzayilimaza isithende.”—UGenesisi 3:15.

⁴ Amazwi la ayephica. Wayengubani owesifazana? Yayingubani inyoka? Ngubani ‘owayeyinzalo’ eyayizacobodisa ikhanda lenyoka? U-Adamu lo-Eva babengakwazi konke lokhu. Lanxa kunjalo, amazwi kaNkulunkulu ayezakwenza ukuthi abantwana baka-Adamu lo-Eva ababethembekile babe lethemba. Babezaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzaqeda isono lokufa kanye lakho konke okubi, enze ukuthi injongo yakhe igcwaliseke. Kodwa ukuthi lokhu wayezakwenza njani kwakusayimfihlo. IBhayibhili libiza imfihlo le ngokuthi ‘yikuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okusemfihlweni engcwele, ukuhlakanipha okufihliweyo.’—1 KwabaseKhorinte 2:7.

5. Yiwuphi umzekeliso ongasinceda sizwisise indlela uJehova embula ngayo imfihlo yakhe?

⁵ UJehova wayezacina ezitshelile izinceku zakhe ngemfihlo le ngenxa yokuthi ‘uyenelisa ukuveza izinto ezifihlakeleyo.’ (UDanyeli 2:28) Kodwa lokhu wayezakwenza kancane kancane. Lokhu singakufanisa lalokho okwenziwa ngubaba olothando nxa umntanakhe omncane embuza esithi, “Baba, kanti mina ngavela ngaphi?” Ubaba ohlakaniphileyo utshela umntanakhe izinto akwaziyo ukuthi uzazizwisisa. Nxa umntwana esekhulakhulile, uyise uqhubeka emtshela okunye okunengi. UJehova laye umelela isikhathi esifaneleyo sokuthi atshele abantwabakhe ukuthi uzayigcwalisa njani injongo yakhe.—IZaga 4:18; UDanyeli 12:4.

6. (a) Isivumelwano sinceda ngani? (b) Kungani uJehova wenza izivumelwano labantu?

⁶ UJehova wayiveza njani imfihlo yakhe? Wasebenzisa izivumelwano ezitshiyeneyo ayezenza labantu bakhe. Kungenzakala ukuthi lawe sewake wenza isivumelwano esithile, mhlawumbe lapho uthenga indlu kumbe uboleka imali. Ngokwenza isivumelwano leso wawuthembisa ukuthi uzakwenza konke okukhulumileyo. Kodwa nxa uJehova ethembisa ukwenza okuthile siyabe sikwazi ukuthi uzakwenza loba sekutheni. Manje kungani wenza izivumelwano labantu? Wenza izivumelwano lezo ngenxa yokuthi uyakwazi ukuthi njengoba silesono kungabanzima ukuthi sikholwe lokho asitshela khona. Izivumelwano lezo zenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzakwenza lokho akuthembisileyo.—KumaHebheru 6:16-18.

Isivumelwano Asenza Lo-Abrahama

7, 8. (a) UJehova wenza siphi isivumelwano lo-Abrahama futhi sayicacisa njani imfihlo engcwele? (b) UJehova waluveza njani usendo okwakuzavela kulo inzalo eyayithenjisiwe?

⁷ Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-2 000 u-Adamu lo-Eva bexotshwe ePharadayisi, uJehova watshela inceku yakhe ethembekileyo u-Abrahama wathi: ‘Ngizakwandisa inzalo yakho loba sekutheni, ibe njengezinkanyezi zamazulu. Ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizazitholela isibusiso ngenxa yokuthi ulalele ilizwi lami.’ (UGenesisi 22:17, 18) Lokhu kwakungasiso sithembiso nje kuphela. UJehova waqinisekisa u-Abrahama ngokwenza isivumelwano laye langokufunga ukuthi uzasigcwalisa. (UGenesisi 17:1, 2; KumaHebheru 6:13-15) Kuyamangalisa sibili ukuthi lanxa uJehova enguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wazehlisa wenza isivumelwano lo-Abrahama sokubusisa abantu.

⁸ Isivumelwano uNkulunkulu asenza lo-Abrahama sacacisa ukuthi inzalo okwakukhulunywe ngayo ensimini ye-Edeni yayizavela esizukulwaneni sika-Abrahama. Kodwa ngubani owayezakuba yinzalo leyo? Lanxa u-Abrahama wayelamadodana amanengi, uJehova waveza ukuthi indodana yakhe u-Isaka yiyo eyayizakuba ngukhokho waleyonzalo. Emadodaneni ka-Isaka amabili wakhetha uJakhobe. (UGenesisi 21:12; 28:13, 14) Isiphrofetho esakhulunywa nguJakhobe satshengisa ukuthi emadodaneni akhe angu-12 ngubani okwakuzavela kuye inzalo eyayithenjisiwe. Wathi: “Intonga yobukhosi ayisoze isuke kuJuda; lenduku yombusi ayisoze isuke phakathi kwezinyawo zakhe kuze kufike uShilo [kumbe, “Lowo ongumnikazi wakho,” amabala angaphansi] njalo izizwe zonke zizamlalela.” (UGenesisi 49:10) Yikho khathesi kwasekusaziwa ukuthi inzalo yayizakuba yinkosi futhi yayizakuba ngeyosendo lukaJuda.

Isivumelwano Asenza Lama-Israyeli

9, 10. (a) Yisiphi isivumelwano uJehova asenza lesizwe sako-Israyeli futhi sawavikela njani ama-Israyeli? (b) UMthetho wakucacisa njani ukuthi abantu kumele bahlawulelwe?

⁹ Ngo-1513 B.C.E., uJehova wenza isivumelwano lezizukulwane zika-Abrahama esaveza okunye okunengi ngemfihlo engcwele. Isivumelwano lesi sibizwa ngokuthi yisivumelwano soMthetho kaMosi. Lanxa singasasebenzi khathesi, uJehova wasisebenzisa ukuthi agcwalise isithembiso sakhe esimayelana lenzalo. Njani? Okokuqala, uMthetho wawunjengomduli ovikelayo. (Kwabase- Efesu 2:14) Imilayo yawo yayinjengomduli owawusehlukanisa amaJuda kulabo ababengayisiwo maJuda. UMthetho wavikela isizwe sako-Israyeli ngoba yikho lapho okwakuzavela khona inzalo eyayithenjisiwe. Wanceda ukuthi isizwe sako-Israyeli siqhubeke sikhona kuze kube yilapho uMesiya ezalwa esizwaneni sakoJuda.

¹⁰ Okwesibili, uMthetho wacacisa ukuthi abantu kumele bahlawulelwe. Wanceda ama-Israyeli abona ukuthi abantu abalesono ngeke benelise ukwenza konke okutshiwo nguNkulunkulu. Ngakho uMthetho lo ‘waveza iziphambeko kwaze kwafika inzalo okwakwenziwe kuyo isithembiso.’ (KwabaseGalathiya 3:19) Imihlatshelo yezifuyo ama-Israyeli ayetshelwe ukuthi ayenze yayingenelisi ukuhlawulela izono ngokupheleleyo. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Ngeke kwenzakale ukuthi igazi lezinkunzi lelezimbuzi lisuse izono.” (KumaHebheru 10:1-4) Yikho kwakumele kube lomhlatshelo owawuzasusa izono ngokupheleleyo. Ngakho isivumelwano soMthetho saba ngumkhokheli owakhokhela amaJuda athembekileyo ‘wawasa kuKhristu.’—KwabaseGalathiya 3:24.

11. Isivumelwano soMthetho savulela ama-Israyeli liphi ithuba, kodwa kungani ama-Israyeli amanengi alahlekelwa lithuba lelo?

¹¹ Okwesithathu, isivumelwano soMthetho savulela ama-Israyeli ithuba elihle kakhulu. UJehova wawatshela ukuthi nxa ayengahlala ethembekile, ayezakuba ‘ngumbuso wabaphristi lesizwe esingcwele.’ (U-Eksodusi 19:5, 6) Ababa ngabokuqala ukukhethwa nguJehova ukuthi babe ngabaphristi embusweni wakhe ngama-Israyeli. Kodwa ama-Israyeli amanengi ahlamukela uJehova ephula isivumelwano soMthetho futhi awazange amamukele uMesiya. Lokhu kwenza alahlekelwa lithuba lokuba ngabaphristi embusweni kaNkulunkulu. Manje ngobani ababezathatha indawo yabo futhi babezakwenza wuphi umsebenzi? UNkulunkulu wayezaveza izimpendulo zemibuzo le ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.

Isivumelwano Asenza LoDavida

12. Yisiphi isivumelwano uJehova asenza loDavida njalo isivumelwano lesi savezani ngemfihlo engcwele?

¹² Kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-1 000 ukuthi uJesu aze emhlabeni, uJehova wenza isivumelwano loDavida esaveza okunye ngemfihlo engcwele. Wathembisa iNkosi uDavida wathi: ‘Ngizabeka omunye wabantwabakho ukuthi abe yinkosi njalo ngizakwenza umbuso wakhe uqine. Ngizasiqinisa isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi kuze kube nini lanini.’ (2 USamuyeli 7:12, 13; IHubo 89:3) Isithembiso lesi senza kwacaca ukuthi inzalo eyayithenjisiwe yayizakuba ngeyosendo lukaDavida. Kodwa kwakungenzakala yini ukuthi umuntu olesono abuse kuze kube nini lanini? (IHubo 89:20, 29, 34-36) Umuntu onjalo wayengenelisa yini ukukhulula abantu esonweni lasekufeni?

13, 14. (a) Yisiphi isithembiso esikuHubo 110 uJehova asenza eNkosini enguMesiya? (b) Kuyini abaphrofethi abakuvezayo ngemfihlo engcwele?

¹³ UDavida waphefumulelwa ukuthi abhale athi: “UJehova wathi eNkosini yami: ‘Hlala esandleni sami sokudla, ngize ngenze izitha zakho zibe yisenabelo senyawo zakho.’ UJehova ufungile, kasoze atshintshe ingqondo, uthe: ‘Wena ungumphristi kuze kube nini lanini ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi!’” (IHubo 110:1, 4) Lapha uDavida wayekhuluma ngayo kanye inzalo eyayithenjisiwe, uMesiya. (ImiSebenzi 2:35, 36) UMesiya wayengasoze abuse eseJerusalema kodwa wayezabusa esezulwini ehlezi ‘esandleni sokudla’ sikaJehova. UJehova wayezamnika amandla okubusa umhlaba wonke hatshi ilizwe lako-Israyeli kuphela. (IHubo 2:6-8) Kulokunye futhi esikunanzelelayo evesini leyo. UJehova wafunga ukuthi uMesiya wayezakuba ‘ngumphristi ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.’ UMelikhizedeki wayeyinkosi futhi engumphristi ngesikhathi sika-Abrahama. Inzalo eyayithenjisiwe layo yayizabekwa nguNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ukuthi ibe yiNkosi loMphristi.—UGenesisi 14:17-20.

¹⁴ UJehova wasebenzisa abaphrofethi ukuthi aveze okunengi ngemfihlo yakhe engcwele. Ngokwesibonelo u-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi uMesiya wayezanikela ngokuphila kwakhe. (U-Isaya 53:3-12) UMikha waphrofetha ngokuthi uMesiya wayezazalelwa ngaphi. (UMikha 5:2) UDanyeli yena wakhuluma ngokuthi uMesiya wayezawuqalisa nini umsebenzi wakhe lokuthi wayezakufa nini.—UDanyeli 9:24-27.

UJehova Uveza Konke Okuphathelane Lemfihlo Engcwele!

15, 16. (a) Kwenzakala njani ukuthi iNdodana kaJehova ‘izalwe ngowesifazana’? (b) Yiliphi ilungelo uJesu alithola ebazalini bakhe futhi wagcotshwa nini ukuthi abe nguMesiya?

¹⁵ Indlela iziphrofetho lezi ezazizagcwaliseka ngayo yahlala iyimfihlo kwaze kwaba yilapho inzalo ifika. UGalathiya 4:4 uthi: “Isikhathi esibekiweyo sathi sesifikile, uNkulunkulu wathuma iNdodana yakhe yazalwa ngowesifazana.” Ngomnyaka ka-2 B.C.E., ingilosi yafika entombini engumJuda okuthiwa nguMariya yathi: ‘Uzazithwala ubelethe indodana. Kumele uyinike ibizo elithi Jesu. Izakuba ngumuntu oqakathekileyo futhi izabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. UJehova uNkulunkulu uzayipha isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida. Umoya ongcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, amandla oPhezukonke akugubuzele. Yikho umntwana ozazalwa uzabizwa ngokuthi ungcwele lokuthi uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.’—ULukha 1:31, 32, 35.

¹⁶ UJehova wathatha impilo yeNdodana yakhe wayifaka esibelethweni sikaMariya. UMariya wayelesono njengabo bonke abantu. Kodwa uJesu kazange azalwe elesono ngenxa yokuthi yena ‘wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.’ Kodwa kukhona uJesu akuthola ebazalini bakhe. Bobabili abazali bakhe babengabosendo lukaDavida, yikho uJesu wayelelungelo lokuba yinkosi esihlalweni seNkosi uDavida. (ImiSebenzi 13:22, 23) UJesu wathi ebhabhathizwa ngo-29 C.E., uJehova wamgcoba ngomoya ongcwele wasesithi: “Le yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo.” (UMathewu 3:16, 17) Inzalo eyayithenjisiwe yayisikhona! (KwabaseGalathiya 3:16) Kwasekuyisikhathi sokuveza okunye okunengi ngemfihlo engcwele.—2 KuThimothi 1:10.

17. UGenesisi 3:15 wacaciswa njani?

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi uJesu etshumayela waveza ukuthi uSathane nguye inyoka okukhulunywa ngayo kuGenesisi 3:15 lokuthi abalandeli bakaSathane yibo abayinzalo yenyoka. (UMathewu 23:33; UJohane 8:44) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwacaciswa ukuthi bonke labo babezacobodiswa bangaphindi babekhona. (ISambulo 20:1-3, 10, 15) Kwavezwa lokuthi owesifazana ‘yiJerusalema ephezulu,’ okutsho izingilosi ezibumba inhlanganiso kaJehova yasezulwini efaniswa lomkakhe.a—KwabaseGalathiya 4:26; ISambulo 12:1-6.

Isivumelwano Esitsha

18. “Isivumelwano esitsha” senzelwani?

¹⁸ Ngobusuku bokucina uJesu ezavuka ebulawa waveza okunye okumangalisayo ngemfihlo engcwele. Watshela abafundi bakhe ‘ngesivumelwano esitsha.’ (ULukha 22:20) Isivumelwano esitsha sasifanana lesivumelwano soMthetho kaMosi ngoba laso kwakumele siveze ‘umbuso wabaphristi.’ (U-Eksodusi 19:6; 1 UPhetro 2:9) Isivumelwano lesi senza ukuthi kubunjwe ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ okutsho abalandeli bakaKhristu abagcotshiweyo. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:16) AmaKhristu la agcotshiweyo azasebenza loJesu ukuze alethe izibusiso ebantwini.

19. (a) Isivumelwano esitsha senza njani ukuthi kubunjwe ‘umbuso wabaphristi’? (b) Kungani amaKhristu agcotshiweyo ebizwa ngokuthi ‘ayindalo entsha’ futhi bangaki abazabusa loKhristu ezulwini?

¹⁹ Isivumelwano esitsha senza ukuthi kubunjwe ‘umbuso wabaphristi’ ozakwenza ukuthi abantu bathole izibusiso. Sikwenza njani lokhu? Senza abafundi bakaKhristu bathethelelwe izono kusetshenziswa umhlatshelo wakhe. (UJeremiya 31:31-34) Nxa sebehlanzekile phambi kukaJehova, uyabamukela emulini yakhe yasezulwini njalo abagcobe ngomoya ongcwele. (KwabaseRoma 8:15-17; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 1:21) Ngakho ‘bazalwa kutsha ukuze babe lethemba eliphilayo abaligcinelwe emazulwini.’ (1 UPhetro 1:3, 4) Njengoba abantu babevele bedalelwe ukuthi bahlale emhlabeni, amaKhristu agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele abizwa ngokuthi ‘ayindalo entsha.’ (2 KwabaseKhorinte 5:17) IBhayibhili liveza ukuthi amaKhristu la angu-144 000 azabusa loJesu ezulwini.—ISambulo 5:9, 10; 14:1-4.

20. (a) Kuyini uJehova akuveza ngo-36 C.E.? (b) Ngobani abazathola izibusiso ezathenjiswa u-Abrahama?

²⁰ UJesu labagcotshiweyo ‘bayinzalo ka-Abrahama.’b (KwabaseGalathiya 3:29) Abokuqala abakhethwayo babengamaJuda. Kodwa ngo-36 C.E., uJehova waveza ukuthi wayezakhetha lalabo abangayisiwo maJuda ukuthi bayebusa loJesu ezulwini. (KwabaseRoma 9:6-8; 11:25, 26; Kwabase-Efesu 3:5, 6) Kodwa abagcotshiweyo yibo bodwa yini ababezathola izibusiso ezathenjiswa u-Abrahama? Hatshi, ngoba umhlatshelo kaJesu unceda bonke abantu. (1 UJohane 2:2) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wacacisa ukuthi ‘kulexuku elikhulu’ elizasindiswa nxa abantu ababi sebebhujiswa. (ISambulo 7:9, 14) Abanye abanengi bazavuswa belethemba lokuphila phakade ePharadayisi.—ULukha 23:43; UJohane 5:28, 29; ISambulo 20:11-15; 21:3, 4.

Inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu Lemfihlo Engcwele

21, 22. Imfihlo engcwele kaJehova itshengisa njani ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu?

²¹ Imfihlo engcwele iveza “ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okutshengiswa ngezindlela ezinengi ezitshiyeneyo.” (Kwabase-Efesu 3:8-10) UJehova watshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu ngokuthi ahle enze icebo lokulungisa umonakalo owawusudalwe nguSathane kanye lokuyiveza kancane kancane imfihlo le. Wayekwazi ukuthi angahle ayiveze yonke ngasikhathi sinye sasingeke siyizwisise. Kanti njalo ngokuyiveza kancane kancane wasinika ithuba lokutshengisa ukuthi siyamthemba.—IHubo 103:14.

²² UJehova waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho enkulu ngokukhetha uJesu ukuthi abe yiNkosi. UJesu uthembekile ukwedlula loba yiphi ingilosi kumbe umuntu. Wehlelwa zinhlupho ezitshiyeneyo ngesikhathi esemhlabeni yikho ezizwisisa kuhle inhlupho zabantu. (KumaHebheru 5:7-9) Kodwa abazabusa loJesu bona ke? Kusukela kudala uJehova ubelokhu ekhetha amadoda labesifazana abakhuliswe ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo, abayimihlobo etshiyeneyo futhi abakhuluma izindimi ezitshiyeneyo. Labo bake behlelwa zinhlupho ezifanana lezethu. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:22-24) Kuzabamnandi ukubuswa ngamakhosi labaphristi abasizwisisayo futhi abafuna ukusinceda.

23. Yisiphi isibusiso esilaso futhi kumele sizimisele ukwenzani?

²³ Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: ‘Imfihlo engcwele eyayifihliwe kusukela ezikhathini zakudala lakuzizukulwane ezadlulayo isivezelwe abangcwele bakhe.’ (KwabaseKholose 1:26) Abagcotshiweyo bazwisisa okunengi ngemfihlo engcwele njalo bancede labanye abanengi ukuthi bayazi. Kuyisibusiso esikhulu ukuthi uJehova wenze ‘sayazi imfihlo engcwele yentando yakhe.’ (Kwabase-Efesu 1:9) Ngakho kasitsheleni abanye ngemfihlo le enhle kangaka, sibancede ukuthi labo benelise ukubona inhlakanipho enkulu kaJehova uNkulunkulu!

1-3. Kuyini okwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uthobekile?

UBABA ufuna ukufundisa umntanakhe omncane isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Ufuna ukukwenza ngendlela ezathinta inhliziyo yomntanakhe. Angakwenza njani lokho? Uyabe eqondile yini nxa angafika ame phambi komntwana ngendlela ezamenza esabe kumbe akhulume laye ngokhahlo? Akusoze kumncede yini ukuguqa alingane lomntanakhe abesekhuluma laye ngomusa? Ubaba ohlakaniphileyo lothobekileyo ubezakhetha ukuba mnene.

² UJehova unguBaba onjani? Uyazigqaja yini kumbe uthobekile? Uyabakhahlameza yini abantu kumbe umnene? UJehova wazi konke futhi ulenhlakanipho ejulileyo. Kodwa wake wakunanzelela yini ukuthi ukuba lolwazi kumbe ukukhalipha kwenza kube nzima ukuthi umuntu athobeke? IBhayibhili lithi “ulwazi luyakhukhumeza.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 3:19; 8:1) Kodwa lanxa uJehova ‘ehlakaniphile enhliziyweni,’ uthobekile. (UJobe 9:4, amabala angaphansi) Lokhu akutsho ukuthi uJehova ulesikhundla esiphansi kodwa kutsho ukuthi kazigqaji. Kungani kunjalo?

³ UJehova ungcwele. Ngakho kazigqaji ngoba ukuzigqaja kwenza umuntu abe ngongcolileyo. (UMakho 7:20-22) Nanzelela futhi ukuthi umphrofethi uJeremiya watshela uJehova wathi: “Uzangikhumbula loba sekutheni, ubusukhothama ungincede.”a (IZililo 3:20) Cabanga ngalokho! UJehova iNkosi eNkulu wayezimisele ‘ukukhothama’ kumbe ukuzehlisa alingane loJeremiya ukuze amlalele. (IHubo 113:7) Uthobekile sibili. Kodwa utshengisa njani ukuthi uthobekile? Ukuthobeka kwakhe kutshengisa njani ukuthi ulokuhlakanipha? Ukuthobeka kwakhe kusinceda njani?

Indlela uJehova Atshengisa Ngayo Ukuthi Uthobekile

4, 5. (a) Kuyini ukuthobeka futhi kukhanya ngani? Kungani kungamelanga sibone angani ukuthobeka kukaJehova kutsho ukuthi uligwala kumbe uyesaba? (b) UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uthobekile endleleni aphatha ngayo uDavida futhi ukuthobeka kwakhe kusinceda njani?

⁴ Ukuthobeka yikuzehlisa lokungazigqaji. Ukuzithoba kumele kuqalisele enhliziyweni futhi kukhanya ngokuba mnene, ukubekezela lokuzwisisa. (KwabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23) UJehova ulazo impawu lezi, kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi kazondi nxa ebona abantu bephathwa kubi kumbe ukuthi kalawo amandla okujezisa abantu abenza okubi. Ukuthobeka kukaJehova kanye lokuba mnene kwakhe kutshengisa ukuthi uyenelisa ukuzibamba lokuthi amandla akhe uzahlala ewasebenzisa ngendlela eyiyo. (U-Isaya 42:14) Ukuthobeka kukaJehova kutshengisa njani ukuthi ulokuhlakanipha? Elinye ibhuku elikhuluma ngeBhayibhili lithi: “Ukuthobeka kuchazwa . . . ngokuthi yikuba lendaba labanye futhi yikho lapho okuphuma khona ukuhlakanipha.” Ngakho inhlakanipho yeqiniso ngeke ibekhona kungelakuthobeka. Inhlakanipho kaJehova isinceda njani?

⁵ INkosi uDavida yahlabelela uJehova yathi: “Unginika ihawu lakho ukuze ungisindise, isandla sakho sokudla siyangisekela. Ukuthobeka kwakho kwenza ngibe mkhulu.” (IHubo 18:35) UJehova wazehlisa sibili ukuze ancedise umuntu lo owayelesono. UDavida wananzelela ukuthi ukuzithoba kukaJehova ngalindlela yikho kuphela okwakungenza asindiswe futhi acine eselesikhundla esikhulu sokuba yinkosi. Ngubani kithi obengaba lethemba lokusindiswa aluba uJehova ubengathobekanga kumbe engazimiselanga ukuzehlisa ukuze asiphathe njengoBaba omnene futhi osithandayo?

6, 7. (a) Kungani ukuthobeka kukaJehova kutshiyene lokwabantu? (b) Ukuba mnene kungenelana njani lokuhlakanipha futhi ngubani oyisibonelo esikhulu kulokhu?

⁶ Ukuthobeka luphawu oluhle kakhulu okumele izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekileyo zibe lalo. Ukuthobeka kuhamba ndawonye lokuhlakanipha. Ngokwesibonelo, uZaga 11:2 uthi: “Ukuhlakanipha ngokwabazithobayo.” Kodwa ukuthobeka kukaJehova okukhulunywa ngakho eBhayibhilini akufanani lokwethu abantu. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Kungenxa yokuthi nxa kuthiwa umuntu uthobekile kuyabe kutshiwo ukuthi uyakwazi ukuthi kulezinto angenelisi ukuzenza kumbe angelalungelo lokuzenza. Kodwa akulalutho uSomandla angenelisiyo ukulwenza. Yena nguye ozikhethelayo afuna ukukwenza kusiya ngokuthi kulungile yini loba hatshi. (UMakho 10:27; KuThithusi 1:2) Kanti njalo ungoPhezukonke, kabuswa yiloba ngubani. Ngakho ukuzithoba okutshiwo nxa kukhulunywa ngabantu akufanani lokukaJehova.

⁷ Loba kunjalo, uJehova uthobekile njalo umnene. Ukhuthaza izinceku zakhe ukuthi zibe mnene ukuze zibe lokuhlakanipha kweqiniso. ILizwi lakhe lithi ‘ubumnene buvela ekuhlakanipheni.’b (UJakhobe 3:13) Ake sixoxe ngesibonelo sikaJehova.

UJehova Uyalalela Njalo Uyavuma Ukuncediswa Ngabanye

8-10. (a) Kuyini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uthobekile njalo kungani kumangalisa lokho? (b) Indlela uSomandla aphatha ngayo izingilosi itshengisa njani ukuthi uthobekile?

⁸ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uthobekile yikuthi uyalalela njalo uyavuma ukuncediswa ngabanye. Lokhu kuyamangalisa sibili ngoba uJehova kadingi kuncediswa kumbe ukwelulekwa. (U-Isaya 40:13, 14; KwabaseRoma 11:34, 35) IBhayibhili litshengisa kanengi ukuthi uJehova uyazehlisa ngalindlela.

⁹ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala ku-Abrahama. Ngelinye ilanga wafikelwa yizivakatshi ezintathu futhi esinye sakhona wasibiza ngokuthi ‘nguJehova.’ Izivakatshi lezo kwakuzingilosi. Enye yazo yayimele uJehova, isenza konke ebizweni lakhe. Konke eyayikukhuluma futhi ikwenza kwakuvela kuJehova. UJehova wasebenzisa ingilosi le ukuthi atshele u-Abrahama ukuthi wayezwe “insolo ngeSodoma leGomora.” UJehova wamtshela wathi: “Ngizakwehla ngiyebona ukuthi abakwenzayo kuyahambelana yini lensolo esifike kimi, nxa kungenjalo ngizakwazi.” (UGenesisi 18:3, 20, 21) Kodwa uJehova wayengatsho ukuthi ‘uzakwehla’ ayekhona yena ngokwakhe. Kulokuthi enze njalo, wathuma izingilosi ukuthi ziyekuba ngabameli bakhe. (UGenesisi 19:1) Ngenxa yani? Kambe uJehova obona konke wayengehluleka yini ‘ukwazi’ okwenzakala endaweni leyo engathumanga muntu? Wayengeke ehluleke. Wazehlisa wanika izingilosi umsebenzi wokuyahlola isimo lowokuvakatshela uLothi lemuli yakhe eSodoma.

¹⁰ Okunye yikuthi uJehova uyalalela. Wake wacela izingilosi zakhe ukuthi zilethe amacebo okuwisa u-Ahabi, inkosi eyayingalunganga. UJehova wayengaludingi usizo olunjalo. Kodwa wavuma icebo lenye ingilosi waseyivumela ukuthi ihambe iyekwenza eyayikukhulumile. (1 AmaKhosi 22:19-22) Kambe lokhu akutshengisi yini ukuthi uJehova uthobekile?

11, 12. U-Abrahama wakubona njani ukuthi uJehova uthobekile?

¹¹ UJehova uzimisele lokulalela abantu abalesono nxa bemtshela okubakhathazayo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJehova etshela u-Abrahama ukuthi uzabhubhisa iSodoma leGomora, indoda le ethembekileyo yakhathazeka kakhulu. U-Abrahama wathi: “Umcabango onjalo ngeke ufike kuwe. Kambe uMahluleli womhlaba wonke kasoze enze okulungileyo yini?” Wabuza ukuthi nxa kungaba labantu abangu-50 abalungileyo kulelodolobho wayezayekela yini ukulibhubhisa. UJehova wathi wayengeke alibhubhise. Kodwa u-Abrahama waphinda wabuza elokhu esehlisa inani. Wehlisa waya ku-45, waya ku-40, waqhubeka elokhu esehlisa waze wayafika ku-10. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Abrahama wayengakakuzwisisi ukuthi uJehova ulomusa kangakanani. Kungelani lokuthi kuyini okwenza u-Abrahama wabuza imibuzo leyo, uJehova wabekezela wayivumela inceku yakhe le ukuthi itsho okwakuyikhathaza.—UGenesisi 18:23-33.

¹² Bangaki abantu abahlakaniphileyo njalo abafundileyo abangazinika isikhathi sokube belalele umuntu ongakhaliphanga?c UNkulunkulu wethu uthobekile ngoba uyabalalela abantu lanxa bengakhaliphanga. U-Abrahama wazibonela ukuthi uJehova ‘uyaphuza ukuthukuthela.’ (U-Eksodusi 34:6) U-Abrahama wancenga kabili wathi: “Ngiyacela Jehova, ungathukutheli.” Mhlawumbe okwenza watsho njalo yikuthi wayesenanzelele ukuthi wayengelalungelo lokubuza okwenziwa ngoPhezukonke. (UGenesisi 18:30, 32) Kodwa uJehova kazange athukuthele ngoba ‘ulobumnene obuvela ekuhlakanipheni.’

UJehova Uyazwisisa

13. Litshoni ibala elithi “ukuzwisisa” ngendlela elisetshenziswa ngayo eBhayibhilini futhi kungani limchaza kuhle uJehova?

¹³ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uthobekile yikuthi uyazwisisa. Kuyadanisa ukuthi ukuzwisisa akwandanga ebantwini abalesono. UJehova kapheleli ekulaleleni kuphela kodwa uzimisele ukutshintsha avumelane lalokho okutshiwo zinceku zakhe nxa kungasoze kwephule izimiso zakhe. EBhayibhilini, ibala elithi “ukuzwisisa” litsho “ukuvuma ukutshintsha.” Ukuzwisisa lakho kuhamba ndawonye lokuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu. UJakhobe 3:17 uthi: ‘Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu kuyazwisisa.’ Kodwa kungani sisithi uJehova uyazwisisa? Esinye isizatho yikuthi uyenelisa ukutshintsha avumelane lezimo. Khumbula ukuthi ibizo lakhe litshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukuba yilokho okudingakalayo ukuze enze lokho akuhlosileyo. (U-Eksodusi 3:14) Lokhu akutshengisi yini ukuthi unguNkulunkulu ozwisisayo?

14, 15. Umbono wenqola eyabonwa nguHezekheli usifundisani ngengxenye yasezulwini yenhlanganiso kaJehova futhi itshiyene njani lenhlanganiso zabantu?

¹⁴ Kulamavesi eBhayibhilini asinceda sizwisise indlela uJehova atshintsha ngayo. Umphrofethi uHezekheli watshengiswa umbono wengxenye yasezulwini yenhlanganiso kaJehova ebunjwa zingilosi. Wabona “inqola” emangalisayo eqondiswa nguJehova. Inqola le yayilamaviri amane amakhulu ayegcwele amehlo indawo yonke. Amaviri la ayesenelisa ukutshintsha aye kuloba yiliphi icele engazange ame kumbe atshibilike. Inqola le enkulu yayingahambi kancane njengenqola eyenziwe ngabantu. Yayigijima ngesiqubu sombane. (UHezekheli 1:1, 14-28) Inhlanganiso kaJehova iyatshintsha kusiya ngezimo ngoba iqondiswa nguMbusi olamandla owenelisayo ukutshintsha ahambelane lezimo.

¹⁵ Abantu bangazama sibili ukuvumelana lezimo kodwa kabafiki kuJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, akulula ukuthi abantu batshintshe imithetho abayifakileyo ukuze ivumelane lezimo esezikhona. Cabanga ngomzekeliso lo: Isitimela esithwala impahla silamandla amakhulu. Kodwa siyenelisa yini ukukhona kumbe ukuma masinyane? Hatshi, akulula ukuthi sikwenze lokhu. Isitimela esithwele kakhulu singaqhubeka sihamba okwamakhilomitha angaba mabili ngemva kokuthi umtshayeli ebhrekile! Lenhlanganiso zabantu zinjalo. Akulula ukuthi zihambisane lokutshintsha kwezimo. Lokhu sekubangele ukuthi inhlanganiso ezinengi ziphelelwe yimali njalo kwenza lokuthi ohulumende abanengi bawe. (IZaga 16:18) Kuyathokozisa ukwazi ukuthi uJehova kanye lenhlanganiso yakhe kabanjalo!

Indlela uJehova Atshengisa Ngayo Ukuthi Uyazwisisa

16. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa endabeni kaLothi?

¹⁶ Cabanga futhi ngokubhujiswa kweSodoma leGomora. Ingilosi kaJehova yatshela uLothi lemuli yakhe yathi: ‘Balekelani ezintabeni.’ Kodwa uLothi kazange athande ukuya kuleyondawo. Wancenga wathi: “Awu Jehova ungangisi kuleyondawo!” ULothi wacela ukuthi yena lemuli yakhe babalekele edolobheni leZowari elalikhonapho eduze ngoba wayesesaba ukuya ezintabeni. Kodwa uLothi wayengelaso isizatho sokwesaba ngoba uJehova wayezamvikela khonale ezintabeni! Lanxa uJehova wayefuna ukulibhubhisa idolobho leZowari, watshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa ngokuvumela uLothi ukuthi abalekele kulo. Ingilosi yatshela uLothi yathi: “Kulungile, ngiyasamukela isicelo sakho, angisoze ngilitshabalalise idolobho okhuluma ngalo.” (UGenesisi 19:17-22) UJehova watshengisa ukuthi uyazwisisa sibili.

17, 18. Endabeni yabantu baseNiniva, uJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa?

¹⁷ UJehova ulesihawu ebantwini abatshengisa ukuthi bayaphenduka ngeqiniso. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala ngesikhathi umphrofethi uJona ethunywa eNiniva. Idolobho leli lalilabantu abenza okubi labalodlakela. Umlayezo okwakumele uJona awutshele abantu wawucacile: Idolobho leNiniva lalizabhujiswa ngemva kwamalanga angu-40. Kodwa akusabanga njalo. Abantu beNiniva bazisola baphenduka!—UJona isahluko 3.

¹⁸ Kuyanceda kakhulu ukuqathanisa lokho uJehova akwenzayo lalokho okwenziwa nguJona abantu beNiniva sebephendukile. Kulokuthi uJehova atshengise ukuthi “uliqhawe elilamandla” ngokubabhubhisa, watshintsha watshengisa ukuthi unguNkulunkulu othethelelayo.d (U-Eksodusi 15:3) Kodwa uJona yena kazange abe lesihawu ebantwini laba. Kulokuthi azwisise njengoJehova, wenza njengesitimela lesiyana esike sakhuluma ngaso. Wayelokhu ekhangelele ukuthi abantu laba babhujiswe! Kodwa uJehova wambekezelela umphrofethi wakhe wasemfundisa ukuqakatheka kokuzwisisa lokuba lesihawu.—UJona isahluko 4.

19. (a) Kungani sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova kakhangelelanga ukuthi senze esingakwenelisiyo? (b) UZaga 19:17 utshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova uyiNkosi elungileyo, elozwelo njalo ethobekileyo?

¹⁹ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyazwisisa yikuthi kakhangelelanga ukuthi senze esingakwenelisiyo. INkosi uDavida yathi: “Uyakwazi ukuthi sibunjwe njani, uyakhumbula ukuthi siluthuli.” (IHubo 103:14) UJehova uyazwisisa ukuthi kulezinto esingenelisi ukuzenza lokuthi siyaphambanisa. Usizwisisa ngcono kakhulu ukwedlula indlela thina esizizwisisa ngayo. IBhayibhili lithi kulamakhosi ‘azwisisayo layenza okuhle’ besokusiba lamanye “okunzima ukuwathokozisa.” (1 UPhetro 2:18) UJehova yena uyiNkosi enjani? Zwana ukuthi uZaga 19:17 uthini. Uthi: “Owenzela umuntukazana umusa ukweledisa uJehova.” Ivesi le ikwenza kucace ukuthi uJehova uyiNkosi elungileyo futhi elozwelo ngoba uyazibona zonke izenzo zomusa ezenzelwa abantukazana. Kanti njalo okuhle yikuthi ukubona kufanele ukuthi ababusise abantu abenza izinto ezinjalo. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uthobekile sibili ukwedlula loba ngubani.

20. Kuyini okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyayizwa imithandazo yethu lokuthi uyayiphendula?

²⁰ UJehova uyazizwisisa izinceku zakhe futhi uziphatha ngomusa. Uyalalela nxa sikhuleka kuye ngokholo. Lanxa engasoze athume izingilosi zakhe ukuthi zikhulume lathi, akumelanga sicabange ukuthi kayiphenduli imithandazo yethu. Khumbula ukuthi lapho umphostoli uPhawuli ecela ayekhonza labo ukuthi ‘bathandazele’ ukuthi aphume ejele, wabatshela wathi: “Ukuthi ngibuyiselwe kini masinyane.” (KumaHebheru 13:18, 19) Ngakho imithandazo yethu ingenza uJehova enze lokho abengasoze akwenze ngabe besingakhulekanga!—UJakhobe 5:16.

21. Kuyini okungamelanga sikucabange ngokuthobeka kukaJehova? Uzwa njani ngokuthobeka kukaJehova?

²¹ Sesibonile ukuthi uJehova uthobekile, umnene, uzimisele ukulalela, uyabekezela lokuthi uyazwisisa. Kodwa impawu lezi azitsho ukuthi uJehova uyatshintsha izimiso zakhe ezilungileyo. Abakhokheli bamasonto bacabanga ukuthi bayazwisisa nxa betshela abantu abangena emasontweni abo ukuthi akukubi ukwenza izinto ezizondwa nguJehova. Abakwenzayo kwenza kukhanye angani izimiso uJehova azibekileyo endabeni yokuziphatha aziqakathekanga. (2 KuThimothi 4:3) Kodwa lokhu ayisikho okutshiwo yikuzwisisa kukaNkulunkulu, yikufuna ukuthandwa ngabantu nje kuphela. UJehova ungcwele ngakho kasoze loba nini enze into engavumelani lezimiso zakhe. (ULevi 11:44) Yikho asizimiseleni ukuthanda uJehova ngoba uyazwisisa njalo uthobeke ukwedlula loba ngubani. Kanti njalo ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo. Akukuthokozisi yini ukusondela kuNkulunkulu onjalo?

1-3. Omakhelwane bakaJesu benzani ngemfundiso yakhe njalo kuyini abehluleka ukukunanzelela ngaye?

ABABELALELE babemangele bebambe owangaphansi. UJesu wayephambi kwabo esinagogeni ebafundisa. Wayengasomuntu abangamaziyo ngoba wayekhulele kulelodolobho njalo wayeke wasebenza kuleyondawo engumbazi. Kungenzakala ukuthi abanye babo babelima ngamakhuba lamajogwe ayewenze ngezandla zakhe kumbe behlala ezindlini ayebancedise ukuzakha.a Kodwa babezalalela yini lokho ababekufundiswa yindoda le eyayike yaba ngumbazi?

² Abanengi ababelalele bamangala babuza bathi: “Indoda le yakuthatha ngaphi ukuhlakanipha lokhu?” Baphinda bathi: “Kayisuye yini umbazi indodana kaMariya?” (UMathewu 13:54-58; UMakho 6:1-3) Engqondweni zabo, omakhelwane bakaJesu babesithi, ‘Phela umbazi lo yindoda nje efanana lathi.’ Lanxa amazwi akhe ayelenhlakanipho, abazange bamlalele. Babengakwazi ukuthi inhlakanipho uJesu ayelayo yayingaveli kuye.

³ UJesu wayithatha ngaphi inhlakanipho le? Wathi: “Engikufundisayo ayisikho kwami, ngokwalowo ongithumileyo.” (UJohane 7:16) Umphostoli uPhawuli laye wathi uJesu ‘uyikuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 1:30) Inhlakanipho kaJehova ikhanya eNdodaneni yakhe uJesu. Lokhu kuliqiniso okokuthi uJesu wathi: “Mina loBaba simunye.” (UJohane 10:30) Ake sihlole izindlela ezintathu uJesu atshengisa ngazo ‘ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu.’

Lokho Ayekufundisa

4. (a) Kuyini uJesu ayetshumayela ngakho kakhulu njalo kungani lokho kwakuqakatheke kakhulu? (b) Kungani iseluleko sikaJesu sasihlala sibanceda abantu?

⁴ Okokuqala, cabanga ngalokho uJesu akufundisayo. Ayetshumayela ngakho kakhulu ‘kwakuzindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.’ (ULukha 4:43) Kwakuqakathekile sibili ukuthi akhulume ngoMbuso lo ngoba yiwo ozalwela ubukhosi bukaJehova futhi ulethe izibusiso ezingapheliyo ebantwini. Ekufundiseni kwakhe, uJesu wayenika abantu izeluleko ezazibanceda empilweni. Watshengisa ukuthi ‘unguMeluleki Omangalisayo’ okwakuphrofethwe ngaye. (U-Isaya 9:6) Kuyini okwakusenza uJesu anike abantu izeluleko ezincedayo? Yikuthi wayelazi kuhle iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Wayeyizwisisa intando kaNkulunkulu lendlela abantu abadalwe ngayo njalo wayebathanda kakhulu. Ngakho ayekukhuluma kwakuhlala kunceda ngaso sonke isikhathi. UJesu wayekhuluma ‘amazwi okuphila okungapheliyo.’ Nxa singalandela lokho akufundisayo sizathola insindiso.—UJohane 6:68.

5. Yiziphi ezinye izinto uJesu akhuluma ngazo eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni?

⁵ INtshumayelo yaseNtabeni iyisibonelo esihle kakhulu esitshengisa ukuthi uJesu ulenhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu. Intshumayelo le siyithola kuMathewu 5:3 kusiya ku-7:27 njalo kungathatha imizuzu engu-20 kuphela ukuyibala. Lanxa kunjalo, imfundiso lezimiso ezikuyo akuphelelwa yisikhathi. Kusasebenza lalamuhla ngendlela okwakusebenza ngayo kudala. UJesu wakhuluma ngezinto ezitshiyeneyo eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni ezigoqela ukuba lobudlelwano obuhle labanye (5:23-26, 38-42; 7:1-5, 12), ukuziphatha ngendlela ehlanzekileyo (5:27-32), lesingakwenza ukuze sithokoze (6:19-24; 7:24-27). UJesu wayengaphongutshela abantu ukuthi benzeni kodwa wayebachasisela izizatho aphinde abanike lezibonelo ukuze bazwisise ukuthi ayekutsho kuyabanceda.

6-8. (a) Kungani uJesu wathi akumelanga sikhathazeke? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi iseluleko sikaJesu silokuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu?

⁶ Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngeseluleko sikaJesu esimayelana lendlela yokulwisana lokukhathazeka ngezinto esizidingayo ekuphileni esikuMathewu 6. Wathi: “Yekelani ukukhathazeka ngempilo yenu, ukuthi lizakudlani loba lizanathani, kumbe ngemizimba yenu ukuthi lizagqokani.” (Ivesi 25) Ukudla lokokugqoka kuqakathekile sibili njalo kungokwemvelo ukucabanga ngokuthi sizazithola njani izinto lezi. Kodwa uJesu usitshela ukuthi ‘siyekele ukukhathazeka’ ngazo.b Kungani?

⁷ UJesu uyasitshela ukuthi kungani kungamelanga sikhathazeke. Uthi njengoba uJehova esinike ukuphila, ngeke yini asinike ukudla ukuze siqhubeke siphila? Ngeke yini awugqokise umzimba asiphe wona? (Ivesi 25) Nxa uNkulunkulu enika inyoni ukudla njalo ececisa amaluba abe mahle, kasoze ayekele ukubanakekela abantu abamkhonzayo! (Amavesi 26, 28-30) Ukukhathazeka kakhulu akuncedi ngoba ngeke kungezelele ukuphila kwethu ngitsho lakancane.c (Ivesi 27) Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze singakhathazeki? UJesu uthi yikuqakathekisa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ukwedlula loba yini. Labo abenza njalo bangaba leqiniso lokuthi uYise osezulwini ‘uzabapha’ konke abakudingayo. (Ivesi 33) Okokucina, uJesu usikhuthaza ukuthi sikhangele inhlupho zamhlalokho kuphela. Akulasidingo sokuzikhathaza ngokwakusasa. (Ivesi 34) Kanti vele kungani kumele ukhathazeke ngezinto okungaziwayo ukuthi zizakwenzakala yini? Ukusebenzisa iseluleko lesi esilenhlakanipho kungenza ukuthi singakhathazeki emhlabeni lo ogcwele izinkathazo.

⁸ Kuyacaca ukuthi iseluleko sikaJesu asikhuluma eminyakeni engu-2 000 eyadlulayo silokhu sinceda njengakudala. Lokhu kuyibufakazi sibili bokuthi uJesu ulenhlakanipho evela phezulu. Phela leseluleko esingakhulunywa ngumuntu ohlakaniphe kulabo bonke singaphelelwa yisikhathi kumbe sitshintshwe loba nini. Kodwa imfundiso zikaJesu azisoze ziphelelwe yisikhathi. Lokhu akumelanga kusimangalise ngoba uMeluleki lo omangalisayo wayekhuluma “amazwi kaNkulunkulu.”—UJohane 3:34.

Indlela Ayefundisa Ngayo

9. Kuyini amanye amasotsha akutsho ngokufundisa kukaJesu njalo kungani sisithi ayengaqambi manga?

⁹ Okwesibili okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu ulenhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu yindlela ayefundisa ngayo. Ngesinye isikhathi, amanye amasotsha ayethunywe ukuthi ayembopha aphenduka emangele asesithi: “Akukaze kube lomuntu okhuluma kanje.” (UJohane 7:45, 46) Ayisikho ukuthi babesenga lezimithiyo. UJesu waphila okwesikhathi eside ezulwini engakabuyi emhlabeni, yikho wayelolwazi olunengi kakhulu ukwedlula abantu bonke. (UJohane 8:23) Akulamuntu ongafundisa njengaye. Okwakhathesi ake sixoxe ngezindlela ezimbili uMfundisi lo olenhlakanipho azisebenzisa lapho efundisa.

10, 11. (a) Kungani ukusebenzisa kukaJesu imizekeliso kusimangalisa? (b) Yiphi eyinye indaba uJesu ayixoxela abantu ukuze asifundise isifundo esiqakathekileyo?

¹⁰ Ukusebenzisa imizekeliso ngendlela ephumelelayo. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJesu watshela abantu konke lokhu esebenzisa imizekeliso. Akukho lokukodwa abatshela khona engasebenzisi umzekeliso.” (UMathewu 13:34) Iyamangalisa sibili indlela uJesu ayefundisa ngayo iqiniso esebenzisa imizekeliso yezinto ezazijayelwe ngabantu. Wayesebenzisa ababekubona nsuku zonke okugoqela abalimi abahlanyelayo, abesifazana abalungiselela ukupheka isinkwa, abantwana abadlalayo emakethe, abagoli benhlanzi abadonsa omambule kanye labelusi abadinga izimvu ezilahlekileyo. Nxa iqiniso eliqakathekileyo likhulunywa kusetshenziswa izinto ezijayelekileyo, okukhulunywayo kuyagxila masinyane enhliziyweni lasengqondweni yomuntu olaleleyo.—UMathewu 11:16-19; 13:3-8, 33, 47-50; 18:12-14.

¹¹ UJesu wayejayele ukusebenzisa imizekeliso kumbe indaba ezimfitshane ukuze abantu bazwisise izinto eziqakathekileyo. Indaba ezazixoxwa nguJesu zazisenza kube lula ukuthi abantu bakusebenzise futhi bakukhumbule lokho ayekufundisa. UJesu wayesebenzisa imizekeliso engakhohlakali lula ukuze achasisele abantu ukuthi uYise unjani. Ngokwesibonelo, ngubani ongehluleka ukuzwisisa isifundo esisithola emzekelisweni wendodana yolahleko. Emzekelisweni lo, uJesu wayesifundisa ukuthi uJehova uyamzwela futhi amtshengise umusa umuntu oke watshiya ukumkhonza kodwa waphinda waphenduka ngeqiniso.—ULukha 15:11-32.

12. (a) UJesu wayeyisebenzisa njani imibuzo lapho efundisa? (b) UJesu wabaphendula njani abakhokheli benkolo?

¹² Ukusebenzisa imibuzo ngobunono. UJesu wasebenzisa imibuzo ukuze ancede ababemlalele bacabangisise ngalokho ayekutsho, benze izinqumo ezinhle lokuthi bahlole izizatho zabo zokwenza okuthile. (UMathewu 12:24-30; 17:24-27; 22:41-46) Ngesikhathi abakhokheli benkolo bebuza uJesu ukuthi amandla akhe ayevela kuNkulunkulu yini, yena wabaphendula wathi: “Ubhabhathizo lukaJohane lwaluvela ezulwini kumbe ebantwini?” Bemangaliswe ngumbuzo lo, bahlanganisa amakhanda bathi: “Nxa singathi, ‘Lwaluvela ezulwini,’ uzakuthi, ‘Pho kungani lingamkholwanga?’ Kodwa ngeke sithi, ‘Lwaluvela ebantwini’! Babesesaba abantu ngoba bonke babekholwa ukuthi uJohane wayengumphrofethi.” Bacina bephendula besithi: “Asikwazi.” (UMakho 11:27-33; UMathewu 21:23-27) UJesu wasebenzisa umbuzo olula owabatshiya bequmeke imilomo futhi waveza obala amacebo amabi ayesezinhliziyweni zabo.

13-15. Umzekeliso womakhelwane ongumSamariya utshengisa njani inhlakanipho kaJesu?

¹³ Ngezinye izikhathi uJesu wayelandisa imizekeliso yakhe efaka lemibuzo eyayisenza umuntu acabange. Ngesikhathi isazi somthetho esasingumJuda sibuza uJesu ukuthi kuyini okwakudingakala ukuze sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo, uJesu wasikhumbuza uMthetho kaMosi okhuluma ngokuthanda uNkulunkulu kanye lomakhelwane. Isazi lesi sasifuna ukuzigeza yikho sabuza sathi: “Ngubani sibili umakhelwane wami?” UJesu wasiphendula ngokusixoxela indaba le: Indoda ethile eyayingumJuda yayihamba yodwa yasihlaselwa yizigebenga zayitshiya isibangwa lezibi. Kwasekuthutsha amaJuda amabili, owokuqala wayengumphristi ikanti owesibili engumLevi. Bobabili bayidlula indoda le eyayilimele. Ngemva kwalokho kwafika umSamariya othile. Isihawu samenza wabopha amanxeba omJuda lo, wasemthwala wahamba laye endlini yezihambi ukuze ayegcinwa aze asile. Esephetha indaba yakhe uJesu wabuza isazi lesi wathi: “Manje ubona angathi phakathi kwalaba abathathu ngubani owazenza waba ngumakhelwane wendoda eyahlaselwa yizigebenga?” Indoda le yaphendula yathi: “Ngulowo owaba lesihawu kuyo.”—ULukha 10:25-37.

¹⁴ Umzekeliso lo utshengisa njani inhlakanipho kaJesu? Ngesikhathi sikaJesu amaJuda ayesithi ‘omakhelwane’ bawo yilabo ababegcina amasiko abo kuphela, hatshi amaSamariya. (UJohane 4:9) Aluba uJesu walandisa indaba le esithi umJuda nguye owanceda umSamariya, lokhu kwakuzaluqeda yini ubandlululo? UJesu wayicabanga ngenhlakanipho indaba le ngokuthi athi umSamariya nguye owanceda umJuda. Nanzelela ukuthi umbuzo owabuzwa nguJesu ekucineni kwendaba le wakutshintsha njani okutshiwo libala elithi “umakhelwane.” Singathi isazi somthetho lesi sasibuze ukuthi: ‘Ngubani umakhelwane wami okumele ngimthande?’ Kodwa uJesu wabuza wathi: “Ubona angathi phakathi kwalaba abathathu ngubani owazenza waba ngumakhelwane wendoda eyahlaselwa yizigebenga?” UJesu kazange agxile kulowo owatshengiswa umusa kodwa wagxila kumSamariya onguye owatshengisa umusa. Umakhelwane weqiniso ngulowo othatha inyathelo lakuqala lokutshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abanye kungelani lokuthi bangumhlobo bani. Ayikho enye indlela uJesu ayengayisebenzisa ukuze acacise umcijo wakhe.

¹⁵ Kuyazikhanyela ukuthi kungani abantu bamangaliswa ‘yikufundisa’ kukaJesu, lokuthi kungani babekhululeka ukusondela kuye. (UMathewu 7:28, 29) Ngesinye isikhathi ixuku labantu lahlala laye okwamalanga amathathu, lingela ngitsho lokokudla!—UMakho 8:1, 2.

Indlela Ayephila Ngayo

16. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi wayekhokhelwa yinhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Okwesithathu okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu ulenhlakanipho kaJehova yindlela ayephila ngayo. Inhlakanipho ikhanya ngemisebenzi. Umfundi uJakhobe wabuza wathi: ‘Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu?’ Ngemva kwalokho waziphendula wathi: “Katshengise ukuziphatha kwakhe okuhle ngemisebenzi.” (UJakhobe 3:13, The New English Bible) Okwakusenziwa nguJesu ‘kwatshengisa’ ukuthi wayekhokhelwa yinhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu. Ake sixoxe ngokuthi lokhu wakwenza njani endleleni ayephila ngayo layephatha ngayo abanye.

17. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayengadlulisi amalawulo ekuphileni kwakhe?

¹⁷ Mhlawumbe uyake unanzelele ukuthi abantu abangahlakaniphanga bajayele ukuwomisa izinto kumbe bakhululeke kakhulu okokuthi bacina bedlulisa amalawulo ezintweni abazikhulumayo labazenzayo. UJesu watshengisa ukuthi ulenhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu ngokwenza izinto engadlulisi amalawulo. Wayeqakathekisa izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza empilweni yakhe, okugoqela lomsebenzi wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle waze wathi: “Yikho engikulandileyo.” (UMakho 1:38) UJesu wayengaqakathekisi ukunotha ngoba kukhanya wayengelazinto ezinengi. (UMathewu 8:20) Wayengazincitshi isikhathi sokuthi ake akholise labanye. UJesu wayelingisela uYise ohlala ‘ethokoza,’ yikho laye wayehlala ethokoza futhi esenza ukuthi labanye bathokoze. (1 KuThimothi 1:11; 6:15) Ngelinye ilanga waya edilini lomtshado lapho okwakuhlatshelwa, kugidwa abantu bezikholisela. Kodwa kazange afike aqede injabulo yabantu ababelapho. Iwayini lathi seliphelile watshintsha amanzi aba liwayini elimnandi “elithokozisa inhliziyo yomuntu.” (IHubo 104:15; UJohane 2:1-11) UJesu wayevuma ukumenywa ukuthi ayekudla labantu abathile njalo wayejayele ukusebenzisa amathuba anjalo ukuthi afundise.—ULukha 10:38-42; 14:1-6.

18. UJesu watshengisa njani ukwahlulela okuhle okungelasici endleleni aphatha ngayo abafundi bakhe?

¹⁸ UJesu watshengisa ukwahlulela okuhle endleleni ayephatha ngayo abanye. Ngokwesibonelo wayephatha kuhle abafundi bakhe ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi badalwe njani lokuthi balesono. Wayehlala ebona okuhle kubo. Wayekwazi ukuthi amadoda la ayedonswe nguJehova lokuthi ayesenelisa ukwenza okuhle. (UJohane 6:44) Lanxa abafundi bakhe babesenza amaphutha, uJesu watshengisa ukuthi uyabathemba ngokubanika umsebenzi oqakathekileyo. Wabatshela ukuthi batshumayele izindaba ezinhle futhi wayengathandabuzi ukuthi babezawenza umsebenzi lo. (UMathewu 28:19, 20) Ibhuku lemiSebenzi litshengisa ukuthi abafundi bawenza ngokuthembeka umsebenzi lo. (ImiSebenzi 2:41, 42; 4:33; 5:27-32) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJesu wayetshengise ukuhlakanipha ngokubathemba.

19. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi ‘umnene futhi uthobekile’?

¹⁹ Njengoba sifundile eSahlukweni 20, iBhayibhili lithi ukuthobeka lobumnene kuhamba ndawonye lokuhlakanipha. UJehova uyisibonelo esihle endabeni le. Kodwa uJesu yena ke? Kuyaduduza ukwazi ukuthi lanxa uJesu wayengelasono, wayethobekile ngesikhathi elabafundi bakhe. Kodwa kazange abakhangelele phansi abafundi bakhe. Kazange afune ukubenza bazizwe bengelancedo. Wayekwazi ukuthi kulezinto ababengenelisi ukuzenza futhi wayebabekezelela nxa besenza amaphutha. (UMakho 14:34-38; UJohane 16:12) Ngitsho labantwana babekhululeka nxa beloJesu ngoba babenanzelela ukuthi ‘umnene futhi uthobekile enhliziyweni.’—UMathewu 11:29; UMakho 10:13-16.

20. UJesu watshengisa njani ukuthi uyazwisisa endleleni aphatha ngayo owesifazana owayengasomJuda?

²⁰ UJesu watshengisa langeyinye indlela ukuthi uthobekile njengoNkulunkulu. Wayesiba lesihawu ebantwini. Ngokwesibonelo, khumbula isikhathi lapho owesifazana owayengasomJuda ecela ukuthi uJesu elaphe indodakazi yakhe eyayiledimoni. UJesu waqala wathula wangamphenduli owesifazana lo kodwa yena waqhubeka elokhu emcela, uJesu wasemtshela ukuthi wayengalandanga abantu abangasomaJuda. Ngemva kwalokho wamlandisela umzekeliso owawuveza umcijo ofananayo. Kodwa owesifazana lo waqhubeka emncenga etshengisa ukuthi ulokholo kuJesu. UJesu wenzani? Wayisilisa indodakazi yowesifazana lo. (UMathewu 15:21-28) UJesu wayethobekile sibili. Khumbula futhi ukuthi ukuthobeka kuhamba ndawonye lenhlakanipho yeqiniso.

21. Kungani kumele sizimisele ukulingisela uJesu?

²¹ AmaVangeli amane ayasinceda kakhulu ngoba asitshengisa lokho okwakhulunywa futhi kwenziwa yindoda ehlakaniphileyo eyake yaphila! Khumbula ukuthi uJesu wayetshengisa kuhle lokho uYise ayikho. Nxa singalingisela lokho uJesu ayekukhuluma layekwenza, siyabe silwela ukuhlala silenhlakanipho evela phezulu. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, sizabona ukuthi singenza njani ukuze inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu isebenze ekuphileni kwethu.

1-3. (a) Yakhanya njani inhlakanipho kaSolomoni endleleni alungisa ngayo indaba eyayiphathelane lokuthi ngubani owayengunina womntwana? (b) UJehova uthembisa ukusinikani futhi yiphi imibuzo ebakhona?

KWAKUYINDABA enzima, abesifazana ababili babephikisana ngomntwana. Abesifazana laba babehlala bonke futhi babebelethe abantwana abangabafana ababetshiyene ngamalanga nje. Omunye wabantwana labo wafa, abesifazana laba basebeqalisa ukubangisana umntwana ophilayo.a Akula omunye umuntu owayebonile okwakwenzakele. Kungenzakala ukuthi indaba le yayike yahanjiswa emthethwandaba kodwa yehlula. Ekucineni yahanjiswa kuSolomoni inkosi yako-Israyeli. Wayezakwenelisa yini ukuvumbulula iqiniso ngendaba leyo?

² Ngemva kokulalela abesifazana laba bephikisana, uSolomoni wathi kulethwe inkemba wasesithi umntwana ophilayo aqunywe phakathi abesephiwa abesifazana bobabili. Kodwa unina womntwana ophilayo wacela enkosini ukuthi umntwana aphiwe unina womntwana ofileyo ngoba umntwana lo wayeligugu kuye. Unina womntwana ofileyo yena wayelokhu esithi umntwana ophilayo kaqunywe phakathi. Lokhu kwenza uSolomoni walivumbulula iqiniso. Wayekwazi ukuthi umama ulozwelo ngomntanakhe amzalayo, futhi wasebenzisa ulwazi lolo ukuthi alungise indaba le. Cabanga ukuthi unina womntwana wathaba njani lapho uSolomoni emqhubela umntanakhe esithi: “Nguye unina.”—1 AmaKhosi 3:16-27.

³ Le kwakuyinhlakanipho enkulu sibili! Lapho abantu besizwa ukuthi uSolomoni wayeyilungise njani indaba leyo bamangala kakhulu ngoba ‘bananzelela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemnike ukuhlakanipha.’ UJehova wayemnike “inhliziyo elokuhlakanipha futhi ezwisisayo.” (1 AmaKhosi 3:12, 28) Kodwa thina-ke? Singayithola yini inhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu? Ye singayithola ngoba uSolomoni waphefumulelwa ukuthi athi: “UJehova nguye onika ukuhlakanipha.” (IZaga 2:6) UJehova uthembisa ukubanika inhlakanipho labo abamdinga ngobuqotho. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi uyabancedisa ukuthi benelise ukusebenzisa kuhle ulwazi, ukuzwisisa kanye lokuqedisisa. Kodwa singakuthola njani ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu? Singakusebenzisa njani ekuphileni kwethu?

“Zuza Ukuhlakanipha”—Njani?

4-7. Yiziphi izinto ezine okumele sizenze ukuze sizuze ukuhlakanipha?

⁴ Kumele sibe ngabakhaliphe kakhulu kumbe abafunde kakhulu yini ukuze sithole ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu? Hatshi. UJehova uzimisele ukusipha inhlakanipho yakhe kungelani lokuthi sakhula njani lokuthi sifundile yini. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 1:26-29) Kodwa kumele senze okuthile ngoba iBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sizuze ukuhlakanipha.’ (IZaga 4:7) Singakwenza njani lokho?

⁵ Okokuqala yikuthi kumele sesabe uNkulunkulu. UZaga 9:10 uthi: “Ukwesaba uJehova yikuqala kokuhlakanipha [“inyathelo lokuqala lokuba lenhlakanipho,” The New English Bible]. Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kuyisisekelo sokuhlakanipha kweqiniso. Ngenxa yani? Khumbula ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kugoqela ukwenelisa ukusebenzisa kuhle ulwazi. Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu khona kutsho ukumhlonipha lokumthemba hatshi ukutshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe. Ukwesaba okunjalo kuyasinceda ngoba kwenza sizimisele ukwenza okulungileyo. Kwenza siphile ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu njalo silandele izimiso.

⁶ Okwesibili yikuthi kumele sithobeke. Inhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu kayingeke ibekhona kungelakuthobeka. (IZaga 11:2) Kungani kunjalo? Nxa sithobekile siyabe sizimisele ukuvuma ukuthi kasikwazi konke lokuthi imibono yethu kayihlali iqondile. Kanti njalo nxa sithobekile kumele sicabange njengoJehova. UJehova “umelana labaziphakamisayo,” kodwa abathobekileyo ubanika ukuhlakanipha.—UJakhobe 4:6.

⁷ Okwesithathu okuqakathekileyo yikufunda iLizwi likaNkulunkulu elilenhlakanipho. Kumele sijule kulo nxa sifuna ukuthola inhlakanipho le. (IZaga 2:1-5) Okwesine okumele sikwenze yikuthandaza. Nxa singacela inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu ngobuqotho, uzasinika ngesihle. (UJakhobe 1:5) Kasoze ayekele ukuphendula imithandazo yethu nxa simcela ukuthi asincedise ngomoya wakhe. Umoya ongcwele uzasenza senelise ukuthola amagugu aseLizwini lakhe angasinceda ukuthi silwisane lenhlupho, sibalekele izingozi, futhi senze izinqumo ezitshengisa ukuthi silokuhlakanipha.—ULukha 11:13.

8. Kukhanya njani ukuthi silokuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu?

⁸ Ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuJehova kumele kukhanye ngezenzo njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 17. Ngakho nxa singazuza ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu, kuzakhanya endleleni esiziphatha ngayo. Umfundi uJakhobe wakhuluma ngezithelo zokuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu wathi: “Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu, okokuqala kumsulwa, besekusiba lokuthula kuyazwisisa, kuzimisele ukulalela, kugcwele isihawu lezithelo ezinhle, akubandlululi futhi akuzenzisi.” (UJakhobe 3:17) Nxa sifunda ngezimpawu zenhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu kumele sizibuze, ‘Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu kuyasebenza yini empilweni yami?’

“Kumsulwa, Besekusiba Lokuthula”

9. Kutshoni ukuba msulwa futhi kungani kuqanjwa kuqala?

⁹ “Okokuqala kumsulwa.” Ukuba msulwa kutsho ukungangcoli phandle laphakathi. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi inhlakanipho lenhliziyo kusebenza ndawonye. Kodwa inhlakanipho evela phezulu ngeke ingene enhliziyweni engcoliswe yimicabango emibi, izifiso ezimbi kanye lenhloso ezimbi. (IZaga 2:10; UMathewu 15:19, 20) Nxa inhliziyo zethu zihlambulukile ‘sizabalekela okubi senze okuhle.’ (IHubo 37:27; IZaga 3:7) Ukuhlambuluka kumele kube yiso sibili isithelo senhlakanipho evela phezulu esiqanjwa kuqala. Phela nxa singahlanzekanga ekuziphatheni lasekukhonzeni, kungaba nzima ukuthi sitshengise ezinye impawu zenhlakanipho evela phezulu.

10, 11. (a) Kungani kuqakathekile ukwenza ukuthi kube lokuthula? (b) Ungatshengisa njani ukuthi uyakuthanda ukuthula nxa ubona angani ucaphule omunye? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁰ “Besekusiba lokuthula.” Nxa silenhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu sizalwela ukuthi kube lokuthula ngoba kuyisithelo somoya kaNkulunkulu. (KwabaseGalathiya 5:22) Siyazama ukungaphambanisi ‘ukuthula’ okusebantwini bakaJehova. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:3) Kanti njalo siyazama lokulungisa izingxabano nxa sezithe zavela. Kungani lokhu kuqakathekile? IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Qhubekani lihlalisana ngokuthula. Lingenza njalo uNkulunkulu wothando lokuthula uzakuba lani.’ (2 KwabaseKhorinte 13:11) Ngakho nxa siphatha kuhle abafowethu labodadewethu sizahlala singabangane bakaJehova. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi singabantu abathanda ukuthula? Cabanga ngesibonelo esilandelayo.

¹¹ Kumele wenzeni ungabona angani ucaphule okhonza laye? UJesu wathi: “Ngakho nxa uzonikela ngesipho sakho e-alithareni, uthi usulapho ubusukhumbula ukuthi umfowenu ukucaphukele, tshiya isipho sakho khonapho phambi kwe-alithare uhambe. Qala uyekwenza ukuthi kube lokuthula phakathi kwakho lomfowenu, ubusuphenduka uzonikela ngesipho sakho.” (UMathewu 5:23, 24) Ungasebenzisa iseluleko lesi ngokuba ngowokuqala ukuthatha inyathelo lokuya kumfowenu. Kumele uhambe ulenhloso ‘yokuyakwenza ukuthi kube lokuthula.’b Lokhu kungadinga ukuthi uvume ukuthi umzwise ubuhlungu. Nxa ungaya kuye ulenhloso yokuyakwenza ukuthi kube lokuthula, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi loba yikuphi ukungazwanani okukhona kuzaphela beselixoxelana. Nxa ungaqalisa wena ukwenza ukuthula uyabe utshengisa ukuthi uqondiswa yinhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu.

“Kuyazwisisa, Kuzimisele Ukulalela”

12, 13. (a) Litshoni ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukuzwisisa” elikuJakhobe 3:17? (b) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi singabantu abazwisisayo?

¹² “Kuyazwisisa.” Kutshoni ukuzwisisa? Ngokwalokho okutshiwo ngabahlola iBhayibhili, ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukuzwisisa” kuJakhobe 3:17 linzima ukulihumutsha. Abahumutshi basebenzisa amabala anjengokuthi “uzwelo,” “ukubekezela,” ‘lokukhathalela.’ Umqondo oyiwo webala leli lesiGrikhi ngothi “ukuvuma ukutshintsha.” Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silaso isithelo lesi senhlakanipho evela phezulu?

¹³ UFiliphi 4:5 uthi: “Kakwaziwe ngabantu bonke ukuthi lina lingabantu abazwisisayo.” Enye inguqulo yeBhayibhili ithi: “Yaziwa njengomuntu ozwisisayo.” (The New Testament in Modern English, eyabhalwa nguJ. B. Phillips) Ivesi le itshengisa ukuthi okuqakathekileyo ayisikho kuzibona singabantu abazwisisayo kodwa kumele saziwe ngabanye ukuthi siyazwisisa. Umuntu ozwisisayo kawomeleli emthethweni othile kumbe embonweni wakhe. Kodwa uzimisele ukulalela abanye lokutshintsha ahambisane lalokho abakufisayo. Kaphathi abanye ngendlela elolunya kodwa ubaphatha ngozwelo. Lanxa kuqakathekile ukuthi wonke amaKhristu abe njalo, abadala kumele babe yisibonelo endabeni yokuzwisisa. Nxa abadala belozwelo futhi bezwisisa, kuba lula ukuthi bangeneke. (1 KwabaseThesalonika 2:7, 8) Ngakho ngamunye wethu kumele azibuze, ‘Ngaziwa njengomuntu ozwisisayo yini kumbe ozimisele ukutshintsha?’

14. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi ‘sizimisele ukulalela’?

¹⁴ “Kuzimisele ukulalela.” Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “kuzimisele ukulalela” litholakala endaweni eyodwa kuphela eMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi. Omunye ohlola iBhayibhili wathi ibala leli “lijayele ukusebenza nxa kufundiswa amasotsha.” Lilomqondo “wokufundiseka lula” “lowokuzithoba.” Ngakho umuntu oqondiswa yinhlakanipho evela phezulu uyazithoba alandele okutshiwo yiMibhalo. Kaziwa njengomuntu owomelela kulokho asekukhethile, engamukeli imibono yabanye. Kodwa uyaphangisa ukutshintsha nxa angatshengiswa iMibhalo emenza abone ukuthi uthethe inyathelo elingayisilo. Waziwa njalo yini lawe?

“Kugcwele Isihawu Lezithelo Ezinhle”

15. Siyini isihawu njalo kungani kuqondile ukuthi “isihawu lezithelo ezinhle” kuqanjwe ndawonye kuJakhobe 3:17?

¹⁵ “Kugcwele isihawu lezithelo ezinhle.”c Isihawu siyingxenye eqakathekileyo yenhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu ngoba inhlakanipho ‘igcwele isihawu.’ Nanzelela ukuthi “isihawu lezithelo ezinhle” kuqanjwe ndawonye. Lokhu kuqondile ngoba ibala elithi isihawu eBhayibhilini lijayele ukusetshenziswa nxa kukhulunywa ngomuntu olendaba labanye futhi olomusa. Elinye ibhuku lithi umuntu olesihawu “uyadana nxa ebona omunye umuntu ephakathi kobunzima futhi uyazama ukwenza okuthile ngakho.” Ngakho umuntu olenhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu kalasihluku kodwa ulomusa lozwelo njalo ulendaba lemizwa yabanye. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi sigcwele isihawu?

16, 17. (a) Ngaphandle kokuthanda uNkulunkulu, kuyini okunye okwenza sitshumayele njalo kungani? (b) Yiziphi izindlela esingatshengisa ngazo ukuthi sigcwele isihawu?

¹⁶ Enye indlela esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi silesihawu yikutshela abanye izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kuyini okwenza senze umsebenzi lo? Isizatho esikhulu yikuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu. Esinye isizatho yikuthi siyabathanda abantu futhi siyabazwela isihawu. (UMathewu 22:37-39) Abantu abanengi lamuhla ‘bahlukuluzekile futhi balahlelwe iganga njengezimvu ezingelamelusi.’ (UMathewu 9:36) Balahliwe ezindabeni zokukhonza njalo bavalwe amehlo ngabakhokheli benkolo yamanga. Ngenxa yalokho kabakwazi lutho ngenhlakanipho eseLizwini likaNkulunkulu kumbe ngezithembiso ezimayelana loMbuso ozaletha izibusiso ebantwini. Ukwazi lokhu kumele kusenze sizame ngamandla wonke ukubatshela ngoJehova langalokho akuhlosileyo.

¹⁷ Yiziphi ezinye indlela esingatshengisa ngazo ukuthi sigcwele isihawu? Khumbula umzekeliso kaJesu womSamariya owathola isihambi sithe daca eceleni komgwaqo, sitshontshelwe njalo sitshayiwe. UmSamariya lo ‘waba lesihawu’ wabopha amanxeba esihambi lesi njalo wasinakekela. (ULukha 10:29-37) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuba lesihawu kugoqela ukunceda abanye. IBhayibhili lithi “kasenzeni okuhle kubo bonke, kodwa ikakhulu kulabo abangabemuli yethu yabakholwayo.” (KwabaseGalathiya 6:10) Cabanga ngokunye esingakwenza. Kungabe kulothile esikhonza laye odinga ukuhanjiswa emihlanganweni yebandla lokubiselwa emzini wakhe. Umfelokazi osebandleni angadinga uncedo lokulungiselwa izinto ezithile emzini wakhe. (UJakhobe 1:27) Umuntu odanileyo angadinga “ilizwi elihle” ukuze limkhuthaze. (IZaga 12:25) Nxa sitshengisa isihawu ngezindlela ezinjalo, sinika ubufakazi bokuthi inhlakanipho evela phezulu iyasebenza kithi.

“Akubandlululi Futhi Akuzenzisi”

18. Nxa siqondiswa yikuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu, kuyini okumele sikwenze njalo kungani?

¹⁸ “Akubandlululi.” Ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu akubandlululi bantu kusiya ngokuthi bangumhlobo bani lokuthi bavela kuliphi ilizwe. Nxa siqondiswa yikuhlakanipha okunjalo, sizazama ukukhipha loba yikuphi ukubandlulula esingabe silakho enhliziyweni zethu. (UJakhobe 2:9) Akumelanga siqakathekise abantu ngenxa yemfundo abalayo, imali yabo kumbe umsebenzi abawenzayo. Kanti njalo akufanelanga sikhangelele abanye phansi kungelani lokuthi bangabayanga yini loba hatshi. Nxa uJehova ebone kufanele ukuthi abathande abantu abanjalo, lathi kumele sibathande.

19, 20. (a) Lavela ngaphi ibala lesiGrikhi elahunyutshwa ngokuthi “akuzenzisi”? (b) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu njalo kungani lokhu kuqakathekile?

¹⁹ “Akuzenzisi.” Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “akuzenzisi” lingatsho “umlingiswa odlala indima ethile.” Ngezikhathi zakudala, abalingiswa besiGrikhi labeRoma babegqoka okokuzivala ubuso nxa besesitejini. Ngakho ibala lesiGrikhi elahunyutshwa ngokuthi “akuzenzisi” lacina selisitsho umuntu otshintsha lokho ayikho. Nxa silesithelo lesi senhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu kuzaba lula ukuthi sibathande ngenhliziyo yonke abanye hatshi ukubavala amehlo.

²⁰ Umphostoli uPhetro wananzelela ukuthi nxa ‘silalela iqiniso’ sizakuba “lothando lobuzalwane olungelakuzenzisa.” (1 UPhetro 1:22) Ukuthanda kwethu abafowethu akumelanga kube ngokokufuna ukubukwa. Kasikhohlisi abanye ngokufihla lokho esiyikho. Ukubathanda kwethu kumele kube qotho, kuvele enhliziyweni. Nxa singenza njalo sizakwenza ukuthi esikholwa labo basithembe ngoba bazakwazi ukuthi siyilokho ababona siyikho. Ubuqotho obunjalo benza kube lobudlelwano obuhle phakathi kwamaKhristu njalo bunceda lokuthi kube lokuthembana ebandleni.

“Gcina Ukuhlakanipha Okuncedayo”

21, 22. (a) USolomoni wehluleka njani ukugcina inhlakanipho? (b) Singayigcina njani inhlakanipho futhi ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda njani?

²¹ Inhlakanipho evela phezulu iyisipho esivela kuJehova okumele sisigcine kuhle. USolomoni wathi: “Ndodana yami, . . . gcina ukuhlakanipha okuncedayo, uhlale usebenzisa kuhle ingqondo.” (IZaga 3:21) Kuyadanisa ukuthi uSolomoni ngokwakhe wehluleka ukukwenza lokho. Ngesikhathi eseselenhliziyo elalelayo wayelenhlakanipho. Kodwa ekucineni, abafazi bakhe ababengabezinye izizwe baphendula inhliziyo yakhe wacina engasakhonzi uJehova. (1 AmaKhosi 11:1-8) Impumela eyabakhona kuSolomoni itshengisa ukuthi ulwazi alusincedi ngalutho nxa singalusebenzisi kuhle.

²² Singakugcina njani ukuhlakanipha okuncedayo? Kumele sibale iBhayibhili nsuku zonke kanye lamabhuku esiwanikwa ‘yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ besesizimisela lokusebenzisa lokho esikufundayo. (UMathewu 24:45) Silezizatho ezinhle ezenza siyisebenzise inhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu. Singenza njalo sizakuba lempilo engcono kakhulu khathesi. Sizakwenelisa ‘lokubambisisa ukuphila koqobo,’ okutsho ukuphila emhlabeni omutsha esiwuthenjiswa nguNkulunkulu. (1 KuThimothi 6:19) Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi nxa singazimisela ukuba lenhlakanipho evela phezulu sizasondela eduze komthombo wenhlakanipho, uJehova uNkulunkulu.