Amabhuku Asetshenziswe Kugwalo Lwempilo Lenkonzo YamaKhristu
SEPTEMBER 2-8
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU KUMAHEBHERU 7-8
“Ungumphristi Kuze Kube Nini Lanini Ngendlela KaMelikhizedekhi”
(KumaHebheru 7:1, 2) UMelikhizedekhi lo owayeyinkosi yaseSalema futhi engumphristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, wahlangabeza u-Abrahama evela nqoba amakhosi, wasembusisa. 2 U-Abrahama wamnika okwetshumi kwakho konke. Okokuqala, ibizo lakhe lihunyutshwa ngokuthi “iNkosi Yokulunga,” njalo uyinkosi yaseSalema, okutsho ukuthi, “iNkosi Yokuthula.”
it-2-E 366
UMelikhizedekhi
UMelikhizedekhi wayeyinkosi yaseSalema futhi ‘engumphristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke.’ (Gen 14:18, 22) Waba ngumphristi kungakafiki umnyaka ka-1933 B.C.E. njalo nguye umphristi wokuqala okukhulunywa ngaye eBhayibhilini. Ibizo elithi Salema litsho “Ukuthula,” yikho kungenzakala ukuthi umphostoli uPhawuli wathi uMelikhizedekhi ‘uyiNkosi Yokuthula’ ngenxa yaleso sizatho. Ibizo elithi Melikhizedekhi lihunyutshwa ngokuthi “iNkosi Yokulunga.” (Heb 7:1, 2) ISalema yayisenkabeni yedolobho elacina liyiJerusalema. Idolobho leli ngezinye izikhathi libizwa kuthiwa ‘yiSalema’ njalo ibizo elithi Salema likhona ebizweni elithi Jerusalema.—Hu 76:2.
Ngemva kokuba u-Abhrama (u-Abrahama) enqobe inkosi uKhedorilawome lamakhosi ayemanyane layo, waya eSigodini saseShave kumbe “iSigodi seNkosi.” Kulapho uMelikhizedekhi amphathela khona “isinkwa lewayini” futhi wambusisa esithi: “Ubusisiwe u-Abhrama nguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uMdali wezulu lomhlaba njalo kadunyiswe uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, owanikela izitha zakho esandleni sakho.” U-Abrahama wanika indoda le eyayingumphristi lenkosi “ingxenye eyodwa yetshumi yakho konke” okwakuvela “ezintweni ezinhle kakhulu ayezithole empini.”—Gen 14:17-20; Heb 7:4.
(KumaHebheru 7:3) Wayengelababa, engelamama njalo usendo lwakhe kalwaziwa kanye lelanga azalwa ngalo lalelo afa ngalo. Kodwa wenziwa waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, yikho engumphristi kuze kube nini lanini.
it-2-E 367 ¶4
UMelikhizedekhi
Kungani kuthiwa ilanga uMelikhizedekhi ‘azalwa ngalo lalelo afa ngalo kalaziwa’?
UPhawuli wakhuluma into emangalisayo ngoMelikhizedekhi lapho esithi: “Wayengelababa, engelamama njalo usendo lwakhe kalwaziwa kanye lelanga azalwa ngalo lalelo afa ngalo. Kodwa wenziwa waba njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu, yikho engumphristi kuze kube nini lanini.” (Heb 7:3) UMelikhizedekhi wayefanana labantu bonke nje ngoba wazalwa futhi wafa. Kodwa iBhayibhili kalisitsheli amabizo abazali bakhe njalo usendo lwakhe kalwaziwa futhi kalitsho ukuthi wazalwa nini lokuthi wafa nini. Lokhu yikho okwenza uMelikhizedekhi amele uJesu ongumphristi kuze kube nini lanini. Akulamuntu owayetshiyele uMelikhizedekhi isikhundla lesi futhi akula owaba lesikhundla esifanana lesakhe. UKhristu laye unjalo, akulamphristi onjengaye futhi akusoze kwaba lomunye ngemva kwakhe. Okunye yikuthi lanxa uJesu wazalelwa esizweni sakoJuda futhi engowosendo lwenkosi uDavida, isizwana azalelwa kuso ayisiso esamenza waba ngumphristi njalo usendo lwakhe ayisilo olwamenza waba yinkosi lomphristi. Lokhu wakuthola ngenxa yesifungo uJehova asenza kuye.
(KumaHebheru 7:17) Ngoba kwafakazwa ngaye kwathiwa: “Wena ungumphristi kuze kube nini lanini ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.”
it-2-E 366
UMelikhizedekhi
Ubuphristi BukaKhristu Bufaniswa LobukaMelikhizedeki. Isiphrofetho esimayelana loMesiya esikuHubo 110:1, 4 sisitshela ngesifungo uJehova asenza eNkosini kaDavida. Sithi: “Ungumphristi laphakade ezinyathelweni zikaMelikhezedekhi.” Ihubo leli lanceda amaHebheru abona ukuthi uMesiya wayezakuba ngumphristi lenkosi. Ngesikhathi umphostoli uPhawuli ebhalela amaHebheru incwadi le, wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi sagcwaliseka kuJesu ngoba “ubekwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi abe ngumphristi omkhulu ngendlela kaMelikhizedekhi.”—Heb 6:20; 5:10.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(KumaHebheru 8:3) Loba nguphi umphristi omkhulu ubekwa ukuthi anikele ngezipho lemihlatshelo. Ngakho kwakumele ukuthi laye abe lakho anganikela ngakho.
w00-ZU 8/15 14 ¶11
Imihlatshelo Eyajabulisa UNkulunkulu
11 Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Wonke umpristi ophakeme umiselwa ukuba anikele kokubili izipho nemihlatshelo.” (Heberu 8:3) Phawula ukuthi uPawulu uyihlukanisa izigaba ezimbili iminikelo eyayenziwa umpristi ophakeme wakwa-Israyeli wasendulo, okungukuthi, “izipho,” “nemihlatshelo,” noma ‘imihlatshelo yezono.’ (Heberu 5:1) Abantu ngokuvamile baphana izipho ukuze babonise uthando nokwazisa, futhi bahlakulele ubungane, ukuthanda noma ukwamukelwa. (Genesise 32:20; IzAga 18:16) Ngokufanayo, iminikelo eminingi eyayishiwo uMthetho ingabhekwa ‘njengezipho’ kuNkulunkulu zokufuna ukwamukelwa nomusa wakhe. Ukwephulwa koMthetho kwakudinga ukuhlawulelwa, futhi ukuze kubuyiswane, kwakunikelwa ‘ngemihlatshelo yezono.’ IPentateuch, ikakhulu izincwadi zika-Eksodusi, uLevitikusi, noNumeri zinikeza ukwaziswa okuningi mayelana nezinhlobonhlobo zemihlatshelo neminikelo. Nakuba kungase kube yinselele ngempela ukuba siqonde futhi sikhumbule yonke imininingwane, kunamaphuzu ayisihluthulelo ngokuphathelene nezinhlobonhlobo zemihlatshelo okudingeka siwahlole.
(KumaHebheru 8:13) Nxa esithi “isivumelwano esitsha,” wenze esakuqala sangasebenzi. Sekuseduze ukuthi okungasasebenziyo lokugugileyo kunyamalale.
it-1-E 523 ¶5
Isivumelwano
Kuyini okwenza isivumelwano soMthetho sama ‘ukusebenza’?
UJehova watshela umphrofethi wakhe uJeremiya ukuthi wayezakwenza isivumelwano esitsha futhi lokhu kwakusitsho ukuthi isivumelwano soMthetho sasizakuma ukusebenza. (Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:13) Umhlatshelo kaJesu wenza isivumelwano soMthetho sama ukusebenza ngo-33 C.E. (Kol 2:14) Kusukela ngalowo mnyaka kwaqalisa ukusebenza isivumelwano esitsha esikhundleni sesivumelwano soMthetho.—Heb 7:12; 9:15; ImiS 2:1-4.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
SEPTEMBER 9-15
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU KUMAHEBHERU 9-10
“Uyisithunzi Sezinto Ezinhle Ezizayo”
(KumaHebheru 9:12-14) Wangena endaweni engcwele kwaba kanye kuphela, njalo wayelegazi lakhe hatshi igazi lezimbuzi lelamajongosi, wasitholela ukukhululwa kuze kube nini lanini. 13 Nxa igazi lezimbuzi lelezinkunzi kanye lomlotha wethokazi ofafazwa phezu kwalabo abangcolisiweyo kusenza inyama ibe ngcwele ihlambuluke, 14 ngeke yini igazi likaKhristu, owazinikela kuNkulunkulu ngomoya waphakade engelasici, liyihlambulule kakhulu imizwangedwa yethu emisebenzini efileyo ukuze sinikele inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo?
it-1-E 862 ¶1
Ukuthethelela
UNkulunkulu wayenike ama-Israyeli umthetho owawusithi nxa umuntu angenza isono kuNkulunkulu kumbe onele omunye, kwakumele aqale alungise lokho ayekuphambanisile. Izikhathi ezinengi kwakumele enze umnikelo wesono kuJehova. (Lev 5:5–6:7) Yikho uPhawuli wathi: “EMthethweni, phose zonke izinto zihlanjululwa ngegazi njalo ngaphandle kokuthi kuthululwe igazi, ngeke kube lokuthethelelwa.” (Heb 9:22) Igazi lezinyamazana lalingasusi izono futhi lalingayihlambululi ngokupheleleyo imizwangedwa. (Heb 10:1-4; 9:9, 13, 14) Kodwa isivumelwano esitsha senza izono zathethelelwa ngokupheleleyo kusetshenziswa umhlatshelo kaJesu Khristu. (Jer 31:33, 34; Mat 26:28; 1Kr 11:25; Efe 1:7) Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni watshengisa ukuthi ulamandla okuthethelela izono ngokusilisa indoda eyayome umhlubulo.—Mat 9:2-7.
(KumaHebheru 9:24-26) Phela uKhristu kangenanga endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso wendawo yoqobo, kodwa wangena ezulwini sibili ukuze khathesi abonakale phambi kukaNkulunkulu emele thina. 25 Lokhu kakwenzelanga ukuthi azinikele kanengi, njengalapho umphristi omkhulu engena endaweni engcwele umnyaka ngomnyaka elegazi elingasilakhe. 26 Aluba bekunjalo, bekuzamele ahlupheke kanengi kusukela ekusungulweni komhlaba. Kodwa khathesi usezibonakalise kwaba kanye kuphela esiphethweni somumo lo wezinto ukuze asuse isono ngomhlatshelo wakhe.
cf-ZU 183 ¶4
“Qhubeka Ungilandela”
4 ImiBhalo ayisho lutho ngokufika kukaJesu ezulwini, indlela amukelwa ngayo, nokuhlangana kwakhe okujabulisayo noYise. Kepha yakwembula kusengaphambili ukuthi kwakuyokwenzekani ezulwini ngemva nje kokufika kukaJesu khona. Uzokhumbula ukuthi kwase kuyiminyaka eyevile emakhulwini angu-15 amaJuda ewubona njalo umkhosi ongcwele. Kanye ngonyaka umpristi ophakeme wayengena eNgcwelengcwele yethempeli ayofafaza igazi lemihlatshelo yoSuku Lokubuyisana phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano. Ngalolo suku, umpristi ophakeme wayefanekisela uMesiya. UJesu wagcwalisa incazelo engokwesiprofetho yalowo mkhosi kwaba kanye kuphela ngemva kokubuyela ezulwini. Wafika kuJehova okhazimulayo ezulwini—indawo engcwele kunazo zonke ezulwini nasemhlabeni—wethula kuYise inani lomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo. (Hebheru 9:11, 12, 24) Ingabe uJehova walamukela?
(KumaHebheru 10:1-4) Njengoba uMthetho uyisithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo, lanxa wona ungasizinto lezo sibisibili, abantu abasondela kuNkulunkulu ngeke ubenze baphelele ngemihlatshelo efananayo eqhubeka inikelwa umnyaka ngomnyaka. 2 Aluba wawusenelisa ukubenza baphelele, ukunikelwa kwemihlatshelo kwakungasoze kuphele yini? Phela imizwangedwa yalabo abenza inkonzo engcwele yayingasoze iphinde ibathonisele izono nxa sebehlanjululiwe. 3 Kodwa imihlatshelo le iyisikhumbuzo sezono umnyaka ngomnyaka 4 ngoba ngeke kwenzakale ukuthi igazi lezinkunzi lelezimbuzi lisuse izono.
it-2-E 602-603
Ukuphelela
Ukuphelela Okukhulunywa Ngakho EMthethweni KaMosi. Emithethweni uJehova ayinika ama-Israyeli kwakuleminye eyayikhuluma ngokusungulwa kobuphristi lokunikela ngezinyamazana. Lanxa uMthetho lo wawuvela kuNkulunkulu futhi uphelele, umphostoli uPhawuli watshengisa ukuthi wona (uMthetho), imihlatshelo kanye labaphristi akuzange kwenze ama-Israyeli aphelela. (Heb 7:11, 19; 10:1) UMthetho kawuzange ukhulule abantu esonweni kodwa wenza isono saba sobala. (Rom 3:20; 7:7-13) Lanxa kunjalo uMthetho, ubuphristi, lokunikela ngezinyamazana kwafeza lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile; uMthetho waba “ngumgcini” okhokhela abantu ubasa kuKhristu futhi ‘wawuyisithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo.’ (Gal 3:19-25; Heb 10:1) Yikho nxa uPhawuli ekhuluma ngalokho “uMthetho owawungenelisi ukukwenza ngenxa yobuthakathaka benyama” (Rom 8:3), wayekhuluma ngokuthi abaphristi abangamaJuda (ababekhethwe kusetshenziswa uMthetho ukuthi bakhangele ngokunikelwa kwemihlatshelo futhi ababengena endaweni eNgcwele Ngcwele ngeLanga Lokubuyisana belegazi lemihlatshelo) babengenelisi “ukusindisa ngokupheleleyo” labo ababezonikela ngezinyamazana njengoba kuchasiswa kumaHebheru 7:11, 18-28. Lanxa imihlatshelo eyayisenziwa ngabaphristi yayinceda abantu ukuthi basondele kuNkulunkulu, ayizange isuse isono. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngakho lokhu ngesikhathi esithi imihlatshelo yokuthethelelwa kwezono ngeke yenze imizwangedwa yalabo abanikelayo ‘iphelele.’ (Heb 10:1-4; qathanisa loHeb 9:9.) Umphristi omkhulu wayengenelisi ukubhadala umhlatshelo owawudingakala ukuze izono zithethelelwe ngokupheleleyo. Kodwa umhlatshelo wezono owanikelwa nguKhristu yiwo kuphela owenza ukuthi izono zithethelelwe ngokupheleleyo.—Heb 9:14; 10:12-22.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(KumaHebheru 9:16, 17) Phela lapho okulesivumelwano khona, kumele kube lokufa kwalowo owenza lesosivumelwano 17 ngoba isivumelwano sisebenza nxa kungafa umuntu, njengoba singasebenzi nxa owenza isivumelwano leso esaphila.
w92-ZU 3/1 31 ¶4-6
Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
UPawulu waphawula ukuthi kwakudingeka kufe othile ukuze izivumelwano ezenziwa phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu zisebenze. Isivumelwano soMthetho siyisibonelo salokhu. UMose wayengumlamuleli waso, owayezokwenza lesivumelwano phakathi kukaNkulunkulu noIsrayeli wenyama sisebenze. Ngaleyondlela uMose wafeza indima ebalulekile futhi wayengumuntu owasebenzelana namaIsrayeli lapho engena esivumelwaneni. Ngakho uMose wayengabhekwa njengomenzi wesivumelwano ongumuntu walesivumelwano soMthetho esasungulwa nguJehova. Kodwa ingabe kwadingeka uMose achithe igazi lakhe lokuphila ukuze isivumelwano soMthetho sisebenze? Cha. Kunalokho kwakwenziwa iminikelo yezilwane, igazi lazo lithatha indawo yegazi likaMose.—Heberu 9:18-22.
Kuthiwani ngesivumelwano esisha esiphakathi kukaJehova nesizwe sikaIsrayeli ongokomoya? UJesu Kristu wayenendima ekhazimulayo yokuba ngumxhumanisi, uMlamuleli phakathi kukaJehova noIsrayeli ongokomoya. Nakuba kunguJehova owasungula lesivumelwano, sasigxile kuJesu Kristu. Ngaphandle kokuba nguMlamuleli waso, uJesu wasebenzelana ngokuqondile ngokwenyama nalabo ababezoba ngabokuqala ukungena kulesivumelwano. (Luka 22:20, 28, 29) Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayekufanelekela ukulungiselela umhlatshelo owawudingeka ukuze lesosivumelwano sisebenze. Lomhlatshelo wawungewona owezilwane nje kodwa wawungowokuphila okuphelele kobuntu. Ngakho uPawulu wayengabhekisela kuKristu njengomenzi wesivumelwano esisha ongumuntu. Ngemva kokuba ‘uKristu engene ezulwini uqobo ukuba abonakale ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yethu,’ isivumelwano esisha saqala ukusebenza.—Heberu 9:12-14, 24.
Lapho ekhuluma ngoMose noJesu njengabenzi bezivumelwano abangabantu, uPawulu wayengasikiseli ukuthi ngamunye wabo wayesungule isivumelwano sakhe, eqinisweni okwakuyizivumelwano ezazenziwe nguNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, labobantu ababili babehileleke ngokujulile njengabalamuleli ekuphumeleliseni izivumelwano ezaziqondene nabo. Futhi esimweni ngasinye, kwakudingeka kufe okuthile—izilwane esikhundleni sikaMose, nokunikela kukaJesu ngegazi lokuphila kwakhe siqu ngenxa yalabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha.
(KumaHebheru 10:5-7) Ngakho nxa esiza emhlabeni uthi: “‘Umhlatshelo lomnikelo kawukufunanga, kodwa wangilungiselela umzimba. 6 Kawuzange uyamukele iminikelo yokutshiswa egcweleyo kanye leminikelo yezono.’ 7 Ngasengisithi: ‘Khangela! Sengibuyile (kubhaliwe ngami encwadinimgoqwa) ukuthi ngizokwenza intando yakho, O Nkulunkulu.’”
it-1-E 249-250
Ukubhabhathizwa
ULukha uthi ngesikhathi uJesu ebhabhathizwa wayethandaza. (Luk 3:21) Kanti njalo uPhawuli uthi ngesikhathi uJesu “esiza emhlabeni” (okutsho ngesikhathi ebhabhathizwa futhi eqalisa inkonzo yakhe, hatshi lapho ezalwa ngoba wayengenelisi ukubala lokukhuluma) kwakungathi ukhuluma amazwi akuHubo 40:6-8 athi: “Umhlatshelo leminikelo kawukufunanga, kodwa wangilungiselela umzimba. . . . Khangela! Sengibuyile (kubhaliwe ngami encwadinimgoqwa) ukuthi ngizokwenza intando yakho, O Nkulunkulu.” (Heb 10:5-9) UJesu wayengumJuda ngokuzalwa. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi wazalelwa esizweni esasenze isivumelwano soMthetho loNkulunkulu. (Eks 19:5-8; Gal 4:4) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ngesikhathi uJesu esiya kuJohane ukuthi ambhabhathize wayevele engaphansi kwesivumelwano. Ukubhabhathizwa kwakhe kwatshengisa ukuthi wayesezinikele ukwenza “intando” kaYise ngoba wayezanikela ngomzimba wakhe ‘owawulungiselelwe’ ukuze kungaphindi futhi kwenziwe imihlatshelo yezinyamazana. Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: “Ngayo ‘intando’ le sesingcwelisiwe ngokunikelwa komzimba kaJesu Khristu kwaba kanye kuphela.” (Heb 10:10) Intando kaJehova ngoJesu yayiphathelane loMbuso futhi lesi ngesinye isizatho esenza uJesu wazinikela. (Luk 4:43; 17:20, 21) UJehova wakwamukela ukuzinikela kweNdodana yakhe njalo wamgcoba ngomoya ongcwele esithi: “Wena uyiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyakwamukela.”—Mak 1:9-11; Luk 3:21-23; Mat 3:13-17.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
SEPTEMBER 16-22
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU KUMAHEBHERU 11
“Kungani Kuqakathekile Ukuba Lokholo?”
(KumaHebheru 11:1) Ukholo yikuba leqiniso ngesikulindeleyo esithemba ukuthi kuzakwenzakala, futhi luyibufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi okungabonakaliyo kukhona sibili.
Tshengisa Ukuthi Ulokholo Ezithembisweni ZikaJehova
6 Ingcazelo yokholo itholakala kuHebheru 11:1. (Bala.) Evesini le kukhulunywa ngezinto ezimbili mayelana lokholo. Okokuqala ukukholwa “yikuba leqiniso lalokhu esikulindeleyo” okugoqela izithembiso zesikhathi esizayo kodwa ezingakenzakali khathesi njengesithembiso sokususwa kobubi emhlabeni lesokufika komhlaba omutsha. Okwesibili ‘yikuqiniseka ngalokho esingakuboniyo.’ Ibala lesiGiriki elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “kuqinisekile” litsho ukuba lobufakazi obugcweleyo ngezinto eziliqiniso kodwa esingaziboniyo. Ngokwesibonelo kasikuthandabuzi ukubakhona kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Khristu, izingilosi kanye loMbuso wasezulwini. (Heb. 11:3) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyaqiniseka ngalokho esikulindeleyo lokuthi siyazikholwa izinto esingaziboniyo okukhulunywa ngazo eLizwini likaNkulunkulu? Singakutshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo zethu futhi kokubili lokhu kuqakathekile ngoba nxa singelakho, ukholo lwethu luyabe lufile.
(KumaHebheru 11:6) Kanti njalo nxa umuntu engelakholo, kakwenzakali ukuthi amthokozise uNkulunkulu ngoba loba ngubani osondela kuNkulunkulu kumele akholwe ukuthi ukhona lokuthi uyabapha umvuzo labo abamdinga ngeqiniso.
w13-ZU 11/1 11 ¶2-5
“Umvuzi Walabo Abamfuna Ngobuqotho”
Yini edingekayo uze ujabulise uJehova? UPawulu uyabhala: “Ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa [uNkulunkulu].” Phawula ukuthi uPawulu akasho ukuthi ngaphandle kokholo kunzima ukumjabulisa uNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, uthi akwenzeki ukumjabulisa. Ngamanye amazwi, ukholo luyinto esemqoka kakhulu uma sifuna ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu.
Hlobo luni lokholo olujabulisa uJehova? Ukholo lwethu kuNkulunkulu kumelwe luhlanganise izici ezimbili. Okokuqala, ‘kumelwe sikholelwe ukuthi ukhona.’ Ezinye izinguqulo zithi “ukholelwe ukuthi ungokoqobo.” Singamjabulisa kanjani ngempela uNkulunkulu uma singabaza ukuthi ungokoqobo? Ukholo lweqiniso alugcini nje ngokukholelwa, ingani namademoni ayakholelwa ukuthi uJehova ungokoqobo. (Jakobe 2:19) Ukukholelwa kwethu ekutheni uNkulunkulu ungokoqobo kufanele kusishukumisele esenzweni, okusho ukufakazela ukholo lwethu ngokuphila ngendlela emjabulisayo.—Jakobe 2:20,26.
Okwesibili, ‘kumelwe sikholelwe ukuthi’ uNkulunkulu ‘ungumvuzi.’ Umuntu onokholo lweqiniso ukholelwa ngokugcwele ukuthi imizamo yakhe yokuphila ngendlela ejabulisa uNkulunkulu ngeke ibe yize. (1 Korinte 15:58) Singamjabulisa kanjani uJehova uma singabaza amandla noma isifiso sakhe sokusivuza? (Jakobe 1:17; 1 Petru 5:7) Umuntu ophetha ngokuthi uNkulunkulu akanandaba nathi, akanandaba nesikwenzayo futhi akaphani akamazi uNkulunkulu weBhayibheli.
Obani abavuzwa uJehova? UPawulu uthi: ‘Yilabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.’ Incwadi ethile yabahumushi beBhayibheli ithi igama lesiGreki elisho “ukufuna ngobuqotho” alisho “ukuphuma uyofuna,” kunalokho, lisikisela ukuza kuNkulunkulu ngenhloso “yokumkhulekela.” Enye incwadi ichaza ukuthi lesi senzo sesiGreki sisikisela umzamo ojulile nokuzikhandla. Yebo, uJehova uvuza labo abanokholo olubashukumisela ukuba bamkhulekele ngothando nangentshiseko ngenhliziyo yonke.—Mathewu 22:37.
(KumaHebheru 11:33-38) Ngokholo banqoba imibuso, baletha ukulunga, bemukela izithembiso, bavala imilomo yezilwane, 34 bacitsha amandla omlilo, baphunyuka ekubulaweni ngenkemba, baqiniswa ngesikhathi bebuthakathaka, baba lamandla empini njalo baxotsha amabutho ayebahlasela. 35 Abesifazana bemukela abafileyo babo sebevusiwe, kodwa abanye abantu bahlukuluzwa ngoba kabavumanga ukukhululwa ngokuhlawulelwa ukuze bathole ukuvuswa kwabafileyo okungcono kakhulu. 36 Abanye babelingwa ngokwenziwa inhlekisa langokubhaxabulwa, abanye benziwa okwedlula lapho, babotshwa ngamaketane njalo baphoselwa emajele. 37 Bakhandwa ngamatshe, balingwa, baqunywa ngamasaha, babulawa ngenkemba, bahamba begqoke izikhumba zezimvu lezezimbuzi, ngapha beswela, behlupheka, bephethwe kubi; 38 futhi umhlaba kawuzange ubafanele. Bazulazula ezinkangala, lasezintabeni, lasezimbalwini, lasemigodini yomhlaba.
Qinisa Ukholo Lwakho Kulokho Okulindeleyo
10 KumaHebheru isahluko 11 umphostoli uPhawuli ubalisa ngobunzima obutshiyeneyo obabekezelelwa yizinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezinengi ezingaqanjwanga ngamabizo. Ngokwesibonelo ulandisa ngabesifazana ababelokholo abafelwa ngamadodana abo njalo bawamukela esevusiwe. Uphinda aqambe abanye futhi abala ‘ukukhululwa ukuze bathole ukuvuka okuhle.’ (Heb. 11:35) Lanxa singeke sitsho ukuthi ngobani sibili uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngabo, bakhona abanye ababulawayo ngenxa yokulalela uNkulunkulu lokwenza intando yakhe. Abanye babo nguNabothi loZekhariya. (1 AmaKho. 21:3, 15; 2 ImiLan. 24:20, 21) UDanyeli waphoselwa emgodini wezilwane njalo abangane bakhe baphoselwa esithandweni somlilo ohangulayo. Babhejela ukufa kulokuthi bakhonze onkulunkulu bamanga. Babengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzabanika umoya wakhe ongcwele lokuthi uzabanceda ukuthi babekezelele ubunzima ababephakathi kwabo.—Heb. 11:33, 34; Dan. 3:16-18, 20, 28; 6:13, 16, 21-23.
11 Ngenxa yokholo lwabo, abanye abaphrofethi abanjengoMikhaya loJeremiya ‘bahozwa futhi bafakwa entolongweni.’ Ikanti abanye njengo-Elija “bantula enkangala lasezintabeni lasezimbalwini kanye lasemilindini emhlabathini.” Bonke babekezela ngoba ‘babeleqiniso lalokho ababekulindele.’—Heb. 11:1, 36-38; 1 AmaKho. 18:13; 22:24-27; Jer. 20:1, 2; 28:10, 11; 32:2.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(KumaHebheru 11:4) Ngokholo u-Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo owawuligugu kulokaKhayini, njalo ngokholo lolu wamukela ubufakazi bokuthi wayelungile ngoba uNkulunkulu wazamukela izipho zakhe, futhi lanxa wafa, ngokholo lwakhe ulokhu esakhuluma.
it-1-E 804 ¶5
Ukholo
Izibonelo Zakudala Zabantu Ababelokholo. Bonke abantu uPhawuli akhuluma ngabo kuHebheru 12:1 ababumba ‘iyezi labofakazi elikhulu’ babelezizatho eziqinileyo zokuba lokholo. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Abela wayesazi isithembiso sikaJehova esimayelana ‘lenzalo eyayizahlifiza ikhanda lenyoka.’ Wabona konke okwakukhulunywe nguJehova ngesikhathi exotsha abazali bakhe e-Edeni kusenzakala. Impilo yayisinzima sebephumile e-Edeni. U-Adamu lemuli yakhe kwasekumele basebenze nzima ukuze bathole okuya ethunjini njalo lomhlabathi wawusuqalekisiwe futhi usumila ameva. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Abela wayeyibona indlela u-Adamu ayebusa ngayo phezu komkakhe futhi ebona lokuthi inkanuko ka-Eva yayisendodeni yakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi unina wayeke akhulume ngobuhlungu ayebuzwa nxa ebeletha. Indlela eyayisiya esivandeni se-Edeni yayilindwe ngamakherubhi kanye lenkemba eyayibhebha. (Gen 3:14-19, 24) Zonke izinto lezi zaba “yibufakazi” ku-Abela bokuthi insindiso yayizalethwa ‘yinzalo eyayithenjisiwe.’ Yikho ngokholo “wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo” owawuligugu kulokaKhayini.—Heb 11:1, 4.
(KumaHebheru 11:5) Ngokholo u-Enoki wasuswa ukuze angakuboni ukufa, njalo wayengasatholakali ndawo ngoba uNkulunkulu wayesemsusile. Engakasuswa wamukela ubufakazi bokuthi wayemthokozise kakhulu uNkulunkulu.
‘Wayemthokozisile UNkulunkulu’
Manje u-Enoki “wasuswa” njani “ukuze angakuzwa ukufa”? Kungenzeka ukuthi uJehova wamlalisa wasesifa ukuze angabulawa yizitha zakhe. Kodwa engakafi u-Enoki wathola ubufakazi bokuthi ‘wayemthokozisile uNkulunkulu.’ Wabuthola njani? U-Enoki esezakufa, kungenzeka ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamtshengisa umbono womhlaba olipharadayisi. Esethole lobu bufakazi bokwamukelwa nguJehova, u-Enoki wafa. Ngesikhathi ebhala ngo-Enoki lamanye amadoda kanye labesifazana ababelokholo umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: “Abantu bonke laba bafa belokhu bephila ngokukholwa.” (KumaHebheru 11:13) Engxenye izitha zika-Enoki zasidinga zasiswela isidumbu sakhe ngoba uJehova wazingcwabela sona ukuze izitha zakhe zingasiphathi kubi njalo zingasisebenzisi ekukhonzeni kwamanga.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
SEPTEMBER 23-29
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU KUMAHEBHERU 12-13
“UJehova Uyasilaya Ngoba Uyasithanda”
(KumaHebheru 12:5) Selikhohlwe nya ukuthi lina elingamadodana lacetshiswa kwathiwa: “Ndodana yami, ungakudeleli ukulaya okuvela kuJehova futhi ungakhalali nxa ekuqondisa;
w12-ZU 3/15 29 ¶18
Ungabheki “Izinto Ezingemuva”
18 Iseluleko esibuhlungu. Kuthiwani uma sifikelwa umuzwa wokucasuka lapho sikhumbula iseluleko esasithola? Lokhu ngeke kugcine ngokuba buhlungu kodwa futhi kungaba okulimazayo—kusenze ‘siphele amandla.’ (Heb. 12:5) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ‘siyasilulaza’ iseluleko ngokusenqaba noma ‘siphela amandla’ ngokusamukela bese siyaduba, umphumela uyefana—asisivumeli ngempela iseluleko ukuba sisizuzise futhi sisicwenge. Yeka ukuthi kungcono kanjani ukulalela amazwi kaSolomoni: “Bamba isiyalo; ungasidedeli. Silonde, ngoba singukuphila kwakho.” (IzAga 4:13) Njengomshayeli olalela izimpawu zomgwaqo, masamukele isiyalo, sisisebenzise futhi siqhubekele phambili.—IzAga 4:26, 27; funda amaHebheru 12:12, 13.
(KumaHebheru 12:6, 7) Ngoba uJehova uyabalaya abathandayo njalo uyamjezisa loba ngubani amamukela ukuthi abe yindodana yakhe.”
7 Kumele liqinisele ebunzimeni, libubone angathi ngenye indlela yokulilaya. UNkulunkulu uliphatha njengamadodana akhe. Kambe ikhona indodana eloyise ongayilayiyo?
w12-ZU 7/1 21 ¶3
“Noma Nini Lapho Nithandaza, Anothi, ‘Baba’
Ubaba onothando uyaziyala izingane zakhe, ngoba unendaba nokuthi ziyokhula zibe abantu abanjani. (Efesu 6:4) Ubaba onjalo angaqina, kodwa akalokothi abe nokhahlo lapho eyala izingane zakhe. Ngokufanayo, uBaba wethu osezulwini ngezinye izikhathi angakuthola kufaneleka ukuba asiyale. Kodwa isiyalo sikaNkulunkulu sihlale sinikezwa ngothando futhi asinalo unya. NjengoYise, uJesu wayengenalo ukhahlo, ngisho nalapho abafundi bengasheshi ukusabela esiqondisweni.—Mathewu 20:20-28; Luka 22:24-30.
(KumaHebheru 12:11) Akukho sibili ukulaywa okukhanya kukuhle khathesi, kodwa kubuhlungu. Lanxa kunjalo, ngemva kwalokho kuthela isithelo sokuthula esiyikuphila okulungileyo kulabo abaqeqetshwe yikho.
‘Lalela Imfundiso Yami Ukuze Uhlakaniphe’
18 Ukuqinisa ikhanda nxa uphiwa iseluleko kuba lempumela ebuhlungu. (Heb. 12:11) Ubufakazi balokhu sibuthola kulokho okwenzakala kuKhayini loZedekhiya. Ngesikhathi uKhayini ezondele u-Abela uJehova wathi kuye: “Uzondeleni na? Kungani ubuso bakho buhlobile? Kambe ungaze wenze okulungileyo, kawuyikwamukelwa yini? Kodwa nxa ungenzi okulungileyo isono sicwathile emnyango wakho; sitshisekela ukukuthumba, kodwa kumele usahlule.” (Gen. 4:6, 7) UKhayini kazange alalele futhi wacina ebulele umfowabo. Lakanye walutheza olulenkume ngenxa yokungalaleli. (Gen. 4:11, 12) Aluba wazithoba wavuma ukwelulekwa nguJehova wayengasoze angene ebunzimeni.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(KumaHebheru 12:1) Yikho-ke njengoba sigonjolozelwe liyezi labofakazi elikhulu kangaka, kasikulahleni konke okusindayo lesono esisithandela lula, njalo kasiwugijimeni siqinisela umncintiswano ofakwe phambi kwethu,
w11-ZU 9/15 17-18 ¶11
Wugijime Ngokukhuthazela Umncintiswano
11 ‘Ifu elikhulu lofakazi’ akhuluma ngalo lalingezona nje izibukeli, ezazize ngenjongo yokuzobuka umncintiswano kuphela noma yokuzobona umdlali oyintandokazi noma iqembu labadlali ezilithandayo linqoba. Kunalokho, lingabantu ababekade bephakathi emncintiswaneni, onjengowokugijima, futhi abasebewugijime baze bawuqeda. Nakuba manje sebafa, babengabhekwa njengabagijimi abangomakadebona abangakhuthaza abagijimi abasha emncintiswaneni. Cabanga indlela umuntu ongenele umncintiswano angase azizwe ngayo uma azi ukuthi uzungezwe noma ubukelwe abanye abagijimi abamnkantsh’ ubomvu abanqoba kaningi. Ngeke yini lokho kumshukumisele ukuba alikhiphe lonke ijubane lakhe, aze azephule? Lab’ ofakazi basendulo bangafakaza ukuthi lo mncintiswano ongokomfanekiso unganqotshwa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukhandla kangakanani. Ngakho, ukuhlale ekhumbula isibonelo ‘sefu lofakazi,’ kwakungawaqinisa idolo amaKristu angamaHebheru ekhulu lokuqala futhi ‘awugijime ngokukhuthazela umncintiswano’—njengoba singenza nathi namuhla.
(KumaHebheru 13:9) Lingadukiswa yizimfundiso ezitshiyeneyo ezingaziwayo ngoba kungcono ukuthi inhliziyo iqiniswe ngomusa omkhulu kulokuthi iqiniswe yikudla okungabancediyo labo abakuqakathekisa kakhulu.
w89-ZU 12/15 22 ¶10
Nikela Ngemihlatshelo Ethokozisa UJehova
10 Ngakho amaHeberu ayedinga ukugwema ‘ukudukiswa yizifundiso eziyizinhlobonhlobo nezingaziwayo’ zabaguqulela abanye ebuJudeni. (Galathiya 5:1-6) Akuzona izimfundiso ezinjalo kodwa ‘umusa [kaNkunkulu] oqinisa inhliziyo’ ukuze ihlale iqinile eqinisweni. Ngokusobala abanye babephikisana ngokudla nangemihlatshelo, ngoba uPawulu wathi inhliziyo ayiqiniswa “ngokudla, abangasizakalanga ngakho abahamba ngakho.” Izinzuzo ezingokomoya ziba umphumela wokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokwazisa isihlengo, hhayi ukukhathazeka okungafanele ngokudla ukudla okuthile nangokugcina izinsuku ezithile. (Roma 14:5-9) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umhlatshelo kaKristu wayenza yangasebenza imihlatshelo yobuLevi.—Heberu 9:9-14; 10:5-10.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
SEPTEMBER 30–OCTOBER 6
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU UJAKHOBE 1-2
“Isifiso Esiletha Isono Lokufa”
(UJakhobe 1:14) Kodwa lowo lalowo ulingwa ngokudonswa langokuhugwa yisifiso sakhe.
Izilingo
Isilingo yisenzo kumbe ulutho olukufuqa ukuthi ucine wenze into embi obungazimiselanga ukuyenza. Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi usesitolo, ubone into ethile ekuthatha umoya. Ubusufikelwa ngumcabango wokuthi untshontshe, awusoze ubanjwe. Kodwa umzwangedwa wakho wale. Yikho uyawulahla umcabango lo omubi. Ngalesosikhathi isilingo siyabe sesiphelile futhi uyabe usinqobile..
OKUTSHIWO LIBHAYIBHILI
Ukulingwa akutsho ukuthi usungumuntu omubi. IBhayibhili liyatsho ukuthi sonke singehlelwa yizilingo. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:13) Lanxa kunjalo okuqakathekileyo yikuthi senzani nxa sesilingwa. Abanye bayacabangisisa kakhulu ngesifiso esibi bacine sebewela esilingweni. Abanye bahle bawulahlele khatshana umcabango omubi.
“Kodwa lowo lalowo ulingwa ngokudonswa langokuhugwa yisifiso sakhe.”—UJakhobe 1:14.
(UJakhobe 1:15) Nxa isifiso leso sesikhulile, sizala isono; nxa isono sesenziwe, siletha ukufa.
Izilingo
IBhayibhili liyasitshela ngokunye okungasidonsela ekwenzeni okubi. UJakhobe 1:15 uthi: “Nxa isifiso [esibi] leso sesikhulile, [sesiyemule, amabala angaphansi] sizala isono; nxa isono sesenziwe, siletha ukufa.” Lokhu kutsho ukuthi nxa singacabangisisa kakhulu ngesifiso esibi kungaba nzima ukuthi sisibalekele, kuyabe sekufanana lomama obelethayo ongeke akubalekele lokhu. Kodwa singakubalekela ukuba yizigqili zezifiso ezimbi futhi sinqobe isilingo.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(UJakhobe 1:17) Zonke izipho ezinhle lazo zonke izipho ezipheleleyo zivela phezulu, zehla zivela kuYise wezibane zasezulwini ongantshintshiyo futhi ongaphenduphendukiyo njengezithunzi ezitshedayo.
it-2-E 253-254
Ukukhanya
UJehova ‘nguYise wezibane zasezulwini.’ (Jak 1:17) Wasinika ‘ilanga ukuba likhanyise emini, wamisa inyanga lezinkanyezi ukuba kukhanye ebusuku.’ (Jer 31:35) Uphinda asikhanyisele ngolwazi olumayelana laye. (2Kr 4:6) Imithetho yakhe, izahlulelo zakhe kanye lelizwi lakhe kuyabakhanyisela bonke abavuma ukukhokhelwa nguye. (Hu 43:3; 119:105; Zag 6:23; Isy 51:4) Umhubi wathi: “Kokwakho ukukhanya sibona ukukhanya.” (Hu 36:9; qathanisa loHubo 27:1; 43:3) Indlela yabalungileyo iqhubeka ikhanya, ikhanyiswa yikuhlakanipha okuvela kuNkulunkulu njengoba nje ilanga likhanya kancane kancane kusukela ekuseni kuze kube ‘semini.’ (Zag 4:18) Nxa silandela lokho uJehova asitshela khona siyabe sihamba ekukhanyeni kwakhe. (Isy 2:3-5) Kodwa nxa umuntu elomnakano omubi uyabe ehamba emnyameni. UJesu wathi: “Kodwa nxa ilihlo lakho lilomona, umzimba wakho wonke uzakuba mnyama. Manje nxa kuyikuthi ukukhanya okukuwe kuyibumnyama, kutsho ukuthi ubumnyama lobo bukhulu kakhulu!”—Mat 6:23; Dut 15:9; 28:54-57; Zag 28:22; 2Pe 2:14.
(UJakhobe 2:8) Lenza kuhle sibili nxa lisenza okusemthethweni wobukhosi osembhalweni othi, “Kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho ngendlela ozithanda ngayo.”
it-2-E 222 ¶4
Umthetho
‘Umthetho Wenkosi.’ ‘Umthetho wenkosi’ uqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula yonke eminye imithetho ephiwe abantu. (Jak 2:8) Isivumelwano soMthetho sasigcizelela kakhulu ukuqakatheka kothando; umlayo wesibili wawusithi, “kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho” (lo yiwo umthetho wenkosi) futhi uMthetho labaPhrofethi kwakusekelwe kuwo. (Mat 22:37-40) AmaKhristu awakho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho, kodwa angaphansi kwesivumelwano esitsha, yikho kumele alandele umthetho weNkosi uJehova loweNdodana yakhe, iNkosi uJesu Khristu.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili