UJesu usuka eJerusalema kungoMvulo emini abuyele eBhethani eseceleni elisempumalanga kweNtaba Yama-Oliva. Kumele ukuthi ulala emzini wabangane bakhe, uLazaro loMariya kanye loMatha.

Khathesi sekunguNisani 11 ekuseni. UJesu labafundi bakhe sebephinde bangena indlela beqonda eJerusalema lapho azahamba khona ethempelini okokucina. Lamuhla lilanga lokucina lenkonzo kaJesu njalo usazohamba ePhasikeni, asungule iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, futhi athonisiswe abesebulawa.

Bathi besendleleni besuka eBhethani beseNtabeni Yama-Oliva belubangise eJerusalema, uPhetro abone isihlahla uJesu asiqalekise izolo ekuseni. Uthi: “Rabi khangela! Isihlahla somkhiwa osiqalekisileyo sesomile.”​—UMakho 11:21.

Kanti kungani uJesu enze ukuthi isihlahla lesi some? Utshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi ukwenzeleni lokho, uthi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, nxa lilokholo futhi lingathandabuzi, kalisoze lenze lokho engikwenze esihlahleni somkhiwa kuphela, kodwa lanxa lingathi entabeni le, ‘Quphuka uyewela elwandle,’ kuzakwenzakala. Kanti njalo nxa lilokholo lizaziphiwa zonke izinto elizithandazelayo.” (UMathewu 21:21, 22) Ngakho-ke usephinda ake akukhuluma mayelana lokholo olungasusa intaba isiya kwenye indawo.​—UMathewu 17:20.

UJesu wenze ukuthi isihlahla somkhiwa some ukuze acacisele abafundi ukuthi kumele bakholwe kuNkulunkulu. Uthi: “Zonke izinto elithandaza lizicela, kholwani ukuthi selizamukele, lingenza njalo lizazamukela.” (UMakho 11:24) Lesi yisifundo esiqakatheke kakhulu kubo bonke abalandeli bakaJesu. Sizabanceda sibili abaphostoli njengoba kuzakuba lezinto ezinzima ezizabehlela. Kodwa ukoma kwesihlahla somkhiwa kungabafundisa okunye okumayelana lokuba lokholo.

Isizwe sako-Israyeli laso sinjengesihlahla lesi somkhiwa ngoba sizigqokisa esemvu. Isizwe lesi sisesivumelwaneni loNkulunkulu futhi singakhanya angani siyawulandela uMthetho wakhe. Kodwa sitshengise ukuthi kasilakholo kanye lokuthi kasilazithelo ezinhle. Kasiyamukeli leNdodana kaNkulunkulu. Yikho uJesu wenza ukuthi isihlahla somkhiwa esingatheliyo some ukuze atshengise ukuthi sizaphetha ngani isizwe lesi esingelakholo futhi esingatheliyo.

Khonokho nje uJesu labafundi bakhe bangena eJerusalema. Uqonda ethempelini njengenjayelo abeseqalisa ukufundisa. Kumele ukuthi abaphristi abakhokhelayo labadala besizwe basakhumbula okwenziwe nguJesu izolo aze axotshe abantu abantshintsha imali. Bambuza bathi: “Uwathatha ngaphi amandla okwenza izinto lezi? Ngubani okuphe amandla la?”​—UMakho 11:28.

UJesu ubaphendula athi: “Lami ngizalibuza umbuzo owodwa. Nxa lingangiphendula, ngizalitshela ukuthi ngiwathatha ngaphi amandla okwenza izinto lezi. Ubhabhathizo lukaJohane lwaluvela ezulwini kumbe ebantwini? Ngiphendulani.” Khathesi abaphikisi bakaJesu yibo asebephoselwe umbuzo. Abaphristi labadala baqalisa ukubonisana ngokuthi bangaphendula njani. Bathi: “Nxa singathi, ‘Lwaluvela ezulwini,’ uzakuthi, ‘Pho kungani lingamkholwanga?’ Kodwa ngeke siqale ukuthi, ‘Lwaluvela ebantwini’!” Batshelana njalo besesaba abantu “ngoba bonke babekholwa ukuthi uJohane wayengumphrofethi sibili.”​—UMakho 11:29-32.

Abaphikisi bakaJesu bayaswela impendulo besebesithi: “Kasikwazi.” UJesu yena uthi kubo: “Lami kangisoze ngilitshele ukuthi ngiwathatha ngaphi amandla okwenza izinto lezi.”​—UMakho 11:33.

Ethempelini uJesu uphendule abaphristi abakhokhelayo labadala besizwe abambuze ukuthi uwathatha ngaphi amandla okwenza izinto azenzayo. Impendulo yakhe ibaqume imilomo. Khathesi ubalandisela umzekeliso otshengisa ukuthi bangabantu abanjani sibili.

Uthi: “Kulendoda eyayilabantwana ababili. Yaya kowokuqala yafika yathi, ‘Mntanami, hamba uyesebenza esivandeni samagilebisi lamuhla.’ Yena waphendula wathi, ‘Angisoze ngiye,’ kodwa wacina ezisola wasehamba. Yasihamba kowesibili yatsho into efananayo. Yena waphendula wathi, ‘Ngizahamba Baba,’ kodwa kahambanga. Ngubani phakathi kwalaba ababili owenza intando kayise?” (UMathewu 21:28-31) Kuyazicacela ukuthi indodana yokuqala yiyo eyacina isenza intando kayise.

UJesu utshela abaphikisi bakhe athi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, abathelisi lezifebe bazaliqalela ukungena eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu.” Abathelisi lezifebe bebengamkhonzi uNkulunkulu, kodwa sebephendukile njengendodana yokuqala njalo sebemkhonza. Abakhokheli benkolo banjengendodana yesibili ngoba bathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu kodwa besehluleka. UJesu uthi: “UJohane [uMbhabhathizi] weza kini ngendlela yokulunga kodwa kalimkholwanga. Abathelisi lezifebe bona bamkholwa. Lanxa lakubona lokhu, kalizisolanga futhi kalimkholwanga.”​—UMathewu 21:31, 32.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu ulandisa omunye umzekeliso. Ubeke watshengisa ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo bayehluleka ukukhonza uNkulunkulu, kodwa khathesi usefuna ukutshengisa ukuthi balezinhliziyo ezimbi. UJesu uthi: “Kulomuntu owahlanyela amagilebisi esivandeni sakhe wasesibiyela ngothango, wagebha igodi lokukhamela amagilebisi waphinda wakha lomphotshongo. Waqhatshisa lesosivande kubalimi, wasesiya elizweni elikhatshana. Ngesikhathi sokuvuna wathuma inceku kubalimi ukuthi iyethatha ezinye izithelo ezazisesivandeni. Kodwa bona bayithatha bayitshaya basebeyixotsha, yabuyela ilengise izandla. Waphinda wathumela enye inceku, yona bayitshaya ekhanda njalo bayeyisa. Wathuma enye futhi inceku, bayibulala. Wathuma lezinye ezinengi, ezinye zakhona bazitshaya, ezinye bazibulala.”​—UMakho 12:1-5.

Abantu abalalele uJesu bazawuzwisisa yini umzekeliso wakhe? Mhlawumbe bakhumbula amazwi ake akhulunywa ngu-Isaya, athi: “Isivini sikaJehova uSomandla yindlu ka-Israyeli; abantu bakoJuda bayinsimu eligugu kuye. Wayelindele okufaneleyo, kodwa wabona ukuchitheka kwegazi.” (U-Isaya 5:7) Umzekeliso kaJesu uhambelana lamazwi la. Umnikazi wesivande nguJehova njalo isivande samagilebisi yisizwe sama-Israyeli esibiyelwe savikelwa nguMthetho kaNkulunkulu. UJehova wathuma abaphrofethi ukuthi bafundise abantu bakhe lokuthi babancedise bathele izithelo ezinhle.

Emzekelisweni kaJesu, “abalimi” baziphatha kubi “izinceku” ezazithunyiwe bazibulala. UJesu uthi: “Kwasekusele indodana yakhe [umnikazi wesivande samagilebisi] ayithandayo kuphela. Ekucineni wathuma yona esithi, ‘Indodana yami bazayihlonipha.’ Kodwa abalimi bakhuluma bebodwa bathi, ‘Le yiyo indlalifa. Buyani siyibulale, ilifa libe ngelethu.’ Ngakho bayithatha bayibulala.”​—UMakho 12:6-8.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu ubuza athi: “Manje umnikazi wesivande uzakwenzani?” (UMakho 12:9) Abakhokheli benkolo bamphendula besithi: “Uzababulala ngendlela elesihluku ngenxa yokuthi babi, futhi isivande leso uzasiqhatshisa kwabanye abalimi abazamnika amagilebisi nxa isikhathi sokuvuna sesifikile.”​—UMathewu 21:41.

Abakhokheli laba sebezigwaze ngowabo ngoba baphakathi ‘kwabalimi’ ‘besivande’ sikaJehova esiyisizwe sako-Israyeli. UNkulunkulu ukhangelele ukuthi abalimi laba bathele izithelo ezigoqela ukuba lokholo eNdodaneni yakhe, uMesiya. UJesu ubathi nhlo abakhokheli benkolo laba abesesithi: “Kanti kalikaze liwubale umbhalo othi: ‘Ilitshe elaliwa ngabakhi selibe lilitshe elikhulu eliyisiqokoqela. Ilitshe lelo livela kuJehova futhi lihle kakhulu emehlweni ethu’?” (UMakho 12:10, 11) Uyabachasisela akutshoyo athi: “Yikho ngisithi kini, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu lizawuthathelwa uphiwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.”​—UMathewu 21:43.

Ababhali labaphristi abakhokhelayo bayananzelela ukuthi uJesu ‘ukhulume umzekeliso lo ecabanga ngabo.’ (ULukha 20:19) Sebezimisele kakhulu ukumbulala yena ‘oyindlalifa.’ Kodwa kabambulali ngalesosikhathi ngoba besaba ixuku elibona uJesu engumphrofethi.

UJesu usezaqeda inkonzo yakhe futhi uqhubeka esebenzisa imizekeliso ukuze abuveze egcekeni ububi bababhali labaphristi abakhokhelayo. Yikho befuna ukumbulala. (ULukha 20:19) Lanxa kunjalo, uqhubeka ebachaya egcekeni. Ulandisa omunye umzekeliso athi:

“UMbuso wamazulu ungafaniswa lenkosi eyalungisela indodana yayo idili lomtshado. Yasithuma izinceku zayo ukuthi ziyebiza ababenxusiwe emtshadweni, kodwa bona bala ukubuya.” (UMathewu 22:2, 3) UJesu uqala umzekeliso wakhe ngokukhuluma ‘ngoMbuso wamazulu.’ Ngakho kumele ukuthi ‘inkosi’ nguJehova uNkulunkulu. Ingubani indodana yenkosi njalo abanxuswe edilini lomtshado ngobani? Kusegcekeni ukuthi indodana yenkosi yiNdodana kaJehova elandisa umzekeliso lo njalo kuyacaca ukuthi abanxusiweyo yilabo abazakuba leNdodana eMbusweni wamazulu.

Ngobani abanxuswa kuqala? Kanje uJesu labaphostoli bakhe bebetshumayeza obani ngoMbuso? Bebetshumayeza amaJuda. (UMathewu 10:6, 7; 15:24) Isizwe lesi saba sesivumelwaneni soMthetho ngo-1513 B.C.E., futhi lokhu kwenza saba ngesokuqala ukuthola isibusiso sokuba “ngumbuso wabaphristi.” (U-Eksodusi 19:5-8) Kodwa sasizabizwa nini “emtshadweni”? Kuyakhanya ukuthi sanxuswa ngo-29 C.E. lapho uJesu eqalisa ukutshumayela ngoMbuso wamazulu.

Ama-Israyeli amanengi enzani esenxusiwe? UJesu uthi ‘ala ukubuya.’ Abantu kanye labakhokheli benkolo kabazange bavume ukuthi unguMesiya kanye lokuthi uyiNkosi ebekwe nguNkulunkulu.

Kodwa uJesu uveza ukuthi amaJuda la ayezanxuswa futhi, uthi: “[Inkosi] yaphinda yathuma ezinye izinceku yathi, ‘Tshelani abanxusiweyo lithi: “Lalelani! Sengilungisile ukudla, ngihlabe inkunzi zami lezinye izifuyo zami ezinonileyo, konke sekulungile. Wozani edilini lomtshado.”’ Kodwa kabazange babe lendaba, omunye wasuka waziyela emasimini akhe, omunye waya ebhizimusini yakhe. Abanye bona badumela izinceku zenkosi bazikhahlameza njalo bazibulala.” (UMathewu 22:4-6) Lokhu kuhambelana lokwakuzakwenzakala ibandla lamaKhristu selisunguliwe. Ngalesosikhathi amaJuda amanengi ayelokhu elethuba lokuba seMbusweni kodwa kawazange abe lendaba lalokhu, aze ahlukuluza “izinceku zenkosi.”​—ImiSebenzi 4:13-18; 7:54, 58.

Isizwe lesi saphetha ngani? UJesu uthi: “Inkosi yazonda yabila, yasithumela amabutho ayo afika abulala labo ababebulele izinceku zayo atshisa ledolobho labo.” (UMathewu 22:7) Lokhu kwenzakala ngo-70 C.E. ngesikhathi amaRoma ebhubhisa ‘idolobho lawo [amaJuda],’ iJerusalema.

Pho abakho yini abanye abazanxuswa njengoba amaJuda engavumanga ngesikhathi enxuswa? Bakhona ngoba uJesu uqhubeka esithi: “[Inkosi] yasisithi ezincekwini zayo, ‘Idili lomtshado selilungile kodwa ebengibanxusile bebengafanelanga. Ngakho hambani emigwaqweni ephuma edolobheni, futhi loba ngubani elizamthola limnxuse edilini lomtshado.’ Lakanye izinceku zaphuma zaya emigwaqweni, zafika zabiza bonke ezazibathola, ababi labahle. Indawo okwakutshadelwa kuyo yagcwala abantu ababesidla.”​—UMathewu 22:8-10.

Yikho-ke, ngokuya kwesikhathi umphostoli uPhetro wayezanceda abeZizweni ukuthi babe ngamaKhristu eqiniso futhi laba yilabo ababengayisiwo maJuda kumbe ababengaphendukelanga okholweni lwesiJuda. Ngo-36 C.E., umkhokheli wamasotsha waseRoma okuthiwa nguKhoneliya kanye lemuli yakhe bemukela umoya ongcwele, bathola isibusiso sokuba seMbusweni wamazulu uJesu abekhuluma ngawo.​—ImiSebenzi 10:1, 34-48.

UJesu utshengisa ukuthi kayisibo bonke ‘inkosi’ ezabemukela emtshadweni. Uthi: “Inkosi ithe isizokhangela izethekeli zayo yabona enye indoda eyayingagqokanga isembatho somtshado. Yasisithi kuyo, ‘Ndoda, ungene njani lapha wena ungelasembatho somtshado?’ Indoda le yaswela lokuthi ithini. Ngakho inkosi yathi ezincekwini zayo, ‘Mbopheni izandla lenyawo limphosele phandle emnyameni. Yikho lapho azakhala khona atshayanise amazinyo.’ Banengi abanxusiweyo kodwa balutshwana abakhethiweyo.”​—UMathewu 22:11-14.

Kungenzakala ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo abalalele uJesu kabakuzwisisi konke akutshoyo. Lanxa kunjalo bayazonda futhi bayazimisela kakhulu ukumbulala umuntu lo obayangisa kangaka.

Abakhokheli benkolo abayizitha zikaJesu bacaphukile. Usanda kulandisa imizekeliso eveza ububi babo. Khathesi abaFarisi babumba icebo lokuthi bamthiye. Bazama ukumthiya ngamazwi akhe ukuze ahanjiswe kusibalukhulu weRoma njalo babhadala abanye abafundi babo ukuze bamthiye.​—ULukha 6:7.

Bathi kuye: “Mfundisi, siyakwazi ukuthi izinto ozikhulumayo lozifundisayo ziqondile futhi kawukhethi muntu, kodwa ufundisa iqiniso ngendlela kaNkulunkulu: Kusemthethweni yini ukuthi sibhadale umthelo kuKhesari kumbe hatshi?” (ULukha 20:21, 22) UJesu uyananzelela ukuthi abantu laba bazama ukumvala amehlo lokuthi bayazenzisa futhi bangamaqili. Nxa angathi akuqondanga ukubhadala umthelo, angetheswa icala lokuvukela umbuso weRoma. Angathi kuqondile ukuwubhadala, abantu abangafuniyo ukubuswa ngamaRoma bangacina bemhlasela. Manje uphendula esithini?

UJesu uthi: “Lingilingelani lina bazenzisi? Ngitshengisani imali yomthelo.” Bamphathela udenariyu, abesesithi kubo: “Ngumfanekiso kabani lo futhi libizo likabani elibhalwe lapha?” Bona besebephendula besithi: “NgokukaKhesari.” Sebetsho njalo uJesu uthi kubo: “Ngakho buyiselani okukaKhesari kuKhesari, kodwa okukaNkulunkulu kuNkulunkulu.”​—UMathewu 22:18-21.

Amadoda la ayamangala esizwa amazwi kaJesu. Asuka esequnywe umlomo njengoba ewaphendule kuhle kangaka. Kodwa kawakhalali, alokhu efuna ukumthiya. AbaFarisi bathi sebehlulekile ukuthiya uJesu kufike abakhokheli belinye iqembu lenkolo.

AbaSadusi abangakholwayo ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa babuza uJesu mayelana lokuvuswa kwabafileyo langowesifazana owatshada lamadoda ayizelamani. Bathi: “Mfundisi, uMosi wathi: ‘Nxa indoda ingafa ingelabantwana, umfowabo kufanele atshade lomkayo, ayizalele abantwana.’ Kwakulamadoda ayisikhombisa ayeyizelamani. Endala yatshada kodwa yafa ingelamntwana, umkayo wasala ethathwa ngumfowabo. Kwaba yiso leso kweyesibili lakweyesithathu kwaze kwayafika kweyesikhombisa. Ekucineni owesifazana lo wafa. Manje phakathi kwalaba abayisikhombisa, uzakuba ngumkabani nxa sekuvuswa abafileyo? Phela wayeke waba yinkosikazi yabo bonke.”​—UMathewu 22:24-28.

UJesu uphendula abaSadusi esebenzisa lokho okwabhalwa nguMosi abakwamukelayo. Uthi: “Yikho lilahleka, kaliyazi iMibhalo futhi kaliwazi amandla kaNkulunkulu. Angithi nxa bevuswa kwabafileyo amadoda kawathathi labesifazana kabendiswa, bonke bayabe sebenjengezingilosi emazulwini. Kodwa mayelana lokuvuswa kwabafileyo, kalikaze likubale yini egwalweni lukaMosi ukuthi endabeni yesihlahla sameva uNkulunkulu wathi kuye: ‘NginguNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama loNkulunkulu ka-Isaka loNkulunkulu kaJakhobe’? UnguNkulunkulu wabaphilayo, hatshi owabafileyo. Lilahlekile sibili!” (UMakho 12:24-27; U-Eksodusi 3:1-6) Amaxuku atsha amathe esizwa impendulo le.

AbaFarisi labaSadusi baswele ukuthi bamphendule njani uJesu, yikho abaphikisi laba bayabambana besebesiya kuye ukuze bamlinge futhi. Omunye umbhali ubuza athi: “Mfundisi, yiwuphi umlayo oqakatheke kulayo yonke eMthethweni?”​—UMathewu 22:36.

UJesu uphendula athi: “Owokuqala ngothi, ‘Lalela, O Israyeli, uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye, njalo kumele uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, langomphefumulo wakho wonke, langengqondo yakho yonke, langamandla akho wonke.’ Owesibili ngothi, ‘Kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho ngendlela ozithanda ngayo.’ Kawukho omunye umlayo omkhulu kulale.”​—UMakho 12:29-31.

Umbhali uthi esizwa impendulo le athi: “Mfundisi, ukhulume kuhle, okutshoyo kuliqiniso, ‘Yena munye, futhi kakho omunye ngaphandle kwakhe’; njalo ukuthi umuntu amthande ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke, langokuzwisisa kwakhe konke, langamandla akhe wonke, kanye lokuthanda umakhelwane wakhe ngendlela azithanda ngayo, kuqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula iminikelo yokutshiswa egcweleyo kanye lemihlatshelo.” UJesu uyananzelela ukuthi umbhali lo uphendule ngokukhalipha, abesesithi kuye: “Kawukhatshana loMbuso kaNkulunkulu.”​—UMakho 12:32-34.

Sekulamalanga amathathu (Nisani 9, lo-10, lo-11) uJesu efundisa ethempelini. Bakhona abanye abanjengombhali lo abakholise ukumuzwa efundisa. Kodwa abakhokheli benkolo bebengakholisi ukumlalela njalo ‘kabasela sibindi sokumbuza futhi.’

Abaphikisi bakaJesu bebefuna ukumkhipha isithunzi lokumthiya bambophise ngamaRoma, kodwa behlulekile. (ULukha 20:20) UJesu ulokhu esethempelini ngoNisani 11. Khathesi nguye osebabuza imibuzo njalo utshengisa ukuthi yena ungubani sibili. Ubabuza athi: “Lithini ngoKhristu? Yindodana kabani?” (UMathewu 22:42) Kuyaziwa ukuthi uKhristu loba uMesiya uzavela kusendo lukaDavida njalo yikho abaphikisi abamtshela khona.​—UMathewu 9:27; 12:23; UJohane 7:42.

UJesu ubuza athi: “Pho kungani uDavida ephefumulelwe wambiza ngokuthi Nkosi? Phela wathi, ‘UJehova wathi eNkosini yami: “Hlala esandleni sami sokudla ngize ngibeke izitha zakho ngaphansi kwenyawo zakho.”’ Manje nxa uDavida embiza ngokuthi Nkosi, uyindodana yakhe njani?”​—UMathewu 22:43-45.

AbaFarisi baswela impendulo ngoba bakhangelele umuntu ozavela kusendo lukaDavida ongabakhulula embusweni wamaRoma. Kodwa uJesu utsho amazwi kaDavida akuHubo 110:1, 2 ukuze atshengise ukuthi uMesiya kasoze abe ngumbusi nje. UyiNkosi kaDavida futhi uzathi esehlezi esandleni sokudla sikaNkulunkulu abuse. Abaphikisi bakhe kabaphindi bambuze.

Abafundi kanye labanye abanengi bebelalele. Khathesi uJesu usekhuluma labo ebaxwayisa ngababhali kanye labaFarisi. Amadoda la ‘azihlalise esihlalweni sikaMosi’ ngokufundisa uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. UJesu utshela abamlaleleyo athi: “Zonke izinto abalitshela zona zenzeni lizilandele, kodwa lingenzi lokho abakwenzayo ngoba bayakhuluma kodwa kabakwenzi abakutshoyo.”​—UMathewu 23:2, 3.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu ukhuluma ngokunye okutshengisa ukuthi bangabazenzisi, uthi: “Bawenza abe makhulu amabhokisi alemibhalo abawabophela emabunzini lasengalweni ukuze bazivikele.” Amanye amaJuda ayelawo amabhokisi la alamazwi amalutshwana athethwe eMthethweni. AbaFarisi bona bawenza abe makhulu ukuze kukhanye angani bayawulandela sibili uMthetho. Benza “lemiphetho yezembatho zabo ibe mide.” Lanxa ama-Israyeli kwakumele afake imiphetho ezembathweni zawo, abaFarisi bona basebesenza eyabo ibe mide. (AmaNani 15:38-40) Konke lokhu babekwenzela “ukubukwa ngabantu.”​—UMathewu 23:5.

Abafundi bakaJesu labo bangacina sebefuna ukubukwa ngabantu, yikho uJesu ubalaya esithi: “Kodwa lina akumelanga libizwe ngokuthi Rabi ngoba munye uMfundisi wenu. Lina lonke lingabafowabo bomunye lomunye. Kanti njalo lingabizi muntu emhlabeni ngokuthi baba ngoba munye uYihlo, lowo osezulwini. Akumelanga libizwe langokuthi lingabakhokheli ngoba munye uMkhokheli wenu, uKhristu.” Pho abafundi kumele benzeni? UJesu uthi: “Kodwa omkhulu kulani lonke kufanele abe yinceku yenu. Loba ngubani oziphakamisayo uzakwehliswa, futhi loba ngubani ozehlisayo uzaphakanyiswa.”​—UMathewu 23:8-12.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu uqalisa ukusola ababhali labaFarisi abazenzisayo. Uthi kubo: “Maye kini babhali labaFarisi, bazenzisi, ngoba livalela abantu uMbuso wamazulu! Lina kalingeni kuwo njalo labasendleleni yokuyangena kuwo liyabavimbela.”​—UMathewu 23:13.

UJesu uyabasola abaFarisi ngenxa yokuthi kabalandaba lalokho uNkulunkulu akuqakathekisa kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo bathi: “Nxa umuntu angafunga ngethempeli akulandaba; kodwa nxa angafunga ngegolide elisethempelini, ulomlandu wokugcwalisa isifungo sakhe.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi bayiziphofu sibili ezingaboni okuqakatheke kakhulu. Baqakathekisa igolide elisethempelini kulokuthi baqakathekise ithempeli abakhonza kulo uJehova lalapho abasondela khona kuye. Kanti njalo ‘badela izindaba eziqakathekileyo zoMthetho eziphathelane lokwahlulela okuhle, ukuba lesihawu kanye lokuthembeka.’​—UMathewu 23:16, 23; ULukha 11:42.

UJesu uthi abaFarisi laba ‘ngabakhokheli abayiziphofu, abacenga imiyane kodwa behubula ikamela!’ (UMathewu 23:24) Bacenga imiyane ewayinini labo ngenxa yokuthi uMthetho uthi isibungu leso asihlanzekanga. Indlela abadela ngayo izindaba eziqakathekileyo zoMthetho injengokuhubula ikamela, lalo elingahlanzekanga ngokoMthetho. Umehluko yikuthi lona likhulu kulemiyane.​—ULevi 11:4, 21-24.

Ngelanga lokucina uJesu esethempelini, uqhubeka echaya egcekeni ubuzenzisi bababhali labaFarisi, ekhuluma phambi kwabantu ukuthi bangabazenzisi. Usebenzisa umzekeliso athi: “Linjengenkomitsho lomganu okugeziswe ngaphandle kodwa ngaphakathi kungcolile. Ngaphakathi ligcwele ubuhwaba lokubuswa zinkanuko! MFarisi oyisiphofu, qala ugezise ingaphakathi yenkomitsho leyomganu ukuze lengaphandle ihlanzeke.” (UMathewu 23:25, 26) AbaFarisi bakuqakathekisa kakhulu ukuhlanzeka ngokomthetho kanye lendlela ababukeka ngayo ngaphandle, kodwa kabalandaba lalokho abayikho khona ngaphakathi futhi bayehluleka ukuhlambulula izinhliziyo zabo.

Imisebenzi yabo yokwakha amathuna abaphrofethi lokuwacecisa layo itshengisa ubuzenzisi babo. UJesu uthi ‘bangamadodana alabo ababulala abaphrofethi.’ (UMathewu 23:31) Lokhu bakuvezile ngoba bafuna ukumbulala.​—UJohane 5:18; 7:1, 25.

UJesu ukhuluma ngalokho okuzakwenzakala kubakhokheli benkolo laba nxa bengaphenduki, uthi: “Zinyoka, nzalo yamabululu! Lizakubalekela njani ukwahlulelwa lokuphoselwa eGehena?” (UMathewu 23:33) IGehena itsho “iSihotsha SikaHinomi.” Izibi zitshiselwa esihotsheni leso esiseduze khonapho, yikho amazwi kaJesu atshengisa ukuthi ababhali labaFarisi abenza okubi bazabhujiswa phakade.

Abafundi bakaJesu bazakuba ‘ngabaphrofethi lamadoda ahlakaniphileyo kanye labantu abazafundisa.’ Bazaphathwa njani? UJesu ukhuluma labakhokheli benkolo esithi: ‘Abanye [abafundi bami] lizababulala libalengise ezigodweni, abanye libabhaxabule emasinagogeni enu futhi libazingele idolobho ngedolobho libahlukuluza, ukuze igazi labo bonke abalungileyo elachithwa emhlabeni libe phezu kwenu, kusukela egazini lika-Abela owayelungile kusiya egazini likaZekhariya elambulalayo.’ Uyabaxwayisa athi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, isizukulwane lesi sizakwehlelwa yizinto zonke lezi.” (UMathewu 23:34-36) Lokhu kuyenzakala ngo-70 C.E. ngesikhathi amabutho eRoma ebhubhisa iJerusalema, lezinkulungwane zamaJuda zisifa.

UJesu uyakhathazeka kakhulu nxa ecabanga ngokuzakwehlela iJerusalema. Ukhuluma edanile athi: “Jerusalema, Jerusalema, mbulali wabaphrofethi. Wena okhanda ngamatshe labo abathunywe kuwe. Kunini ngifuna ukubuthela abantwabakho ndawonye sasikhukhukazi esibuthela ndawonye amatsiyane aso ngaphansi kwamaphiko aso! Kodwa lina belingafuni. Khangelani manje! Indlu yenu isideliwe yatshiyelwa lina.” (UMathewu 23:37, 38) Kumele ukuthi abalalele uJesu bayazibuza ukuthi utshoni nxa ekhuluma ‘ngendlu.’ Kambe engabe ekhuluma ngethempeli leli eliyibukhazikhazi eliseJerusalema futhi elikhanya angani livikelwe nguNkulunkulu?

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Ngilitshela ukuthi kalisoze lingibone futhi, kusukela khathesi kuze kube yilapho lisithi, ‘Ubusisiwe lowo oza ngebizo likaJehova!’” (UMathewu 23:39) Ukhuluma amazwi asesiphrofethweni esikuHubo 118:26 athi: “Ubusisiwe lowo ozayo ngegama likaJehova. Siyakubusisa sisendlini kaJehova.” Kusegcekeni ukuthi nxa ithempeli leli selidiliziwe kuyabe kungaselamuntu ozakhonzela kulo.

Khathesi uJesu uyasuka aye kwenye indawo esethempelini elamabhokisi eminikelo. Abantu bangafaka iminikelo yabo ezikhaleni ezincane ezikuwo. Ubona amaJuda amanengi enikela njalo abanothileyo ‘bephosela imali enengi.’ Ngemva kwalokho ubona umfelokazi ongumyanga ephosela “okuzinhlamvu kwemali okubili okungatsho lutho.” (UMakho 12:41, 42) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJesu uyakwazi ukuthi umnikelo womfelokazi lo uyamthokozisa uNkulunkulu.

UJesu ubiza abafundi bakhe abesesithi kubo: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, umfelokazi lo ongumyanga unikele okwedlula bonke abanye abafake imali emabhokisini eminikelo.” Kungani esitsho njalo? Uyachasisa athi: “Bonke bacuphe enothweni yabo, kodwa yena lanxa eswela, ufake konke abelakho, konke obekumele aphile ngakho.” (UMakho 12:43, 44) Okwenziwa ngumfelokazi lo kutshiyene kakhulu lokwenziwa ngabakhokheli benkolo.

UJesu uyasuka ethempelini njalo kasoze aphenduke kulo futhi. Kulokhu kunguNisani 11 njalo omunye wabafundi bakhe ubabaza esithi: “Mfundisi, khangela ukuthi amatshe la lezakhiwo lezi kuhle njani!” (UMakho 13:1) Amanye amatshe asethempelini makhulu sibili njalo enza kukhanye angathi ithempeli lelo liqine okokuthi ngeke lidilike. Yikho kuyamangalisa ukuthi uJesu uthi: “Uyazibona yini izakhiwo lezi ezinkulu? Amatshe la azadilizelwa phansi loba sekutheni, kakusoze kusale ngitsho lelilodwa phezu kwelinye.”​—UMakho 13:2.

Esetsho njalo, uJesu labaphostoli bakhe bachapha iSigodi SaseKhidroni besebeqansa besiya kwenye indawo eNtabeni Yama-Oliva. Uthi esele labaphostoli bakhe abane, uPhetro, lo-Andreya, loJakhobe, loJohane balibone kuhle ithempeli leli elimangalisayo belapho abakhona.

SekungoLwesibili emini futhi uNisani 11 sesiyaphela. UJesu ubesebenza gadalala emalangeni amalutshwana asanda kwedlula njalo usezaqeda inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni. Ubetshona efundisa ethempelini, kuthi sekusebusuku ayephumula ngaphandle kwedolobho. Abantu bebekukholisa kakhulu ukumlalela njalo ‘bebevukela kuye ekuseni kakhulu ukuze bamuzwe efundisa ethempelini.’ (ULukha 21:37, 38) Kodwa uJesu kasakwenzi lokhu futhi khathesi uhlezi eNtabeni Yama-Oliva labaphostoli bakhe abane, uPhetro, lo-Andreya, loJakhobe, loJohane.

Abaphostoli laba abane bamlande bebodwa. Bakhathazeke ngethempeli ngoba uJesu usanda kubatshela ukuthi ethempelini lelo akusoze kusale ilitshe phezu kwelinye. Kodwa kukhona okunye abakucabangayo. UJesu uke wabatshela wathi: “Hlalani lizilungiselele ngoba iNdodana yomuntu izakuza ngehola elingalicabangeliyo.” (ULukha 12:40) Uke wakhuluma “langelanga iNdodana yomuntu ezavezwa ngalo.” (ULukha 17:30) Amazwi kaJesu engabe ehambelana lalokho ake wakutsho mayelana lethempeli yini? Abaphostoli bayafuna ukwazi sibili. Bathi: “Sitshele, izinto lezi zizakwenzakala nini, njalo sizakuba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho lesesiphetho somumo lo wezinto?”​—UMathewu 24:3.

Bangabe becabanga ngokubhujiswa kwethempeli abalibonayo khonapho eduze. Kanti njalo babuze langokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu. Mhlawumbe bayawukhumbula umzekeliso kaJesu ‘owomuntu wesikhosini owahamba elizweni elikhatshana ukuze ayephiwa ubukhosi abesephenduka.’ (ULukha 19:11, 12) Kanti njalo bayazibuza ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani ‘kulesosiphetho somumo wezinto.’

UJesu uyabacacisela ebatshela ngesibonakaliso esitshengisa ukuthi umumo wezinto wamaJuda okhona khathesi uzaphela nini kanye lokuthi ithempeli lawo lizabhujiswa nini. Kodwa kulokunye okunengi abachasisela khona. Isibonakaliso lesi sizanceda amaKhristu azabe ekhona esikhathini esizayo ukuthi ananzelele ukuthi aphila ngesikhathi “sokuba khona” kwakhe langesikhathi umumo lo wezinto wasemhlabeni usuzaphela.

Iminyaka ithi ihamba, abaphostoli basibone sigcwaliseka isiphrofetho sikaJesu. Ezinye izinto uJesu akhuluma ngazo zihle ziqale ukwenzakala besaphila. Yikho ngo-70 C.E., ngemva kweminyaka engu-37 uJesu ekhulume amazwi la, amaKhristu ayabe ekhona azabe elungiselele ngesikhathi umumo wezinto wamaJuda kanye lethempeli lawo kubhujiswa. Kodwa ayisikho konke uJesu akukhulumayo okugcwaliseka kungakabi ngu-70 C.E. langesikhathi umnyaka lo usufikile. Pho kuyini okuzatshengisa ukuba khona kwakhe emandleni oMbuso? UJesu uyabatshela abaphostoli bakhe.

Uthi kuzakuba ‘lezimpi lemibiko yezimpi’ njalo “isizwe sizavukela isizwe, lombuso uvukele umbuso.” (UMathewu 24:6, 7) Uphinda athi ‘kuzakuba lokuzamazama komhlaba okwesabekayo, ezindaweni ezehlukeneyo kube lokuswelakala kokudla lemikhuhlane emibi.’ (ULukha 21:11) UJesu ulimukisa abafundi bakhe esithi: “Abantu bazalibamba balihlukuluze.” (ULukha 21:12) Uqhubeka ebatshela ukuthi kuzakuba labaphrofethi bamanga abazadukisa abanengi lokuthi kuzakuba lokwanda kobubi, lothando lwabanengi luphole. Kanti njalo uthi ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zizatshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke ukuze kube lobufakazi ezizweni zonke, besekufika ukuphela.’​—UMathewu 24:14.

Okunye uJesu akukhulumileyo kuyagcwaliseka iJerusalema ingakabhujiswa ngamaRoma langesikhathi sokubhujiswa kwayo. Lanxa kunjalo, kulokho akukhulumileyo kungabe kukhona yini okunye okunengi okuzagcwaliseka esikhathini esizayo? Wena uyakubona yini ukuthi okunengi okwakhulunywa nguJesu esiphrofethweni sakhe esiqakathekileyo kuyagcwaliseka lamuhla?

UJesu uthi okunye okuzakuba yisibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe ‘ngamanyala abangela incithakalo.’ (UMathewu 24:15) Amanyala la ‘libutho’ lamaRoma elibuya lezithombe zalo ngo-66 C.E. AmaRoma agombolozela iJerusalema futhi adiliza eminye imiduli yalo. (ULukha 21:20) Yikho-ke “amanyala” la, ami “endaweni engcwele” yamaJuda lapho okungamelanga ame khona.

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Kuzakuba lokuhlupheka okukhulu okungakaze kube khona kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba kuze kube khathesi, njalo okungasoze kuphinde kube khona futhi.” AmaRoma abhubhisa iJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. Ukubhujiswa ‘kwedolobho elingcwele’ kanye lethempeli lalo yikho okuba yikuhlupheka okukhulu njalo kubulawa abantu abanengi. (UMathewu 4:5; 24:21) Lokhu kakukaze kwenzakale edolobheni leli njalo amaJuda kawakaze akubone okunje. Lithi selibhujisiwe ukukhonza kwamaJuda obekusenziwa okweminyaka eminengi kuhle kuphele. Yikho okunengi uJesu akukhulume esiphrofethweni sakhe okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo kuzabe kusesabeka.

UKUNGALAHLI ITHEMBA EKUPHELENI KOMUMO LO WEZINTO

UJesu kakaqedi ukutshela abafundi bakhe mayelana lesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe emandleni oMbuso kanye lesokuphela komumo lo wezinto. Khathesi ubalimukisa ngokuthi kuzakuba “laboKhristu bamanga labaphrofethi bamanga.” Uthi abantu laba bazazama ‘ukuyenga labakhethiweyo nxa kungenzeka.’ (UMathewu 24:24) Kodwa abakhethiweyo laba kabasoze bavume ukuyengwa. OKhristu bamanga bona bazabonwa ngabantu kodwa nxa uJesu eseqalisa ukubusa, akulamuntu ozambona.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu ukhuluma ngokuhlupheka okukhulu okuzakuba khona ekupheleni komumo lo wezinto. Uthi: “Ilanga lizakuba mnyama lenyanga kayiyikukhanya, izinkanyezi zizakuwa zivela ezulwini njalo amandla amazulu azanyikinywa.” (UMathewu 24:29) Abaphostoli abalalele amazwi la ethusayo kabakwazi ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani sibisibili kodwa okuzakwenzakala kuzabe kutshwaqisa igazi.

Abantu bazakwenzani sebebona izinto lezi ezethusayo? UJesu uthi: “Abantu bazaphela amandla ngenxa yokwesaba lokulindela izinto ezizakwehlela umhlaba wonke ngoba amandla amazulu azanyikinywa.” (ULukha 21:26) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngesikhathi esinzima kulazo zonke ezake zaba khona.

Kodwa uJesu uyabaqinisa abaphostoli bakhe ebacacisela ukuthi kayisibo bonke abazalila nxa “iNdodana yomuntu isiza ngamayezi ezulu ilamandla kanye lenkazimulo enkulu.” (UMathewu 24:30) Ubeke wabatshela ukuthi kulokunye uNkulunkulu azakwenza “ngenxa yabakhethiweyo.” (UMathewu 24:22) Pho abafundi laba abathembekileyo kumele benzeni nxa besizwa izinto lezi ezesabekayo uJesu akhuluma ngazo? UJesu ukhuthaza abalandeli bakhe athi: “Nxa izinto lezi seziqalisa ukwenzakala, sukumani lime liphakamise amakhanda ngoba ukukhululwa kwenu kuyabe sekuseduze.”​—ULukha 21:28.

Manje abafundi bakaJesu abazabe bephila esikhathini sokuphela komumo wezinto bazabona njani ukuthi ukuphela sekuseduze? UJesu ubalandisela umzekeliso ophathelane lesihlahla somkhiwa. Uthi: “Nxa ugatsha lwaso oluncane seluqalisa nje ukuba buthakathaka lamahlamvu alo esehluma, liyakwazi ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. Lani nxa libona izinto zonke lezi, yazini ukuthi iseduze, emnyango. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, loba sekutheni isizukulwane lesi kasisoze sidlule zingakenzakali zonke izinto lezi.”​—UMathewu 24:32-34.

Yikho-ke nxa abafundi bakaJesu bebona izinto ezinengi eziyisibonakaliso zisenzakala, kumele bananzelele ukuthi ukuphela sekuseduze. Ngemva kwalokho uJesu uxwayisa abafundi abazabe bephila ngalesosikhathi.

Uthi: “Kakho olaziyo lelolanga lalelohola, kwala zona izingilosi zamazulu ngitsho leNdodana, kodwa nguBaba kuphela. Njengoba nje zazinjalo insuku zikaNowa, kuzakuba njalo ukuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu. Ngalezonsuku uZamcolo engakafiki kwakudliwa, kunathwa, amadoda ethatha labesifazana besendiswa, kwaze kwafika ilanga uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini, futhi kabazange babe lendaba kwaze kwafika uZamcolo wabakhukhula bonke. Kuzakuba njalo ukuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.” (UMathewu 24:36-39) UJesu ukhumbuza abamlaleleyo ngoZamcolo wangesikhathi sikaNowa owaba khona emhlabeni wonke. Yikho ukuphela komumo lo wezinto lakho kuzabe kusemhlabeni wonke.

Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi abaphostoli abalalele uJesu eNtabeni Yama-Oliva bayabona ukuthi kumele bahlale bephapheme. UJesu uthi: “Nanzelelani izinhliziyo zenu zingakhulelwa yikudla kakhulu lokunatha ledlulise kanye lezinkathazo zokuphila, lolosuku beselulifica lilibele, lulijume njengomjibila. Phela luzafikela bonke abahlala emhlabeni. Ngakho hlalani liphapheme, lithandaze zikhathi zonke lincenga ukuze lenelise ukuphunyuka ezintweni zonke lezi okumele zenzakale njalo lenelise lokuma phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.”​—ULukha 21:34-36.

UJesu uphinda atshengise ukuthi akutshoyo kuzakwenzakala ezindaweni ezinengi. Kaphrofethi ngezinto ezizakwenzakala okweminyaka engaba ngu-30 kumbe engu-40 kuphela futhi kakhulumi ngokuzakwehlela idolobho leJerusalema kumbe isizwe samaJuda kuphela. Ukhuluma ngezinto ‘ezizafikela bonke abahlala emhlabeni.’

UJesu uthi abafundi bakhe kuzamele bahlale bephapheme, belindile futhi bezilungiselele. Ucacisa lokhu ngomunye umzekeliso, uthi: “Kodwa nanku okumele likwazi: Aluba umnikazi wendlu ubekwazi ukuthi isela lizakuza ngasiphi isikhathi ebusuku, ubeyahlala ephapheme futhi ubengasoze avume ukuthi indlu yakhe igqekezwe. Ngakho lani hlalani lizilungiselele, ngoba iNdodana yomuntu izakuza ngehola elingalicabangeliyo.”​—UMathewu 24:43, 44.

Ngemva kwalokho uJesu utshela abafundi bakhe okunye okuzabanceda ukuthi bangalahli ithemba. Ubatshela ukuthi ngesikhathi isiphrofetho sakhe sigcwaliseka kuzakuba ‘lenceku’ ezabe iphapheme futhi ikhuthele. UJesu ukhuluma ngokunye abaphostoli abakuzwisisa lula. Uthi: “Ngubani sibili oyinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo, ebekwe yinkosi yayo ukuthi ikhangele izisebenzi zalapha ekhaya ukuze izinike ukudla kwazo ngesikhathi esifaneleyo? Izathokoza kakhulu inceku leyo nxa inkosi yayo ingathi isiza, iyifice isenza njalo! Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, izayibeka ukuthi ikhangele konke okungokwayo.” Nxa kungenzakala ukuthi “inceku” le ibembi futhi ihlukuluze abanye, inkosi “izayijezisa ngendlela ebuhlungu kakhulu.”​—UMathewu 24:45-51; khangela loLukha 12:45, 46.

UJesu katsho ukuthi bakhona abalandeli bakhe abazakwenza izinto ezimbi. Pho yisiphi isifundo afuna abafundi bakhe bahlale besikhumbula? Ufuna bahlale bephapheme futhi bekhuthele njalo lokhu uzakucacisa komunye umzekeliso.

UJesu ubephendula umbuzo wabaphostoli bakhe omayelana lesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe lesesiphetho somumo wezinto. Khathesi usebaxwayisa esebenzisa omunye umzekeliso. Abazabe bephila ngesikhathi sokuba khona kwakhe yibo abazabona ukugcwaliseka kwalokho akutshoyo.

Uqalisa umzekeliso wakhe esithi: “UMbuso wamazulu ungafaniswa lezintombi ezilitshumi ezathatha izibane zazo zaphuma zisiyahlangabeza umyeni. Ezinhlanu zaziyizithutha, ezinhlanu zihlakaniphile.”​—UMathewu 25:1, 2.

UJesu katsho ukuthi abanye abafundi bakhe abazathola ilifa loMbuso ezulwini bazakuba yizithutha kuthi abanye babe ngabahlakaniphileyo. Akutshoyo yikuthi endabeni yokungena eMbusweni, umfundi ngamunye uyazikhethela ukuthi uzahlala ephapheme yini loba uzavuma ukuphanjaniswa ngezinye izinto. Kodwa uJesu kathandabuzi kuthi izinceku zakhe zonke zingahlala zithembekile futhi zibusiswe nguYise.

Emzekelisweni kaJesu, izintombi ezilitshumi ziyaphuma ukuthi ziyehlangabeza umyeni lokuthi zibe semthimbeni womtshado. Umyeni uzathi esefikile izintombi zilumathise izibane zazo zimkhanyisele lapho ahamba khona lomlobokazi wakhe besiya endlini umlobokazi ayilungiselweyo. Kodwa kwenzakalani izintombi lezi seziphumile?

UJesu uthi: “Eziyizithutha zathatha izibane zazo kodwa zatshiya amafutha, ezihlakaniphileyo zona zathwala izibane zazo kanye lamafutha ezimbodleleni zazo. Umyeni uthe esephuza zonke zaqalisa ukuwozela zalala.” (UMathewu 25:3-5) Umyeni kafiki ngesikhathi obekukhangelelwe ukuthi afike ngaso. Kukhanya uyaphuza sibili ngoba izintombi zize zijumeke. Abaphostoli bengabe bekhumbula lokho uJesu ake akutsho ngomuntu wesikhosini owaya kwenye indawo futhi ‘wacina ephenduka esebuphiwe ubukhosi.’​—ULukha 19:11-15.

Emzekelisweni wezintombi ezilitshumi, uJesu ukhuluma ngalokho okwenzakalayo umyeni esefikile. Uthi: “Phakathi laphakathi kobusuku kwamenyezwa kwathiwa: ‘Nangu umyeni! Phumani liyemhlangabeza.’” (UMathewu 25:6) Izintombi zizilungiselele yini?

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Lapho-ke izintombi zonke zavuka zalungisa izibane zazo. Eziyizithutha zathi kwezihlakaniphileyo, ‘Sichathekeleni amafutha enu ngoba izibane zethu sezizacitsha.’ Ezihlakaniphileyo zaphendula zathi: ‘Engxenye kawasoze asenele nxa singalinika. Kungcono lihambe kwabawathengisayo liyezithengela awenu.’”​—UMathewu 25:7-9.

Izintombi ezinhlanu eziyizithutha kazikulungiselelanga ukufika komyeni. Amafutha ezibane zazo kawenelanga yikho sekumele zizame ukudinga amanye. UJesu uthi: “Zithe zisayawathenga, umyeni wafika. Izintombi ezazizilungiselele zangena laye edilini lomtshado, umnyango wasuvalwa. Ngemva kwalokho kwafika lezinye izintombi ezinhlanu zathi: ‘Mnumzana, Mnumzana, sivulele!’ Yena waphendula wathi, ‘Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, kangilazi.’” (UMathewu 25:10-12) Okwehlele izintombi lezi kuyadanisa ngoba bezingazilungiselelanga.

Abaphostoli bayabona ukuthi uJesu nguye umyeni osemzekelisweni. Phela kaqalisi ukuzifanisa lomyeni. (ULukha 5:34, 35) Izintombi ezihlakaniphileyo zona-ke? UJesu wakhuluma ‘ngomhlambi omncane’ ozanikwa uMbuso esithi: “Gqokani lihlale lizilungiselele njalo izibane zenu kazihlale zibhebha.” (ULukha 12:32, 35) Yikho emzekelisweni wezintombi, abaphostoli bayazwisisa ukuthi uJesu ukhuluma ngabo kanye labanye abafundi abasemhlambini omncane. UJesu uwulandiseleni umzekeliso lo?

Kabatshiyi besemnyameni abafundi bakhe. Uphetha umzekeliso wakhe esithi: “Ngakho-ke hlalani lilindile ngoba kalilazi ilanga kumbe ihola.”​—UMathewu 25:13.

Kusegcekeni ukuthi uJesu uxwayisa abalandeli bakhe abathembekileyo ukuthi kuzamele ‘bahlale belindile’ ngesikhathi sokuba khona kwakhe. Kumele bahlale belindile futhi bezilungiselele njengezintombi ezinhlanu ezihlakaniphileyo ngoba uzabuya. Bangenza njalo kabasoze balahlekelwe lithemba labo eliyigugu futhi bazawuthola umvuzo wabo.

UJesu ulokhu elabaphostoli bakhe abane eNtabeni Yama-Oliva futhi ubalandisela omunye umzekeliso. Uthe eseJerikho emalangeni asanda kwedlula wabalandisela umzekeliso wamamina otshengisa ukuthi kusele isikhathi eside ukuthi uMbuso ufike. Umzekeliso asebalandisela wona khathesi uhambelana kakhulu lalowo ake wawulandisa. Lawo uphendula umbuzo obuzwe ngabaphostoli omayelana lokuba khona kwakhe lesiphetho somumo wezinto. Utshengisa ukuthi abafundi kumele bakhuthale emsebenzini abaphathise wona.

UJesu uthi: “UMbuso unjengendoda eyathi isizakuya phetsheya yabiza izinceku zayo yazigcinisa impahla yayo.” (UMathewu 25:14) Abaphostoli bahle babone ukuthi uJesu nguye ‘indoda’ esemzekelisweni lo ngoba uke wazifanisa lomunye “umuntu” owaya kwelinye ilizwe “ukuze ayephiwa ubukhosi.”​—ULukha 19:12.

Indoda esemzekelisweni ithi ingakayi phetsheya itshiyele izinceku zayo impahla yayo eqakathekileyo. UJesu ubekhuthele ekutshumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu okweminyaka emithathu lengxenye esenza inkonzo yakhe, futhi ufundise abafundi bakhe ukuthi bawenze njani umsebenzi lo. Khathesi usehamba futhi ulethemba lokuthi bazaqhubeka besenza lokho abafundise ukuthi bakwenze.​—UMathewu 10:7; ULukha 10:1, 8, 9; khangela loJohane 4:38; 14:12.

Indoda esemzekelisweni inika inceku ngayinye impahla enganani? UJesu uthi: “Yanika inceku yokuqala amathalenta amahlanu, enye yayinika amabili, enye yayinika elilodwa, kusiya ngokuthi ngayinye yayisenelisa ukwenzani, yasisuka yaya elizweni elikhatshana.” (UMathewu 25:15) Izinceku lezo zizakwenzani ngempahla eziyitshiyelweyo? Zizayisebenzisa ngendlela ezathokozisa inkosi yazo yini? UJesu utshela abaphostoli athi:

“Eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yahle yayakwenza ibhizimusi ngawo, yasizuza amanye amahlanu. Eyayiphiwe amabili layo yazuza amanye amabili. Kodwa inceku eyayiphiwe elilodwa yasuka yayagebha igodi, yafihla imali yenkosi yayo.” (UMathewu 25:16-18) Kuzakwenzakalani nxa inkosi isiphendukile?

UJesu uqhubeka esithi: “Ngemva kwesikhathi eside inkosi yabuya, yafika yakhangela ukuthi izinceku zayo zaziyisebenzise njani imali yayo.” (UMathewu 25:19) Izinceku zokuqala ezimbili zenza konke ezazingakwenza, “kusiya ngokuthi ngayinye yayisenelisa ukwenzani.” Zombili zazikhuthele futhi zaphinda zazuza enye imali ngaleyo ezaziyiphiwe. Owayephiwe amathalenta amahlanu wathola amanye amahlanu, owayephiwe amabili laye wabuya lawo esephindwe kabili. (Ngalezonsuku umuntu kwakumele asebenze okweminyaka engaba ngu-19 ukuze athole imali elingana lethalenta elilodwa.) Inkosi incoma inceku ngayinye isithi: “Wenze kuhle nceku enhle lethembekileyo! Ube ngothembekileyo ezintweni ezilutshwana. Ngizakuphathisa izinto ezinengi. Thokoza lenkosi yakho.”​—UMathewu 25:21.

Kodwa inceku eyaphiwa ithalenta elilodwa izenzela okwayo. Ithi: “Nkosi, bengikwazi ukuthi uyindoda ehluphayo, evuna lapho engahlanyelanga khona futhi ebutha amabele engawasebenzelanga. Yikho ngesaba ngasengisiyafihla ithalenta lakho emhlabathini. Nanku, thatha okungokwakho.” (UMathewu 25:24, 25) Kayizange izihluphe langokufaka imali yenkosi yayo ebhanga ukuze izale. Inceku le kayikwenzanga obekukhangelelwe ukuthi ikwenze.

Inkosi yayo kayiphambanisi sibili nxa isithi ‘iyinceku embi elivilavoxo.’ Iyalithathelwa ithalenta ebilalo liphiwe inceku ezimiseleyo ukusebenza gadalala. Inkosi ithi: “Wonke umuntu olakho uzaphiwa okunye futhi, njalo uzakuba lokunengi kakhulu. Kodwa ongelakho uzathathelwa lalokho alakho.”​—UMathewu 25:26, 29.

Abafundi bakaJesu balokunengi okumele bacabange ngakho futhi okunye kwakhona ngumzekeliso abasanda kuwuzwa. Bayabona ukuthi umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi uJesu abapha wona uqakatheke kakhulu. Ukhangelele ukuthi bakhuthale emsebenzini lo oyisibusiso. UJesu kalindelanga ukuthi bonke benze okufananayo emsebenzini wokutshumayela abalaye ukuthi bawenze. Umzekeliso asanda kuwulandisa utshengisa ukuthi ngamunye kumele enze angakwenza ‘kusiya ngokuthi wenelisa ukwenzani.’ Kodwa uJesu kasoze athokoze nxa omunye angaba ‘livilavoxo’ futhi ehluleke ukwenza angakwenza emsebenzini awuphiwe yiNkosi.

Kumele ukuthi abaphostoli bayathokoza besizwa amazwi athi: “Wonke umuntu olakho uzaphiwa okunye futhi.”

UJesu usanda kulandisa umzekeliso wezintombi ezilitshumi lowamathalenta eNtabeni Yama-Oliva. Khathesi uyigoqa njani indaba ebuzwe ngabafundi bakhe ephathelane lesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe kanye leyesiphetho somumo wezinto? Ubalandisela umzekeliso wokucina owezimvu lezimbuzi.

UJesu uqala athi kubo: “Nxa iNdodana yomuntu isisiza enkazimulweni yayo ilezingilosi zonke, izahlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi esikhazimulayo.” (UMathewu 25:31) Emzekelisweni lo, wenza kucace ukuthi ukhuluma ngaye ngoba wayejayele ukukhuluma ngokuthi ‘uyiNdodana yomuntu.’​—UMathewu 8:20; 9:6; 20:18, 28.

Kuzakwenzakala nini lokho uJesu akhuluma ngakho emzekelisweni lo? Kuzakwenzakala ‘esesiza enkazimulweni yakhe’ elezingilosi futhi esehlala ‘esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi esikhazimulayo.’ Ubeke wakhuluma ‘ngeNdodana yomuntu isiza ngeyezi ilamandla lenkazimulo enkulu’ njalo ilezingilosi zayo. Kuzakwenzakala nini lokhu? “Masinyane nje, ngemva kokuhlupheka.” (UMathewu 24:29-31; UMakho 13:26, 27; ULukha 21:27) Yikho-ke, lokho uJesu akhuluma ngakho emzekelisweni wakhe kuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo esesiza enkazimulweni. UJesu uzakwenzani ngalesosikhathi?

Uthi: ‘Nxa iNdodana yomuntu isisiza, zonke izizwe zizabuthelwa kuyo futhi izakwehlukanisa abantu babe ngamaqembu amabili, njengomelusi esehlukanisa izimvu lezimbuzi. Uzabeka izimvu esandleni sakhe sokudla, izimbuzi azibeke kwesenxele.’​—UMathewu 25:31-33.

UJesu ukhuluma ngezimvu ezisesandleni sokudla esithi: “Ngemva kwalokho iNkosi izakuthi kulabo abasesandleni sayo sokudla: ‘Wozani lina elibusiswe nguBaba, lidle ilifa loMbuso elawulungiselwa kusukela ekusungulweni komhlaba.’” (UMathewu 25:34) Kuyini okwenza izimvu zithole umvuzo lo?

INkosi ithi: “Ngangilambile langinika ukudla; ngangomile langinathisa. Ngangiyisihambi langamukela ngezandla zombili, nganginqunu langigqokisa. Ngangigula langinakekela. Ngangisejele langivakatshela.” Kodwa izimvu, okutsho “abalungileyo” ziyambuza ukuthi zakwenza nini lokho, yena abeseziphendula esithi: “Loba yini elayenzela omunye walaba abafowethu abancane, layenzela mina.” (UMathewu 25:35, 36, 40, 46) Izinto lezi kabazenzi ezulwini ngoba akulanjwa futhi akugulwa khonale. Kumele ukuthi bazenzela abafowabo bakaKhristu abasemhlabeni.

Kuzakwenzakalani embuzini ezisesandleni sokunxele? UJesu uthi: “Ngemva kwalokho [iNkosi] izakuthi kwabasesandleni sayo senxele: ‘Sukani phansi kwami lina eliqalekisiweyo, liye emlilweni waphakade olungiselwe uDeveli lezingilosi zakhe, ngoba ngangilambile kodwa kalinginikanga ukudla; ngangomile kodwa kalinginathisanga. Ngangiyisihambi kodwa kalingamukelanga ngezandla zombili; nganginqunu kodwa kalingigqokisanga; ngangigula njalo ngisejele kodwa kalizange linginakekele.’” (UMathewu 25:41-43) Kuzifanele imbuzi lezi ukuthi zahlulelwe kanje ngoba bekumele zibaphathe kuhle abafowabo bakaKhristu, kodwa zona kazikwenzanga lokho.

Abaphostoli bayakubona ukuthi nxa ungahlulelwa ube seqenjini lezimvu uzathola ukuphila okungapheliyo kodwa ungahlulelwa ube seqenjini lembuzi uzabhujiswa. UJesu ubatshela athi: “[INkosi izakuthi], ‘Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, loba yini elingayenzelanga omunye walaba abafowethu abancane, kaliyenzelanga mina.’ Laba bazakuya ekubhujisweni kwaphakade, kodwa abalungileyo bazakuya ekuphileni okungapheliyo.”​—UMathewu 25:45, 46.

Impendulo uJesu ayinika abaphostoli bakhe iphethe okunengi abalandeli bakhe bonke abangacabangisisa ngakho njalo iyabanceda ukuthi bazihlole.