Incwadi YeBhayibhile 40—Mateyu

Umbhali: NguMateyu

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EPalestina

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-41 C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowe-2 B.C.E.–33 C.E.

1. (a) Liliphi idinga uYehova awalibekela uluntu ukususela e-Eden ukusa phambili? (b) Ithemba ngoMesiya lamiselwa ngokuqinileyo njani kumaYuda?

UKUSUSELA kwixesha lemvukelo yase-Eden, uYehova uye wabekela uluntu idinga elithuthuzelayo lokuba uya kuzisa inkululeko yabo bonke abathandi bobulungisa ngeMbewu “yomfazi” wakhe. Wayenenjongo yokuba le Mbewu okanye uMesiya, wayeya kuyivelisa kuhlanga lwakwaSirayeli. Njengoko iinkulungwane zazidlula, wabangela ukuba kubhalwe intaphane yeziprofeto esebenzisa ababhali abaphefumlelweyo abangamaHebhere, ebonisa ukuba le Mbewu yayiya kuba nguMlawuli kuBukumkani bukaThixo nokuba yayiya kusebenzela ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova, isusa ngonaphakade ugculelo oluye lwafunjwa phezu kwalo. Kusetyenziswa aba baprofeti kwanikelwa iinkcukacha ezininzi ngokuphathelele lo mntu wayeya kuba ngumthetheli kaYehova aze azise inkululeko kuloyiko, kwingcinezelo, kwisono nasekufeni. Ekugqityweni kweZibhalo zesiHebhere, ithemba elingoMesiya lalenziwe lomelela kumaYuda.

2. Ekufikeni kukaMesiya, iimeko zazikuvumela njani ukusasaza iindaba ezilungileyo?

² Okwelo xesha ihlabathi laliguquka. UThixo wayebangele ukuba iintlanga zilungiselele ukubonakala kukaMesiya, ibe iimeko zazisenza kube nokwenzeka ukuvakaliswa kweendaba zeso siganeko emhlabeni jikelele. Igunya lehlabathi lesihlanu, iGrisi, lalivelise ulwimi olunye, olwalusetyenziwa ngokubanzi njengendlela yokunxibelelana phakathi kweentlanga. IRoma, igunya lehlabathi lesithandathu, lalimanyanise iintlanga ezingabalawulwa balo kubukhosi behlabathi obunye laza lalungisa iindlela ukwenzela ukuba yonke imimandla yobukhosi ibe nokufikeleleka. AmaYuda amaninzi ayesasazekile kubo bonke obu bukhosi, kangangokuba abanye bathi bazi ngokulindela kwamaYuda uMesiya ozayo. Ibe ngoku, ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-4 000 emva kokwenziwa kwedinga lase-Eden, uMesiya wathi wabonakala! IMbewu ethenjisiweyo ekwakukudala ilindelwe yayide yafika! Ezona ziganeko zibalulekileyo ukuza kuthi ga ngelo xesha embalini yoluntu zazityhileka njengoko uMesiya ngokuthembekileyo wayephumeza ukuthanda kukaYise apha emhlabeni.

3. (a) Liliphi ilungiselelo awalenzayo uYehova lokubhalwa kweenkcukacha zobomi bukaYesu? (b) Yintoni eyahlukileyo ngeVangeli nganye, yaye kutheni zonke ezi zine zibalulekile nje?

³ Kwakhona kwakulithuba lokuqulunqwa kwemibhalo ephefumlelweyo ukuze kubhalwe ezi ziganeko ziphawulekayo. Umoya kaYehova waphefumlela amadoda amane athembekileyo ukuba iyileyo ibhale eyayo ingxelo, ngaloo ndlela kunikelwa ubungqina obuntlu-ne bokuba uYesu wayenguMesiya, iMbewu noKumkani othenjisiweyo, yaye kunikelwa iinkcukacha ezingobomi bakhe, ubulungiseleli, ukufa nokuvuswa kwakhe. Ezi ngxelo zibizwa ngokuba ziiVangeli, igama elithi “vangeli” lithetha “iindaba ezilungileyo.” Ngoxa ezi zine zifana ibe ngokufuthi zigubungela iziganeko ezifanayo, aziyomibhalo nje ekhutshelweyo yamabali afanayo. IiVangeli ezintathu zokuqala zidla ngokubizwa ngokuba ziisynoptic, gama elo elithetha “imbono efanayo,” ekubeni zisebenzisa indlela efanayo ekubaliseni ngobomi bukaYesu emhlabeni. Kodwa ngamnye waba babhali bane—uMateyu, uMarko, uLuka noYohane—ubalisa elakhe ibali ngoKristu. Ngamnye unowakhe umxholo nenjongo ethile, ebonakalisa obakhe ubuntu, yaye usoloko ecinga ngabafundi bakhe belo xesha. Okukhona sihlolisisa imibhalo yabo, kokukhona siziqonda iinkalo ezahlukileyo zakhe ngamnye nokuba ezi ncwadi zine ziphefumlelweyo zeBhayibhile ziyila iingxelo ezahlukeneyo, eziphelelisanayo nezivisisanayo zobomi bukaYesu Kristu.

4. Yintoni eyaziwayo ngombhali weVangeli yokuqala?

⁴ Umntu wokuqala owabhala iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoKristu yayinguMateyu. Kunokwenzeka ukuba igama lakhe liyimo efinyeziweyo yelesiHebhere elithi “Mattithiah,” elithetha ukuthi “iSipho sikaYehova.” Wayengomnye wabapostile abali-12 abanyulwa nguYesu. Ebudeni bethuba laxa iNkosi yayihambahamba ityhutyha elasePalestina ishumayela yaye ifundisa ngoBukumkani bukaThixo, uMateyu wayenolwalamano olusondeleyo nolusenyongweni kunye nayo. Ngaphambi kokuba ngumfundi kaYesu, uMateyu wayengumrhafisi, msebenzi lowo amaYuda awayewucekisa kakhulu, ekubeni wawusoloko uwakhumbuza ukuba ayengakhululekanga kodwa ayephantsi kolawulo lobukhosi baseRoma. UMateyu wayekwaziwa ngenye indlela ngokuba nguLevi yaye wayengunyana ka-Alifeyu. Wasamkela ngokulula isimemo sikaYesu sokumlandela.—Mat. 9:9; Marko 2:14; Luka 5:27-32.

5. UMateyu ungqinelwa njani njengombhali weVangeli yokuqala?

⁵ Ngoxa kwiVangeli kaMateyu engakhankanywa ngegama njengombhali wayo, ubungqina obuyintabalala bababhali-mbali bakuqala becawa buqinisekisa ukuba wayibhala. Mhlawumbi akukho nanye incwadi yamandulo enombhali wayo ovunywa ngokucacileyo nangamxhelo mnye kunokuba injalo incwadi kaMateyu. Ukususela emva phayaa kwixesha likaPapias waseHirapoli (ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo) ukusa phambili, sinoludwe lwamangqina akuqala angqinela isibakala sokuba uMateyu wayibhala le Vangeli nokuba iyinxalenye eyinyaniso yeLizwi likaThixo. ICyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong ithi: “Iingcaphulo ezithatyathwe kuMateyu zicatshulwa nguJustin Martyr, ngumbhali wencwadi eya kuDiognetus (bona iJustin Martyr kaOtto, umqu. ii), nguHegesippus, nguIrenæus, nguTatian, nguAthenagoras, nguTheophilus, nguClement, nguTertullian no-Origen. Asingombandela nje wokucatshulwa, kodwa yindlela ocatshulwa ngayo, ukuba nomtsalane kwayo njengencwadi evunywe ngokusemthethweni, ukungabi nakuthandabuzeka kwayo nakancinane, esithi sikugqale njengento engqinelweyo yokuba le ncwadi sinayo ayikhange ichatshazelwe yiyo nayiphi na inguqulelo yequbuliso.”a Isibakala sokuba uMateyu wayengumpostile yaye, njengompostile, wayenomoya kaThixo siqinisekisa ukuba oko wakubhalayo kwakuya kuba yingxelo ethembekileyo.

6, 7. (a) IVangeli kaMateyu yaqala nini ukubhalwa, ibe ngaluphi ulwimi? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba yayibhalelwe ngokuyintloko amaYuda? (c) KwiNew World Translation libonakala izihlandlo ezingaphi igama likaYehova kule Vangeli, yaye ngoba?

⁶ UMateyu wayibhala ingxelo yakhe ePalestina. Owona nyaka awabhala ngawo awaziwa, kodwa imibhalo esekupheleni kwemibhalo-ngqangi ethile (yonke yasemva kwenkulungwane yeshumi yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo) ithi kwakungowama-41 C.E. Kukho ubungqina obubonisa ukuba ekuqaleni uMateyu wayibhala iVangeli yakhe ngesiHebhere esasisaziwa kakhulu ngelo xesha waza kamva wayiguqulela kwisiGrike. Kwincwadi yakhe ethi De viris inlustribus (Ngokuphathelele Amadoda Adumileyo), isahluko III, uJerome uthi: “Okokuqala uMateyu, okwanguLevi, nowasuka ekubeni ngumrhafisi waba ngumpostile, wabhala iVangeli kaKristu kwelakwaYuda ngolwimi lwesiHebhere ukuze kungenelwe abo bolwaluko ababekholwa.”b UJerome wongezelela ukuba umbhalo wesiHebhere wale Vangeli walondolozwa ngomhla wakhe (ngenkulungwane yesine neyesihlanu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo) kwithala lencwadi uPamphilus awaliqokelela eKesareya.

⁷ Ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesithathu, uOrigen, exubusha iiVangeli, ucatshulwa nguEusebius njengothi “eyokuqala yabhalwa . . . nguMateyu, . . . owayipapashela abo bathi besuka ebuYudeni baba ngamakholwa, wayibhala njengoko yayinjalo ngolwimi lwesiHebhere.”c Isibakala sokuba yabhalwa ngokuyintloko kucingwa ngamaYuda sibonakaliswa luluhlu lwayo lomnombo wenzala, olubonisa uYesu njengenzala esemthethweni ka-Abraham, nokubhekisela kwayo kangangezihlandlo eziliqela kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba zazisalatha phambili ekuzeni kukaMesiya. Kusengqiqweni ukukholelwa ukuba uMateyu wasebenzisa igama likaThixo uYehova kuhlobo lweTetragrammaton xa wayecaphula kwiinxalenye zeZibhalo zesiHebhere ezazinelo gama. Yiyo loo nto incwadi kaMateyu kwiNew World Translation inegama likaYehova kangangezihlandlo ezili-18, njengoko kunjalo kwinguqulelo yesiHebhere kaMateyu eyaveliswa okokuqala nguF. Delitzsch ngenkulungwane ye-19. Kumele ukuba uMateyu wayenesimo sengqondo esifana nesikaYesu ngokuphathelele igama likaThixo ibe kumele ukuba akazange alawulwe yinkolo eyayixhaphakile yamaYuda engokungalisebenzisi elo gama.—Mat. 6:9; Yoh. 17:6, 26.

8. Isibakala sokuba uMateyu wayengumbuthi werhafu sibonakala njani koko kuqulethwe yile Vangeli?

⁸ Ekubeni uMateyu wayengumrhafisi, kwakuyinto elindelekileyo ukuba athethe ngokucacileyo xa ekhankanya imali, amanani namaxabiso. (Mat. 17:27; 26:15; 27:3) Wayeyixabise ngokunyanisekileyo inceba kaThixo awayeyifumene yokuba athi, engumrhafisi odelekileyo, abe ngumlungiseleli weendaba ezilungileyo nesinxulumani esisenyongweni sikaYesu. Ngoko ke, sifumanisa inguMateyu kuphela phakathi kwababhali beVangeli osixelela ngokuzingisa okuphindaphindiweyo kukaYesu kwisibakala sokuba kufuneka inceba ukongezelela kumbingelelo. (9:9-13; 12:7; 18:21-35) UMateyu wakhuthazeka kakhulu lubabalo lukaYehova yaye ngokufanelekileyo ubhala amanye awona mazwi athuthuzelayo awathethwa nguYesu: “Yizani kum nonke nina nibulalekayo, nisindwayo ngumthwalo, ndoninika ukuphumla. Thabathani idyokhwe yam niyithwale, nifunde kum; ngokuba ndinobulali, ndithobekile ngentliziyo; noyifumanela ukuphumla imiphefumlo yenu. Kuba idyokhwe yam imnandi, nomthwalo wam ulula.” (11:28-30) Hayi indlela awayehlaziya ngayo la mazwi okuthantamisa kulowo wayesakuba ngumrhafisi, owathi, ngokungathandabuzekiyo, wangcikivwa ngabantu!

9. Nguwuphi umxholo nohlobo lokubalisa olwahlula uMateyu?

⁹ Ngokukhethekileyo uMateyu wabethelela ukuba umxholo wemfundiso kaYesu ‘wawububukumkani bamazulu.’ (4:17) Kuye, uYesu wayenguMshumayeli onguKumkani. Wayelisebenzisa rhoqo (ngaphezu kwezihlandlo ezingama-50) igama elithi “ubukumkani” kangangokuba iVangeli yakhe isenokubizwa ngokuba yiVangeli yoBukumkani. UMateyu wayekuxhalabele ngakumbi ukuzichaza ngendlela esengqiqweni iintetho neentshumayelo zikaYesu zasesidlangalaleni kunokuba anamathele ngokungqongqo ekulandelelaneni kwazo ngokobalo-maxesha. Kwizahluko zokuqala ezili-18, ukubalaselisa kukaMateyu umxholo woBukumkani kwamkhokelela ekubeni angahambisani nocwangciso olungokobalo-maxesha. Noko ke, izahluko zokugqibela ezilishumi (ese-19 ukusa kwesama-28) ngokubanzi zibhalwe ngolandelelwano olungokobalo-maxesha yaye ziqhubeka zibethelela ingongoma yoBukumkani.

10. Iqulethe umbandela ongakanani ekaMateyu kuphela, yaye le Vangeli igubungela liphi ithuba?

¹⁰ Inxalenye engamashumi amane anesibini ekhulwini yengxelo yeVangeli kaMateyu ayifumaneki kuyo nayiphi na enye yeeVangeli ezintathu.d Oku kuquka ubuncinane imizekeliso elishumi eyile: Owomdiza osentsimini (13:24-30), owobutyebi obufihliweyo (13:44), oweperile yexabiso elikhulu (13:45, 46), owomnatha (13:47-50), owomkhonzi ongenanceba (18:23-35), owabasebenzi nedenariyo (20:1-16), owobawo nabantwana ababini (21:28-32), owomtshato wonyana kakumkani (22:1-14), oweentombi ezilishumi (25:1-13), noweetalente (25:14-30). Lilonke, le ncwadi inikela ingxelo esusela ekuzalweni kukaYesu, ngowe-2 B.C.E., ukusa ekudibaneni kwakhe nabafundi bakhe ngaphambi nje kokuba anyukele ezulwini, ngowama-33 C.E.

OKUQULETHWE YEKAMATEYU

11. (a) Iqalisa njani ngokusengqiqweni le Vangeli, yaye ziziphi iziganeko zokuqala ezibaliswayo? (b) Kukuphi okunye ukuzaliseka kweziprofeto athi uMateyu akuzise engqalelweni yethu?

¹¹ Ukwaziswa kukaYesu neendaba ‘zobukumkani bamazulu’ (1:1–4:25). Ngokusengqiqweni, uMateyu uqalisa ngomnombo kaYesu engqina ilungelo elisemthethweni likaYesu njengendlalifa ka-Abraham noDavide. Ngaloo ndlela, utsala ingqalelo yomfundi ongumYuda. Sithi ke sifunde ngengxelo yokukhawulwa ngokungummangaliso kukaYesu, ukuzalelwa kwakhe eBhetelehem, ukutyelelwa ngoojong’ iinkwenkwezi, ukubulala ngomsindo kukaHerode onke amakhwenkwana aseBhetelehem angaphantsi kweminyaka emibini ubudala, ukusabela kukaYosefu noMariya eYiputa kunye nomntwana omncinane nokubuyela kwabo kamva ukuza kuhlala eNazarete. Ngenyameko uMateyu utsalela ingqalelo ekuzalisekeni kweziprofeto ukuze angqine uYesu enguMesiya owaxelwa kwangaphambili.—Mat. 1:23—Isa. 7:14; Mat. 2:1-6—Mika 5:2; Mat. 2:13-18—Hos. 11:1 noYer. 31:15; Mat. 2:23—Isa. 11:1, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW.

12. Yintoni eyenzekayo xa uYesu ebhaptizwa nangokukhawuleza emva koko?

¹² Ngoku ingxelo kaMateyu iyaqakatha ukuza kutsho kwiminyaka ephantse ibe ngama-30. UYohane uMbhaptizi ushumayela entlango yelakwaYuda: “Guqukani, kuba ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” (Mat. 3:2) Ubhaptiza amaYuda aguqukileyo kumlambo iYordan yaye ulumkisa abaFarisi nabaSadusi ngengqumbo eza kuza. UYesu uyeza evela eGalili yaye uyabhaptizwa. Ngokukhawuleza umoya kaThixo wehlela phezu kwakhe, kwaye kuphuma ilizwi ezulwini lisithi: “Lo nguNyana wam oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye.” (3:17) Wandula ke uYesu asiwe entlango, apho athi, emva kokuzila intsuku ezingama-40, alingwe nguSathana uMtyholi. Kangangezihlandlo ezithathu umphendula uSathana ngezicatshulwa eziphuma kwiLizwi likaThixo, esithi ekugqibeleni: “Suka umke, Sathana; kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, yiNkosi uThixo wakho oya kuqubuda kuyo, ukhonze yona yodwa.”—4:10.

13. Liliphi iphulo elichukumisayo eliqhubekayo ngoku eGalili?

¹³ “Guqukani, kuba ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Ngoku la mazwi achukumisayo avakaliswa eGalili nguYesu othanjisiweyo. Ubiza ababambisi beentlanzi abane ukuba bashiye iminatha yabo balandele yena baze babe “ngababambisi babantu,” yaye uhambahamba nabo kulo “lonke elaseGalili, efundisa ezindlwini zabo zesikhungu, evakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zobukumkani, ephilisa izifo nezikhuhlane zonke ebantwini.”—4:17, 19, 23.

14. KwiNtshumayelo yakhe yaseNtabeni, uYesu uthetha ngokuba noyolo ngenxa yaziphi izinto, yaye uthini ngobulungisa?

¹⁴ Intshumayelo yaseNtabeni (5:1–7:29). Njengoko izihlwele ziqalisa ukumlandela, uYesu unyuka intaba, uhlala phantsi, aze aqalise ukufundisa abafundi bakhe. Uyitshayelela le ntetho yakhe ichwayitisayo ngokuphindaphinda kalithoba igama elithi ‘banoyolo’ esithi: Banoyolo abangamahlwempu ngomoya, abakhedamileyo, abanobulali, abalambela banxanelwe ubulungisa, abanenceba, abahlambulukileyo iintliziyo, abaxolisi, abatshutshiswa ngenxa yobulungisa nabangcikivwayo yaye kuthethwa ngokunxamnye nabo kuxokwa. “Vuyani nigcobe kunene; ngokuba umvuzo wenu mkhulu emazulwini.” Ubabiza abafundi bakhe ngokuthi “yityuwa yehlabathi” ‘nokhanyiselo lwehlabathi’ yaye ucacisa ubulungisa, obahluke mpela kwisithethe sababhali nabaFarisi, obuyimfuneko ukuze kungenwe kuBukumkani bamazulu. “Ngoko yibani ngabafezekileyo, njengokuba uYihlo osemazulwini efezekile.”—5:12-14, 48.

15. Yintoni ekufuneka uYesu eyithethile mayela nomthandazo noBukumkani?

¹⁵ UYesu ulumkisa nxamnye nezipho nemithandazo yokuhanahanisa. Ufundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bathandazele ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYise, ukuba uBukumkani Bakhe bufike, baze bathandazele nenkxaso yabo yemihla ngemihla. Kuyo yonke le ntshumayelo uYesu ubalaselisa uBukumkani. Ulumkisa abo bamlandelayo ukuba bangazixhalabisi okanye basebenzele nje ubutyebi bezinto eziphathekayo, ngokuba uBawo uyazazi iimfuno zabo zokwenene. Uthi, “Funani ke tanci ubukumkani bukaThixo nobulungisa bakhe, zaye zonke ezo zinto ziya kongezelelwa kuni.”—6:33.

16. (a) Sisiphi isiluleko esinikelwa nguYesu ngokuphathelele ubuhlobo nabanye, yaye yintoni ayithethayo ngokuphathelele abo bathobela ukuthanda kukaThixo nabo bangenzi njalo? (b) Iba nawuphi umphumo intshumayelo yakhe?

¹⁶ INkosi iluleka ngokuphathelele ubuhlobo nabanye, isithi: “Zonke izinto ngoko enisukuba ninga bangazenza abantu kuni, yenzani ezikwanjalo nani kubo.” Abambalwa abafumana indlela esa ebomini baya kuba ngabo benza ukuthanda kukaYise. Abenzi bokuchasene nomthetho baya kwaziwa ngeziqhamo zabo yaye baya kuchaswa. UYesu ufanisa lowo uthobela amazwi akhe “nendoda eyingqondi, yona yayakhelayo elulwalweni indlu yayo.” Le ntetho izichaphazela njani izihlwele eziphulaphuleyo? ‘Ziyakhwankqiswa iindimbane kukufundisa kwakhe,’ kuba efundisa “njengonegunya, engafundisi njengabo ababhali.”—7:12, 24-29.

17. UYesu ulibonakalisa njani igunya analo njengoMesiya, yaye yiyiphi inkxalabo yothando ayibonakalisayo?

¹⁷ Ukushumayela ubukumkani kuyandiswa (8:1–11:30). UYesu wenza imimangaliso emininzi—uphilisa abaneqhenqa, abanedumbe nabanedemon. Ude abonakalise igunya kumoya ovuthuzayo nakumaza ngokuzolisa uqhwithela, yaye uvusa intombazana ekufeni. Hayi indlela aba nemfesane ngayo uYesu ngezihlwele njengoko ebona indlela ezityhafe nezichithakele ngayo, “ngokwezimvu ezingenamalusi”! Kunjengokuba esithi kubafundi bakhe, “ukuvuna okunene kuninzi, kodwa bona abasebenzi bambalwa. Khungani ngoko eNkosini yokuvuna, ikhuphe abasebenzi, baye ekuvuneni kwayo.”—9:36-38.

18. (a) Yiyiphi imfundiso nesiluleko uYesu asinikela kubapostile bakhe? (b) Kutheni le nto kuvakaliswa uyeha “kwesi sizukulwana”?

¹⁸ UYesu unyula aze athume abapostile abali-12. Ubanika imiyalelo ecacileyo ngendlela yokwenza umsebenzi wabo yaye ugxininisa imfundiso eyintloko yokufundisa kwabo esithi: “Ekuhambeni kwenu ke vakalisani, nisithi, Ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Ubanika isiluleko sobulumko nesothando esithi: “Namkele ngesisa, yiphani ngesisa.” “Yibani nobulumko njengeenyoka, nibe njengamahobe ukungabi nabuqhinga.” Baya kuthiywa baze batshutshiswe, kwanazizalamene ezisondeleyo, kodwa uYesu ubakhumbuza oku: “Lowo uwufumeneyo umphefumlo wakhe, wolahlekelwa nguwo; nalowo uwulahlileyo umphefumlo wakhe ngenxa yam, uya kuwufumana.” (10:7, 8, 16, 39) Nabo ke behamba, ukuya kufundisa nokushumayela kwizixeko ababelwe kuzo! UYesu uchaza uYohane uMbhaptizi njengomthunywa othunywe phambi kwakhe, “uEliya” othenjisiweyo, kodwa “esi sizukulwana” asimamkeli uYohane okanye yena, Nyana womntu. (11:14, 16) Ngoko uvakalisa uyeha kwesi sizukulwana nakwizixeko ezingaguqukanga ekubeni zibone imisebenzi yakhe yamandla! Kodwa abo baba ngabafundi bakhe baya kuhlaziyeka emiphefumlweni yabo.

19. Xa abaFarisi bethandabuza indlela aziphatha ngayo ngeSabatha, uYesu ubabhenca njani njengabangenanyaniso?

¹⁹ AbaFarisi babhencwa njengabangenanyaniso nabanetyala (12:1-50). AbaFarisi bazama ukumbeka ityala uYesu ngombandela weSabatha, kodwa izityholo zabo uzibhenca njengezingeyonyaniso aze azidibanise nokubagweba kwakhe ngokukrakra ngokuhanahanisa kwabo. Ubaxelela oku: “Nzalandini yamarhamba, ningathini na ukuba nako ukuthetha izinto ezilungileyo, nikhohlakele nje? Kuba umlomo uthetha ngokuphuphuma kwentliziyo.” (12:34) Akukho mqondiso baza kuwunikwa ngaphandle kwalowo kaYona umprofeti othetha ukuba: UNyana womntu uya kuba sembilinini womhlaba iintsuku ezintathu nobusuku bazo.

20. (a) Kutheni uYesu ethetha ngemizekeliso nje? (b) Yiyiphi imizekeliso engoBukumkani ayenzayo ngoku?

²⁰ Imizekeliso esixhenxe engoBukumkani (13:1-58). Kutheni le nto uYesu ethetha ngemizekeliso? Kubafundi bakhe ucacisa oku: “Kungokuba nikuphiwe nina ukuzazi iimfihlelo zobukumkani bamazulu, babe ke bona bengakuphiwanga.” Uthi abafundi bakhe banoyolo kuba bayabona yaye bayeva. Hayi indlela ehlaziya ngayo imfundiso abanika yona ngoku! Emva kokucacisa umzekeliso ongomhlwayeli, uYesu wenza umzekeliso womdiza entsimini, wokhozo lwemostade, wegwele, wobutyebi obufihliweyo, weperile enexabiso elikhulu nowomnatha—yonke ethetha ngento enokuthanani ‘nobukumkani bamazulu.’ Noko ke, abantu bayakhubeka, yaye uYesu ubaxelela oku: “Umprofeti akaswele mbeko, kungekhona kowabo, nakokwabo.”—13:11, 57.

21. (a) UYesu wenza yiphi imimangaliso, yaye bamfanisa engubani? (b) Nguwuphi umbono onikelwa ngokuphathelele ukuza koNyana womntu eseBukumkanini?

²¹ Ubulungiseleli nemimangaliso engakumbi eyenziwa ‘nguKristu’ (14:1–17:27). UYesu uba buhlungu gqitha akuva ingxelo yokunqunyulwa intloko kukaYohane uMbhaptizi ngokomyalelo kaHerode Antipas owenza isigqibo sobugwala. Ngokungummangaliso wondla isihlwele sabantu abangama-5 000 nangaphezu koko; uhamba phezu kolwandle; uphendula ukugxekwa kwakhe okungakumbi ngabaFarisi, abo athi, ‘bayawugqitha umthetho kaThixo ngenxa yesithethe sabo’; uphilisa abaphethwe ziidemon, “iziqhwala, iimfama, izidenge, izilima, nabanye abaninzi”; yaye uphinda ondle abantu abangaphezu kwama-4 000 ngezonka ezisixhenxe neentlanzi ezincinane ezimbalwa. (15:3, 30) Ephendula umbuzo obuzwe nguYesu, uPetros uyamfanisa, esithi: “Wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” UYesu uyamncoma uPetros aze avakalise oku: “Ndiya kulakhela phezu kolu lwalwa ibandla lam.” (16:16, 18) Ngoku uYesu uqalisa ukuthetha ngokufa kwakhe okusondelayo nangokuvuka kwakhe ngosuku lwesithathu. Kodwa kwakhona uthembisa ukuba kukho abathile kubafundi bakhe “abangayi kukha beve kufa, bade bambone uNyana woMntu esiza, esebukumkanini bakhe.” (16:28) Kwiintsuku ezintandathu kamva, uYesu uthabatha uPetros, uYakobi noYohane banyuka intaba ephakamileyo ukuze bambone esenziwa kumila kumbi esebuqaqawulini. Embonweni, babona uMoses noEliya bencokola naye, yaye beva ilizwi liphuma ezulwini lisithi: “Lo nguNyana wam oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye; mveni yena.” Emva kokuba ehlile entabeni, uYesu ubaxelela ukuba “uEliya” othenjisiweyo sele efikile, yaye bayaqonda ukuba uthetha ngoYohane uMbhaptizi.—17:5, 12.

22. Sisiphi isiluleko asinikelayo uYesu ngokuxolela?

²² UYesu ululeka abafundi bakhe (18:1-35). Ngoxa eseKapernahum uYesu uthetha nabafundi bakhe ngokuthobeka, ngovuyo olukhulu lokufumana imvu elahlekileyo nangokuzinzisa imbambano phakathi kwabazalwana. UPetros uyabuza: ‘Ndimele ndimxolele kangaphi umzalwana wam?’ Yaye uYesu uyaphendula: “Andithi kuwe, koda kube kasixhenxe; ndithi, koda kube kamashumi asixhenxe aphindiweyo kasixhenxe.” Ukugxininisa le ngongoma, uYesu wenza umzekeliso womkhonzi onkosi yakhe yathi yamxolela enetyala leedanariyo ezingama-60 ezigidi. Kamva lo mkhonzi wabangela ukuba umkhonzi onguwabo afakwe entolongweni ngenxa yetyala leedenariyo ezili-100 kuphela, yaye ngenxa yoko, lo mkhonzi ungenanceba naye wavalelwa entolongweni.e UYesu uphuhlisa le ngongoma: “Wothi noBawo wasemazulwini enjenjalo kuni, ukuba anithanga nonke ngabanye nabaxolela abazalwana benu iziphoso zabo ngeentliziyo zenu.”—18:21, 22, 35.

23. Yintoni uYesu ayichazayo ngokuphathelele uqhawulo-mtshato nendlela esa ebomini?

²³ Iintsuku zokugqibela zobulungiseleli bukaYesu (19:1–22:46). Iziganeko zidlula ngokukhawuleza yaye kubakho ixesha loxinezeleko njengoko ababhali nabaFarisi beya bebucaphukela ngakumbi ubulungiseleli bukaYesu. Bafuna ukumbambisa ngombandela woqhawulo-mtshato kodwa bayasilela; uYesu ubonisa ukuba ekuphela kwesizathu esingokweZibhalo sokuqhawula umtshato luhenyuzo. Umfana osisityebi uza kuYesu, embuza indlela yokufumana ubomi obungunaphakade, kodwa uhamba ebuhlungu xa efumanisa ukuba umele athengise konke anako aze abe ngumlandeli kaYesu. Emva kokwenza umzekeliso wabasebenzi nedenariyo, uYesu uphinda athethe ngokufa nangokuvuka kwakhe, yaye uthi: “UNyana womntu [akezanga] kulungiselelwa; weza kulungiselela, nokuncama ubomi bakhe, bube yintlawulelo yokukhulula abaninzi.”—20:28.

24. Njengoko uYesu efikelela kwiveki yokugqibela yobomi bakhe bokuba ngumntu, uhlangabezana njani nabachasi bonqulo, yaye uyiphendula njani imibuzo yabo?

²⁴ Ngoku uYesu uqalisa iveki yokugqibela yobomi bakhe bokuba ngumntu. Ungena oyisile eYerusalem ‘njengoKumkani, okhwele e-esileni.’ (21:4, 5) Ucoca itempile ngokugxotha abananisi bemali nabanye abathengisi, yaye iintshaba zakhe zimthiya ngakumbi njengoko ezixelela oku: “Bayaniphangela ke ukungena ebukumkanini bukaThixo ababuthi berhafu namahenyukazi.” (21:31) Umzekeliso wakhe ocacileyo ongomdiliya nongesidlo somtshato wenza ingongoma icace. Uwuphendula ngobuchule umbuzo wabaFarisi ongerhafu ngokubaxelela ukuba banikele “izinto zikaKesare kuKesare, neento zikaThixo kuThixo.” (22:21) Ngokukwanjalo uvala umlomo abaSadusi kumbuzo wabo ongumgibe aze aphakamise ithemba lovuko. Kwakhona abaFarisi beza kuye ngombuzo ongoMthetho, yaye uYesu ubaxelela ukuba owona mthetho mkhulu kukuthanda uYehova ngokupheleleyo, yaye owesibini kukuthi ubani athande ummelwane wakhe njengokuba ezithanda. Wandula ke uYesu ababuze athi, ‘Kwenzeka njani ukuba uKristu abe ngunyana kaDavide neNkosi yakhe?’ Akukho namnye ukwaziyo ukuphendula, yaye emva koko akukho namnye unabuganga bakumbuza.—22:45, 46.

25. UYesu ubagxeka njani ngokuqatha ababhali nabaFarisi?

²⁵ ‘Yeha nina, bahanahanisi’ (23:1–24:2). Ethetha nezihlwele etempileni, kwakhona uYesu ubagxeka kabukhali ababhali nabaFarisi. Akuphelele nje ekubeni baye bazenza abakufanelekela ukungena eBukumkanini kodwa basebenzisa bonke ubuqili abanabo ukuze bathintele abanye ekubeni bangene. Kanye njengamangcwaba aqatywe mhlophe, babonakala befanelekile ngaphandle, kodwa ngaphakathi bazele kukonakala nokubola. UYesu uqukumbela ngalo mgwebo awuvakalisa nxamnye neYerusalem: “Indlu yenu ishiywa nani ize.” (23:38) Njengoko eyishiya itempile, uYesu uprofeta ngokutshatyalaliswa kwayo.

26. Nguwuphi umqondiso wesiprofeto awunikelayo uYesu ngokuphathelele ubukho bakhe ekuzuko lokuba ngukumkani?

²⁶ UYesu unikela ‘umqondiso wokufika [“wobukho,” NW] kwakhe’ (24:3–25:46). EkwiNtaba yemiNquma, abafundi bakhe bambuza ‘ngomqondiso wobukho bakhe nowokupheliswa kwephakade eli.’ Ekuphenduleni kwakhe uYesu walatha phambili kwixesha leemfazwe, ‘uhlanga luvukelana nohlanga nobukumkani buvukelana nobukumkani,’ ukunqongophala kokudla, iinyikima zomhlaba, ukwanda kokuchasa umthetho, ukushunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke ‘kwezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani,’ ukumiselwa ‘komkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo phezu kwayo yonke impahla yakhe’ nezinye iinkalo ezininzi zomqondiso oyintlanganisela oza kuphawula ‘ukufika koNyana womntu esebuqaqawulini bakhe ukuze ahlale kwitrone yobuqaqawuli bakhe.’ (24:3, 7, 14, 45-47; 25:31) UYesu uqukumbela esi siprofeto sibalulekileyo ngomzekeliso weentombi ezilishumi noweetalente, mizekeliso leyo ethetha ngokufumana imivuzo ebangel’ uvuyo kwabo baphaphileyo nabathembekileyo, kunye nomzekeliso wezimvu neebhokhwe, obonisa abantu abanjengeebhokhwe besiya “elubethweni olungunaphakade, ke wona amalungisa aya kuya ebomini obungunaphakade.”—25:46.

27. Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawula usuku lokugqibela lukaYesu emhlabeni?

²⁷ Iziganeko zomhla wokugqibela kaYesu (26:1–27:66). Emva kokuba benze isikhumbuzo sePasika, uYesu usungula into entsha nabapostile bakhe abathembekileyo, ebamema ukuba bathabathe kwisonka esingenagwele nakwiwayini njengemifuziselo yomzimba negazi lakhe. Bandula ke baye eGetsemane, apho uYesu athi athandaze khona. Elapho uYuda uyeza ehamba nesihlwele esixhobileyo yaye ungcatsha uYesu ngokumanga ngendlela ehanahanisayo. UYesu usiwa kumbingeleli omkhulu, yaye ababingeleli abakhulu namalungu ephela eNtlanganiso Yamatyala bafuna amangqina obuxoki nxamnye noYesu. Kuzaliseka isiprofeto sikaYesu, uPetros uyamkhanyela xa esekulingweni. UYuda, ezisola, uphosa imali yokungcatsha etempileni aze aye kuzixhoma. Kusasa uYesu usiwa phambi komlawuli waseRoma uPilato, othi amnikele ekubeni abethelelwe emthini ngokunyanzelwa lihlokondiba elixhokonxwe ngababingeleli nelinkqangaza lisithi: “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu, naphezu kwabantwana bethu.” Amajoni omlawuli ahlekisa ngokuba ngukumkani kwakhe aze ke amse eGolgota, apho athi abethelelwe emthini ephakathi kwezihange ezibini, kukho umqondiso phezu kwentloko yakhe ofundeka ngolu hlobo, “LO NGUYESU UKUMKANI WAMAYUDA.” (27:25, 37) Emva kokuthuthunjiswa kangangeeyure ezininzi, uYesu uyafa ekugqibeleni malunga nentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini yaye uthi ke abekwe kwingcwaba elitsha likaYosefu waseArimati. Le ibiyeyona mini yeziganeko ezibalulekileyo kuyo yonke imbali!

28. Ziziphi ezona ndaba zimnandi athi uMateyu afikelele ngazo incopho yengxelo yakhe, yaye uqukumbela ngaluphi uthumo?

²⁸ Uvuko lukaYesu nemiyalelo yokugqibela (28:1-20). Ngoku uMateyu uyifikisa kwincopho ingxelo yakhe ngezona ndaba zimnandi. UYesu ofileyo uyavuswa—uyaphila kwakhona! Ngentseni yosuku lokuqala evekini, uMariya waseMagadala “nomnye uMariya” beza engcwabeni baze beve isithunywa sezulu sivakalisa ezi ndaba zivuyisayo. (28:1) Ukuze zingqineke ziyinyaniso, uYesu ngokwakhe uyavela kubo. Iintshaba zide zilinge ukuphikisa isibakala sokuba uvukile, zinyoba amajoni abelindile engcwabeni ukuba athi, “Abafundi bakhe beza ngobusuku, bamba silele.” Kamva, eseGalili, uYesu ubamba enye intlanganiso nabafundi bakhe. Yintoni abayalela yona njengoko ebashiya? Ubayalela oku: “Hambani . . . niye kuzenza abafundi zonke iintlanga, nibabhaptizela egameni loYise, loNyana, loMoya oyiNgcwele.” Ngaba babeya kufumana ukhokelo oluthile kulo msebenzi wokushumayela? Amazwi okugqibela kaYesu athi uMateyu awabhale anikela esi siqinisekiso: “Niyabona, mna ndinani yonke imihla, kude kube sekuphelisweni kwephakade eli.”—28:13, 19, 20.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

29. (a) UMateyu uzinxibelelanisa njani iZibhalo zesiHebhere kwezesiGrike? (b) Liliphi ilungelo awalinandiphayo uYesu nelisananditshwa ngamaKristu namhlanje?

²⁹ Liyinyaniso elokuba incwadi kaMateyu, eyokuqala kwiiVangeli ezine, izinxibelelanisa kakuhle iZibhalo zesiHebhere kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. Ayiphazami nakancinane ekufaniseni uMesiya noKumkani woBukumkani bukaThixo obuthenjisiweyo, yazisa iimfuneko zabo baba ngabafundi bakhe, ize yandlale umsebenzi ongaphambi kwaba emhlabeni. Okokuqala uYohane uMbhaptizi, kulandele uYesu, kwaye ekugqibeleni abafundi bakhe bahamba beshumayela besithi, “Ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Ngaphezu koko, umyalelo kaYesu ufikelela kanye ekuphelisweni kwale nkqubo yezinto: “Zaye ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kuvakaliswa kulo elimiweyo liphela, zibe bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke ukufika ukuphela.” Ngokwenyaniso, kwakulilungelo elizukileyo nelimangalisayo, ibe kuselilo nangoku, ukuba nesabelo kulo msebenzi woBukumkani, kuquka ‘ukwenza abafundi zonke iintlanga,’ msebenzi lowo ongowokuxelisa iNkosi.—3:2; 4:17; 10:7; 24:14; 28:19.

30. Yiyiphi ngokukhethekileyo inxalenye kaMateyu eye yaphawuleka ngenxa yokuxabiseka kwayo ngendlela esebenzisekayo?

³⁰ Ngokwenene iVangeli kaMateyu ‘ziindaba ezilungileyo.’ Isigidimi sayo esiphefumlelweyo ‘sasiziindaba ezilungileyo’ kwabo basithobelayo kwinkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ibe uYehova uThixo uye waqinisekisa ukuba iye yalondolozwa ‘iziindaba ezilungileyo’ de kube ngulo mhla. Kwanabo bangengomaKristu baye banyanzeleka ukuba bawavume amandla ale Vangeli, njengoko, ngokomzekelo, inkokeli yamaHindu uMohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, ekwanikelwa ingxelo yokuba wathi kuMhlekazi uIrwin, owayesakuba ngumlawuli ongummeli kwelaseIndiya: “Ukuba ilizwe lakho nelam linokudibana ekwenzeni ngokuvisisana neemfundiso ezabekwa nguKristu kule Ntshumayelo yaseNtabeni, siya kube sizicombulule iingxaki kungekuphela nje ezamazwe ethu kodwa ezo zehlabathi liphela.”f Ngesinye isihlandlo uGandhi wathi: “Zimisele kangangoko unako ukusebenzisa amacebiso owanikwayo kwiNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni . . . Kuba le mfundiso yeNtshumayelo yayenzelwe thina sonke.”g

31. Ngoobani ababonakalise uxabiso lokwenene ngesiluleko esikuMateyu, ibe kutheni le nto kusizisa iingenelo ukuyifundisisa ngokuphindaphindiweyo le Vangeli?

³¹ Noko ke, ihlabathi lonke, kuquka loo nxalenye ethi ingamaKristu, liqhubeka lineengxaki zalo. Iye yaliqaqobana nje elincinane lamaKristu okwenyaniso eliye layixabisa, layifundisisa, laza layisebenzisa iNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni naso sonke esinye isiluleko esisengqiqweni seendaba ezilungileyo ezabhalwa nguMateyu laza ke ngoko lafumana iingenelo ezingenakuthelekiswa nanto. Kuyingenelo ukuzifundisisa ngokuphindaphindiweyo iziluleko ezifanelekileyo zikaYesu ezingokufumana ulonwabo lokwenene, kunye nezo ziphathelele ukuziphatha nomtshato, amandla othando, umthandazo owamkelekileyo, ukuxabiseka kwezinto zokomoya xa zithelekiswa nezokwenyama, ukufuna uBukumkani kuqala, ukuhlonela izinto ezingcwele nokuba ngabaphaphileyo nabathobekileyo. KuMateyu isahluko 10 kunikelwa imiyalelo kaYesu engenkonzo eya kwabo bangenela umsebenzi wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ‘zobukumkani bamazulu.’ Imizekeliso emininzi kaYesu inesifundo esibalulekileyo kubo bonke abo ‘baneendlebe zokuva.’ Ngaphezu koko, iziprofeto zikaYesu, njengokuxela kwakhe kwangaphambili ngokuneenkcukacha ‘umqondiso wokufika kwakhe,’ zibangela ithemba eliqinileyo nokuba nentembelo kwikamva.—5:1–7:29; 10:5-42; 13:1-58; 18:1–20:16; 21:28–22:40; 24:3–25:46.

32. (a) Khawuzekelise indlela esikungqina ngayo isiprofeto esizalisekileyo ukuba nguMesiya kukaYesu. (b) Kukuphi ukuqiniseka okupheleleyo okubangelwa koku kuzaliseka namhlanje?

³² IVangeli kaMateyu izaliswe ziziprofeto ezizalisekileyo. Iingcaphulo zakhe ezininzi ezivela kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere eziphefumlelweyo zazenzelwe injongo yokubonakalisa oku kuzaliseka. Zinikela ubungqina obungenakuphikiswa bokuba uYesu nguMesiya, kuba ngekwakungazange kube nokwenzeka ngokupheleleyo ukuzilungiselela kwangaphambili ezi nkcukacha. Ngokomzekelo, thelekisa uMateyu 13:14, 15 noIsaya 6:9, 10; uMateyu 21:42 neNdumiso 118:22, 23; noMateyu 26:31, 56 noZekariya 13:7. Kwakhona, ukuzaliseka okunjalo kusenza nathi siqiniseke ngokupheleleyo ukuba zonke iziganeko zeziprofeto ezaxelwa kwangaphambili nguYesu ngokwakhe nezabhalwa nguMateyu zaziza kuthi ngexesha elifanelekileyo zizaliseke ngoxa iinjongo zikaYehova ezizukileyo ngokubhekisele ‘kubukumkani bamazulu’ ziphunyezwa.

33. Luluphi ulwazi nethemba abanokugcoba ngenxa yalo abathandi bobulungisa ngoku?

³³ Hayi indlela awachana ngayo uThixo ekuxeleni kwangaphambili ubomi boKumkani woBukumkani, kwanezona nkcukacha zincinane! Okunjani kona ukuchana awathi uMateyu ophefumlelweyo wakubonisa ekubhaleni ngokuthembekileyo ukuzaliseka kwezi ziprofeto! Njengoko bebona konke ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto namadinga abhalwe encwadini kaMateyu, ngokwenene abathandi bobulungisa banokulugcobela ulwazi nethemba ‘lobukumkani bamazulu’ njengesixhobo esisetyenziswa nguYehova ekungcwaliseni igama lakhe. Bobu Bukumkani alawula kubo uYesu Kristu obuzisa iintsikelelo ezingenakubalwa zobomi kwabo banobulali nabalambileyo ngokomoya “ekuzalweni okutsha, xa athe wahlala uNyana woMntu phezu kwetrone yozuko lwakhe.” (Mat. 19:28) Konke oku kuqulethwe kwiindaba ezilungileyo nezibangel’ imincili ‘ezibhalwe nguMateyu.’

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]