Kau ʻOvasia ke Tauhi ʻa e Tākangá

LOLOTONGA ʻene ngāue fakafaifekau ʻi he māmaní, naʻe fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻe Sīsū ʻa ia tonu ko e “tauhi-sipi leleí.” (Sione 10:11) ʻI heʻene mamata ki he fuʻu kakai naʻe muimui vēkeveke kiate iá, “naʻá ne ongoʻi fakaʻofaʻia ʻiate kinautolu koeʻuhí ne ngaohikovia kinautolu mo liʻekina ʻo hangē ha fanga sipi taʻeʻiai hanau tauhí.” (Māt. 9:36) Naʻe fakatokangaʻi ʻe Pita mo e kau ʻapositolo kehé ʻa ʻene tokanga ʻofá. He kehe moʻoni ē ko Sīsū mei he kau tauhi-sipi loi ʻo ʻIsilelí, ʻa ia naʻa nau liʻaki fakaʻaufuli ʻa e tākangá ʻo movete ai ʻa e fanga sipí mo fiekaia fakalaumālie! (ʻIsi. 34:7, 8) Ko e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻa Sīsū ʻi heʻene faiakó mo e tokangaʻi ʻa e fanga sipí ʻo aʻu ki he tuʻunga naʻá ne foaki ʻene moʻuí koeʻuhi ko kinautolú, naʻe akoʻi ai ʻa e kau ʻapositoló ki he anga hono tokoniʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku tuí ke nau foki kia Sihova, ko e “tauhi-sipi mo e tokotaha tauhi ʻo [ʻenau] moʻuí.”—1 Pita 2:25.

² ʻI he lea kia Pita ʻi he taimi ʻe taha, naʻe fakamamafaʻi ʻe Sīsū ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo hono fafangaʻi mo tauhi ʻa e fanga sipí. (Sione 21:15-17) Naʻe ʻikai ha veiveiua ʻene maongo lahi kia Pita ʻa e meʻá ni, pea ki mui ai naʻá ne ekinaki ki he kau mātuʻa ʻi he muʻaki fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané: “Tauhi ʻa e tākanga ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻoku mou tokangaʻí, ʻo mou ngāue ko e kau mātuʻa, ʻo ʻikai fai fakafatongia pē, ka ʻi he loto-lelei ʻi he ʻao ʻo e ʻOtuá; ʻo ʻikai ʻi he ʻofa ki ha meʻa ʻoku maʻu taʻefaitotonu, ka ʻi he loto-vēkeveke; pea ʻikai hoko ʻo fiepule ki he faʻahinga ʻa ia ko e tofiʻa ʻo e ʻOtuá, kae hoko ko e ngaahi faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ki he tākangá.” (1 Pita 5:1-3) Ko e ngaahi lea ʻa Pitá ʻoku toe fakahanga ia ki he kau mātuʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻanga he ʻaho ní. ʻI he faʻifaʻitaki kia Sīsuú, ko e kau mātuʻá ʻoku nau ngāue loto-lelei mo vēkeveke ko e kau faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ki he tākangá, ʻo takimuʻa ʻi he ngāue ʻa Sihová.—Hep. 13:7.

³ ʻOku totonu ke tau houngaʻia ʻi he kau mātuʻa kuo fakanofo ʻe he laumālié ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻOku lahi ʻa e ngaahi ʻaonga ʻoku tau maʻu mei heʻenau tokangá. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻoku fai ʻe he kau mātuʻá ʻa e fakalototoʻa mo e tokanga fakafoʻituitui ki he tokotaha kotoa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻI he uike taki taha, ʻoku nau tōtōivi ʻi hono tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ʻa e fakatahaʻangá, ʻa ē ʻoku fafangaʻi ai ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa ʻi he tuí. (Loma 12:8) Ko ʻenau ngaahi feinga ko ia ke maluʻi ʻa e tākangá mei he ngaahi ʻelemēniti fakatuʻutāmakí, hangē ko e kau tangata fulikivanú, ʻoku tokoni ia ki heʻetau malú. (ʻAi. 32:2; Tai. 1:9-11) Ko ʻenau takimuʻa ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá ʻoku fakalototoʻaʻi ai kitautolu ke hanganaki longomoʻui ʻi hono malangaʻi maʻu pē ʻo e ongoongo leleí ʻi he māhina taki taha. (Hep. 13:15-17) Fakafou ʻi he “ngaahi meʻaʻofa ko e kau tangata” ko ení, kuo fai ʻe Sihova ha tokonaki ki hono langa hake ʻa e fakatahaʻangá.—ʻEf. 4:8, 11, 12.

⁴ Ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku tokangaʻi lelei ʻa e fakatahaʻangá, ko e kau tangata ʻoku fakanofo ko e kau mātuʻá kuo pau ke nau aʻusia ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻoku fokotuʻu mai ʻi he Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá. Ko ʻenau toki taau pē pea ʻe toki lau ai kuo fakanofo kinautolu ʻe he laumālie māʻoniʻoní. (Ngā. 20:28) ʻI heʻene peheé, ʻoku māʻolunga ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga Fakatohitapu ki he kau mātuʻa Kalisitiané, koeʻuhi ʻi he hoko ko ha mātuʻá ko ha fatongia mafatukituki ia. Ka ko e ngaahi tuʻunga ko iá ʻoku ʻikai ke fuʻu māʻolunga, ke taʻemalava ʻo aʻusia ia ʻe he kau tangata Kalisitiane kuo nau ʻofa moʻoni kia Sihova mo loto-lelei ke ne ngāueʻaki kinautolú. ʻOku totonu ke hā mahino ki he tokotaha kotoa ko e kau mātuʻá ko e faʻahinga ia ʻoku nau ngāueʻaki ʻa e akonaki ʻa e Tohi Tapú ʻi he ngaahi meʻa fakaʻaho ʻo e moʻuí.

⁵ Naʻe ʻomai ʻe he ʻapositolo ko Paulá ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu tefito Fakatohitapu ki he kau mātuʻa ʻi heʻene ʻuluaki tohi kia Tīmoté mo ʻene tohi kia Taitusí. ʻI he 1 Tīmote 3:1-7, ʻoku tau lau ai: “Kapau ʻoku ʻi ai ha tangata ʻoku kakapa atu ke hoko ko ha mātuʻa, ʻokú ne holi ki ha ngāue lelei. Ko e mātuʻá leva ʻoku totonu ke ʻikai ala tukuakiʻi ia ki ha meʻa, ko ha husepāniti ia ʻo ha uaifi ʻe taha, anga-fakamaʻumaʻu ʻi heʻene ngaahi tōʻongá, fakakaukau lelei, maau, anga-talitali kakai, taau ke faiako, ʻoku ʻikai ko ha tokotaha faʻa konā, ʻoku ʻikai ke anga-fakamālohi, ka ʻoku fakakaukau fakaʻatuʻi, ʻoku ʻikai ke faʻa kē, ʻoku ʻikai ko ha tokotaha ʻofa ia ki he paʻangá, ko ha tangata ʻokú ne tokangaʻi lelei ʻa hono falé, ko ʻene fānaú ʻoku nau fakamoʻulaloa ʻi he anga-fakamātoato fakaʻaufuli (he kapau ʻoku ʻikai ʻiloʻi ʻe ha tangata ʻa e founga ke tokangaʻi lelei ai ʻa hono falé tonu, ʻe anga-fēfē ai haʻane tokangaʻi ʻa e fakatahaʻanga ʻa e ʻOtuá?), ʻoku ʻikai ko ha tangata toki liliu foʻou, he ʻoku ʻi ai ʻa e manavasiʻi naʻa fakafuofuolahi ia ʻi he hīkisia ʻo ne maʻu ai ʻa e fakamaau tatau kuo fai ki he Tēvoló. ʻIkai ko ia pē, ʻoku totonu foki ke ne maʻu ha fakaongoongolelei mei he faʻahinga ʻi tuʻá koeʻuhi ke ʻoua te ne tō ai ki he manukí pea mo ha tauhele ʻa e Tēvoló.”

⁶ Naʻe tohi ʻa Paula kia Taitusi: “Naʻá ku tuku koe ʻi Kēliti koeʻuhí ke ke fakatonutonu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa naʻe fiemaʻu ke fakatonutonú pea ke fakanofo ha kau mātuʻa ʻi he kolo ki he kolo, ʻo hangē ko ia naʻá ku fakahinohino atu kiate koé: Kapau ʻoku ʻi ai ha tangata ʻoku ʻataʻatā mei hano tukuakiʻi ki ha meʻa, ko ha husepāniti ia ʻo ha uaifi ʻe taha, ʻokú ne maʻu ha fānau ʻoku tui ʻa ia ʻoku ʻikai ke tukuakiʻi ki ha anga-fulikivanu pe angatuʻu. He ʻi he tuʻunga ko e tamaioʻeiki ʻa e ʻOtuá, ko ha mātuʻa kuo pau ke ne ʻataʻatā mei hano tukuakiʻi ki ha meʻa, ʻikai ke taʻefieauna, ʻikai ke ʻita vave, ʻikai ko ha tokotaha ʻoku faʻa konā, ʻikai ke anga-fakamālohi, ʻikai mānumanu ki ha koloa ʻoku maʻu taʻefaitotonu, ka ʻoku anga-talitali kakai, ko ha tokotaha ʻoku ʻofa ki he leleí, fakakaukau lelei, māʻoniʻoni, mateaki, mapuleʻi-kita, ʻokú ne piki maʻu ki he folofola moʻoní ʻi heʻene founga faiakó, koeʻuhí ke ne malava ai ʻo fai ʻa e fakalototoʻa ʻaki ʻa e akonaki ʻa ia ʻoku leleí pea ke valokiʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku fakafepakí.”—Tai. 1:5-9.

⁷ Neongo ko e ngaahi fiemaʻu Fakatohitapú ʻe ngali hā faingataʻa ke aʻusia ʻi he kamatá, ʻoku ʻikai totonu ke toumoua ai ʻa e kau tangata Kalisitiané mei he kakapa atu ke hoko ko ha mātuʻá. ʻI heʻenau fakahāhā ʻa e ngaahi ʻulungaanga lelei faka-Kalisitiane ʻoku fiemaʻu ki he kau mātuʻá, ʻoku nau fakalototoʻaʻi ai ʻa e niʻihi kehe ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ke nau fai ʻa e meʻa tatau. Naʻe tohi ʻe Paula ko e “ngaahi meʻaʻofa ko e kau tangata” ko iá ʻoku tokonaki mai “ʻi he taumuʻa ko hono fakatonutonu ʻa e kakai tapú, mo fai ha ngāue maʻá e niʻihi kehé, mo langa hake ʻa e sino ʻo e Kalaisí, kae ʻoua kuo tau hoko kotoa ʻo taha ʻi he tuí pea maʻu ʻa e ʻilo totonu fekauʻaki mo e ʻAlo ʻo e ʻOtuá, koeʻuhi ke tau hoko ko ha tangata kuo kakato ʻene tupú, pea hoko hotau ʻulungāngá ʻo kakato ko ha tokotaha lahi, hangē ko e Kalaisí.”—ʻEf. 4:8, 12, 13.

⁸ Ko e kau mātuʻá ʻoku ʻikai ko ha tamaiki pe kau tangata toki liliu foʻou. Ka ko e faʻahinga taukei kinautolu ʻi he moʻui faka-Kalisitiané, maʻu ʻa e ʻilo lahi ki he Tohi Tapú, mahinoʻi loloto ʻa e Folofolá, pea ʻofa moʻoni ki he fakatahaʻangá. ʻOku nau maʻu ʻa e loto-toʻa ke lea hake mo fakatonutonu ʻa e kau faihalá, ʻo maluʻi ai ʻa e fanga sipí mei ha taha pē ʻokú ne ngāueʻaki siokita kinautolu ke maʻu haʻane lelei. (ʻAi. 32:2) Ko e kau mātuʻá ʻoku tali lelei kinautolu ʻe he fakatahaʻangá kotoa ko e kau tangata matuʻotuʻa fakalaumālie, ʻi heʻenau tokanga moʻoni ki he tākanga ʻa e ʻOtuá.

⁹ Ko e faʻahinga kuo taau ke fakanofo ko e kau mātuʻá ʻoku nau fakahāhā ʻa e poto ʻaonga ʻi heʻenau moʻuí. Kapau kuo ʻosi mali, ko ha mātuʻa ʻoku totonu ke ne pipiki ki he tuʻunga faka-Kalisitiane ki he nofo malí, ʻa ia, ko e hoko ko e husepāniti ia ʻo ha uaifi ʻe taha, pea ʻokú ne tokangaʻi lelei ʻa hono falé. Kapau ko e mātuʻá ʻokú ne maʻu ha fānau ʻoku tui ʻa ia ʻoku nau fakamoʻulaloa ʻi he anga-fakamātoato fakaʻaufuli pea ʻoku ʻikai ke tukuakiʻi ki ha anga-fulikivanu pe angatuʻu, ko e fakatahaʻangá ʻe lava ke nau fakalea ʻi he loto-falala kiate ia ki ha akonaki mo ha faleʻi ʻi he moʻui fakafāmilí mo e moʻui faka-Kalisitiané. Ko e mātuʻá foki ʻoku ʻikai ala tukuakiʻi ia ki ha meʻa, pea ʻoku ʻataʻatā mei hano tukuakiʻi ki ha meʻa pea maʻu ha fakaongoongolelei naʻa mo e mei he faʻahinga ʻi tuʻá. ʻOku ʻikai totonu ke tukuakiʻi ia ki ha ʻulungaanga taʻetaau ʻo fakameleʻi ai ʻa e ongoongo ʻo e fakatahaʻangá. Naʻe ʻikai toki valokiʻi ia ki ha faihala mamafa. ʻOku ueʻi ai ʻa e niʻihi kehe ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ke nau faʻifaʻitaki ki heʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻanga leleí pea fiefia ke tuku ʻenau moʻui fakalaumālié ke ne tokangaʻi.—1 Kol. 11:1; 16:15, 16.

¹⁰ Ko e kau tangata taau peheé ʻoku malava ke nau ngāue ʻi he fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané ʻi he ngafa hangē ko ia ko e kau mātuʻa ʻi ʻIsilelí naʻe fakamatalaʻi naʻa nau “poto, anga-fakapotopoto, pea mo taukei.” (Teu. 1:13) Ko e kau mātuʻa Kalisitiané ʻoku ʻikai ke nau haohaoa, ka ʻoku ʻiloa kinautolu ʻi he fakatahaʻangá pea ʻi he koló ko e kau tangata faitotonu mo manavahē-ʻOtua ʻa ia kuo nau fakahāhā ʻi ha vahaʻa taimi ko ʻenau moʻuí ʻoku fehoanaki ia mo e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni fakaʻotuá. Ko ʻenau taʻemelé ʻoku nau lea tauʻatāina ai ʻi he ʻao ʻo e fakatahaʻangá.—Loma 3:23.

¹¹ Ko e kau tangata kuo taau ke fakanofo ko e kau mātuʻá ʻoku nau fakahāhā ʻa e anga-fakamaʻumaʻu ʻi heʻenau tōʻonga fakafoʻituituí pea ʻi heʻenau feangainga mo e niʻihi kehé. ʻOku ʻikai totonu ke nau hoko ko e kau māfana tōtuʻa. Ka, ko ʻenau founga moʻuí ʻoku hā mei ai ʻa e mafamafatatau mo e mapuleʻi-kita. Ko ʻenau anga-fakamaʻumaʻú ʻoku fakahāhā ia ʻi he ngaahi meʻa hangē ko e kai, inu, mālōlō, ngaahi saiʻiá mo e fakafiefiá. ʻOku nau anga-fakamaʻumaʻu ʻi hono ngāueʻaki ʻo e ngaahi inu ʻolokaholó koeʻuhi ke ʻoua naʻa tuku ai kinautolu ke tukuakiʻi ki he konā pe ko ha tokotaha ʻoku faʻa konā. Ko e tokotaha ko ia kuo mate hono ngaahi ongoʻangá ʻi he inu ʻo konaá ʻoku molengofua ʻene mapuleʻi-kitá pea ʻoku ʻikai ke ʻi ha tuʻunga ai ia ke ne tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi meʻa fakalaumālie ʻa e fakatahaʻangá.

¹² Ko hono tokangaʻi ʻa e fakatahaʻangá ʻoku fiemaʻu ha tangata ʻoku tuʻunga maau. Ko ʻene tōʻonga leleí ʻoku tapua atu ia ʻi hono fōtunga hāmaí, hono ʻapí mo ʻene ngaahi ngāue fakaʻahó. Ko ha tangata pehē ʻoku fakaʻehiʻehi ia mei he toloi meʻá; ʻokú ne sio ki he meʻa ʻoku fiemaʻú pea palani ʻo fakatatau ki ai. ʻOkú ne pipiki ki he tefitoʻi moʻoni fakaʻotuá.

¹³ Kuo pau ki ha mātuʻa ke fakakaukau fakaʻatuʻi. Kuo pau ke ne malava ʻo ngāue fāʻūtaha mo e niʻihi kehe ʻi he kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá pea ngāue fakataha mo kinautolu. ʻOku totonu ke ne fai ha vakai totonu kiate ia pea ʻoua ʻe kounaʻi tōtuʻa ʻa e niʻihi kehé. ʻI he tuʻunga ko ha tokotaha fakaʻatuʻi, ʻoku totonu ki he mātuʻá ke ʻoua ʻe holi ke tuʻu pē ʻene fakakaukaú, ʻo sio ʻoku lelei ange ʻene ngaahi fakakaukaú ʻi hono kaungāmātuʻá. ʻE hulu atu nai ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga pe malava ia ʻa e niʻihi kehé ʻiate ia. ʻOku fakahāhā ʻe ha mātuʻa ʻa e fakaʻatuʻí ʻi he taimi ʻoku makatuʻunga fefeka ai ʻene ngaahi aofangatukú ʻi he Folofolá pea feinga ke muimui ʻi he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Sīsū Kalaisí. (Fil. 2:2-8) Ko ha mātuʻa ʻoku ʻikai ke ne faʻa kē pe anga-fakamālohi kae fakahāhā ʻa e tokaʻi totonu ʻo e niʻihi kehé, ʻo fakakaukau kia kinautolu ʻoku nau māʻolunga ange. ʻOku ʻikai ke ne taʻefieauna, ʻo vilitaki maʻu pē ke tali ʻene foungá pe anga ʻene fakakaukaú. Ko e tokotaha ia ʻoku ʻikai ke ʻita vave ka ko e tokotaha ʻoku fakamelino ʻene ngaahi feangainga mo e niʻihi kehé.

¹⁴ Pehē foki, ko e tokotaha kuo taau ke ngāue ko ha mātuʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ʻoku fakakaukau lelei. ʻOku ʻuhinga ení ʻokú ne anga-fakamaʻumaʻu ʻo ʻikai fakavave ke faifakamaau. ʻOkú ne mahinoʻi lelei ʻa e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni ʻa Sihová pea mo hono ngāueʻakí. Ko ha tokotaha ʻoku fakakaukau lelei ʻoku ongongofua ki he akonakí mo e fakahinohinó. ʻOku ʻikai ke ne mālualoi.

¹⁵ Naʻe fakamanatu ʻe Paula kia Taitusi ko e mātuʻá ko ha tokotaha ʻoku ʻofa ki he leleí. ʻOku totonu ke ne māʻoniʻoni mo mateaki. Ko e ngaahi ʻulungaanga ko ení ʻoku totonu ke tapua mai ia ʻi heʻene ngaahi feangainga mo e niʻihi kehé pea ʻi heʻene tuʻumaʻu ki he meʻa ʻoku totonu mo leleí. ʻOkú ne taʻemauea ʻi heʻene anga-līʻoa kia Sihová pea tuʻumaʻu ʻi hono pouaki ʻa e ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni māʻoniʻoní. ʻOku lava ke ne tauhi ha fakapulipuli. ʻOkú ne toe anga-talitali kakai moʻoni, ʻo foaki loto-lelei atu ia mo ʻene koloá ke ʻaonga ki he niʻihi kehé.—Ngā. 20:33-35.

¹⁶ Ke ngāue ola lelei ko ha mātuʻa, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke ne taau ke faiako. Fakatatau ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Paula kia Taitusí, ʻoku totonu ki he mātuʻá ke ne “piki maʻu ki he folofola moʻoní ʻi heʻene founga faiakó, koeʻuhí ke ne malava ai ʻo fai ʻa e fakalototoʻa ʻaki ʻa e akonaki ʻa ia ʻoku leleí pea ke valokiʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku fakafepakí.” (Tai. 1:9) ʻOku malava ke ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e fakaʻuhinga, ʻomi ha fakamoʻoni, ikuʻi ʻa e ngaahi taʻelototataú pea ngāueʻaki ʻa e Folofolá ʻi ha founga ʻe fakatuipauʻi ai ʻa e niʻihi kehé pea fakaivimālohiʻi ai ʻenau tuí. ʻOku ngāueʻaki ʻe he mātuʻá ʻa e ngaahi malava fakafaiako peheé ʻi he ngaahi taimi faingamālie mo e ngaahi taimi faingataʻá. (2 Tīm. 4:2) ʻOkú ne maʻu ʻa e anga-kātaki ʻoku fiemaʻú ke ne valoki ai ʻi he anga-malū ʻa e tokotaha faihalá pe ke fakatuipauʻi ha taha veiveiua ʻo ueʻi ia ke fai ha ngāue lelei ʻo makatuʻunga ʻi he tui. ʻI he taau ko ia ke faiako ʻi he ʻao ʻo ha kau fanongo pe ʻi he tuʻunga fakatāutahá ʻe fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻoku aʻusia ʻe he mātuʻá ʻa e fiemaʻu mahuʻinga ko ení.

¹⁷ ʻOku mahuʻinga ki he kau mātuʻá ke nau kau faivelenga ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú. ʻOku totonu ke toe hā mahino ʻi he founga ko ení ʻoku nau feinga ke faʻifaʻitaki kia Sīsū, ʻa ia naʻá ne lau hono malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo leleí ko e meʻa muʻomuʻa tahá ia. Naʻe mahuʻingaʻia ʻa Sīsū ʻi heʻene kau ākongá, ʻo tokoniʻi kinautolu ke nau hoko ko e kau ʻevangeliō ola lelei. (Mk. 1:38; Luke 8:1) Ko hono fakapapauʻi ʻe he kau mātuʻá ke vaheʻi ha taimi ke kau ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú neongo ʻenau taimi-tēpile femoʻuekiná ʻoku ueʻi ai ʻa e fakatahaʻangá kotoa ke nau maʻu ʻa e faivelenga meimei tatau. Pea ʻi he taimi ʻoku malanga fakataha ai ʻa e kau mātuʻá mo e ngaahi mēmipa ʻi honau fāmilí tonu pehē foki ki he niʻihi kehe ʻi he fakatahaʻangá, ko hono olá ʻe hoko ai ha “fefakalototoʻaʻaki.”—Loma 1:11, 12.

¹⁸ Ko e kotoa ʻo e meʻa ko ení ʻe hā ngali ʻoku fuʻu lahi ke ʻamanekina mei ha taha ʻe ngāue ko ha mātuʻa. Ko e moʻoni, heʻikai malava ke aʻusia haohaoa ʻe ha mātuʻa ʻa e tuʻunga māʻolunga ʻoku fokotuʻu mai ʻi he Tohi Tapú, ka ʻoku ʻikai totonu ki ha taha ʻo e kau mātuʻa kuo fakanofo ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ke hā maeʻeeʻa lelei ʻene tōnounou ʻi ha taha pē ʻo e ngaahi tuʻunga ko ení ʻo malava ke lau ai ʻa e tōnounou ko iá ko ha fuʻu mele mafatukituki. ʻE tuʻu-ki-muʻa nai ha niʻihi ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻi ha ngaahi ʻulungaanga ʻe niʻihi, kae lelei nai ʻa e niʻihi ʻi he ngaahi tafaʻaki kehe. Ko hono olá ʻe maʻu ai ʻe he kulupu fakakātoa ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻa e ngaahi ʻulungaanga lelei ʻoku fiemaʻu ke fakahoko totonu ʻaki ʻa hono tokangaʻi ʻo e fakatahaʻanga ʻa e ʻOtuá.

¹⁹ ʻI he taimi ʻoku fakaongoongoleleiʻi ai ʻe he kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ha kau tangata ke fakanofo ko e kau mātuʻá, ʻe fiemaʻu ke nau manatuʻi ʻa e ngaahi lea ʻa e ʻapositolo ko Paulá: “ʻOku ou tala ai ki he tokotaha kotoa ʻi hena ʻi homou lotolotongá ke ʻoua ʻe fakakaukau kiate ia tonu ʻo mahulu hake ia ʻi he meʻa ʻoku totonu ke fakakaukau ki aí, ka ke fakakaukau ʻi ha founga ʻoku hā ai ʻa hono maʻu ʻa e fakakaukau leleí, ʻa e tokotaha taki taha ʻo fakatatau ki he lahi ʻo e tui kuo ʻoange kiate ia ʻe he ʻOtuá.” (Loma 12:3) Ko e mātuʻa taki taha ʻoku totonu ke ne lau ia ko ha tokotaha siʻi ange. ʻOku ʻikai totonu ki ha taha ke ne “maʻoniʻoni fau” ʻi he taimi ʻokú ne vakaiʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga taau ʻo e tokotaha ko ē. (Tml. 7:16) Ko hono mahinoʻi māʻalaʻala ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu Fakatohitapu ki he kau mātuʻá, ʻoku fiemaʻu ki he kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ke nau fakapapauʻi pe ʻoku aʻusia ʻe he tokoua ʻoku fai hono fakakaukauʻí ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga ko iá ʻi ha tuʻunga feʻunga pē. ʻI hono fakaʻatuʻi ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga taʻehaohaoa fakaetangatá pea ʻikai filifilimānako mo mālualoí, ʻe fai ʻe he kau mātuʻá ʻenau ngaahi fakaongoongoleleí ʻi ha founga ʻe fakahāhā ai ʻa e ʻapasia totonu ki he ngaahi tuʻunga māʻoniʻoni ʻa Sihová pea ki he lelei ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. Te nau fakakaukauʻi fakafou ʻi he faʻa lotu ʻa e fakaongoongolelei taki taha pea muimui ʻi he tataki ʻa e laumālie māʻoniʻoni ʻo e ʻOtuá. Ko e taha eni ʻo e ngaahi fatongia mafatukituki ʻoku nau fuá, pea kuo pau ke nau fai ia ʻo fakatatau ki he akonaki ko ia ʻa Paulá: “ʻOua ʻaupito naʻá ke fakavave ke hilifaki ho nimá ʻi ha tangata.”—1 Tīm. 5:21, 22.

²⁰ ʻOku fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe he kau tangata taau fakalaumālié ʻoku tataki kinautolu ʻe he laumālie māʻoniʻoní, pea ʻoku nau fakahāhā hono fuá ʻi heʻenau moʻuí. ʻOku lisi ʻe Paula ʻa e tafaʻaki ʻe hiva ʻo e fua ʻo e laumālié ʻa ia ko e “ʻofa, fiefia, melino, kātaki, anga-lelei, lelei, tui, anga-malū, mapuleʻi-kita.” (Kal. 5:22, 23) Ko e kau ʻovasia peheé ʻoku nau hoko ʻo fakaivifoʻou ki he fanga tokouá pea tokoni ke fāʻūtaha ʻa e fakatahaʻangá ʻi hono fai ʻa e ngāue toputapú. Ko ʻenau tōʻongá mo e fua ʻo ʻenau ngaahi ngāué ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai kuo fakanofo kinautolu ʻe he laumālie māʻoniʻoní.—Ngā. 20:28.

²¹ ʻOku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ke ngāue fakataha ʻa e kau mātuʻá ke pouaki ʻa e fāʻūtaha ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻOku nau maʻu nai ʻa e ngaahi angaʻitangata mātuʻaki kehekehe, ka ʻoku nau tauhi ʻa e fāʻūtaha ʻa e kulupú ʻaki ʻenau tauʻaki fanongo anga-fakaʻapaʻapa, neongo ʻenau taʻelototatau nai ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē ʻoku nau lāulea ki aí. Kapau ʻoku ʻikai ke maumauʻi ai ha tefitoʻi moʻoni Fakatohitapu, ʻoku totonu ki he tokotaha taki taha ke loto-lelei ke ʻulutukua pea poupou ki he fili aofangatuku ʻa e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá. Ko hono maʻu ha laumālie ʻulutukua ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai ko e tokotaha ko iá ʻoku tākiekina ʻe he “poto ʻoku mei ʻolungá,” ʻa ia ʻoku “fakamelino, fakaʻatuʻi.” (Sēm. 3:17, 18) ʻOku ʻikai totonu ke fakakaukau ha mātuʻa ʻoku māʻolunga ia ʻi he niʻihi kehé, pea ʻoku ʻikai totonu ki ha mātuʻa ke feinga ke ne puleʻi ʻa e niʻihi kehé. ʻOku ngāue fakataha moʻoni ʻa e kau mātuʻá mo Sihova ʻi he taimi ʻoku nau ngāue fakataha ai ko ha kulupu maʻá e lelei ʻa e fakatahaʻangá.—1 Kol., vahe 12; Kol. 2:19.

²² Ko e kau tangata Kalisitiane matuʻotuʻá ʻoku totonu ke nau holi ke hoko ko e kau mātuʻa. (1 Tīm. 3:1) Kae kehe, ko e ngāue ko ha mātuʻá ʻoku fiemaʻu ki ai ʻa e ngāue mo e feilaulauʻi-kita. ʻOku ʻuhinga ia ko hono fakafaingamālieʻi kita ke ngāue ki he ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻa e fanga tokouá, ʻo tokangaʻi ʻenau ngaahi meʻa fakalaumālié. Ko e kakapa atu ke hoko ko ha mātuʻá ʻoku ʻuhinga ia ko e feinga ke aʻusia ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga taau ʻoku fokotuʻu mai ʻi he Folofolá.

²³ Ko ha tokoua kuó ne ngāue faitōnunga ʻi ha taimi fuoloa te ne hoko nai ʻo puke pe faingataʻaʻia fakaesino. Mahalo koeʻuhí ko e taʻumotuʻá, heʻikai nai ke ne kei malava ke tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi fatongia ko ha mātuʻa. Neongo ia, ʻoku totonu ke kei fakaʻapaʻapaʻi mo vakai ki ai ko e taha ʻo e kau mātuʻá kapau ʻoku kei fakanofo ia. ʻE ʻikai fiemaʻu ke ne tuku ange ia koeʻuhi ko hono ngaahi fakangatangatá. ʻOkú ne kei tuha pē mo e fakaʻapaʻapaʻiaʻi lahi ange ʻa ia ʻoku ʻoange ki he kau mātuʻa ngāue mālohi kotoa pē ʻoku nau fai ʻa e lelei taha ʻo ʻenau malavá ʻi hono tauhi ʻa e tākangá.

²⁴ Ka ʻo kapau ʻoku ongoʻi nai ʻe ha tokoua ko e lelei tahá ke ne tuku ange ʻa e ngāue ko e mātuʻá koeʻuhi ko e liliu ʻo e ngaahi tuʻunga fakafoʻituituí ʻo fakangatangata ai ʻene malava ke fai ʻa e ngāué, ʻe malava ke ne fili ke fai ia. (1 Pita 5:2) ʻOku totonu ke kei fakaʻapaʻapaʻi ia. ʻOkú ne kei malava pē ke fai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa lelei lahi ʻi he fakatahaʻangá, neongo ʻoku ʻikai ke ne kei maʻu ʻa e ngaahi vāhenga-ngāue mo e ngaahi fatongia ʻoku ʻoange ki he kau mātuʻá.

²⁵ ʻOku tokangaʻi ʻe he kau mātuʻá ʻa e ngaahi fatongia kehekehe ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá, ko e sekelitali, ko e ʻovasia ngāue, ko e faiako ʻi he Ako Taua Leʻo, mo e ʻovasia ʻo e Fakataha ki he Moʻuí mo e Ngāue Fakafaifekaú. ʻOku tokolahi ʻa e kau mātuʻa ʻoku nau ngāue ko e kau ʻovasia kulupu. ʻOku ngāue ʻa e kau mātuʻá ʻi he ngaahi tuʻunga ko ení ʻi ha vahaʻa taimi taʻefakangatangata. Ko e moʻoni, kapau ʻoku hiki ha tokoua, ʻo taʻemalava ke tokangaʻi hono ngaahi fatongiá pe ko ha ngaahi tuʻunga mahamahaki, pe kuo ʻikai kei taau ʻi haʻane taʻemaaʻusia ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu Fakatohitapú, ʻe fili leva ha mātuʻa ʻe taha ke ne fua ʻa e vāhenga-ngāue ko iá. ʻI he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻoku tokosiʻi ai ʻa e kau mātuʻá, ʻe fiemaʻu nai ki ha mātuʻa ʻe taha ke ne tokangaʻi ha vāhenga-ngāue lahi ange kae ʻoua kuo taau ʻa e fanga tokoua kehé ke fakanofo ko e kau mātuʻa.

²⁶ Ko e sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻokú ne hoko ko e sea ʻi he ngaahi fakataha ʻa e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá. ʻI he tuʻunga ko iá, ʻokú ne anga-fakatōkilalo ʻo ngāue fakataha mo e kau mātuʻa kehé ʻi hono tokangaʻi ʻa e tākanga ʻa e ʻOtuá. (Loma 12:10; 1 Pita 5:2, 3) ʻOku totonu ke ne hoko ko e tokotaha fokotuʻutuʻu maau pea malava ke ne takimuʻa fakamātoato.—Loma 12:8.

²⁷ Ko e sekelitalí ʻokú ne tokangaʻi ʻe ia ʻa e ngaahi lēkooti ʻa e fakatahaʻangá pea fakahaaʻi maʻu pē ki he kau mātuʻá ʻo fekauʻaki mo ha ngaahi fetuʻutaki mahuʻinga. ʻE lava ke vaheʻi ha toe mātuʻa ʻe taha pe ko ha sevāniti fakafaifekau taau ke tokoni kiate ia, ʻo ka fiemaʻu.

²⁸ Ko e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu ki he ngāue fakamalangá mo e ngaahi ngāue felāveʻi mo iá ʻoku ʻi he malumalu ia ʻo e tataki ʻa e ʻovasia ngāué. ʻOkú ne fakataimitēpileʻi ʻa e ngaahi ʻaʻahi tuʻumaʻu ki he kotoa ʻo e ngaahi kulupu ngāue fakamalangá, koeʻuhi ke ne lava ai ʻo ʻaʻahi ki he kulupu kehekehe ʻi he fakaʻosinga uike ʻe taha ʻi he māhina taki taha. ʻI he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga iiki angé ʻa ia ʻoku siʻisiʻi pē ʻa e ngaahi kulupu ngāue fakamalangá, ʻe lava ke ne ʻaʻahi ki he kulupu taki taha tuʻo ua he taʻu. Lolotonga ʻene ʻaʻahí, te ne fakahoko ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ki he ngāue fakamalangá, ngāue mo e kulupú ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú, pea tokoniʻi ʻa e kau malangá ʻi heʻenau ngaahi toe ʻaʻahí mo ʻenau ngaahi ako Tohi Tapú.

²⁹ Ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi monū tuʻu-ki-muʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ko e ngāue ko ha ʻovasia kulupu. Ko hono ngaahi fatongiá ʻoku kau ai ʻa e (1) mahuʻingaʻia moʻoni ʻi he tuʻunga fakalaumālie ʻo e tokotaha taki taha ʻi he kulupu ngāue fakamalangá; (2) tokoniʻi ʻa e tokotaha taki taha ʻi he kulupú ke ne kau tuʻumaʻu, mohu ʻuhinga mo fiefia ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú; pea (3) tokoniʻi mo akoʻi ʻa e kau sevāniti fakafaifekau ʻi he kulupú ke kakapa atu pea taau ki he ngaahi fatongia ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻOku fakapapauʻi ʻe he kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻa e fanga tokoua ʻoku taau moʻoni ke fakahoko ʻa e ngaahi tafaʻaki kotoa ko eni ʻo e ngāué.

³⁰ Koeʻuhí ko e natula ʻo e ngāué, ʻoku totonu ko e kau ʻovasia kulupú, ʻo ka malava, ko e kau mātuʻa. Pe ko ha sevāniti fakafaifekau taau ʻe lava ke ne ngāue kae ʻoua kuo maʻu ha mātuʻa ke ne fetongi. Ko ha sevāniti fakafaifekau ʻoku ngāue ʻi he tuʻunga ko ení ʻe ui ia ko e sevāniti kulupu, koeʻuhi ʻoku ʻikai ke ngāue ia ko ha mātuʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá. ʻI hono kehé, ʻoku ngāue ia ʻi he malumalu ʻo e tataki ʻa e kau mātuʻá ʻi hono tokangaʻi hono fatongiá.

³¹ Ko e toe tafaʻaki mahuʻinga ʻe taha ʻo e ngāue ʻa e ʻovasia kulupú ko e takimuʻa ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú. Ko e fai tuʻumaʻu, vēkeveke mo e faivelenga ʻokú ne fakahāhaá ʻe fakalototoʻaʻi ai ʻa e faʻahinga ʻi heʻene kulupú. Koeʻuhi ko e houngaʻia ʻa e kau malangá ʻi he fakalototoʻa mo e tokoni ʻoku maʻu mei he feohi fakatahá, ʻe lelei ke ʻi ai ha taimi-tēpile faifakamoʻoni fakakulupu ʻoku feʻungamālie ki he tokolahi tahá. (Luke 10:1-16) ʻOku fiemaʻu ki he mātuʻá ke ne fakapapauʻi ʻoku ʻi ai maʻu pē ha feituʻu malanga feʻunga. Te ne tataki maʻu pē ʻa e fakataha ki he ngāue fakamalangá pea fokotuʻutuʻu ʻa e kau malangá ki he ngāue ʻo e ʻaho ko iá. ʻI he taimi ʻoku ʻikai ke ne lava ai ki aí, ʻoku totonu ke ne fokotuʻutuʻu ki ha toe mātuʻa ʻe taha, ko ha sevāniti fakafaifekau, pe ʻo kapau ʻe ʻikai faingamālie ha taha ʻia kinaua, ko ha tokotaha malanga ʻoku taau, ke ne tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi fatongia ko ení koeʻuhi ke maʻu ʻe he kau malangá ʻa e tataki ʻoku nau fiemaʻú.

³² Ko e ʻovasia kulupú ʻoku totonu ke ne palani tokamuʻa ki he ʻaʻahi ʻa e ʻovasia ngāué, ʻo fakahā ki heʻene kulupú ʻa e ʻaʻahí pea fakaʻaiʻai ke nau fakatuʻotuʻa atu ki hono ngaahi ʻaongá. ʻI he taimi ʻoku ʻiloʻi kakato ai ʻe he kotoa ʻo e kulupú ʻa e fokotuʻutuʻu ko ení, te nau poupou faivelenga leva ki ai.

³³ Ko e kulupu ngāue fakamalanga taki taha ʻoku ʻi ai ʻa e taumuʻa ʻo hono tauhi kinautolu ke siʻisiʻí. ʻOku fakaʻatā ai heni ki he ʻovasia kulupú ke hoko ʻo alāanga lelei mo e faʻahinga kotoa ʻoku vaheʻi ki he kulupú. ʻI he tuʻunga ko ha tauhi-sipi ʻofá, ʻokú ne mātuʻaki mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he tokotaha taki taha. ʻOkú ne feinga ke ʻoatu ha tokoni fakafoʻituitui mo ha fakalototoʻa ki he ngāue fakamalangá, pea poupouʻi ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. ʻOkú ne toe feinga mālohi ke fai ha toe meʻa pē ʻoku feʻungamālie ke tokoniʻi ai ʻa e tokotaha taki taha ke mālohi fakalaumālie ai pē. Ko e faʻahinga ʻoku puke pe mafasiá ʻe lelei ke fai ha ʻaʻahi fakafoʻituitui ki ai. Ko ha fokotuʻu fakalototoʻa pe ko ha faleʻi, ʻe ueʻi vave nai ha niʻihi ke kakapa atu ki ha toe ngaahi monū lahi ange ʻi he fakatahaʻangá pea hoko ai ʻo poupou lahi ange ki honau fanga tokouá. Ko e lahi taha ʻo e ngaahi feinga ʻa e kau ʻovasia kulupú ʻoku totonu ke fakahanga ia ki hono tokoniʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻi heʻene kulupú tonu. Kae kehe, ʻi he tuʻunga ko e mātuʻa mo e tauhi-sipí, ʻokú ne tokanga anga-ʻofa ki he faʻahinga kotoa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá pea mateuteu ke tokoniʻi ha taha pē ʻoku ʻi ai haʻane fiemaʻu.—Ngā. 20:17, 28.

³⁴ Ko e fatongia ʻe taha ʻo e ʻovasia kulupú ko e tokoni ki hono tānaki ʻa e ngaahi līpooti ngāue fakamalanga ʻa e faʻahinga ʻi heʻene kulupú. ʻOku ʻave ʻa e ngaahi līpooti ko ení ki he sekelitalí. ʻE lava ke tokoni ʻa e kau malanga taki taha ki he ʻovasia kulupú ʻi hono ʻoange vave ʻenau līpooti ngāue fakamalangá. ʻE lava ke fai eni ʻaki hono ʻoange fakahangatonu ʻenau ngaahi līpōtí ki he ʻovasia kulupú ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e māhina taki taha pe tuku ki he puha ʻi he Fale Fakatahaʻangá ʻa ia kuo vaheʻi ki he ngaahi līpooti ngāue fakamalangá.

³⁵ ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi fatongia pau ʻoku tokangaʻi ʻe he Kōmiti Ngāue ʻa e Fakatahaʻangá, ʻa ia ʻoku faʻuʻaki ʻa e sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá, sekelitalí mo e ʻovasia ngāué. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻoku fakaʻatā ʻe he kōmiti ngāué ʻa hono ngāueʻaki ʻa e Fale Fakatahaʻangá ki he malí mo e putú pea mo hono vahevahe ʻa e kau malangá ki he ngaahi kulupu ngāue fakamalangá. ʻOku toe tali ʻe he kōmití ʻa e tohi kole ki he tāimuʻa tuʻumaʻú mo e tokoní pea mo e tafaʻaki kehe ʻo e ngāué. Ko e kōmiti ngāué ʻoku nau ʻi he malumalu ʻo e tataki ʻa e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá.

³⁶ Ko e ngaahi fatongia tefito ʻo e fanga tokoua ko ení—fakataha mo e faiako ʻi he Ako Taua Leʻo, ʻovasia ʻo e Fakataha ki he Moʻuí mo e Ngāue Fakafaifekaú mo e niʻihi kehe ʻoku faʻuʻaki ʻa e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá—ʻoku ʻomai ia mei he ʻōfisi vaʻá.

³⁷ Ko e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻanga taki taha ʻoku nau fakataha maʻu pē ke lāulea ki he ngaahi meʻa fekauʻaki mo e fakalakalaka fakalaumālie ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. Tānaki atu ki he fakataha ʻa e kau mātuʻá ʻoku fai ʻi he ʻaʻahi ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí, ʻoku fakahoko ʻa e fakataha ʻa e kau mātuʻá ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e māhina nai ʻe tolu mei he ʻaʻahi taki taha ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí. Ko e moʻoni, ʻe lava ke fakataha ʻa e kau mātuʻá ʻi ha faʻahinga taimi pē ʻo fakatatau ki ha tuʻunga ʻe hoko.

³⁸ Ko e kau mātuʻá ko e kau tangata taʻehaohaoa; ka ʻoku ekinaki ki he kotoa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ke nau fakamoʻulaloa kiate kinautolu koeʻuhí ko e fokotuʻutuʻu ia ʻa Sihová. ʻE fai ʻe he kau mātuʻa ʻa e fakamatala kiate ia ki heʻenau ngāué. ʻOku nau fakafofongaʻi ia mo ʻene founga-pule fakateokalatí. ʻOku pehē ʻe he Hepelū 13:17: “Mou talangofua ki he faʻahinga ʻoku nau takimuʻa ʻiate kimoutolú mo fakamoʻulaloa kiate kinautolu, he ʻoku nau hanganaki leʻohi kimoutolu ʻi he tuʻunga ko e faʻahinga ʻa ia te nau fai ha fakamatala ki he meʻá ni, koeʻuhi ke nau fai eni ʻi he fiefia ʻo ʻikai ʻi he māpuhoi, he ʻe kaungakovi eni kiate kimoutolu.” Hangē pē ko hono ngāueʻaki ʻe Sihova hono laumālie māʻoniʻoní ke fakanofo ha tangata, ʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe Sihova ʻa e laumālie māʻoniʻoni tatau ke fakahifo ha tangata mei he ngāue ko ha mātuʻá ʻo kapau ʻoku taʻemalava ke ne fakahāhā ʻa e fua ʻo e laumālie māʻoniʻoní pea ko ʻene sīpinga moʻuí ʻoku ʻikai ke ne aʻusia ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu Fakatohitapú.

³⁹ ʻIkai ʻoku tau houngaʻia moʻoni ʻi he ngāue mālohi mo e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ʻa e kau ʻovasia ʻi he fakatahaʻangá? ʻI he tohi ki he fakatahaʻanga ʻi Tesalonaiká, naʻe ekinaki ʻa Paula ki he fanga tokouá: “ʻOku mau kole atu kiate kimoutolu, fanga tokoua, ke mou fakahāhā ʻa e fakaʻapaʻapa ki he faʻahinga ʻoku ngāue mālohi ʻi homou lotolotongá mo tokangaʻi kimoutolu ʻi he ʻEikí mo faienginaki atu kiate kimoutolú; pea ke mou fakaʻatuʻi kiate kinautolu ʻi he ʻofa ʻoku mahulu atu koeʻuhí ko ʻenau ngāué.” (1 Tes. 5:12, 13) Ko e lahi ʻo e ngāue mālohi ʻa e kau mātuʻa ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ʻoku ʻai ai ʻetau ngāue ki he ʻOtuá ke faingofua ange mo fakafiefia ange. Pehē foki, ʻi he ʻuluaki tohi ʻa Paula kia Tīmoté, naʻá ne lave ki he tōʻonga ʻoku totonu ke fakatupulekina ʻe he fakatahaʻangá ki he kau mātuʻá, ʻo pehē: “Tuku ke lau ʻa e kau mātuʻa ʻoku nau fai ʻa e tataki leleí ʻoku nau tuha mo e fakaʻapaʻapa lahi ange, tautefito ki he faʻahinga ʻoku nau ngāue mālohi ʻi he leá mo e faiakó.”—1 Tīm. 5:17.

⁴⁰ ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi, ʻoku fakanofo ai ha kau mātuʻa kuo filifili ke ngāue ko e kau mēmipa ʻi he ngaahi Kulupu ʻAʻahi Mahakí. Ko e niʻihi kehe ʻoku nau ngāue ʻi he ngaahi Kōmiti Fetuʻutaki Fakafalemahakí pea ʻaʻahi ki he ngaahi falemahakí mo e kau toketaá, ke fakalototoʻaʻi ʻa e hokohoko atu mo hono fakalahi atu ʻa hono faitoʻo ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻo taʻekau ai ʻa e totó. Ko e kau ʻovasia kehé ʻoku malava ke nau fakalahi atu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻaki ʻa e tokoni ki hono langa mo tokangaʻi ʻo e ngaahi Fale Fakatahaʻangá mo e ngaahi Holo ʻAsemipilií pe ngāue ko e ngaahi mēmipa ʻo e Kōmiti Fakataha-Lahí. Ko e ngāue mālohi ʻa e fanga tokoua ko ení mo ʻenau loto-lelei ke foaki atu kinautolu ʻi he founga ko ení ʻoku mātuʻaki fakahoungaʻi lahi ia ʻe he tokotaha kotoa ʻi he kautahá. Ko e moʻoni, ʻoku tau “hanganaki fakamahuʻingaʻi ʻa e kau tangata peheé.”—Fil. 2:29.

⁴¹ ʻOku fokotuʻutuʻu ʻe he Kulupu Pulé ʻa hono fakanofo ʻo e kau mātuʻa tāú ke ngāue ko e kau ʻovasia sēketi. ʻOku vaheʻi ʻa e faʻahingá ni ʻe he ʻōfisi vaʻá ke nau ʻaʻahi ki he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ko ia ʻoku kau ʻi heʻenau ngaahi sēketí, ʻo meimei tuʻo ua he taʻu. ʻOku nau toe ʻaʻahi ʻi he taimi ki he taimi ki he kau tāimuʻa ʻi he ngaahi feituʻu ngāue ʻoku mamaʻó. ʻOku nau palani ʻenau ʻaʻahí pea fakahā ia ki he fakatahaʻanga taki taha ʻi ha taimi feʻunga ki muʻa koeʻuhi ke nau maʻu ʻaonga lahi mei ai.

⁴² Ko e sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻoku takimuʻa ʻi hono fokotuʻutuʻu maau ʻa e ngaahi meʻá koeʻuhi ke hoko moʻoni ai ʻa e ʻaʻahí ʻo fakaivimālohi fakalaumālie ki he tokotaha kotoa. (Loma 1:11, 12) ʻI hono maʻu ʻa e fakahā fekauʻaki mo e ʻaʻahí mo e fakamatala ki he ngaahi fiemaʻu fakafoʻituitui ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí pea mo hono uaifí (kapau kuó ne mali), ʻoku fai leva ʻe he sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ʻa e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu fakafou ʻi he fanga tokoua kehekehe ke maʻu ha ngaahi nofoʻanga mo e ngaahi meʻa kehe ʻoku fiemaʻú. ʻOkú ne fakapapauʻi ke fakahaaʻi ʻa e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu ko ení ki he tokotaha kotoa, ʻo kau ai mo e ʻovasia sēketí.

⁴³ ʻE fetuʻutaki ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí ki he sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá fekauʻaki mo hono fakataimitēpileʻi ʻo e ngaahi fakatahá, ʻo kau ai ʻa e fakataha ki he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻE fokotuʻutuʻu eni ʻo fakatatau ki he ngaahi fokotuʻu ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí pea mo e tataki mei he ʻōfisi vaʻá. ʻOku fiemaʻu ke tala ki muʻa ki he tokotaha kotoa fekauʻaki mo e taimi mo e feituʻu ʻo e ngaahi fakataha mo e fakatahaʻangá, kau tāimuʻá, pea mo e kau mātuʻá mo e kau sevāniti fakafaifekaú, pea pehē ki he taimi mo e feituʻu ʻo e ngaahi fakataha ki he ngāue fakamalangá.

⁴⁴ ʻI he hoʻatā Tūsité, ʻe vakaiʻi ʻe he ʻovasia sēketí ʻa e Congregation’s Publisher Records, ngaahi lēkooti ʻo e maʻu fakatahá, ngaahi lēkooti ʻo e feituʻu ngāué, mo e ngaahi fakamatala paʻangá. Te ne maʻu ai heni ha ʻilo loloto ki he ngaahi meʻa ʻe ngali fiemaʻu ki he fakatahaʻangá mo e founga te ne lava ai ʻo tokoniʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku nau tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi lēkooti ko ení. ʻOku totonu ki he sea ʻo e kulupu ʻo e kau mātuʻá ke ne tomuʻa fokotuʻutuʻu ke maʻu ʻe he ʻovasia sēketí ʻa e ngaahi lēkōtí.

⁴⁵ Lolotonga ʻa e ʻaʻahi ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí, te ne vaheʻi ai ha taimi ke talanoa fakatāutaha ai mo e fanga tokoua ʻe ala lavá—ʻi he ngaahi fakatahá, ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá, ʻi he taimi maʻu meʻatokoní, pea mo ha toe taimi kehe. Tānaki atu ki ai, ʻokú ne fakataha mo e kau mātuʻá mo e kau sevāniti fakafaifekaú, ʻo vahevahe ha akonaki Fakatohitapu feʻungamālie, ngaahi fokotuʻu pea mo ha fakalototoʻa ʻe tokoni kia kinautolu ʻi hono fua honau ngaahi fatongia ke tauhi ʻa e tākanga ʻoku nau tokangaʻí. (Pal. 27:23; Ngā. 20:26-32; 1 Tīm. 4:11-16) ʻOkú ne toe fakataha mo e kau tāimuʻá ke fakalototoʻaʻi kinautolu ʻi heʻenau ngāué mo ʻoange ha tokoni fakafoʻituitui fekauʻaki mo ha faʻahinga palopalema pē ʻoku nau fehangahangai nai mo ia ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú.

⁴⁶ Kapau ʻoku ʻi ai ha toe ngaahi meʻa ʻoku fiemaʻu ke fai ha tokanga ki ai, ʻe tokoni ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí ʻi he lahi taha ʻe ala lavá lolotonga ʻa e uiké. Kapau heʻikai lava ke fakaʻosi eni lolotonga ʻa e taimi ko iá, ʻe lava ke tokoni ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí ki he kau mātuʻá pe faʻahinga ʻoku kau aí ke fai ha fekumi ki he tataki Fakatohitapu ʻoku kaunga ki aí. Kapau ʻoku fiemaʻu ki he ʻōfisi vaʻá ke fai hano muimuiʻi, ko ia mo e kau mātuʻá te nau ʻave ki he ʻōfisi vaʻá ha līpooti fakaikiiki fekauʻaki mo e meʻa ko iá.

⁴⁷ Lolotonga ʻene ʻaʻahi ki he fakatahaʻangá, ko e ʻovasia sēketí te ne ʻalu ki he ngaahi fakataha tuʻumaʻu ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. ʻE feʻunuʻaki nai eni mei he taimi ki he taimi ʻo fehoanaki mo e ngaahi fakahinohino mei he ʻōfisi vaʻá. Te ne fai ha ngaahi malanga kuo fakataumuʻa ke fakalototoʻaʻi, ueʻi, fakahinohinoʻi mo fakaivimālohiʻi ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. ʻOkú ne feinga ke pouaki ʻa e ʻofa kia Sihova, Sīsū Kalaisi mo e kautahá.

⁴⁸ Ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi taumuʻa ʻo e ʻaʻahi ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí ke fakalototoʻaʻi ʻa e kau faivelenga ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekaú pea ʻomai mo ha ngaahi fokotuʻu ʻaonga. Ko e tokolahi ʻi he fakatahaʻangá ʻe lava nai ke feʻunuʻaki ʻenau taimi-tēpilé koeʻuhi ke lava ke nau kau kakato ai ʻi he ngāue fakamalanga ʻi he uike ko iá, ʻaki ʻa e fokotuʻutuʻu nai ke tāimuʻa tokoni lolotonga ʻa e māhina ʻo ʻene ʻaʻahí. Ko ha taha pē ʻoku holi ke ngāue fakataha mo ia pe ko hono uaifí ʻe lava ke fai ha fokotuʻutuʻu. ʻE lava ke maʻu ha lelei lahi ʻi hono ʻave ʻa e ʻovasia sēketí pe ko hono uaifí ʻi he ngaahi ako Tohi Tapú mo e ngaahi toe ʻaʻahí. Ko hoʻo fai ko ia ha toe feinga makehe ke poupouʻi kakato ʻa e tafaʻaki ko eni ʻo e uike ʻaʻahí ʻe fakahoungaʻi lahi.—Pal. 27:17.

⁴⁹ ʻI he taʻu taki taha ʻoku fokotuʻutuʻu ai ha ʻasemipilī fakasēketi ʻe ua ki he sēketi taki taha. Ko e ʻovasia sēketí ʻokú ne tokangaʻi hono fakalele ʻo e fokotuʻutuʻu maau ʻo e ʻasemipilií ʻi he ngaahi taimi ko ení. ʻOku fakanofo ʻe he ʻovasia sēketí ha ʻovasia ʻasemipilī mo ha tokoni ʻovasia ʻasemipilī. Te na ngāue vāofi mo e ʻovasia sēketí ʻi hono tokangaʻi hono fokotuʻutuʻu maau ʻo e ʻasemipilií. ʻE malava ai heni ki he ʻovasia sēketí ke tokanga tefito ki he polokalama ʻo e ʻasemipilií. ʻE vaheʻi ʻe he ʻovasia sēketí ha kau tangata taau ke tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi potungāue kehekehe. Te ne toe fokotuʻutuʻu foki ki hano ʻaotitaʻi ʻo e fakamatala paʻanga ʻa e sēketí ʻi he hili ʻa e ʻasemipilī taki taha. Ko e ʻasemipilī fakasēketi ʻe taha ʻi he taʻu ʻe haʻu ki ai ha fakafofonga mei he vaʻá, ʻa ia te ne hoko ko ha tokotaha-malanga ʻaʻahi. Koeʻuhí ko e mamaʻó pe koeʻuhí ko e siʻisiʻi ʻa e fale ʻasemipilií, ko e ngaahi sēketi ʻe niʻihi ʻoku toe vahevahe ke fai kongokonga ʻa e ʻasemipilī fakasēketí.

⁵⁰ Ko e ʻovasia sēketí ʻokú ne ʻave fakahangatonu ʻene līpooti ngāue fakamalangá ki he ʻōfisi vaʻá ʻi he hili ʻa e māhina taki taha. Kapau ʻoku ʻi ai ha ngaahi fakamole iiki ʻe niʻihi—hangē ko e fefonongaʻaki, meʻakai, nofoʻanga mo e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga ʻoku fiemaʻu ke fakahokoʻaki ʻene ngāué—pea kuo teʻeki totongi ia ʻe he fakatahaʻanga ʻoku ngāue aí, ʻe lava ke ne ʻave ia ki he ʻōfisi vaʻá. Ko e kau fakafofonga fefonongaʻakí ʻoku nau falala-pau kapau te nau fakamuʻomuʻa ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻo e Puleʻanga ʻo Sihová, ko e ngaahi fiemaʻu fakamatelié ʻe tokangaʻi, ʻo hangē ko e talaʻofa ʻa Sīsuú. (Luke 12:31) ʻOku totonu ke ʻilo ʻe he ngaahi fakatahaʻangá honau monū ko ia ke fakahāhā ʻa e anga-talitali kakai ki he kau mātuʻa anga-līʻoa ko ení ʻi heʻenau ngāue fakasevāniti maʻa kinautolú.—3 Sio. 5-8.

⁵¹ ʻI he ʻōfisi vaʻa taki taha ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi he māmaní, ʻoku ngāue ai ʻa e fanga tokoua matuʻotuʻa fakalaumālie taau ʻe toko tolu pe lahi ange ko e Kōmiti Vaʻa ʻo tokangaʻi ʻa e ngāue fakamalangá ʻi he fonua pe ngaahi fonua ʻoku ʻi he malumalu hono mafaí. ʻOku ngāue ʻa e taha ʻo e kau mēmipa ʻo e kōmití ko e sea ʻo e Kōmiti Vaʻá.

⁵² Ko e faʻahinga ʻoku ngāue ʻi he Kōmiti Vaʻá ʻoku nau tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi meʻa felāveʻi mo e ngaahi fakatahaʻanga kotoa ʻi he feituʻu ngāue ʻo e vaʻá. ʻOku tokangaʻi ʻe he kōmití ʻa hono malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo lelei ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi he kotoa ʻo e feituʻu ngāue ʻa e vaʻá, pea fakapapauʻi ʻoku fokotuʻutuʻu maau ʻa e ngaahi fakatahaʻangá, ngaahi sēketí, ke nau tokangaʻi lelei ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻOku toe tokanga foki ʻa e Kōmiti Vaʻá ki he kau misinale ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá pea ki he ngāue tāimuʻa makehé, tāimuʻa tuʻumaʻú mo e tāimuʻa tokoní. ʻI he taimi ʻoku fai ai ha ngaahi ʻasemipilī mo ha ngaahi fakataha-lahi, ʻoku fai ʻe he kōmití ʻa e ngaahi fokotuʻutuʻu mo e vahevahe koeʻuhí “ke fakahoko ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kotoa pē ʻi ha tuʻunga taau mo maau.”—1 Kol. 14:40.

⁵³ ʻOku fokotuʻu ha Kōmiti Fakafonua ʻi he ngaahi fonua ʻe niʻihi ʻoku ʻi he malumalu ʻo hono tokangaʻi ʻe ha Kōmiti Vaʻa ʻo ha fonua ia ʻe taha. ʻOku hoko ai heni ʻo tokangaʻi lelei ange ʻa e ngāué ʻi he feituʻu ʻoku ngāue ai ʻa e Kōmiti Fakafonuá. ʻOkú ne tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻi he ʻApi Pētelí mo e ʻōfisí, tokangaʻi ʻa e fetuʻutakí mo e ngaahi līpōtí, pea tokanga tefito ki he ngaahi ngāue ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻOku ngāue fakataha ʻa e Kōmiti Fakafonuá mo e Kōmiti Vaʻá ke laka ki muʻa ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻo e Puleʻangá.

⁵⁴ Ko e Kulupu Pulé ʻokú ne fai ʻa e ngaahi fakanofo ʻo e faʻahinga ʻoku ngāue ʻi he ngaahi Kōmiti Vaʻá mo e ngaahi Kōmiti Fakafonuá.

⁵⁵ ʻI he taimi ki he taimi, ʻoku fai ʻe he Kulupu Pulé ha fokotuʻutuʻu ke ʻaʻahi ha fanga tokoua taau ki he ngaahi vaʻa taki taha ʻi he māmaní kotoa. Ko e tokoua ʻoku ngāue ʻi he tuʻunga ko ení ʻoku ui ia ko ha fakafofonga ʻo e ʻuluʻi ʻapitangá. Ko ʻene ngāue tefitó ke fakalototoʻaʻi ʻa e fāmili Pētelí pea tokoni ki he Kōmiti Vaʻá fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi palopalema pe ngaahi fehuʻi ʻe malanga hake nai ʻi hono fakahoko ʻa e ngāue fakamalangá mo e ngaohi ākongá. ʻOku toe fakataha ʻa e tokoua ko ení mo e kau ʻovasia sēketi kuo fili pea fakataha mei he taimi ki he taimi mo e kau misinale ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻI he fai peheé, ʻokú ne talanoa mo kinautolu fekauʻaki mo ʻenau ngaahi palopalemá pea mo ʻenau ngaahi fiemaʻú, ʻo fai ʻa e fakalototoʻa ʻoku fiemaʻu fekauʻaki mo ʻenau ngāue mahuʻinga tahá, ko hono malangaʻi ʻa e Puleʻangá mo e ngaohi ākongá.

⁵⁶ ʻOku mahuʻingaʻia ʻaupito ʻa e fakafofonga ʻo e ʻuluʻi ʻapitangá ʻi he meʻa kuo lavaʻi ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá ʻi he felāveʻi mo hono malangaʻi ʻo e Puleʻangá pea mo e ngaahi ngāue kehe ʻa e fakatahaʻangá. Fakatatau ki he taimí, ʻe lava ke ne toe ʻaʻahi ki he ngaahi ʻōfisi liliu lea tuʻu mavahé. ʻI he taimi ʻoku ʻaʻahi ai ʻa e fakafofonga ʻo e ʻuluʻi ʻapitangá ki ha vaʻa, ʻokú ne toe kau ʻi he ngāue malangaʻi ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi he lahi taha ʻe ala lavá.

⁵⁷ ʻOku tau maʻu ʻaonga lahi mei he ngāue mālohi mo e tokanga anga-ʻofa ʻa e kau tangata matuʻotuʻa Kalisitiané. ʻI heʻetau hokohoko atu ke fakamoʻulaloa kitautolu ki he kau mātuʻa kuo fakanofó ʻa ia kuo fekauʻi ke tauhi ʻa e tākangá, ʻe tohoakiʻi ai kitautolu ke fāʻūtaha mo e ʻUlu ʻo e fakatahaʻangá, ʻa Kalaisi Sīsū. (1 Kol. 16:15-18; ʻEf. 1:22, 23) Ko hono olá, ʻoku hūhū ai ʻa e laumālie ʻo e ʻOtuá ʻi he ngaahi fakatahaʻanga ʻi māmani lahí, pea ngāue ai ʻa e Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá ke tataki ʻa e ngāue ʻi he māmaní kotoa.—Saame 119:105.