Umhlambi Munye, Umalusi Munye

“Nina eniye nangilandela nani ngokwenu niyohlala ezihlalweni zobukhosi eziyishumi nambili, nahlulele izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.”—MATH. 19:28.

 1. UJehova wasebenzelana kanjani nenzalo ka-Abrahama, futhi kungani lokhu kungasho ukuthi wayengazinaki ngokuphelele zonke ezinye izizwe?

UJEHOVA wamthanda u-Abrahama, ngakho wabonisa uthando oluqotho enzalweni yakhe. Kwaphela iminyaka engamakhulu angu-15 ebheka isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, esiyinzalo ka-Abrahama, njengesizwe sakhe asikhethile, ‘impahla yakhe ekhethekile.’ (Funda uDuteronomi 7:6.) Ingabe lokhu kwakusho ukuthi uJehova wayengazinaki ngokuphelele ezinye izizwe? Cha. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, abantu abangewona ama-Israyeli ababefisa ukukhulekela uJehova babevunyelwe ukuzihlanganisa nesizwe sakhe esikhethekile. Laba abaphendukele ebuJudeni, noma amaproselithe, babebhekwa njengengxenye yaleso sizwe. Kwakufanele baphathwe njengabozalo. (Lev. 19:33, 34) Kwakudingeka balalele yonke imithetho kaJehova.—Lev. 24:22.

 2. Imaphi amazwi athusayo ashiwo uJesu, futhi aholela kumiphi imibuzo?

² Nokho, uJesu washo la mazwi athusayo kumaJuda osuku lwakhe: “Niyophucwa umbuso kaNkulunkulu unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.” (Math. 21:43) Obani ababeyokwakha lesi sizwe esisha, futhi lolu shintsho lusithinta kanjani namuhla?

Isizwe Esisha

3, 4. (a) Umphostoli uPetru wathi singobani isizwe esisha? (b) Obani abakha lesi sizwe esisha?

³ Umphostoli uPetru wabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi singobani lesi sizwe esisha. Wabhalela amaKristu akanye nawo la mazwi: “‘Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, isizwe esiyimpahla ekhethekile, ukuze nimemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ balowo owanibiza ukuba niphume ebumnyameni ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.” (1 Pet. 2:9) Njengoba kwabikezelwa, amaJuda emvelo amukela uJesu njengoMesiya aba amalungu okuqala aleso sizwe esisha. (Dan. 9:27a; Math. 10:6) Kamuva, abaningi abangewona ama-Israyeli bahlanganiswa nalesi sizwe, ngoba uPetru waqhubeka wathi: “Kade ningesona isizwe, kodwa manje seniyisizwe sikaNkulunkulu.”—1 Pet. 2:10.

⁴ UPetru wayekhuluma ngobani lapha? Ekuqaleni kwencwadi yakhe, uthi: “[UNkulunkulu] wasipha ukuzalwa okusha ethembeni eliphilayo ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu kwabafileyo, efeni elingenakonakala nelingangcolile nelingabuni. Ligcinelwe nina ezulwini.” (1 Pet. 1:3, 4) Ngakho, lesi sizwe esisha sakhiwa amaKristu agcotshiwe, anethemba lasezulwini. ‘Singu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’ (Gal. 6:16) Umphostoli uJohane wabona embonweni ukuthi la ma-Israyeli angokomoya angu-144 000. “Athengwa kubantu njengolibo kuNkulunkulu neWundlu” ukuze akhonze ‘njengabapristi’ futhi “abuse njengamakhosi kanye [noJesu] iminyaka eyinkulungwane.”—IsAm. 5:10; 7:4; 14:1, 4; 20:6; Jak. 1:18.

Ingabe Nabanye Bahlanganisiwe Kuso?

 5. (a) Ibhekisele kobani inkulumo ethi “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu”? (b) Kungani igama elithi “Israyeli” lingabhekiseli entweni eyodwa njalo?

⁵ Ngakho-ke, kusobala ukuthi inkulumo ethi “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” ekweyabaseGalathiya 6:16 ibhekisele kumaKristu agcotshiwe kuphela. Nokho, ingabe zikhona izikhathi lapho uJehova esebenzisa isizwe sakwa-Israyeli ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ohlanganisa amaKristu kungebona abagcotshiweyo? Impendulo ingatholakala kula mazwi uJesu awatshela abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile: “Ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengoba nje uBaba enze isivumelwano sombuso nami, sokuba nidle futhi niphuze etafuleni lami embusweni wami, nihlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi ukuze nahlulele izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.” (Luka 22:28-30) Lokhu kuyokwenzeka “ekudalweni kabusha” phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane.—Funda uMathewu 19:28.

6, 7. Ibhekisela kobani inkulumo ethi “izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli” ekuMathewu 19:28 nakuLuka 22:30?

⁶ Laba abangu-144 000 bayokhonza besezulwini njengamakhosi, abapristi nanjengabahluleli phakathi nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. (IsAm. 20:4) Bayokwahlulela futhi babuse obani? KuMathewu 19:28 nakuLuka 22:30, sitshelwa ukuthi bayokwahlulela “izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.” Zifanekisela obani lezi “zizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli” kulo mongo? Zimelela bonke labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni—labo abanokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu kodwa abangebona abesigaba sabapristi abangamakhosi. (Isizwe sakwaLevi sasingahlanganisiwe ohlwini lwezizwe ezingu-12 zakwa-Israyeli wemvelo.) Kulo mongo labo abafanekiselwa izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli yilabo abayothola izinzuzo ezingokomoya zenkonzo yabapristi abangu-144 000. Laba abathola lezi zinzuzo abangebona abapristi nabo bangabantu bakaNkulunkulu, uyabathanda futhi uyabamukela. Kuyafaneleka ukufaniswa kwabo nabantu bakhe bezikhathi zasendulo.

⁷ Lokhu kuvumelana kahle neqiniso lokuthi ngemva kokuba umphostoli uJohane ebone ama-Israyeli angokomoya angu-144 000 ebekwa uphawu lokugcina ngaphambi kosizi olukhulu, wabuye wabona “isixuku esikhulu” esingenakubalwa, “siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe.” (IsAm. 7:9) Lesi siyosinda osizini olukhulu futhi singene ekuBuseni KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Lapho, siyoba nezigidigidi zabantu abayovuswa. (Joh. 5:28, 29; IsAm. 20:13) Bonke laba bayokwakha “izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli” ezingokomfanekiso eziyokwahlulelwa uJesu nababusi abakanye naye abangu-144 000.—IzE. 17:31; 24:15; IsAm. 20:12.

 8. Izenzakalo zangoSuku Lokuhlawulelwa lwaminyaka yonke zibufuzisela kanjani ubuhlobo obuphakathi kwabangu-144 000 naso sonke isintu?

⁸ Lobu buhlobo obuphakathi kwabangu-144 000 naso sonke isintu bafuziselwa izenzakalo zangoSuku Lokuhlawulelwa. (Lev. 16:6-10) Okokuqala, umpristi ophakeme kwakudingeka anikele ngenkunzi njengomhlatshelo wesono “enzele yena nendlu yakhe.” Ngakho, umhlatshelo kaJesu usebenza okokuqala kwabendlu yakhe yabapristi abangaphansi kwakhe, abayokhonza naye ezulwini. Ngalo lolo Suku Lokuhlawulelwa lwasendulo kwakunikelwa nangezimbuzi ezimbili ngenxa yezono zamanye ama-Israyeli. Kulo mongo, isizwe sabapristi sifanekisela abangu-144 000, kanti u-Israyeli wonke ufanekisela bonke abanethemba lasemhlabeni. Ukusebenzisa le nkulumo ngale ndlela kubonisa ukuthi inkulumo ethi “izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli” kuMathewu 19:28 ayibhekiseli kubapristi abangaphansi kukaJesu abazelwe ngomoya, kodwa ibhekisela kubo bonke ababa nokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu.a

 9. Bamelela obani abapristi abasembonweni kaHezekeli wethempeli, futhi ama-Israyeli angebona abapristi amelela obani?

⁹ Nasi esinye isibonelo. Umprofethi uHezekeli wanikezwa umbono obanzi wethempeli likaJehova. (Hez., izahl. 40-48) Kulowo mbono, wabona abapristi besebenza ethempelini, befundisa futhi bethola izeluleko neziqondiso ezivela kuJehova. (Hez. 44:23-31) Embonweni ofanayo, wabona namalungu ezizwe ezihlukahlukene ezokhulekela futhi anikele imihlatshelo. (Hez. 45:16, 17) Ngakho-ke, kulo mongo, abapristi bamelela abagcotshiwe, kuyilapho ama-Israyeli avela ezizweni ezingezona ezobupristi emelela labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni. Lo mbono ugcizelela ukuthi la maqembu amabili asebenza ndawonye ngokuvumelana, isigaba sabapristi kuyisona esiholayo ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile.

10, 11. (a) Ikuphi ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJesu okuqinisa ukholo esiye sakubona? (b) Imuphi umbuzo ophakamayo ngokuphathelene nezinye izimvu?

¹⁰ UJesu wakhuluma ‘ngezinye izimvu’ ezazingeke zibe ‘ezesibaya’ esifanayo ‘nesomhlambi omncane’ wabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe. (Joh. 10:16; Luka 12:32) Wathi: “Nazo kumelwe ngizilethe, zilalele izwi lami, futhi ziyoba mhlambi munye, nomalusi munye.” Yeka ukuthi ukubona lawo mazwi egcwaliseka kuye kwaluqinisa kanjani ukholo! Amaqembu amabili aye ahlanganiswa ndawonye—iqembu elincane labagcotshiwe nesixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu. (Funda uZakariya 8:23.) Nakuba ezinye izimvu zingakhonzi ngokomfanekiso egcekeni elingaphakathi lethempeli elingokomoya, zikhonza egcekeni elingaphandle lalelo thempeli.

¹¹ Kodwa uma ngezinye izikhathi uJehova esebenzisa amalungu ka-Israyeli wasendulo angewona abapristi ukuze afanekisele lezi ezinye izimvu, ingabe kufanele labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni badle izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo? Manje sizocabangela impendulo yalo mbuzo.

Isivumelwano Esisha

12. Iliphi ilungiselelo elisha uJehova alibikezela?

¹² UJehova wabikezela ilungiselelo elisha labantu bakhe lapho ethi: “Yilesi isivumelwano engiyosenza nendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwalezo zinsuku. . . . Ngiyofaka umthetho wami ngaphakathi kubo, ngiwulobe nasenhliziyweni yabo. Ngiyoba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe ngabantu bami.” (Jer. 31:31-33) Lesi sivumelwano sasiyokwenza isithembiso uJehova asenza ku-Abrahama sigcwaliseke phakade nangokukhazimulayo.—Funda uGenesise 22:18.

13, 14. (a) Obani abangabahlanganyeli besivumelwano esisha? (b) Obani abangabazuzayo kuso, futhi ‘basibamba’ kanjani lesi sivumelwano esisha?

¹³ UJesu wayebhekisela kulesi sivumelwano esisha ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe lapho ethi: “Le ndebe isho isivumelwano esisha esenziwa ngegazi lami, elizothululwa ngenxa yenu.” (Luka 22:20; 1 Kor. 11:25) Ingabe wonke amaKristu ahlanganisiwe kulesi sivumelwano? Cha. Amanye, njengabaphostoli abaphuza kuleyo ndebe ngalobo busuku, angabahlanganyeli esivumelwaneni esisha.b UJesu wenza esinye isivumelwano nabo sokubusa kanye naye eMbusweni wakhe. (Luka 22:28-30) Bayohlanganyela naye eMbusweni wakhe.—Luka 22:15, 16.

¹⁴ Kuthiwani ngalabo abayophila emhlabeni lapho sekubusa uMbuso wakhe? Bangabazuzayo esivumelwaneni esisha. (Gal. 3:8, 9) Nakuba bengebona abahlanganyeli, “babamba” lesi sivumelwano ngokuzithoba emibandeleni yaso, njengoba nje kwabikezela umprofethi u-Isaya: “Abezinye izizwe abazihlanganise noJehova ukuba bamkhonze futhi bathande igama likaJehova, ukuze babe yizinceku zakhe, bonke labo abagcina isabatha ukuze bangalingcolisi futhi ababamba isivumelwano sami, nabo ngiyobaletha entabeni yami engcwele ngibenze bajabule ngaphakathi kwendlu yami yomthandazo.” UJehova ube esethi: “Ngoba indlu yami iyobizwa ngokuthi yindlu yomthandazo yazo zonke izizwe.”—Isaya 56:6, 7.

Obani Okufanele Badle Izifanekiselo?

15, 16. (a) Umphostoli uPawulu usihlanganisa nani isivumelwano esisha? (b) Kungani labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni kungafanele badle izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo?

¹⁵ Labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha ‘banesibindi ngokuqondene nendlela engena endaweni engcwele.’ (Funda amaHebheru 10:15-20.) Laba yilabo ‘abazokwamukela umbuso ongenakunyakaziswa.’ (Heb. 12:28) Ngakho-ke, yilabo kuphela abayoba amakhosi nabapristi ezulwini kanye noJesu Kristu okufanele baphuze “indebe” emelela isivumelwano esisha. Laba abahlanganyela esivumelwaneni esisha yibo abathenjiswe umshado neWundlu. (2 Kor. 11:2; IsAm. 21:2, 9) Bonke abanye ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni saminyaka yonke bayizibukeli ezihloniphayo, ezingazidli izifanekiselo.

¹⁶ UPawulu usisiza nokuba siqonde ukuthi labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni abazidli izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo. Wathi kumaKristu agcotshiwe: “Ngoba njalo uma nidla lesi sinkwa futhi niphuza le ndebe, nimemezela ukufa kweNkosi, ize ifike.” (1 Kor. 11:26) ‘Ifika’ nini iNkosi? Lapho iza izothatha owokugcina wesigaba somlobokazi wayo imyise ekhaya ezulwini. (Joh. 14:2, 3) Kusobala ukuthi iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa saminyaka yonke ngeke siqhubeke sigujwa njalo. “Abaseleyo” benzalo yowesifazane abasesemhlabeni bayoqhubeka bedla lesi sidlo kuze kube yilapho bonke sebethole umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. (IsAm. 12:17) Ukube labo abayophila phakade emhlabeni bekufanele bazidle izifanekiselo, lesi sidlo seSikhumbuzo bekuyodingeka siqhubeke phakade.

“Empeleni Zibe Yisizwe Sami”

17, 18. Siye sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esilotshwe kuHezekeli 37:26, 27?

¹⁷ UJehova wabikezela ubunye babantu bakhe ngala mazwi: “Ngiyokwenza nabo isivumelwano sokuthula; kuyoba khona isivumelwano esimi njalo njalo esenziwe nabo. Ngiyobabeka ngibandise ngibeke indlu yami engcwele phakathi kwabo kuze kube nini nanini. Itabernakele lami liyoba phezu kwabo, futhi ngokuqinisekile ngiyoba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe ngabantu bami.”—Hez. 37:26, 27.

¹⁸ Bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu banelungelo lokuzuza ekugcwalisekeni kwalesi sithembiso esimangalisayo, lesi sivumelwano sokuthula kobuKristu. Yebo, uJehova uye waqinisekisa ukuthi zonke izinceku zakhe ezilalelayo ziyothola ukuthula. Izithelo zomoya wakhe ziyabonakala phakathi kwazo. Indlu yakhe engcwele, lapha efanekisela ukukhulekela kobuKristu okuhlanzekile, iphakathi kwazo. Ngempela, ziye zaba abantu bakhe, ngoba zishiyé zonke izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe futhi zenza uJehova waba ukuphela kukaNkulunkulu ezimkhulekelayo.

19, 20. Obani abahlanganisiwe kulabo uJehova ababiza ngokuthi “isizwe sami,” futhi yini isivumelwano esisha esenza ukuba yenzeke?

¹⁹ Yeka ukuthi kuye kwajabulisa kanjani ukubona lokhu kuhlanganiswa kwala maqembu amabili osukwini lwethu! Nakuba isixuku esikhulu esande njalo singenalo ithemba lasezulwini, siyaziqhenya ngokuhlanganiswa nabo. Siye sazihlanganisa no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwenza lokhu, sihlanganiswa nalabo uJehova ababiza ngokuthi “isizwe sami.” Lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka kuso: “Izizwe eziningi ngokuqinisekile ziyozihlanganisa noJehova ngalolo suku, empeleni zibe yisizwe sami; futhi ngiyohlala phakathi kwenu.”—Zak. 2:11; 8:21; funda u-Isaya 65:22; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.

²⁰ UJehova uye wenza konke lokhu kwenzeka ngokusebenzisa isivumelwano esisha. Izigidi zabantu abangabezinye izizwe ngokomoya ziye zaba ingxenye yesizwe sikaJehova asithandayo. (Mika 4:1-5) Zizimisele ukuqhubeka zibambe leso sivumelwano ngokwamukela amalungiselelo aso nangokulalela imibandela yaso. (Isaya 56:6, 7) Ngokwenza kanjalo, zijabulela izibusiso ezicebile zokuthula okuqhubekayo kanye no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Kwangathi nawe ungazithola lezo zibusiso—manje kuze kube phakade!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ingabe Uyakhumbula?

• Zingobani “izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli” eziyokwahlulelwa abangu-144 000?

• Isivumelwano esisha sibathinta kanjani abagcotshiwe nabezinye izimvu?

• Ingabe wonke amaKristu kufanele adle izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo?

• Ibuphi ubunye obabikezelwa ukuthi babuyoba khona osukwini lwethu?

[Igrafu/Izithombe ekhasini 25]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Abaningi manje bakhonza kanye no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu

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