Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-40—UMathewu

Umlobi: UMathewu

Yalotshelwa: EPalestina

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-41 C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 2 B.C.E.–33 C.E.

 1. (a) Yisiphi isithembiso uJehova asibeka phambi kwesintu kusukela e-Edene kuqhubeke? (b) Ithemba kuMesiya laqiniswa kanjani phakathi kwamaJuda?

KUSUKELA esikhathini sokuhlubuka e-Edene, uJehova uye wabeka phambi kwesintu isithembiso esiduduzayo sokuthi uyolungiselela ukukhululwa kwabo bonke abathandi bokulunga ngeMbewu ‘yowesifazane’ wakhe. LeMbewu, noma uMesiya, wayehlose ukuba ivele esizweni sakwaIsrayeli. Njengoba amakhulu eminyaka ayedlula, wabangela ukuba kulotshwe iziprofetho eziningi ngabalobi abaphefumlelwe abangamaHeberu, ezibonisa ukuthi iMbewu yayiyoba uMbusi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu nokuthi yayiyothatha isinyathelo sokungcwelisa igama likaJehova, isisuse phakade isihlamba esiye sanqwatshelaniswa phezu kwalo. Kwanikezwa imininingwane eminingi ngalabaprofethi ngokuphathelene nalona owayeyoba umlweli kaJehova nowayeyoletha ukukhululeka ekwesabeni, ekucindezelekeni, esonweni, nasekufeni. Lapho kuqedwa imiBhalo YesiHeberu, ithemba kuMesiya lase liqiniswe kakhulu phakathi kwamaJuda.

 2. Lapho uMesiya evela, izimo zazikulungele kanjani ukusakazwa kwezindaba ezinhle?

² Phakathi nalesikhathi isimo sezwe sasishintsha. UNkulunkulu wayenyakazise izizwe elungiselela ukuvela kukaMesiya, futhi izimo zazikulungele ukusakazwa kwezindaba zalesosenzakalo kuzo zonke izindawo. Umbuso wezwe wesihlanu, iGrisi, wawenze kwaba nolimi olwaziwa yibo bonke, indlela yokuxhumana yendawo yonke phakathi kwezizwe. IRoma, umbuso wezwe wesithupha, yayihlanganise izizwe ezingaphansi kwayo zaba umbuso wezwe owodwa futhi yayilungiselele imigwaqo ukuze yenze zonke izingxenye zombuso zifinyeleleke. AmaJuda amaningi ayehlakazekele kuwo wonke lombuso, kangangokuthi nabanye base bezwile ngethemba lamaJuda likaMesiya ozayo. Futhi manje, eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-⁠4 000 ngemva kwesithembiso sase-Edene, uMesiya wayesevelile! IMbewu ethenjisiwe okwase kunesikhathi eside ilindelwe yayisifikile! Kwenzeka izenzakalo ezazibaluleke ukwedlula zonke ezazenzekile kuze kube yilesosikhathi emlandweni wesintu njengoba uMesiya ngokwethembeka ayefeza intando kaYise lapha emhlabeni.

 3. (a) Yiliphi ilungiselelo uJehova alenza lokuloba imininingwane yokuphila kukaJesu? (b) Yini ehlukile ngeVangeli ngalinye, futhi kungani womane edingekile?

³ Kwakuyisikhathi futhi sokuba kwenziwe imibhalo ephefumlelwe ukuze kulotshwe lezenzakalo ezibalulekile. Umoya kaJehova waphefumlela amadoda amane athembekile ukuba alobe ukulandisa okuzimele, ngaleyondlela enikeza ubufakazi obuphindwe kane bokuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya, iMbewu ethenjisiwe neNkosi, futhi enikeza imininingwane yokuphila kwakhe, inkonzo yakhe, ukufa kwakhe, nokuvuka kwakhe. Lokhu kulandisa kubizwa ngokuthi amaVangeli, igama elithi “ivangeli” lisho ukuthi “izindaba ezinhle.” Nakuba womane efana futhi ngokuvamile ehlanganisa izenzakalo ezifanayo, awawona nakancane amakhophi elinye nelinye. Ngokuvamile amaVangeli amathathu okuqala abizwa ngokuthi synoptic, okusho ukuthi “umbono ofanayo,” njengoba enesimo esifanayo ekulandiseni ngokuphila kukaJesu kwasemhlabeni. Kodwa ngamunye wabalobi abane​—⁠uMathewu, uMarku, uLuka noJohane⁠—​ulandisa indaba yakhe siqu ngoKristu. Ngamunye unesihloko sakhe siqu nomgomo, ubonisa ubuntu bakhe siqu, futhi ucabanga ngalabo abazoyifunda. Lapho siyihlola ngokwengeziwe imibhalo yabo, kulapho siziqaphela ngokwengeziwe izici ezihlukanisayo zombhalo ngamunye nokuthi lezincwadi ezine zeBhayibheli eziphefumlelwe zakha ukulandisa okuzimele, okugcwalisanayo, nokuvumelanayo ngokuphila kukaJesu Kristu.

 4. Yini eyaziwayo ngomlobi weVangeli lokuqala?

⁴ Owokuqala ukuba alobe izindaba ezinhle ngoKristu kwakunguMathewu. Ngokunokwenzeka igama lakhe liwukufushaniswa kwegama lesiHeberu elithi “Matithiya,” okusho ukuthi “ISipho SikaJehova.” Wayengomunye wabaphostoli abangu-12 abakhethwa uJesu. Phakathi nesikhathi iNkosi ihamba kulo lonke izwe lasePalestina ishumayela futhi ifundisa ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uMathewu waba nobuhlobo obuseduze nayo. Ngaphambi kokuba abe umfundi kaJesu, uMathewu wayengumthelisi, umsebenzi amaJuda ayewenyanya ngokuphelele, njengoba wawuyisikhumbuzo esihlala njalo kuwo sokuthi ayengakhululekile kodwa engaphansi kokubusa kombuso waseRoma. UMathewu wayaziwa futhi ngokuthi uLevi futhi eyindodana ka-Alfewu. Wasabela ngokushesha esimemweni sikaJesu sokuba amlandele.​—⁠Math. 9:⁠9; Marku 2:​14; Luka 5:​27-⁠32.

 5. Kuqinisekwa kanjani ngokuthi uMathewu ongumlobi weVangeli lokuqala?

⁵ Nakuba iVangeli okuthiwa elikaMathewu lingambizi ngegama njengomlobi, ubufakazi obuningi kakhulu bezazi-mlando zebandla lokuqala bubonisa yena njengomlobi. Mhlawumbe ayikho incwadi yasendulo enomlobi wayo oqinisekiswe ngokucacile nangokuvumelana ukwedlula incwadi kaMathewu. Kusukela emuva kuPapias waseHierapolis (ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka C.E.) kuqhubeke, sinohlu lofakazi bokuqala beqiniso lokuthi uMathewu owaloba leliVangeli nokuthi liyingxenye eyiqiniso yeZwi likaNkulunkulu. ICyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong ithi: “Izindinyana ezikuMathewu zicashunwa uJustin Martyr, umlobi wencwadi eyayiya kuDiognetus (bheka iJustin Martyr kaOtto, umq. ii), uHegesippus, uIrenæus, uTatian, uAthenagoras, uTheophilus, uClement, uTertullian, no-Origen. Akukhona nje okuqukethwe, kodwa isimo sezingcaphuno, ukubhekisela kuyo okuthulile njengomthombo oqinisekisiwe, ukungabikho kwakho konke ukungabaza, okusenza sikubheke njengokufakazelwe ukuthi lencwadi esinayo ayizange ibe isisulu sanoma yiluphi ushintsho olungalindelekile.”a Iqiniso lokuthi uMathewu wayengumphostoli, futhi ngalokho, enomoya kaNkulunkulu lisiqinisekisa ukuthi lokho akuloba kwakuyoba umbhalo othembekile.

 6, 7. (a) IVangeli likaMathewu lalotshwa nini okokuqala futhi ngaluphi ulimi? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi lalotshelwa amaJuda ngokuyinhloko? (c) Livela izikhathi ezingaki kuyiNew World Translation igama elithi Jehova kuleliVangeli, futhi ngani?

⁶ UMathewu waloba ukulandisa kwakhe ePalestina. Unyaka othé ngqo awaziwa, kodwa amagama asekugcineni kwemibhalo ethile elotshwe ngesandla (yonke engemva kwekhulu leshumi leminyaka C.E.) athi kwakungo-41 C.E. Kunobufakazi obubonisa ukuthi okokuqala uMathewu waloba iVangeli lakhe ngesiHeberu esivamile sangalesosikhathi futhi kamuva walihumushela esiGrekini. Encwadini yakhe ethi De viris inlustribus (Ngokuphathelene Namadoda Adumile), isahluko III, uJerome uthi: “UMathewu, futhi onguLevi, nowasuka ekubeni umthelisi waba umphostoli, okokuqala waloba iVangeli likaKristu eJudiya ngolimi nangezinhlamvu zesiHeberu ukuze kuzuze abokusoka ababekholwa.”b UJerome unezela ukuthi umbhalo wesiHeberu waleliVangeli walondolozwa osukwini lwakhe (ekhulwini lesine nelesihlanu leminyaka C.E.) emtatsheni wezincwadi owaqoqwa uPamphilus eKesariya.

⁷ Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka, uOrigen, exoxa ngamaVangeli, ucashunwa uEusebius ethi “elokuqala lalotshwa . . . ngokukaMathewu, . . . owalikhiphela labo abakholwa bevela ebuJudeni, lilotshwe ngolimi lwesiHeberu.”c Ukuthi lalotshwa kucatshangwa ngamaJuda ngokuyinhloko kuboniswa uhlu lwalo lozalo, olubonisa uzalo lukaJesu olungokomthetho olusukela kuAbrahama, nangokubhekisela kwalo kaningi emiBhalweni YesiHeberu, libonisa ukuthi yayikhomba phambili ekufikeni kukaMesiya. Kunengqondo ukukholelwa ukuthi uMathewu wasebenzisa igama laphezulu elithi Jehova lisesimweni seTetragrammaton lapho ecaphuna ezingxenyeni zemiBhalo YesiHeberu ezazinaleligama. Kungakho incwadi kaMathewu kuyiNew World Translation inegama elithi Jehova izikhathi ezingu-18, njengoba kunjalo ngenguqulo yesiHeberu kaMathewu eyakhishwa okokuqala uF. Delitzsch ekhulwini le-19 leminyaka. UMathewu wayeyoba nesimo sengqondo esifanayo nesikaJesu ngegama laphezulu futhi wayengeke avinjwe inkolelo-ze yamaJuda eyayivamile yokungalisebenzisi lelogama.​—⁠Math. 6:⁠9; Joh. 17:​6, 26.

 8. Iqiniso lokuthi uMathewu wayengumthelisi livezwe kanjani kokuqukethwe iVangeli lakhe?

⁸ Njengoba uMathewu ayekade engumthelisi, kusobala ukuthi wayeyocacisa ekukhulumeni kwakhe ngemali, izibalo, namanani. (Math. 17:​27; 26:​15; 27:⁠3) Wasazisa ngokujulile isihawu sikaNkulunkulu ngokumvumela ukuba yena, njengomthelisi odelelekile, abe isikhonzi sezindaba ezinhle nomngane kaJesu oseduze. Ngakho-ke, sithola uMathewu kuphela kubalobi bamaVangeli esinikeza ukugcizelela kukaJesu okuphindaphindiwe kokuthi isihawu siyafuneka ngaphezu komhlatshelo. (9:​9-13; 12:⁠7; 18:​21-35) UMathewu wakhuthazwa kakhulu umusa kaJehova ongasifanele futhi ngokufanelekile uloba amanye amazwi aduduza kakhulu uJesu awakhuluma: “Zanini kimi nina nonke enikhatheleyo nenisindwayo, mina ngizakuniphumuza. Bekani ijoka lami phezu kwenu, nifunde kimi, ngokuba ngimnene, ngithobile ngenhliziyo; khona imiphefumulo yenu iyakufumana impumuzo. Ngokuba ijoka lami lihle, nomthwalo wami ulula.” (11:​28-30) Yeka ukuthi ayeqabula kanjani lamazwi othando kulona owayekade engumthelisi, okungangabazeki ukuthi abantu besizwe sakubo babehlala bemthuka!

 9. Yisiphi isihloko nendlela yokulandisa ehlukanisa uMathewu?

⁹ UMathewu wagcizelela ngokukhethekile ukuthi isihloko sokufundisa kukaJesu ‘sasiwumbuso wezulu.’ (4:​17) Kuye, uJesu wayeyiNkosi enguMshumayeli. Wasebenzisa igama elithi “umbuso” kaningi (izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-50) kangangokuthi iVangeli lakhe lingabizwa ngokuthi iVangeli loMbuso. UMathewu wayekhathalela ikakhulukazi ukunikeza izinkulumo nezintshumayelo zikaJesu zasobala ngokuhlelekile kunokuzilandelanisa ngokwezikhathi. Ezahlukweni zokuqala ezingu-18, ukuqokomisa kukaMathewu isihloko soMbuso kwamholela ekubeni alushiye uhlelo lokulandelana kwazo. Nokho, izahluko zokugcina eziyishumi (19 kuya ku-28) ngokuvamile zilandelana ngokwezikhathi futhi ziyaqhubeka zigcizelela uMbuso.

10. Kungakanani okulotshiwe okutholakala kuMathewu kuphela, futhi leliVangeli lihlanganisa siphi isikhathi?

¹⁰ Amaphesenti angamashumi amane nambili okulandisa kweVangeli likaMathewu awatholakali kunoma yiliphi lamanye amaVangeli amathathu.d Lokhu kuhlanganisa okungenani imizekeliso noma imifanekiso eyishumi: Ukhula ensimini (13:​24-30), igugu elifihliwe (13:​44), iparele elinenani elikhulu (13:​45, 46), inetha (13:​47-50), inceku engenasihawu (18:​23-35), izisebenzi nodenariyu (20:​1-16), uyise nabantwana ababili (21:​28-32), umshado wendodana yenkosi (22:​1-14), izintombi eziyishumi (25:​1-13), namathalenta (25:​14-30). Sekukonke, lencwadi ilandisa kusukela ekuzalweni kukaJesu, ngo-⁠2 B.C.E., kuze kufike ekuhlanganeni kwakhe nabafundi bakhe ngaphambi nje kokwenyuka kwakhe, ngo-33 C.E.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAMATHEWU

11. (a) LeliVangeli liqala kanjani ngokunengqondo, futhi yiziphi izenzakalo zasekuqaleni ezilandiswayo? (b) Yikuphi okunye kokugcwaliseka okungokwesiprofetho uMathewu akuletha ekunakekeleni kwethu?

¹¹ Ukwethula uJesu nezindaba ‘zombuso wezulu’ (1:⁠1–4:​25). Ngokunengqondo, uMathewu uqala ngohlu lozalo lukaJesu, ebonisa ilungelo likaJesu elingokomthetho lokuba indlalifa ka-Abrahama noDavide. Kanjalo, kuthunjwa ukunakekela komfundi ongumJuda. Khona-ke sifunda ngokulandisa kokukhulelwa kukaJesu ngokuyisimangaliso, ukuzalwa kwakhe eBetlehema, ukuvakasha kwezazi zasempumalanga, ukubulala kukaHerode ngokuthukuthela bonke abafana baseBetlehema abangaphansi kweminyaka emibili ubudala, ukubalekela eGibithe kukaJosefa noMariya nomntwana omncane, nokubuya kwabo kamuva bezohlala eNazaretha. UMathewu uqikelela ukuba adonsele ukunakekela ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi uJesu unguMesiya owabikezelwa.​—⁠Math. 1:23​—⁠Isaya 7:​14; Math. 2:​1-6​—⁠Mika 5:⁠2; Math. 2:​13-18​—⁠Hos. 11:​1 noJer. 31:​15; Math. 2:23​—⁠Isaya 11:⁠1, umbhalo waphansi weNW.

12. Yini eyenzekayo ekubhapathizweni kukaJesu nangokushesha ngemva kwakho?

¹² Manje ukulandisa kukaMathewu kweqa iminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-30. UJohane uMbhapathizi ushumayela ehlane laseJudiya: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele.” (Math. 3:⁠2) Ubhapathiza amaJuda aphendukayo emfuleni iJordani futhi uxwayisa abaFarisi nabaSadusi ngentukuthelo ezayo. UJesu uyafika evela eGalile futhi uyabhapathizwa. Ngokushesha umoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe, futhi izwi elivela ezulwini lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.” (3:​17) Khona-ke uJesu uholelwa ehlane, lapho, ngemva kokuzila izinsuku ezingu-40, elingwa khona uSathane uDeveli. Izikhathi ezintathu uxosha uSathane ngezingcaphuno ezivela eZwini likaNkulunkulu, ekugcineni ethi: “Suka, Sathane, ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Wokhuleka eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho, umkhonze yena yedwa.”​—⁠4:⁠10.

13. Yimuphi umkhankaso ovusa amadlingozi manje oqaliswayo eGalile?

¹³ “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Lamazwi avusa amadlingozi manje amenyezelwa eGalile uJesu ogcotshiwe. Ubiza abadobi abane ekudobeni ukuba bamlandele futhi babe “abadobi babantu,” futhi uya nabo kulo “lonke elaseGalile efundisa emasinagogeni abo, eshumayela ivangeli lombuso, ephulukisa abantu ezifweni zonke nasebuthakathakeni bonke.”​—⁠4:​17, 19, 23.

14. ENtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, yiziphi izinjabulo uJesu akhuluma ngazo, futhi uthini ngokulunga?

¹⁴ INtshumayelo yaseNtabeni (5:⁠1–7:​29, qhathanisa neNW.). Njengoba izixuku ziqala ukumlandela, uJesu unyukela entabeni, uhlala phansi, futhi uqala ukufundisa abafundi bakhe. Uqala lenkulumo evusa amadlingozi ‘ngezinjabulo’ eziyisishiyagalolunye: Bayajabula labo abasiqaphelayo isidingo sabo esingokomoya, labo abakhalayo, abamnene, labo abalambele futhi bomele ukulunga, abanesihawu, abanenhliziyo ehlanzekile, abanokuthula, labo abashushiswa ngenxa yokulunga, nalabo abathukwayo futhi beqanjelwa amanga. “Jabulani, nithokoze, ngokuba umvuzo wenu mkhulu ezulwini.” Ubiza abafundi bakhe ngokuthi “usawoti womhlaba” nangokuthi “ukukhanya kwezwe” futhi uchaza ukulunga okufunekayo ukuze umuntu angene eMbusweni wezulu, okuhluke kakhulu esimweni sangaphandle kuphela sababhali nabaFarisi. “Manibe-ngabapheleleyo, njengoba uYihlo wasezulwini ephelele.”​—⁠5:​12-14, 48.

15. UJesu uthini ngomthandazo nangoMbuso?

¹⁵ UJesu uxwayisa ngezipho nemithandazo yokuzenzisa. Ufundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bathandazele ukungcweliswa kwegama likaBaba, ukuba uMbuso waKhe ufike, kanye nokudla kwabo kwansuku zonke. Kuyo yonke lentshumayelo uJesu uqokomisa uMbuso. Uxwayisa labo abamlandelayo ukuba bangakhathazeki noma basebenzele kuphela ingcebo ebonakalayo, ngoba uBaba uyazazi izidingo zabo zangempela. “Kodwa,” esho, “funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu kuyakwenezelwa nina.”​—⁠6:⁠33.

16. (a) Siyini iseluleko sikaJesu ngokusebenzelana nabanye, futhi uthini ngokuphathelene nalabo abalalela intando kaNkulunkulu nalabo abangayilaleli? (b) Intshumayelo yakhe iba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁶ INkosi iluleka ngokusebenzelana nabanye, ithi: “Ngakho-ke konke nokungakanani enifuna ukuba abantu bakwenze kini, kwenzeni nani kanjalo kubo.” Abambalwa abathola indlela eya ekuphileni kuyoba yilabo abenza intando kaYise. Abenzi bobubi bayokwaziwa ngezithelo zabo futhi bayokwenqatshwa. UJesu ufanisa umuntu olalela amazwi akhe “nendoda ehlakaniphileyo eyakha indlu yayo phezu kwedwala.” Yimuphi umphumela lenkulumo eba nawo ezixukwini ezilalele? “[Ziya]mangala ngokufundisa kwakhe,” ngoba ufundisa “njengonamandla, kungenjengababhali babo.”​—⁠7:​12, 24-⁠29.

17. UJesu ulibonisa kanjani igunya lakhe njengoMesiya, futhi yikuphi ukukhathalela kothando akubonisayo?

¹⁷ Ukushumayela ngoMbuso kuyandiswa (8:⁠1–11:​30). UJesu wenza izimangaliso eziningi​—⁠uphulukisa abanochoko, abafe uhlangothi, nabakhwelwe amademoni. Ubonisa ngisho negunya phezu komoya namaza ngokuthulisa isiphepho, futhi uvusa intombazane kwabafileyo. Yeka uzwela uJesu analo ngezixuku njengoba ebona indlela ezikhathazeke nezihlakazeke ngayo, “njengezimvu ezingenamalusi”! Njengoba esho kubafundi bakhe, “ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi ziyingcosana; ngakho-ke nxusani eNkosini yokuvuna ukuba ithume izisebenzi, ziye ekuvuneni kwayo.”​—⁠9:​36-⁠38.

18. (a) Iyiphi imfundo nesiyalo uJesu akunika abaphostoli bakhe? (b) Kungani kuwumaye ‘kulesizukulwane’?

¹⁸ UJesu ukhetha futhi athume abaphostoli abangu-12. Ubanikeza iziyalezo eziqondile ngendlela okumelwe benze ngayo umsebenzi wabo futhi ugcizelela imfundiso eyinhloko yokufundisa kwabo: “Ekuhambeni kwenu shumayelani nithi: Umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Ubanikeza umyalo wokuhlakanipha nowothando: “Namukelisiwe ngesihle, yiphani ngesihle.” “Hlakaniphani njengezinyoka, nibe-mnene njengamajuba.” Bayozondwa futhi bazingelwe, ngisho nayizihlobo eziseduze, kodwa uJesu uyabakhumbuza: “Ofumana ukuphila kwakhe uyakulahlekelwa yikho; olahlekelwa ngukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yami uyakukufumana.” (10:​7, 8, 16, 39) Bayahamba, beyofundisa futhi bashumayele emizini ababelwe kuyo! UJesu ubiza uJohane uMbhapathizi ngokuthi uyisithunywa esithunywe phambi kwakhe, “uEliya” othenjisiwe, kodwa “lesisizukulwane” asimamukeli uJohane naye, iNdodana yomuntu. (11:​14, 16) Ngakho maye kulesisizukulwane nasemizini engaphendukanga lapho ibona imisebenzi yakhe yamandla! Kodwa labo ababa abafundi bakhe bayothola impumuzo yemiphefumulo yabo.

19. Lapho abaFarisi bekhononda ngokuziphatha kwakhe ngeSabatha, uJesu ubasola kanjani?

¹⁹ AbaFarisi bayaphikiswa futhi bayasolwa (12:​1-50). AbaFarisi bazama ukuthola iphutha kuJesu ngendaba yeSabatha, kodwa uchitha ukummangelela kwabo abese eqala ukukusola kabuhlungu ukuzenzisa kwabo. Uyabatshela: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ningakhuluma kanjani okuhle nibabi na? Ngokuba umlomo ukhuluma ngokuchichima kwenhliziyo.” (12:​34) Abayikunikwa-sibonakaliso ngaphandle kwesikaJona umprofethi: INdodana yomuntu iyoba sebuthunjini bomhlaba izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.

20. (a) Kungani uJesu ekhuluma ngemifanekiso? (b) Yimiphi imifanekiso yoMbuso ayinikezayo manje?

²⁰ Imifanekiso eyisikhombisa yoMbuso (13:​1-58). Kungani uJesu ekhuluma ngemifanekiso? Uchazela abafundi bakhe: “Nina niphiwe ukwazi izimfihlakalo zombuso wezulu; kodwa bona kabakuphiwanga.” Uthi abafundi bakhe babusisiwe ngoba bayabona futhi bayezwa. Yeka imfundo eqabulayo manje abanikeza yona! Ngemva kokuchaza umfanekiso womhlwanyeli, uJesu unikeza umfanekiso wokhula ensimini, imbewu yesinaphi, imvubelo, igugu elifihliwe, iparele elinenani elikhulu, nenetha​—⁠yonke efanekisela okuthile okuphathelene ‘nombuso wezulu.’ Nokho, abantu bayakhubeka ngaye, futhi uJesu uyabatshela: “Umprofethi kadelelwa ngaphandle kwasezweni lakubo nasendlini yakwabo.”​—⁠13:​11, 57.

21. (a) Yiziphi izimangaliso uJesu azenzayo, futhi zimbonisa eyini? (b) Yimuphi umbono onikezwayo ngokuphathelene nokuza kweNdodana yomuntu eMbusweni wayo?

²¹ Inkonzo eyengeziwe nezimangaliso ‘zikaKristu’ (14:⁠1–17:​27). UJesu uthinteka ngokujulile ngenxa yombiko wokunqunywa ikhanda kukaJohane uMbhapathizi ngokuyala kukaHerode Antipase obuthakathaka. Usisuthisa ngokuyisimangaliso isixuku sabangu-⁠5 000 nangaphezulu; uhamba phezu kolwandle; uphendula okunye ukugxeka kwabaFarisi, athi ‘beqa umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yesiko labo’; uphulukisa okhwelwe idemoni, ‘izinyonga, izimpumputhe, izimungulu, izilima, nabanye abaningi’; uyaphinda futhi usuthisa abangaphezu kuka-⁠4 000, ngezinkwa eziyisikhombisa nezinhlanzi ezincane ezimbalwa. (15:​3, 30) Ephendula umbuzo kaJesu, uPetru uyamchaza, ethi: “Wena unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.” UJesu utusa uPetru abese ethi: “Phezu kwalelidwala ngiyakulakha ibandla lami.” (16:​16, 18) Manje uJesu uqala ukukhuluma ngokufa kwakhe okusondelayo nokuvuka kwakhe ngosuku lwesithathu. Kodwa futhi uthembisa ukuthi abanye babafundi bakhe ‘abayikukuzwa ngempela ukufa, baze bayibone iNdodana yomuntu iza embusweni wayo.’ (16:​28) Ezinsukwini eziyisithupha kamuva, uJesu uthatha uPetru, uJakobe, noJohane bakhuphukela entabeni ende beyombona eguquka isimo enkazimulweni. Embonweni, babona uMose noEliya bekhuluma naye, futhi bezwa izwi livela ezulwini lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo; yizweni.” Sebehlile entabeni, uJesu ubatshela ukuthi “uEliya” othenjisiwe usefikile kakade, futhi bayaqonda ukuthi ukhuluma ngoJohane uMbhapathizi.​—⁠17:​5, 12.

22. UJesu ululeka uthini ngokuthethelela?

²² UJesu ululeka abafundi bakhe (18:​1-35). Lapho beseKapernawume uJesu ukhuluma nabafundi ngokuthobeka, intokozo enkulu yokuthola imvu elahlekile, nokuxazulula ukonana phakathi kwabazalwane. UPetru uyabuza: ‘Kumelwe ngimthethelele kangaki umfowethu?’ futhi uJesu uyaphendula: “Angisho kuwe ukuthi kuze kube-kasikhombisa kodwa kuze kube-kamashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa.” Ukuze enze leliphuzu libe namandla, uJesu unikeza umfanekiso wenceku enkosi yayo yayithethelela icala lodenariyu abayizigidi ezingu-60. Kamuva lenceku yafaka inceku ekanye nayo etilongweni ngenxa yecala lodenariyu abayikhulu kuphela, futhi ngenxa yalokho, ngokufanayo inceku engenasihawu yanikelwa kubaphathi betilongo.e UJesu uveza iphuzu: “Kanjalo naye uBaba osezulwini uyakwenza kini, uma ningathetheleli ngezinhliziyo zenu kube-yilowo nalowo umfowabo.”​—⁠18:​21, 22, 35.

23. Yini uJesu ayichazayo ngokuphathelene nesahlukaniso nangokuphathelene nendlela yokuphila?

²³ Izinsuku zokugcina zenkonzo kaJesu (19:1–​22:​46). Ijubane lezenzakalo liyashesha futhi isimo siya sishuba njengoba ababhali nabaFarisi beyithukuthelela ngokwengeziwe inkonzo kaJesu. Bazomhila ngendaba yesahlukaniso kodwa bayehluleka; uJesu ubonisa ukuthi ukuphela kwesizathu esingokomBhalo sesahlukaniso siwukuphinga. Insizwa enothile iza kuJesu, ibuza indlela eya ekuphileni okuphakade, kodwa imuka idabukile lapho ithola ukuthi kumelwe ithengise ngakho konke enakho futhi ibe umlandeli kaJesu. Ngemva kokunikeza umfanekiso wezisebenzi nodenariyu, uJesu uyaphinda ukhuluma ngokufa nokuvuka kwakhe, futhi uthi: “INdodana [yomuntu] [ayi]zelanga ukukhonzwa kepha ukukhonza nokunikela ukuphila kwayo, kube-yisihlengo sabaningi.”​—⁠20:⁠28.

24. Njengoba uJesu eqalisa isonto lokugcina lokuphila kwakhe kobuntu, yikuphi okuhlangenwe nakho aba nakho nabaphikisi benkolo, futhi uyisingatha kanjani imibuzo yabo?

²⁴ Manje uJesu uqalisa isonto lokugcina lokuphila kwakhe kobuntu. Ungena ngokunqoba eJerusalema ‘njengeNkosi, egibele ithole lembongolo.’ (21:​4, 5) Uxosha abashintshelana imali ethempelini nabanye abenzi benzuzo, futhi inzondo yezitha zakhe iyakhula njengoba ezitshela: “Abathelisi nezifebe bangena phambi kwenu embusweni kaNkulunkulu.” (21:​31) Imifanekiso yakhe engagunci yomvini nedili lomshado ingena ijule. Uphendula ngekhono umbuzo wabaFarisi wentela ngokubatshela ukuba bakhokhele “uKesari okukaKesari noNkulunkulu okukaNkulunkulu.” (22:​21) Ngokufanayo uphendula umbuzo ocuphayo wabaSadusi futhi usekela ithemba lovuko. AbaFarisi beza kuye futhi nombuzo ngoMthetho, futhi uJesu ubatshela ukuthi umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke uwukuthanda uJehova ngokuphelele, futhi owesibili uwukuthanda komuntu umakhelwane wakhe njengoba ezithanda yena. Khona-ke uJesu uyababuza, ‘UKristu angaba kanjani yikho kokubili indodana kaDavide neNkosi yakhe?’ Akekho ophendulayo, futhi ngemva kwalokho akekho olokotha ambuze utho.​—⁠22:​45, 46.

25. UJesu ubasola kanjani ngamandla ababhali nabaFarisi?

²⁵ ‘Maye kinina, bazenzisi’ (23:​1–24:⁠2). Ekhuluma nezixuku ethempelini, uJesu wethula okunye ukubasola okubuhlungu ababhali nabaFarisi. Abazenzi nje kuphela bangakufanelekeli ukungena eMbusweni kodwa basebenzisa wonke amaqhinga abanawo ukuze bavimbele abanye bangangeni. Njengamaliba acakiweyo, babonakala bebahle ngaphandle, kodwa ngaphakathi bagcwele ukonakala nokubola. UJesu uphetha ngalesahlulelo ngeJerusalema: “Indlu yenu isisala nani.” (23:​38) Njengoba eshiya ithempeli, uJesu uprofetha ngokubhujiswa kwalo.

26. Yisiphi isibonakaliso esingokwesiprofetho uJesu asinikezayo ngokuphathelene nokuba khona kwakhe enkazimulweni yobukhosi?

²⁶ UJesu unikeza ‘isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe’ (24:⁠3–25:​46). ENtabeni yemiNqumo, abafundi bakhe bambuza ‘ngesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ Ephendula, uJesu ukhomba phambili esikhathini sezimpi, ‘isizwe sivukele isizwe nombuso uvukele umbuso,’ indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba, ukwanda kobubi, ukushunyayelwa ‘kwalelivangeli lombuso’ emhlabeni wonke, ukumiswa ‘kwenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo . . . phezu kwakho konke anakho,’ nakwezinye izici eziningi zesibonakaliso esihlangene esiyophawula ‘ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu ngenkazimulo yayo ukuba ihlale esihlalweni sayo senkazimulo.’ (24:​3, 7, 14, 45-47, qhathanisa neNW; 25:​31) UJesu uphetha lesiprofetho esibalulekile ngomfanekiso wezintombi eziyishumi nowamathalenta, oveza imivuzo ejabulisayo kwabaqaphile nabathembekile, kanye nomfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi, obonisa abantu abanjengezimbuzi beya “ekujezisweni okuphakade, kodwa abalungileyo [beya] ekuphileni okuphakade.”​—⁠25:⁠46.

27. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka osukwini lokugcina lukaJesu emhlabeni?

²⁷ Izenzakalo zosuku lukaJesu lokugcina (26:⁠1–​27:​66). Ngemva kokugubha iPhasika, uJesu umisa okuthile okusha nabaphostoli bakhe abathembekile, ebamema ukuba badle isinkwa esingenamvubelo newayini njengezifanekiselo zomzimba wakhe negazi lakhe. Khona-ke baya eGetsemane, lapho uJesu ethandaza khona. Lapho uJuda ufika nesixuku esihlomile futhi ukhaphela uJesu ngokwanga kokuzenzisa. UJesu uyiswa kumpristi omkhulu, futhi abapristi abakhulu nomphakathi wonke (iSanhedrin) bafuna ubufakazi bamanga ngoJesu. Ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sikaJesu, uPetru uyamphika lapho evivinywa. UJuda, ezisola, uphonsa imali abemkhaphele ngayo ethempelini futhi uyahamba ayozilengisa. Ekuseni uJesu uyiswa phambi kombusi wamaRoma uPilatu, omnikela ukuba abethelwe ngenxa yokucindezelwa isixuku esishoshozelwa abapristi simemeza: “Igazi lakhe malibe-phezu kwethu naphezu kwabantwana bethu.” Amabutho ombusi ahlekisa ngobukhosi bakhe futhi amyisa eGolgotha, lapho embethela khona phakathi kwabaphangi ababili, nombhalo phezu kwekhanda lakhe othi, “LO NGUJESU, INKOSI YABAJUDA.” (27:​25, 37) Ngemva kwamahora amaningi okuhlushwa, ekugcineni uJesu uyafa cishe ngehora lesithathu ntambama futhi ubekwa ethuneni elisha likaJosefa waseArimatheya. Bekuwusuku olunezenzakalo ezingakaze zibonwe emlandweni!

28. Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle kunazo zonke uMathewu aletha ngazo ukulandisa kwakhe emvuthwandaba, futhi uphetha ngakuphi ukuthunywa?

²⁸ Ukuvuka kukaJesu neziyalezo zokugcina (28:​1-20). Manje uMathewu uletha ukulandisa kwakhe emvuthwandaba ngezindaba ezinhle kunazo zonke. UJesu obefile uvusiwe​—⁠useyaphila futhi! Ekuseni ngosuku lokuqala lwesonto, uMariya Magdalena “nomunye uMariya” bafika ethuneni futhi bezwa isimemezelo sengelosi saleliqiniso elijabulisayo. (28:⁠1) Ukuze aqinisekise lokhu, uJesu ngokwakhe ubonakala kubo. Izitha zizama ngisho nokuphikisa iqiniso lokuvuka kwakhe, zithenga amabutho abelinde ithuna ukuba athi, “Abafundi bakhe beza ebusuku, bameba silele.” Kamuva, eGalile, uJesu uba nomunye umhlangano nabafundi bakhe. Siyini isiyalezo sakhe sokugcina kubo? Nasi: “Hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise, neleNdodana, nelikaMoya oNgcwele.” Ingabe bayoba naso isiqondiso kulomsebenzi wokushumayela? Amazwi kaJesu okugcina uMathewu awalobayo anikeza lesiqinisekiso: “Bhekani, mina nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube-sekupheleni kwezwe.”​—⁠28:​13, 19, 20.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

29. (a) UMathewu uyixhumanisa kanjani imiBhalo yesiHeberu neyesiGreki? (b) Yiliphi ilungelo elajatshulelwa uJesu elisavulekele amaKristu namuhla?

²⁹ Incwadi kaMathewu, yokuqala emaVangelini amane, ngempela inikeza indlela enhle kakhulu yokuxhumanisa imiBhalo yesiHeberu nemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki. Ngokungenaphutha, ichaza uMesiya neNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu othenjisiwe, yenza zaziwe izimfuneko zokuba abalandeli bakhe, futhi ibonise umsebenzi obalindele ngaphambili emhlabeni. Okokuqala uJohane uMbhapathizi, bese kuba uJesu, futhi ekugcineni abafundi bakhe bahamba beshumayela, “Umbuso ususondele.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, umyalo kaJesu ufinyelela ngisho nasesiphelweni sesimiso sezinto: “Lelivangeli [“izindaba ezinhle,” NW] lombuso liyakushunyayelwa ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke, andukuba kufike ukuphela.” Ngempela kwakuyilungelo elihle nelimangalisayo, futhi kuseyilo, ukuhlanganyela kulomsebenzi woMbuso, kuhlanganise ‘nokwenza izizwe zonke abafundi,’ silandela isibonelo seNkosi.​—⁠3:⁠2; 4:​17; 10:⁠7; 24:​14; 28:⁠19.

30. Iyiphi ingxenye kaMathewu ngokukhethekile eye yazuza ukuqashelwa ngenxa yokusebenziseka kwayo?

³⁰ Ngempela iVangeli likaMathewu ‘liyizindaba ezinhle.’ Isigijimi salo esiphefumlelwe ‘sasiyizindaba ezinhle’ kulabo abasilalela ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi Esivamile, futhi uJehova uNkulunkulu uye waqikelela ukuthi silondolozwe ‘siyizindaba ezinhle’ kuze kube namuhla. Ngisho nabangemaKristu baye baphoqeleleka ukuba bawavume amandla aleliVangeli, ngokwesibonelo, njengomholi wamaHindu uMohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, okubikwa ukuthi wathi eNkosini uIrwin, owayekade engumbusi waseNdiya: “Uma izwe lakho nelami engahlangana ezimfundisweni ezabekwa uKristu kuleNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni, siyobe singaxazululanga nje kuphela izinkinga zamazwe ethu kodwa nezomhlaba wonke.”f Ngesinye isikhathi uGandhi wathi: “Ungangabazi ukuphuza kakhulu emithonjeni oyinikezwa eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni . . . Ngoba imfundiso yaleNtshumayelo yayihloselwe thina sonke.”g

31. Obani abaye babonisa ukwazisa kwangempela ngeseluleko esikuMathewu, futhi kungani kunenzuzo ukutadisha leliVangeli ngokuphindaphindiwe?

³¹ Nokho, izwe lonke, kuhlanganise naleyongxenye ezisholo ukuthi ingamaKristu, liyaqhubeka nezinkinga zalo. Kuye kwashiyelwa engxenyeni encane yamaKristu eqiniso ukuba ilondoloze, itadishe, futhi isebenzise iNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni naso sonke esinye iseluleko esinengqondo sezindaba ezinhle ngokukaMathewu futhi ngaleyondlela ithole izinzuzo ezingenakulinganiswa. Kunenzuzo ukutadisha ngokuphindaphindiwe iziyalo ezinhle zikaJesu eziphathelene nokuthola injabulo yangempela, kanye nezindinganiso zokuziphatha nomshado, amandla othando, umthandazo owamukelekayo, izinto ezingokomoya uma ziqhathaniswa nezinto ezibonakalayo, ukufuna uMbuso kuqala, ukuhlonipha izinto ezingcwele, nokuba ngabaqaphile nabalalelayo. UMathewu isahluko 10 unikeza iziyalezo zikaJesu ngenkonzo kulabo abangenela umsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle ‘zombuso wezulu.’ Imifanekiso eminingi kaJesu inezifundo ezibalulekile kubo bonke ‘abanezindlebe zokuzwa.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, iziprofetho zikaJesu, njengokubikezela kwakhe ngokuningiliziwe ‘isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe,’ zakha ithemba eliqinile nesibindi esikhathini esizayo.​—⁠5:​1–7:​29; 10:​5-42; 13:​1-58; 18:⁠1–20:​16; 21:​28–22:​40; 24:​3–25:​46, qhathanisa neNW.

32. (a) Bonisa indlela isiprofetho esigcwalisekile esifakazela ngayo ubuMesiya bukaJesu. (b) Yisiphi isiqinisekiso esinamandla lokhu kugcwaliseka okusinikeza sona namuhla?

³² IVangeli likaMathewu ligcwele iziprofetho ezigcwalisekile. Eziningi zezingcaphuno zakhe ezisemiBhalweni yesiHeberu ephefumlelwe zazihloselwe ukubonisa lokhu kugcwaliseka. Zinikeza ubufakazi obungenakuphikwa bokuthi uJesu unguMesiya, ngoba kwakungenakwenzeka nakancane ukuyilungiselela kusengaphambili yonke lemininingwane. Qhathanisa, ngokwesibonelo, uMathewu 13:​14, 15 noIsaya 6:​9, 10; uMathewu 21:​42; neHubo 118:​22, 23; noMathewu 26:​31, 56, noZakariya 13:⁠7. Ukugcwaliseka okunjalo kusinikeza isiqinisekiso esinamandla, futhi, sokuthi zonke izibikezelo ezingokwesiprofetho zikaJesu ngokwakhe, ezilotshwe kuMathewu, zaziyogcwaliseka ngesikhathi esifanele lapho injongo kaJehova ekhazimulayo ngokuphathelene ‘nombuso wezulu’ igcwaliseka.

33. Abathandi bokulunga manje bangajabula ngaluphi ulwazi nethemba?

³³ Yeka indlela uNkulunkulu anemba ngayo ekubikezeleni ukuphila kweNkosi yoMbuso, ngisho nangemininingwane emincane! Yeka indlela uMathewu ophefumlelwe anemba ngayo ekulobeni ngokwethembeka ukugcwaliseka kwaleziprofetho! Njengoba becabanga ngakho konke ukugcwaliseka okungokwesiprofetho nezithembiso ezilotshwe encwadini kaMathewu, abathandi bokulunga ngempela bangajabula ngolwazi nangethemba ‘lombuso wezulu’ njengethuluzi likaJehova lokungcwelisa igama lakhe. YiloMbuso ngoJesu Kristu oletha izibusiso zokuphila nenjabulo ezingenakuchazwa kubantu abamnene nabalambile ngokomoya “ngokuphind’ ukuzalwa lapho iNdodana yomuntu isihlezi esihlalweni senkazimulo yayo.” (Math. 19:​28) Konke lokhu kuqukethwe ezindabeni ezinhle ezivusa amadlingozi “ngokukaMathewu.”

[Imibhalo yaphansi]