Qhubeka Ufuna UMbuso Nokulunga KukaNkulunkulu
“Kodwa funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu kuyakwenezelwa nina.”—MATHEWU 6:33.
1, 2. Ababhali nabaFarisi bazishintsha zaba yini izenzo ezazizinhle ngokwazo, futhi isiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinika abalandeli bakhe?
ABABHALI nabaFarisi babefuna ukulunga ngendlela yabo, eyayingeyona indlela kaNkulunkulu. Akukhona lokho kuphela, kodwa lapho bezenza izenzo ezinhle ngokwazo, babezishintsha zibe izenzo zokuzenzisa ukuze babonwe abantu. Babengakhonzi uNkulunkulu, kodwa babekhonza ukuzazisa kwabo. UJesu waxwayisa abafundi bakhe ngokuzenzisa okunjalo: “Qaphelani ningenzi ukulunga kwenu phambi kwabantu ukuba nibonwe yibo, funa ningabi-nawo umvuzo kuYihlo osezulwini.”—Mathewu 6:1.
2 UJehova uyabazisa labo abapha abampofu—kodwa hhayi abapha njengoba kwakwenza abaFarisi. UJesu waxwayisa abafundi bakhe ngokubalingisa: “Ngakho-ke nxa wabela isipho, ungakhalisi icilongo phambi kwakho, njengalokhu kwenza abazenzisi emasinagogeni nasemigwaqweni ukuba badunyiswe ngabantu. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Sebewamukele umvuzo wabo.”—Mathewu 6:2.
3. (a) Iyiphi indlela ababhali nabaFarisi ababekhokhelwe ngayo ngokuphelele ngokunikela kwabo? (b) Isimo sikaJesu ngokuqondene nokunikela sasihluke kanjani?
3 Igama lesiGreki elisho ukuthi “sebewamukele” (a·peʹkho) kwakuyigama elalivela ngokuvamile kumarisidi ebhizinisi. Ukusetshenziswa kwalo eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni kubonisa ukuthi “sebewutholile umvuzo wabo,” okungukuthi, “sebeyisayinile irisidi yomvuzo wabo: sebelinikiwe ilungelo labo lokuthola umvuzo, ikakhulukazi njengokungathi sebeyinikiwe kakade irisidi yawo.” (An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, kaW. E. Vine) Izipho zabampofu zazifungelwa obala emigwaqweni. Emasinagogeni kwakumenyezelwa amagama abanikele. Labo ababenikele kakhulu babehlonishwa ngokukhethekile ngokuhlaliswa eduze naworabi phakathi nokukhulekela. Babenikela ukuze babonwe abantu; babebonwa futhi badunyiswe abantu; ngakho, irisidi yomvuzo abawuthola ngokunikela kwabo babengayigxiviza ukuthi “Ukhokhelwe Ngokuphelele.” Yeka ukuthi isimo sikaJesu sasihluke kanjani! Nikela “ekusithekeni; noYihlo obona ekusithekeni uzakukuvuza.”—Mathewu 6:3, 4; IzAga 19:17.
Imithandazo Ejabulisa UNkulunkulu
4. Kungani imithandazo yabaFarisi yabangela uJesu ukuba abize lawomadoda ngokuthi abazenzisi?
4 UJehova uyayazisa imithandazo eqondiswa kuye—kodwa hhayi njengoba abaFarisi babethandaza. UJesu wathi kubalandeli bakhe: “Nalapho nikhuleka, ningabi-njengabazenzisi, ngokuba bethanda ukukhuleka bemi emasinagogeni nasezinhlanganweni zezindlela ukuba babonwe ngabantu. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Sebewamukele umvuzo wabo.” (Mathewu 6:5) AbaFarisi babenemithandazo eminingi okwakumelwe bayisho ngekhanda nsuku zonke, ngezikhathi ezithile ezimisiwe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bakuphi. Ngokomthetho, kwakumelwe bayisho ekusithekeni. Nokho, ngamacebo babekwazi ukuba “sezinhlanganweni zezindlela,” bebonakala kubantu abadlula kulezozindlela bevela ezinhlangothini ezine, lapho ihora lokuthandaza lifika.
5. (a) Imiphi eminye imikhuba eyabangela ukuba imithandazo yabaFarisi ingazwiwa uNkulunkulu? (b) Yiziphi izinto uJesu azibeka phambili emthandazweni wakhe oyisibonelo, futhi ingabe abantu namuhla bayavumelana nalokho?
5 Bebonakalisa ubungcwele bamanga, ‘babekhuleka isikhathi eside ngokuzenzisa.’ (Luka 20:47) Elinye isiko elidluliselwa ngomlomo lalithi: “Amadoda akudala ashisekela inkolo ayevame ukulinda ihora ngaphambi kokuba asho iTefillah [umthandazo].” (Mishnah) Ngalesosikhathi ngokuqinisekile wonke umuntu wayeyobona ukushisekela kwabo inkolo futhi kummangaze! Imithandazo enjalo yayikhuphuka igcine emakhanda abo kuphela. UJesu wayala ukuba kuthandazwe ngasese, kungathemelezwa, futhi wabanika isibonelo esilula. (Mathewu 6:6-8; Johane 14:6, 14; 1 Petru 3:12) Umthandazo kaJesu oyisibonelo wazibeka kuqala izinto eziza kuqala: “Baba wethu osezulwini, malingcweliswe igama lakho; mawufike umbuso wakho; mayenziwe intando yakho.” (Mathewu 6:9-13) Bambalwa namuhla abantu abalaziyo igama likaNkulunkulu, bambalwa nakakhulu abafuna ukuba lingcweliswe. Ngaleyondlela bamenza unkulunkulu ongenagama. Umbuso kaNkulunkulu ufike? Abaningi bacabanga ukuthi usufikile kakade, ungaphakathi kubo. Bangase bathandazele ukuba intando yakhe yenziwe, kodwa abaningi benza intando yabo siqu.—IzAga 14:12.
6. Kungani uJesu alahla ukuzila kwamaJuda njengokungasho lutho?
6 Ukuzila ukudla kuyamukeleka kuJehova—kodwa hhayi njengoba kwakwenza abaFarisi. Njengoba kunjalo ngokunikela izipho nangokuthandaza kwababhali nabaFarisi, uJesu futhi walahla ukuzila kwabo njengokungasho lutho: “Nxa nizila ukudla, ninganyukumali njengabazenzisi; ngokuba bona banyakamisa ubuso babo, ukuze babonakale kubantu ukuthi bazilile. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Sebewamukele umvuzo wabo.” (Mathewu 6:16) Amasiko abo adluliselwa ngomlomo ayebonisa ukuthi phakathi nokuzila abaFarisi kwakungafanele bageze noma bazigcobe ngamafutha kodwa kwakumelwe bazithele ngomlotha emakhanda. Lapho engazili, amaJuda ayevame ukuzigeza futhi agcobe imizimba yawo ngamafutha.
7 . (a) Abalandeli bakaJesu kwakumelwe baziphathe kanjani lapho bezila? (b) Ngokuqondene nokuzila, yini uJehova ayeyifuna ngosuku lukaIsaya?
7 Ngokuqondene nokuzila, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe: “Gcoba ikhanda lakho, ugeze ubuso bakho, ukuze ungabonakali kubantu ukuthi uzilile kodwa kuYihlo.” (Mathewu 6:17, 18) Osukwini lukaIsaya amaJuda ayehlubuka ayekujabulela ukuzila, ehlupha imiphefumulo yawo, ekhothamisa amakhanda awo, futhi ehlala endwangwini yesaka nasemlotheni. Kodwa uJehova wayefuna ukuba akhulule abacindezelwe, ondle abalambile, anike abangenamakhaya izindlu, futhi embese abahlubulile.—Isaya 58:3-7.
Zibekele Ingcebo Yasezulwini
8. Yini eyabangela ababhali nabaFarisi ukuba balahlekelwe umbono wendlela yokuzuza ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu, futhi isiphi isimiso, esashiwo uPawulu kamuva, abangazange basinake?
8 Ekuphishekeleni kwabo ukulunga, ababhali nabaFarisi balahlekelwa umbono wendlela yokuzuza ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu futhi bagxila ekutusweni abantu. Banaka kakhulu amasiko abantu kangangokuthi balibeka eceleni iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe. Bagxilisa izinhliziyo zabo esikhundleni sasemhlabeni kunasengcebweni yasezulwini. Balishaya indiva iqiniso elicacile umFarisi owaphenduka waba umKristu alibhala eminyakeni ethile kamuva: “Konke enikwenzayo kwenzeni ngenhliziyo, kungathi kwenzelwa iNkosi, qha abantu, nazi ukuthi niyakwamukela umvuzo wefa eNkosini.”—Kolose 3:23, 24.
9. Yiziphi izingozi ezingasongela ingcebo yasemhlabeni, kodwa yini engagcina ingcebo yeqiniso ilondekile?
9 UJehova unesithakazelo ekuzinikezeleni kwakho kuye, hhayi emalini yakho esebhange. Uyazi ukuthi inhliziyo yakho ilapho ingcebo yakho ikhona. Ingabe ukugqwala nenundu kungayona ingcebo yakho? Ingabe amasela angamba ezindongeni zodaka futhi ayebe? Noma kulezikhathi zanamuhla zokungazinzi kwezomnotho, ingabe ukwehla kwamandla emali kunganciphisa inani lezinto ongazithenga ngayo noma ukuwa kwemakethe ehwebelana namazwe angaphandle kungayishabalalisa ngokuphelele? Ingabe izinga elinyukayo lobugebengu lingabangela ingcebo yakho ukuba yebiwe? Akunakwenzeka uma ibekwe ezulwini. Akunakwenzeka uma iso lakho—isibani esikhanyisa wonke umzimba wakho—lilihle, ligxiliswe eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu nasekulungeni kwakhe. Ingcebo inganyamalala. “Ungakhandlekeli ukuceba; kuyeke ngokuqonda kwakho. Amehlo akho ayandizela kulokho, kepha akusekho, ngokuba kuyazenzela impela amaphiko njengokhozi olundizela ezulwini.” (IzAga 23:4, 5) Ngakho kungani kumelwe uqwashe ngenxa yengcebo? “Ukusutha kocebileyo akumvumeli ukuba alale.” (UmShumayeli 5:12) Khumbula isixwayiso sikaJesu: “Ningekhonze uNkulunkulu noMamona.”—Mathewu 6:19-24.
Ukholo Oluxosha Ukukhathazeka
10. Kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukuba ube nokholo kuNkulunkulu kunasezintweni ezibonakalayo, futhi yisiphi iseluleko uJesu asinikeza?
10 UJehova ufuna ukuba ukholelwe kuye, hhayi ezintweni ezibonakalayo. “Ngaphandle kokukholwa akwenzeki ukumthokozisa; ngokuba ozayo kuNkulunkulu umelwe ukukholwa ukuthi ukhona nokuthi ungumvuzi walabo abamfunayo.” (Heberu 11:6) UJesu wathi: “Ukuphila komuntu akumi ngobuningi bempahla yakhe.” (Luka 12:15) Izigidi ezisebhange azinakwenza amaphaphu agulayo asebenze noma inhliziyo ekhathele iqhubeke ishaya. Ngakho “ngithi kini,” kuqhubeka uJesu eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni: “Ningakhathazeki ngokuphila kwenu ukuthi niyakudlani noma niyakuphuzani, nangomzimba wenu ukuthi niyakwembathani. Ukuphila akukukhulu kunokudla nomzimba kunesambatho na?”—Mathewu 6:25.
11. UJesu wayeyitholaphi eminingi yemifanekiso yakhe, futhi lokhu kuboniswe kanjani eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni?
11 UJesu wayeyingcweti yemifanekiso eshiwo ngomlomo. Wayecabanga ngayo nomaphi lapho ebheka khona. Wabona owesifazane ebeka isibani esikhanyisiwe othini lwesibani wayesekwenza kwaba umfanekiso. Wabona umalusi ehlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi; kwaba umfanekiso. Wabona abantwana bedlala endaweni yokuthengisa; kwaba umfanekiso. Futhi kwaba kanjalo eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni. Njengoba ayekhuluma ngokukhathazeka ngezidingo ezingokwenyama, wabona umfanekiso ezinyonini ezazindiza naseminduzeni eyayimboze iqele. Ingabe izinyoni ziyatshala zivune? Cha. Ingabe iminduze iyaphotha futhi ithandele? Cha. UNkulunkulu owazenza; uyazinakekela. Nokho wena ubaluleke ngaphezu kwezinyoni neminduze. (Mathewu 6:26, 28-30) Wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ngenxa yakho, hhayi ngenxa yazo.—Johane 3:16.
12. (a) Ingabe imifanekiso ephathelene nezinyoni nezimbali yayisho ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu kwakungeke kudingeke basebenze? (b) Iliphi iphuzu uJesu ayeliveza ngokuqondene nomsebenzi nokholo?
12 UJesu lapha wayengatsheli abalandeli bakhe ukuthi kwakungadingekile ukuba basebenze ukuze bazondle futhi bazembathise. (Bheka umShumayeli 2:24; Efesu 4:28; 2 Thesalonika 3:10-12.) Ngalokho kusa kwasentwasahlobo, izinyoni zazimatasa ziqhwanda ukudla, zishelana, zakha izidleke, zifukamela amaqanda, zondla amaphuphu azo. Zazisebenza kodwa zingakhathazeki. Izimbali nazo zazimatasa zifaka izimpande zazo emhlabathini zifuna amanzi nokutholakala enhlabathini futhi zithumela amacembe azo phezulu ukuba athole ukukhanya kwelanga. Kwakumelwe zivuthwe futhi ziqhakaze futhi zikhiphe imbewu ngaphambi kokuba zibune. Zazisebenza kodwa ngaphandle kokukhathazeka. UNkulunkulu uyazinakekela izinyoni neminduze. ‘Ingabe ubengeke akunakekele kakhulu wena onokholo oluncane?’—Mathewu 6:30.
13. (a) Kungani kwakufaneleka ngoJesu ukuba asebenzise isilinganiso sengalo lapho ekhuluma ngokwelula ubude bokuphila komuntu? (b) Ungakwelula kanjani ukuphila kwakho ngamakhilomitha ayizigidi ezingapheli, ngokomfanekiso?
13 Ngakho yiba nokholo. Musa ukukhathazeka. Ukukhathazeka ngeke kushintshe lutho. UJesu wabuza: “Ngumuphi kini ongelekela ebudeni bakhe [bokuphila] ingalo ibenye ngokukhathazeka na?” (Mathewu 6:27) Kodwa kungani uJesu ehlobanisa isilinganiso sebanga, ingalo, nesilinganiso sesikhathi ebudeni bokuphila? Mhlawumbe kungenxa yokuthi iBhayibheli livame ukufanisa ubude bokuphila kwabantu nendlela, lisebenzise izinkulumo ezinjengokuthi ‘indlela yezoni,’ “umkhondo wabalungileyo,” ‘indlela ebanzi eyisa ekubhujisweni,’ ‘nendlela eyingcingo eyisa ekuphileni.’ (IHubo 1:1; IzAga 4:18; Mathewu 7:13, 14) Ukukhathazeka ngezidingo zansuku zonke akunakukwelula ukuphila komuntu ngisho nangeqhuzwana, “ingalo,” uma singakubeka kanjalo. Kodwa ikhona indlela yokwelula ukuphila kwakho ngamakhilomitha ayizigidi ezingapheli, ngokomfanekiso. Hhayi ngokukhathazeka bese uthi “siyakudlani?” noma “siyakuphuzani?” noma “siyakwembathani?” kodwa ngokuba nokholo nokwenza lokho uJesu asitshela ukuba sikwenze: “Funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu kuyakwenezelwa nina.”—Mathewu 6:31-33.
Ukufinyelela UMbuso KaNkulunkulu Nokulunga Kwakhe
14. (a) Siyini isihloko seNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni? (b) Iyiphi indlela engalungile ababhali nabaFarisi ababewufuna ngayo uMbuso nokulunga?
14 Emushweni wakhe wokuqala eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, uJesu wakhuluma ngoMbuso wamazulu njengongowalabo abaqaphela isidingo sabo esingokomoya. Emushweni wesine, wathi labo abalambele futhi bomele ukulunga bayosuthiswa. Lapha uJesu ubeka kokubili uMbuso nokulunga kukaJehova kuqala. Kuyisihloko seNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni. Kuyikhambi lezidingo zaso sonke isintu. Kodwa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu kufinyelelwa kanjani? Singaqhubeka kanjani sikufuna? Hhayi ngendlela ababhali nabaFarisi ababenza ngayo. Babefuna uMbuso nokulunga ngoMthetho kaMose, ababethi wawuhlanganisa namasiko adluliselwa ngomlomo, njengoba babekholelwa ukuthi kokubili uMthetho obhaliwe namasiko adluliselwa ngomlomo uMose wakuthola kuNkulunkulu eNtabeni yaseSinayi.
15. (a) NgokwamaJuda, amasiko adluliselwa ngomlomo aqala nini, futhi awaphakamisa kanjani ngaphezu koMthetho kaMose obhaliwe? (b) Lamasiko aqala nini ngempela, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela eMthethweni kaMose?
15 Isiko labo ngokuqondene nalokhu lalithi: “UMose wamukela uMthetho [ngokombhalo waphansi, “uMthetho Odluliselwa Ngomlomo”] eSinayi wayesewuphathisa uJoshuwa, uJoshuwa wawuphathisa amalungu, futhi amalungu awuphathisa abaProfethi; nabaProfethi bawuphathisa amadoda aseSinagogeni Elikhulu.” Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi umthetho wabo odluliselwa ngomlomo waphakanyiswa ngisho nangaphezu komthetho obhaliwe: “[Uma] eqa amazwi oMthetho [obhaliwe] akanacala,” kodwa uma “enezela emazwini abaBhali [amasiko adluliselwa ngomlomo], unecala.” (Mishnah) Amasiko abo adluliselwa ngomlomo awaqalanga eSinayi. Eqinisweni, aqala ukwanda ngokushesha cishe emakhulwini amabili eminyaka ngaphambi kukaKristu. Banezela kuwo, bawunciphisa, futhi bawenza ize uMthetho kaMose obhaliwe.—Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 4:2; 12:32.
16. Ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kuza kanjani esintwini?
16 Ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu akuzi ngoMthetho, kodwa ngaphandle kwawo: “Ngemisebenzi yomthetho akukho-nyama [okuyothiwa ilungile, NW] phambi kwakhe; ngokuba ngomthetho kukhona ukwazi isono. Kepha manje kubonakalisiwe ukulunga okuvela kuNkulunkulu ngaphandle komthetho, kufakazelwa ngumthetho nabaprofethi, ngisho ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu ngokukholwa nguJesu Kristu.” (Roma 3:20-22) Ngakho ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kuza ngokuba nokholo kuKristu Jesu—lokhu ‘kwafakazelwa’ kahle “ngumthetho nabaprofethi.” Iziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya zagcwaliseka kuJesu. Wagcwalisa noMthetho; wagudluzwa ngokuba ubethelwe esigxotsheni sakhe sokuhlushwa.—Luka 24:25-27, 44-46; Kolose 2:13, 14; Heberu 10:1.
17. Ngokomphostoli uPawulu, amaJuda ahluleka kanjani ukwazi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu?
17 Ngakho, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala lokhu ngokwehluleka kwamaJuda ekufuneni ukulunga: “Ngokuba ngiyabafakazela ukuthi bashisekela uNkulunkulu kodwa kungengokuqonda; ngokuba bengakwazi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu, befuna ukumisa okwabo, abakuthobelanga ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu. Ngokuba isiphetho somthetho nguKristu, kube-ngukulunga kubo bonke abakholwayo.” (Roma 10:2-4) UPawulu wabhala lokhu futhi ngoKristu Jesu: “Ongasazanga isono wamenza isono ngenxa yethu, ukuze kuyena senziwe sibe-ngukulunga kukaNkulunkulu.”—2 Korinte 5:21.
18. “UKristu obethelwe” wayebhekwa kanjani abashisekeli bamasiko abangamaJuda, izazi zefilosofi ezingamaGreki, nayilabo “ababiziweyo”?
18 AmaJuda abheka uMesiya owayefa njengento ebuthakathaka engelutho. Izazi zefilosofi ezingamaGreki zameyisa uMesiya onjalo njengowubuwula. Nokho, kunjengoba uPawulu asho: “AbaJuda babiza izibonakaliso, namaGreki afuna ukuhlakanipha, kepha thina sishumayela uKristu obethelwe [esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa, NW] isikhubekiso kubaJuda, ubuwula kubo abezizwe, kepha kubo ababiziweyo, abaJuda namaGreki, sishumayela uKristu, amandla kaNkulunkulu nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu. Ngokuba ubuwula bukaNkulunkulu buhlakaniphile kunabantu; nobuthakathaka bukaNkulunkulu bunamandla kunabantu.” (1 Korinte 1:22-25) UKristu Jesu uwukubonakaliswa kwamandla nokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu futhi uyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokuba isintu esilalelayo sithole ukulunga nokuphila okuphakade. “Ayikho insindiso ngomunye, ngokuba alikho futhi elinye igama phansi kwezulu elinikiwe ebantwini, esimelwe ukusindiswa ngalo.”—IzEnzo 4:12.
19. Isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisani?
19 Isihloko esilandelayo sizobonisa ukuthi ukuze sisinde ekubhujisweni futhi sithole ukuphila okuphakade, kumelwe siqhubeke sifuna uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe. Lokho kumelwe kwenziwe hhayi nje ngokulalela amazwi kaJesu kuphela kodwa futhi nangokuwenza.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Abashisekeli benkolo abangamaJuda bazishintsha zaba yini izipho zomusa, imithandazo, nokuzila?
◻ Iyiphi indawo ephephile ongabeka kuyo ingcebo yakho?
◻ Kungani kufanele sigweme ukukhathazeka ngezidingo zethu ezingokwenyama?
◻ Yikuphi ukuzisholo kwamanga amaJuda akwenza ngemvelaphi yamasiko awo adluliselwa ngomlomo?
◻ UMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe kuza kanjani?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
AbaFarisi babethanda ukuthandaza bemi ezinhla-nganweni zemigwaqo, lapho babengase babonwe khona abantu