Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-58—KumaHeberu
Umlobi: UPawulu
Yalotshelwa: ERoma
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-61 C.E.
1. UPawulu waloba incwadi eya kumaHeberu ngokuvumelana nakuphi ukuthunywa?
UPAWULU waziwa kakhulu ngokuthi umphostoli “wabezizwe.” Kodwa ingabe inkonzo yakhe yayilinganiselwe kwabangemaJuda kuphela? Phinde! Ngaphambi nje kokuba uPawulu abhapathizwe futhi athunyelwe emsebenzini wakhe, iNkosi uJesu yathi kuAnaniya: “Lo [uPawulu] uyisitsha sami esikhethiweyo sokuphatha igama lami phambi kwabezizwe, namakhosi, nabantwana bakwaIsrayeli.” (IzE. 9:15; Gal. 2:8, 9) Ngempela ukulotshwa kwencwadi yamaHeberu kwakusekuvumelaneni nokuthunywa kukaPawulu ukuba aphathe igama likaJesu kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli.
2. Amaphuzu aphikisa ukuthi uPawulu owaloba incwadi yamaHeberu angaphikiswa kanjani?
2 Nokho, abanye abacusumbuli bayangabaza ukuthi uPawulu owaloba incwadi yamaHeberu. Okunye abaphikisa ngakho ukuthi igama likaPawulu aliveli encwadini. Kodwa lokhu akusona ngempela isithiyo, njengoba ezinye izincwadi eziningi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli azimusho ngegama umlobi, ngokuvamile utholakala ngobufakazi bangaphakathi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye banomuzwa wokuthi kungenzeka uPawulu waliyeka ngamabomu igama lakhe lapho ebhalela amaKristu angamaHeberu eJudiya, njengoba igama lakhe lase lizondwa amaJuda lapho. (IzE. 21:28) Ngisho nokwahluka kwendlela yokuloba kwezinye izincwadi zakhe akulona ngempela iphuzu lokuphikisa ukuthi yalotshwa uPawulu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukhuluma namaqaba, amaJuda, noma amaKristu, ngaso sonke isikhathi uPawulu wabonisa ikhono lakhe lokuba “yikho konke kubo bonke.” Lapha umqondo wakhe uvezwa kumaJuda njengovela kumJuda, amaphuzu ayengawaqonda ngokugcwele futhi awazise.—1 Kor. 9:22.
3. Yibuphi ubufakazi bangaphakathi obusekela ukuthi uPawulu owaloba incwadi yamaHeberu nobubonisa ukuthi wayilobela amaJuda ngokuyinhloko?
3 Bonke ubufakazi bangaphakathi balencwadi busekela ukuthi yalotshwa uPawulu. Umlobi wayeseItaliya futhi wayenoThimothewu. Lamaqiniso ayamfanela uPawulu. (Heb. 13:23, 24) Ngaphezu kwalokho, imfundiso ifanela uPawulu, nakuba amaphuzu evezwa ngokombono womJuda, eklanyelwe ukukhanga ebandleni lamaHeberu wodwa okwakuqondiswe kuwo lencwadi. Kuleliphuzu iCommentary kaClarke, Umqulu 6, ikhasi 681, ithi ngencwadi yamaHeberu: “Ukuthi yayilotshelwe amaJuda, ayeyiwo ngokwemvelo, kufakazelwa yiso sonke isimo sencwadi. Ukuba yayilotshelwe abeZizwe, akukho noyedwa kwabayizinkulungwane eziyishumi babo owayeyolithola iphuzu, ngoba bengajwayelene nesimiso samaJuda; leso umlobi walencwadi abonisa ukuba nolwazi ngaso kuyo yonke indawo.” Lokhu kusiza ekunikezeni isizathu sokwahluka kwendlela yokuloba uma iqhathaniswa nezinye izincwadi zikaPawulu.
4. Kunabuphi obunye ubufakazi bokuthi uPawulu owaloba incwadi yamaHeberu?
4 Ukutholakala kweChester Beatty Papyrus No. 2 (P46) cishe ngo-1930 kuye kwaveza obunye ubufakazi bokuthi yalotshwa uPawulu. Ekhuluma ngalecodex ekuyipapyrus, eyalotshwa cishe esikhathini esingangeminyaka eyikhulu nengxenye ngemva kokufa kukaPawulu, umhlaziyi wemibhalo odumile waseBrithani uSir Frederic Kenyon wathi: “Kungokuphawulekayo ukuthi incwadi yamaHeberu ibekwa ngemva nje kweyabaseRoma (okuwukulandelana cishe okungekho kwamanye amaBhayibheli), okubonisa ukuthi ekuqaleni lapho lombhalo wesandla ulotshwa kwakungekho kungabaza ngokuthi yalotshwa uPawulu.”a Ngalendaba efanayo, iCyclopedia kaMcClintock noStrong ithi ngokungagunciyo: “Abukho ubufakazi obuzwakalayo, obangaphandle noma obangaphakathi, obusekela noma ubani omunye okuthiwa waloba lencwadi ngaphandle kukaPawulu.”b
5. Okuqukethwe incwadi yamaHeberu kubonisa kanjani ukuthi iphefumlelwe?
5 Ngaphandle kokwamukelwa kwalencwadi amaKristu okuqala, okuqukethwe incwadi yamaHeberu kubonisa ukuthi “iphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu.” Ikhomba njalo umfundi eziprofethweni zemiBhalo yesiHeberu, ibhekisela kaningi emibhalweni yangaphambili, futhi ibonisa indlela yonke lena eyagcwaliseka ngayo kuKristu Jesu. Esahlukweni sokuqala kuphela, kusetshenziswa izingcaphuno ezingengaphansi kweziyisikhombisa ezivela emiBhalweni yesiHeberu njengoba kuthuthukiswa iphuzu lokuthi iNdodana manje isingaphezu kwezingelosi. Ikhulisa njalo iZwi likaJehova negama lakhe, ikhomba kuJesu njengomMeleli wokuphila naseMbusweni kaNkulunkulu ngoKristu njengokuwukuphela kwethemba lesintu.
6. Yini ubufakazi obuyibonisayo ngendawo nesikhathi sokulotshwa kwencwadi yamaHeberu?
6 Ngokuqondene nesikhathi sokulotshwa, sekubonisiwe kakade ukuthi uPawulu waloba lencwadi ngenkathi eseItaliya. Ekuphetheni lencwadi, uthi: “Yazini ukuthi umfowethu uThimothewu ukhululiwe; uma efika masinyane, ngiyakunibona sinaye.” (13:23) Lokhu kubonakala kubonisa ukuthi uPawulu wayelindele ukukhululwa ngokushesha etilongweni futhi wayethemba ukuhamba noThimothewu, naye owayekade eboshiwe kodwa owayesekhululiwe kakade. Ngakho, kusikiselwa unyaka wokugcina wokuboshwa kukaPawulu kokuqala eRoma njengosuku lokuloba, okungukuthi, u-61 C.E.
7. Luhlobo luni lokuphikiswa amaKristu angamaJuda eJerusalema ayebhekene nalo, futhi yini ayeyidinga?
7 Phakathi nesikhathi sokuphela kwesimiso sezinto samaJuda, kwafika isikhathi sovivinyo olukhulu kumaKristu angamaHeberu aseJudiya futhi ikakhulukazi kulawo aseJerusalema. Ngokukhula nokusakazeka kwezindaba ezinhle, amaJuda ayeba nonya futhi ehlanya kakhulu ekuphikiseni kwawo amaKristu. Eminyakeni embalwa kuphela ngaphambili, ukubonakala nje kukaPawulu eJerusalema kwakuvuse isiyaluyalu, amaJuda ashisekela inkolo ememeza ngamazwi awo onke ethi: “Msuseni onje emhlabeni, ngokuba akufanele ukuba aphile.” AmaJuda angaphezu kwangu-40 ayefungile ukuba angadli futhi angaphuzi aze ambulale, futhi kwadingeka ukuba aphelezelwe amabutho anamandla ahlome kakhulu amehlise ebusuku aye eKesariya. (IzE. 22:22; 23:12-15, 23, 24) Kulesimo sobuhlanya obungokwenkolo nenzondo ngamaKristu, ibandla kwakudingeka ukuba liphile, lishumayele, futhi lizigcine liqinile okholweni. Kwakudingeka ukuba libe nolwazi nokuqonda okuhluzekile ngendlela uKristu agcwalisa ngayo uMthetho ukuze angahlehleli ebuJudeni nokugcina kwabo uMthetho kaMose nokunikelwa kwemihlatshelo yezilwane, konke manje osekumane kuyimicikilisho eyize.
8. Kungani uPawulu ayekuhlomele ngokuncomekayo ukubhala lencwadi eya kumaHeberu, futhi yiluphi uchungechunge lwamaphuzu awaveza?
8 Akukho muntu owayekwazi kangcono ukuqonda ukucindezelwa nokushushiswa amaKristu angamaJuda ayevulekele kukho kunomphostoli uPawulu. Akukho muntu owayehlonyiswe kangcono ukuba awanikeze amaphuzu anamandla aphikisa isiko lamaJuda kunoPawulu, owayekade engumFarisi. Esebenzisa ulwazi lwakhe olukhulu ngoMthetho kaMose, awufundiswa uGamaliyeli, wanikeza ubufakazi obungenakuphikwa bokuthi uKristu ungukugcwaliseka koMthetho, izimiso zawo, nemihlatshelo yawo. Wabonisa indlela konke lokhu osekuthathelwe ngayo indawo yizinto ezingokoqobo ezikhazimula kakhulu ngokwengeziwe, eziletha izinzuzo ezinkulu ngokungenakuqhathaniswa ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha nesingcono. Umqondo wakhe obukhali walandelanisa ubufakazi ngokuhleleka okucacile nokugculisayo. Ukuphela kwesivumelwano soMthetho nokungena kwesivumelwano esisha, ubukhulu bobupristi bukaKristu phezu kobupristi buka-Aroni, inani langempela lomhlatshelo kaKristu uma liqhathaniswa neminikelo yezinkunzi nezimbuzi, ukungena kukaKristu lapho kukhona khona uJehova ngokwakhe emazulwini kunasetendeni nje lasemhlabeni—zonke lezimfundiso ezintsha ezihlaba umxhwele, ezizondeka kakhulu kumaJuda angakholwa, lapha zanikezwa amaKristu angamaHeberu ngobufakazi obuningi kakhulu obuvela emiBhalweni yesiHeberu kangangokuthi akekho umJuda ocabangayo owayengahluleka ukukholwa.
9. Yisiphi isikhali esinamandla incwadi yamaHeberu eyaba yiso, futhi yaba kanjani ukubonakaliswa kothando lukaPawulu?
9 Ehlonyiswe ngalencwadi, amaKristu angamaHeberu ayenesikhali esisha nesinamandla sokuvala imilomo yamaJuda ayewashushisa, kanye namaphuzu agculisayo ayengaqinisekisa futhi aphendule ngawo amaJuda aqotho ayefuna iqiniso likaNkulunkulu. Lencwadi ibonisa uthando olujulile lukaPawulu ngamaKristu angamaHeberu nesifiso sakhe esivuthayo sokuwasiza ngendlela engokoqobo esikhathini sawo sesidingo esikhulu.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YAMAHEBERU
10. Yini amazwi okuvula encwadi yamaHeberu ayishoyo ngokuphathelene nesikhundla sikaKristu?
10 Isikhundla esiphakeme sikaKristu (1:1–3:6). Amazwi okuvula agxilisa ukunakekela kuKristu: “UNkulunkulu esekhulumile endulo kokhokho ngabaprofethi ngamathuba amaningi nangezindlela eziningi, ekugcineni kwalemihla ukhulumé kithina ngeNdodana.” LeNdodana iyiNdlalifa emisiwe yakho konke nokubengezela kwenkazimulo kaYise. Isikwenzile ukuhlanzwa kwezono zethu, manje isiye “yahlala ngakwesokunene soMkhulu kweliphezulu.” (1:1-3) UPawulu ucaphuna imibhalo ngemibhalo ukuze afakazele ukuphakama kukaJesu kunezingelosi.
11. (a) Kungani uPawulu eluleka ngokuqaphelisisa esikuzwileyo? (b) Ngenxa yokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe nesikhundla sakhe esiphakanyisiwe, yiziphi izinto uJesu akwaziyo ukuzifeza?
11 UPawulu uloba ukuthi “kakhulu nga siqaphelisisa.” Kungani? Ngoba, kusho uPawulu, uma kwaba nokuphindiselwa okunzima kwabangalaleli “izwi elakhulunywa ngezingelosi, . . . thina siyakuphunyuka kanjani, uma sidebesela ukusindiswa okungaka na?—okwakhulunywa kuqala ngeNkosi?” UNkulunkulu wenza “indodana yomuntu” yaba ncinyane kunezingelosi, kodwa manje sibona loJesu “ebekiwe umqhele wenkazimulo nodumo ngenxa yokuhlupheka kokufa, ukuze ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ezwe ukufa ngenxa yabo bonke.” (2:1-3, 6, 9) Lapho eyisa amadodana amaningi enkazimulweni, uNkulunkulu waqale wenza lomMeleli wokusindiswa kwawo ‘wapheleliswa ngezinhlupheko.’ Nguye ochitha uDeveli futhi akhulule “bonke labo abathi ngokwesaba ukufa ekuhambeni kwabo konke babeboshelwe ebugqileni.” Ngaleyondlela uJesu uba “ngumpristi omkhulu ohawukelayo nothembekayo.” Futhi ukwenza ngendlela emangalisayo, njengoba yena uqobo ahlupheka ngaphansi kokulingwa, “unamandla okusiza abalingwayo.” (2:10, 15, 17, 18) Ngakho-ke, uJesu kuthiwa ufanele inkazimulo enkulu kunoMose.
12. Iyiphi inkambo amaKristu okumelwe ayigweme uma efuna ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu?
12 Ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ngokholo nokulalela (3:7–4:13). Ikakhulukazi amaKristu kumelwe athathe isixwayiso esibonelweni samaIsrayeli sokungethembeki, funa kuhlakuleleke ‘inhliziyo embi, engakholwayo, emhlubukisa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ (Heb. 3:12; IHu. 95:7-11) Ngenxa yokungalaleli nokuntula ukholo, amaIsrayeli aphuma eGibithe awazange angene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu, noma iSabatha, ayeka ngalo imisebenzi yokudala ngokuqondene nomhlaba. Nokho, uPawulu uyachaza: “Kubasalele abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuphumula kwesabatha. Ngokuba ongenile ekuphumuleni kwakhe yena uphumula emisebenzini yakhe njengoNkulunkulu kweyakhe.” Isibonelo sokungalaleli esaboniswa uIsrayeli kumelwe sigwenywe. “Ngokuba izwi likaNkulunkulu liphilile, linamandla, libukhali kunezinkemba zonke ezisika-nhlangothi zombili . . . lahlulela imicabango nezizindlo zenhliziyo.”—Heb. 4:9, 10, 12.
13. (a) UKristu waba kanjani “umpristi kuze kube-phakade,” oyisisusa sokusindiswa okuphakade? (b) Kungani uPawulu enxusa amaHeberu ukuba aqhubekele ekuvuthweni?
13 Umbono ovuthiwe ngokuphakama kobupristi bukaKristu (4:14–7:28). UPawulu unxusa amaHeberu ukuba abambelele ekuvumeni uJesu, umPristi oMkhulu odabulile amazulu, ukuze athole umusa. UKristu akazidumisanga yena, kodwa uYise owathi: “Wena ungumpristi kuze kube-phakade ngokokuma kukaMelkisedeki.” (Heb. 5:6; IHu. 110:4) Okokuqala, uKristu wapheleliselwa isikhundla sokuba umpristi omkhulu ngokufunda ukulalela ngokuhlupheka, ukuze abe yisisusa sokusindiswa okuphakade kubo bonke abamlalelayo. UPawulu ‘unokuningi angakusho, okulukhuni ukukuchasisela,’ kodwa amaHeberu aseyizingane ezidinga ubisi, kuyilapho, eqinisweni, abefanele abe ngabafundisi. “Ukudla okuqinileyo kungokwabakhulileyo, abathi ngokujwayela ukuwusebenzisa umqondo, sebenawo osulungele ukwahlukanisa okuhle nokubi.” Umphostoli ubanxusa ukuba ‘baqhubekele kokupheleleyo [“ekuvuthweni,” NW].’—Heb. 5:11, 14; 6:1.
14. Abakholwayo bangalidla kanjani ifa lesithembiso, futhi liye laqiniswa kanjani ithemba labo?
14 Akunakwenzeka ngalabo abaye balazi izwi likaNkulunkulu babuye bahlubuka ukuba baphinde bavuselwe ekuphendukeni “lokhu sebezibethelela iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, bayithela ngehlazo obala.” Kungokukholwa nokubekezela kuphela abakholwayo bengadla ifa lesithembiso esenziwa kuAbrahama—isithembiso esaqiniswa futhi sagxiliswa ngezinto ezimbili ezingeguquleke: izwi likaNkulunkulu nesifungo sakhe. Ithemba labo, ‘eliyihange lomphefumulo, eliqinile, eligxilile,’ liye laqiniswa ukungena kukaJesu “phakathi kwesihenqo” njengomgijimi wokusandulela nomPristi oMkhulu ngokokuma kukaMelkisedeki.—6:6, 19.
15. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ubupristi bukaJesu, njengoba bungokokuma kukaMelkisedeki, babuyoba ngaphezu kobukaLevi?
15 LoMelkisedeki wayeyikho kokubili “inkosi yaseSalema” “nompristi kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke.” Ngisho nenhloko yomndeni uAbrahama yamkhokhela okweshumi, futhi ngayo, uLevi, owayesesokhalweni luka-Abrahama, wenza okufanayo. Ngaleyondlela ukubusisa kukaMelkisedeki uAbrahama kwadlulela kuLevi owayengakazalwa, futhi lokhu kwabonisa ukuthi ubupristi bobuLevi ngezinga babungaphansi kobukaMelkisedeki. Futhi, uma ukuphelela kweza ngobupristi buka-Aroni bobuLevi, ingabe sasiyoba khona isidingo somunye umpristi “ngokokuma kukaMelkisedeki”? Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba kunenguquko ebupristini, “kuyadingeka ukuba kuguqulwe nomthetho.”—7:1, 11, 12.
16. Kungani ubupristi bukaJesu bungaphezu kobupristi bangaphansi koMthetho?
16 Eqinisweni, uMthetho awuphelelisanga-lutho kodwa wabonakala ubuthakathaka futhi ungasizi. Ngenxa yokuthi babefa, abapristi bawo babebaningi, kodwa uJesu “ngenxa yokuba ehlala phakade, unobupristi obungenakuguquka; ngakho-ke unamandla okusindisa ngokupheleleyo abeza kuNkulunkulu ngaye, lokhu ephilela njalo ukubamela.” LomPristi oMkhulu, uJesu, ‘ungcwele, akanacala, akanabala, wahlukanisiwe nezoni,’ kuyilapho abapristi abakhulu abamiswa ngoMthetho babuthakathaka, okokuqala kudingeka banikele ngemihlatshelo yezabo izono ngaphambi kokuba balamulele abanye. Ngakho izwi lesifungo sikaNkulunkulu “limisa iNdodana epheleliswé kuze kube-phakade.”—7:24-26, 28.
17. Kungani isivumelwano esisha siphakeme?
17 Ukuphakama kwesivumelwano esisha (8:1–10:31). UJesu uboniswa “engumlamuleli wesivumelwano esihle kakhulu, esimisiwe ngokwezithembiso ezinhle kakhulu.” (8:6) UPawulu ucaphuna ngokugcwele uJeremiya 31:31-34, ebonisa ukuthi labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha banomthetho kaNkulunkulu olotshwe ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni zabo, ukuthi bonke bayomazi uJehova, nokuthi uJehova ‘nezono zabo akasayikuzikhumbula.’ Lesi “sivumelwano esisha” sisenze saguga esokuqala (isivumelwano soMthetho), ‘esesiseduze nokunyamalala.’—Heb. 8:12, 13.
18. Yikuphi ukuqhathanisa uPawulu akwenzayo endabeni yomnikelo ngokuphathelene nezivumelwano ezimbili?
18 UPawulu uchaza imihlatshelo yaminyaka yonke etabernakele lesivumelwano sokuqala ngokuthi “izimiso . . . ezibekiweyo, kuze kufike isikhathi sokupheleliswa kwezinto.” Nokho, lapho uKristu efika njengomPristi oMkhulu, kwakungegazi lakhe eliyigugu, hhayi elezimbuzi nelamathole. Ukufafaza kukaMose ngegazi lezilwane kwenza isivumelwano sokuqala sasebenza futhi kwahlanza itabernakele elingokomfanekiso, kodwa imihlatshelo engcono yayidingeka ngenjongo yezinto zasezulwini ezingokoqobo mayelana nesivumelwano esisha. “Ngokuba uKristu kangenanga endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso waleyo okuyiyo ngempela, kepha wangena ezulwini uqobo ukuba manje abonakale ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yethu.” UKristu akudingekile ukuba enze imihlatshelo yaminyaka yonke, njengoba kwakwenza umpristi omkhulu wakwaIsrayeli, ngoba “kalokhu ubonakalisiwe kanye ekupheleni kwezikhathi ukuba asuse izono ngokuzinikela kwakhe.”—9:10, 24, 26.
19. (a) Yini uMthetho ohlulekile ukuyenza, futhi ngani? (b) Iyini intando kaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nokungcweliswa?
19 Ngamafuphi, uPawulu uthi “lokhu umthetho unesithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo,” imihlatshelo yawo ephindaphindwayo ayikwazanga ukususa ‘uvalo ngezono.’ Nokho, uJesu weza ezweni ukuba enze intando kaNkulunkulu. “Ngaleyontando,” kusho uPawulu, “singcwelisiwe ngokunikelwa komzimba kaJesu Kristu kanye kuphela.” Ngakho-ke, amaHeberu mawabambisise isivumo sokholo lwawo engaxegi futhi “[a]qaphelane, ukuze kuvuswe uthando nemisebenzi emihle,” angakuyeki ukuhlangana kwawo. Uma eqhubeka nokona ngamabomu ngemva kokwamukela ulwazi oluqondile lweqiniso, “akusekho umnikelo ngezono.”—10:1, 2, 10, 24, 26.
20. (a) Luyini ukholo? (b) Yimiphi imifanekiso yamazwi eqhamile yokholo uPawulu ayidwebayo?
20 Ukholo luyachazwa futhi luyafanekiswa (10:32–12:3). Manje uPawulu utshela amaHeberu: “Khumbulani izinsuku zakuqala okwathi ngazo senikhanyisiwe nakhuthazela empini enkulu yezinhlupheko.” Mawangasilahli isibindi sawo, esinomvuzo omkhulu, kodwa mawakhuthazele ukuze amukele ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso futhi ‘abe nokholo, kuze kube-ngukusindiswa komphefumulo.’ Ukholo! Yebo, yilokho kanye okudingekayo. Okokuqala, uPawulu uyaluchaza: “Ukholo luyithemba eliqinisekiswe ngezinto ezithenjwayo, ukubonakaliswa okusobala kwezinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingakabonakali.” Khona-ke, esahlukweni esisodwa esivusa amadlingozi, ngokulandelana okusheshayo udweba ngamafuphi imifanekiso yamadoda akudala aphila, asebenza, alwa, akhuthazela, futhi aba yizindlalifa zokulunga ngokholo. “Ngokukholwa” uAbrahama, ehlala ematendeni noIsaka noJakobe, wayebheké “umuzi onezisekelo,” oMakhi wawo uNkulunkulu. “Ngokukholwa” uMose wakhuthazela, “sengathi uyambona ongabonwayo.” “Ngisezakuthini futhi na?” kubuza uPawulu. “Isikhathi kambe sizakungishiya, uma ngibalisa ngoGideyoni, noBaraki, noSamsoni, noJefta, noDavide, noSamuweli nabaprofethi, abathi ngokukholwa banqoba imibuso, basebenza ukulunga, bazuza izithembiso.” Abanye futhi balingwa ngokujivazwa, ukushaywa, ukuboshwa, nokuhlushwa kodwa benqaba ukukhululwa “ukuze bathole ukuvuka okuhle.” Ngempela, “izwe [la]lingabafanele.” Bonke laba bafakazelwa ngokholo lwabo, kodwa basazokwamukela ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso. “Ngalokho-ke,” kuqhubeka uPawulu, “nathi, lokhu sinefu elingaka lawofakazi elisihaqileyo, masilahle konke okusindayo nesono esithandela kangaka kithi, sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhukuncintisana esikumiselweyo, sibhekile kuJesu, umqalisi nomphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu.”—10:32, 39; 11:1, 8, 10, 27, 32, 33, 35, 38, qhathanisa neNW; 12:1, 2.
21. (a) AmaKristu angakhuthazela kanjani emncintiswaneni wokholo? (b) Yisiphi isizathu esinamandla ngokwengeziwe sokulalela isixwayiso saphezulu uPawulu asinikezayo?
21 Ukukhuthazela emncintiswaneni wokholo (12:4-29). UPawulu uyala amaKristu angamaHeberu ukuba akhuthazele emncintiswaneni wokholo, ngoba uJehova uwayala njengamadodana. Manje yisikhathi sokuqinisa izandla namadolo abuthakathaka nokwenzela izinyawo zawo izindlela eziqondile. Kumelwe aqaphisise ukuba kungangeni impande imbe ebabayo noma ukungcola okungase kubangele ukwaliwa kwawo, njengasendabeni kaEsawu, ongazange azazise izinto ezingcwele. Entabeni engokoqobo, uMose wathi: “Nginovalo olukhulu, ngiyathuthumela” ngenxa yombono owesabekayo welangabi lomlilo, ifu, nezwi. Kodwa wona ayezé kokuthile okusabeka ngokwengeziwe—iNtaba yaseSiyoni neJerusalema lasezulwini, izigidigidi zezingelosi, ibandla leZibulo, uNkulunkulu uMahluleli wabo bonke, nakuJesu uMlamuleli wesivumelwano esisha nesingcono. Manje kunesizathu esikhulu nakakhulu sokulalela isixwayiso saphezulu! Esikhathini sikaMose izwi likaNkulunkulu lanyakazisa umhlaba, kodwa manje Yena uthembisile ukuzamazamisa kokubili izulu nomhlaba. Nanti iphuzu uPawulu aligxilisayo: “Khona-ke, njengoba sizokwamukela umbuso ongenakuzanyazanyiswa, . . . masinikele ngokwamukelekayo inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu nokuthuthumela. Ngoba uNkulunkulu wethu ungumlilo oqothulayo.”—12:21, 28, 29, qhathanisa neNW.
22. UPawulu uyiphetha ngasiphi iseluleko esakhayo incwadi yakhe eya kumaHeberu?
22 Iziyalo ezihlukahlukene ezindabeni zokukhulekela (13:1-25). UPawulu uphetha ngeseluleko esakhayo: Malume njalo uthando lobuzalwane, ningakhohlwa ukungenisa izihambi, ukuganana makuhlonishwe yibo bonke, ningathandi imali, lalelani abaniholayo, ningadukiswa yizifundiso ezingaziwayo. Ekugcineni, “masinikele njalonjalo kuNkulunkulu ngaye [uJesu] umhlatshelo wokubonga, okungukuthi isithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe.”—13:15.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
23. UPawulu uveza liphi iphuzu ngoMthetho, futhi ulisekela kanjani iphuzu lakhe?
23 Njengobufakazi obungokomthetho obusekela uKristu, incwadi eya kumaHeberu iwubungcweti obungenakubekelwa inselele, ihlanganiswe kahle ngokuphelele futhi iqinisekiswe ngokukhululekile ngobufakazi obuvela emiBhalweni yesiHeberu. Ikhuluma ngezici ezihlukahlukene zoMthetho kaMose—isivumelwano, igazi, umlamuleli, itabernakele lokukhulekela, ubupristi, iminikelo—futhi ibonise ukuthi zazimane nje ziyisiboniso esenziwa uNkulunkulu esikhomba phambili ezintweni ezinkulu kakhulu ezaziseza, zonke ezaphelela kuKristu Jesu nasemhlatshelweni wakhe, ukugcwaliseka koMthetho. UMthetho ‘ogugayo futhi osumdala useduze nokunyamalala,’ kusho uPawulu. Kodwa “uJesu Kristu nguyena izolo nanamuhla, yebo, naphakade.” (8:13; 13:8; 10:1) Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba lawomaHeberu azizwa ejabule ngayo lapho efunda incwadi yawo!
24. Yiliphi ilungiselelo elichazwe kumaHeberu elingelenzuzo yethu engenakulinganiswa namuhla?
24 Kodwa lokhu kubaluleke ngani kithina namuhla, ezimweni zethu ezihlukile? Njengoba singekho ngaphansi koMthetho, ingabe kukhona esingakuthola kunenzuzo enkulumweni kaPawulu? Ngokuqinisekile, kunjalo. Lapha sihlelelwe ilungiselelo elikhulu lesivumelwano esisha esisekelwe esithembisweni sika-Abrahama sokuthi ngeMbewu yakhe yonke imindeni yomhlaba yayiyozibusisa. Leli ithemba lethu lokuphila, ukuphela kwethemba lethu, ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaJehova sasendulo sesibusiso ngeMbewu ka-Abrahama, uJesu Kristu. Nakuba singekho ngaphansi koMthetho, sizalelwe esonweni njengenzalo ka-Adamu, futhi sidinga umpristi omkhulu onesihawu, onomnikelo wesono osebenzayo, ongangena khona kanye lapho kukhona khona uJehova ezulwini futhi asilamulele elapho. Lapha siyamthola, umPristi oMkhulu ongasiholela ekuphileni ezweni elisha likaJehova, ongazwelana nobuthakathaka bethu, njengoba “[e]lingiwe kukho konke njengathi,” nosimemela ukuba “sisondele ngesibindi esihlalweni somusa ukuba samukeliswe isihawu, sifumane umusa wokusiza ngesikhathi esifaneleyo.”—4:15, 16.
25. Yikuphi ukusetshenziswa okukhanyisayo kwemiBhalo yesiHeberu uPawulu akwenzayo?
25 Ngaphezu kwalokho, encwadini kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu, sithola ubufakazi obushukumisa inhliziyo bokuthi iziprofetho ezalotshwa kudala emiBhalweni yesiHeberu kamuva zagcwaliseka ngendlela emangalisayo. Konke lokhu kungokokufundiswa nenduduzo yethu namuhla. Ngokwesibonelo, kumaHeberu, izikhathi eziyisihlanu uPawulu usebenzisa amazwi esiprofetho soMbuso esikumaHubo 110:1 kuJesu Kristu njengeMbewu yoMbuso, ‘ehlezi ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu’ elindele ukuba “izitha zakhe zize zenziwe isenabelo sezinyawo zakhe.” (Heb. 12:2; 10:12, 13; 1:3, 13; 8:1) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu ucaphuna iHubo 110:4 ekuchazeni isikhundla esibalulekile esithathwe iNdodana kaNkulunkulu sokuba “umpristi kuze kube-phakade ngokokuma kukaMelkisedeki.” NjengoMelkisedeki wasendulo, lowo embhalweni ogciniwe weBhayibheli ‘ongenayise, ongenanina, ongenaluzalo, ongenakuqala kwezinsuku nakuphela kokuphila,’ uJesu uyikho kokubili iNkosi ‘nompristi njalonjalo’ ukuba anikeze izinzuzo zaphakade zomhlatshelo wakhe wesihlengo kubo bonke abazithoba ngokulalela ngaphansi kokubusa kwakhe. (Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1-21) KukulomPristi ofanayo oyiNkosi uPawulu abhekisela kuye ekucaphuneni iHubo 45:6, 7: “UNkulunkulu uyisihlalo sakho sobukhosi phakade naphakade, futhi intonga yombuso wakho iyintonga yobuqotho. Uthandile ukulunga, wazonda ububi. Kungakho uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho, ekugcobile ngamafutha enjabulo ngaphezu kwabangane bakho.” (Heb. 1:8, 9, NW) Njengoba uPawulu ecaphuna emiBhalweni yesiHeberu futhi ebonisa ukugcwaliseka kwayo kuKristu Jesu, sibona izingcezu zomfuziselo waphezulu zingena ezindaweni zazo ukuze sikhanyiselwe.
26. Yisiphi isikhuthazo incwadi yamaHeberu esinikezayo ngokugijima umncintiswano ngokholo nangokubekezela?
26 Njengoba lencwadi eya kumaHeberu ibonisa ngokucacile, uAbrahama wabheka phambili eMbusweni, “umuzi onezisekelo, omakhi nomenzi wawo nguNkulunkulu”—umuzi ‘wasezulwini.’ “Ngokukholwa” walwela ukufinyelela uMbuso, futhi wazidela kakhulu ukuze afinyelele izibusiso zawo ‘ngokuvuka okuhle.’ Yeka isibonelo esihlaba umxhwele esisithola kuAbrahama nakuwo wonke amanye amadoda nabesifazane bokholo—‘ifu elingaka lawofakazi’ uPawulu alivezayo esahlukweni 11 sencwadi yamaHeberu! Njengoba sifunda lombhalo ogciniwe, izinhliziyo zethu ziyajabula futhi ziyangqabitha ngentokozo, ngenxa yokwazisa ilungelo nethemba esinalo kanye nabagcini bobuqotho abanjalo abathembekile. Ngalokho siyakhuthazwa ukuba “sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhukuncintisana esikumiselweyo.”—11:8, 10, 16, 35; 12:1.
27. Yimaphi amathemba oMbuso akhazimulayo aqokonyiswa encwadini yamaHeberu?
27 Ecaphuna esiprofethweni sikaHagayi, uPawulu udonsela ukunakekela esithembisweni sikaNkulunkulu: “Kusezakuba-kanye ngizamazamise kungabi-ngumhlaba wodwa, kepha nezulu futhi.” (Heb. 12:26; Hag. 2:6) Nokho, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngoKristu Jesu, iMbewu, uyohlala phakade. “Ngakho-ke lokhu samukeliswa umbuso ongenakunyakaziswa, masibonge ngesingamkhonza ngakho uNkulunkulu ngokumthokozisa, nangokumhlonipha, nangokuthuthumela.” Lombhalo ogciniwe ovusa amadlingozi usiqinisekisa ukuthi uKristu ubonakala okwesibili “ngaphandle kwesono kulabo abamlindelayo, kube-ngukusindiswa.” Khona-ke, ngaye “masinikele njalonjalo kuNkulunkulu . . . umhlatshelo wokubonga, okungukuthi isithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe.” Kwangathi igama elikhulu likaJehova uNkulunkulu lingangcweliswa phakade ngomPristi wakhe oyiNkosi, uJesu Kristu!—Heb. 12:28; 9:28; 13:15.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a The Story of the Bible, 1964, ikhasi 91.
b Enyatheliswe kabusha ngo-1981, Umq. IV, ikhasi 147.