Qaphela Ukuntula Ukholo

“Qaphelani, bafowethu, funa kukhule kunoma ubani kini inhliziyo embi entula ukholo ngokuhlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.”—HEBERU 3:12.

 1. Amazwi uPawulu awasho emaKristwini angamaHeberu asenza siqaphele liphi iqiniso elishaqisayo?

YEKA umcabango othusayo—wokuthi kubantu ababekade bejabulela ubuhlobo bomuntu siqu noJehova kwakungakheka “inhliziyo embi” futhi ‘bahlehle kuNkulunkulu ophilayo’! Futhi yeka isixwayiso lokhu okuyiso! La mazwi omphostoli uPawulu ayengabhekisiwe kwabangakholwa, kodwa ayebhekiswe kubantu ababenikezele ukuphila kwabo kuJehova ngesisekelo sokholo emhlatshelweni wesihlengo kaJesu Kristu.

 2. Yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyicabangele?

² Kwakungenzeka kanjani ukuba kwakheke “inhliziyo embi entula ukholo” kumuntu osesimweni esingokomoya esibusiseke kanjalo? Ngempela, umuntu owayeke wanambitha uthando nomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu wayengahlehla kanjani ngamabomu kuye? Futhi ingabe lokhu kungenzeka kunoma ubani kithi? Lena imicabango esangulukisayo, futhi kufanelekile ukuba sihlole isizathu esabangela ukuba kwenziwe lesi sixwayiso.—1 Korinte 10:11.

Kungani Kwanikezwa Iseluleko Esinamandla Kangaka?

 3. Chaza izimo ezazithinta amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ngaphakathi nasendaweni eyayizungeze iJerusalema.

³ UPawulu kubonakala sengathi incwadi yakhe wayibhalela amaKristu angamaHeberu eJudiya ngo-61 C.E. Isazi-mlando saphawula ukuthi lesi kwakuyisikhathi lapho “kwakungekho kuthula noma ukuphepha kunoma yibaphi abantu abahluzekile nabathembekile, kokubili emzini waseJerusalema noma kunoma iyiphi enye indawo kuso sonke isifundazwe.” Kwakuyisikhathi sokungabi namthetho nobudlova, okwakubangelwa yinhlanganisela yokuba khona kwamabutho amaRoma acindezelayo, ukuzenza amaqhawe kwamaZealot angamaJuda ayemelene namaRoma, nezigigaba zamasela ayesizakala ngalezo zikhathi zesiyaluyalu. Konke lokhu kwenza izinto zaba nzima kakhulu kumaKristu, ayezama kanzima ukuba angathandeleki ezindabeni ezinjalo. (1 Thimothewu 2:1, 2) Eqinisweni, ngenxa yokuthi ayengathathi hlangothi, abanye babewabheka njengabantu abangafaneleki emphakathini, nanjengabavukela umbuso imbala. AmaKristu ayevame ukuphathwa kabi, alahlekelwe nayimpahla yawo.—Heberu 10:32-34.

 4. Yikuphi ukucindezela okungokwenkolo amaKristu angamaHeberu ayebhekene nakho?

⁴ AmaKristu angamaHeberu ayengaphansi kokucindezela okukhulu nangokwenkolo. Ukushiseka kwabafundi bakaJesu abakholekile nokwanda okusheshayo kwebandla lobuKristu okwakuwumphumela kwabangela umona nolaka kumaJuda—ikakhulukazi abaholi bawo benkolo. Babenza noma yini ababengayenza ukuze bahlukumeze futhi bashushise abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu.a (IzEnzo 6:8-14; 21:27-30; 23:12, 13; 24:1-9) Ngisho noma amanye amaKristu ayengashushiswa ngokuqondile, ayeklolodelwa futhi ehlekwa usulu amaJuda. UbuKristu babudelelwa njengenkolo engumafik’izolo eyayingenabo ubukhazikhazi njengeNkolo YobuJuda, ingenathempeli, ingenabapristi, ingenamikhosi, ingenamihlatshelo ehleliwe, njalonjalo. Ngisho nomholi wabo, uJesu wayebulewe njengesigebengu esilahlwe yicala. Ukuze aqhube inkolo yawo, amaKristu kwakudingeka abe nokholo, isibindi nokukhuthazela.

 5. Kungani kwakubalulekile ngamaKristu aseJudiya ukuba ahlale eqaphile ngokomoya?

⁵ Ngaphezu kwakho konke, amaKristu angamaHeberu eJudiya ayephila esikhathini esibucayi emlandweni waleso sizwe. Izinto eziningi iNkosi yawo, uJesu Kristu, eyayithe ziyophawula ukuphela kwesimiso samaJuda zase zenzekile kakade. Kumelwe ukuba ukuphela kwakuseduze. Ukuze asinde, amaKristu kwakudingeka ahlale eqaphile ngokomoya futhi alungele ‘ukubalekela ezintabeni.’ (Mathewu 24:6, 15, 16) Ingabe ayeyoba nalo ukholo namandla angokomoya okwakudingeka ukuze athathe isinyathelo ngokushesha, njengoba uJesu ayeshilo? Kwakubonakala kunokungabaza okuthile.

 6. Yini amaKristu aseJudiya ayeyidinga ngokuphuthumayo?

⁶ Phakathi nekhulu lokugcina leminyaka ngaphambi kokushabalala kwaso sonke isimiso sezinto samaJuda, kusobala ukuthi amaKristu angamaHeberu ayengaphansi kokucindezela okukhulu ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwebandla. Ayedinga isikhuthazo. Kodwa ayedinga nokwelulekwa nokuqondiswa ukuze asizwe abone ukuthi inkambo ayeyikhethile kwakuyiyonayona nokuthi ukuhlupheka nokukhuthazela kwawo kwakungelona ize. Ngokujabulisayo, uPawulu wayamukela le nselele wawasiza.

 7. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo kulokho uPawulu akubhalela amaKristu angamaHeberu?

⁷ Lokho uPawulu akubhalela amaKristu angamaHeberu kufanele kusithakazelise kakhulu. Ngani? Ngoba siphila esikhathini esifuze esawo. Nsuku zonke sizwa ukucindezela kwezwe elilawulwa uSathane. (1 Johane 5:19) Phambi kwamehlo ethu, kugcwaliseka iziprofetho zikaJesu nabaphostoli eziphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina ‘nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ (Mathewu 24:3-14; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5; 2 Petru 3:3, 4; IsAmbulo 6:1-8) Ngaphezu kwakho konke, kudingeka sihlale siqaphile ngokomoya ukuze ‘siphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezizinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka.’—Luka 21:36.

Omkhulu KunoMose

 8. Ngokusho lokho okukumaHeberu 3:1, yini uPawulu ayenxusa amaKristu ayekanye naye ukuba ayenze?

⁸ Ethinta iphuzu elibalulekile, uPawulu wabhala: “Cabangani ngomphostoli nompristi ophakeme esimvumayo—uJesu.” (Heberu 3:1) ‘Ukucabanga [consider]’ kusho “ukubona ngokucacile . . . , ukuqonda ngokugcwele, ukuhlola ngokuseduze.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words) Ngakho, uPawulu wayenxusa amakholwa ayekanye naye ukuba azame ngokuzimisela ukuba afinyelele ekuyiqondeni ngempela indima uJesu ayeyifeza okholweni nasensindisweni yawo. Ukwenza lokhu kwakuyoqinisa ukuzimisela kwawo ukuma eqinile okholweni. Yayiyini-ke indima kaJesu, futhi kungani kufanele ‘sicabange’ ngaye?

 9. Kungani uPawulu abhekisela kuJesu ngokuthi ‘umphostoli’ “nompristi ophakeme”?

⁹ UPawulu wasebenzisa igama elithi ‘umphostoli’ nelithi ‘umpristi ophakeme’ kuJesu. ‘Umphostoli’ umuntu othunyiwe futhi lapha uhlobene nendlela kaNkulunkulu yokukhulumisana nesintu. ‘Umpristi ophakeme’ ngothile abantu abangasondela ngaye kuNkulunkulu. La malungiselelo amabili abalulekile ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, futhi womabili asebenza ngokugcwele kuJesu. Wathunywa evela ezulwini ukuba azofundisa isintu iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu. (Johane 1:18; 3:16; 14:6) UJesu futhi umiswe njengomPristi Ophakeme owafanekiselwa elungiselelweni likaJehova lethempeli elingokomoya ukuze kuthethelelwe isono. (Heberu 4:14, 15; 1 Johane 2:1, 2) Uma sizazisa ngempela izibusiso esingazithola ngoJesu, siyoba nesibindi nokuzimisela kokuba sihlale siqinile okholweni.

10. (a) UPawulu wawasiza kanjani amaKristu angamaHeberu ukuba aqonde ukuthi ubuKristu buphakeme kunobuJuda? (b) Yiliphi iqiniso elaziwayo uPawulu akhuluma ngalo ukuze agcizelele iphuzu lakhe?

¹⁰ Ukuze agcizelele ukubaluleka kokholo lwamaKristu, uPawulu waqhathanisa uJesu noMose, lowo amaJuda ayembheka njengomprofethi omkhulu kunabo bonke phakathi kokhokho bawo. Uma amaKristu angamaHeberu ayengaliqonda ngenhliziyo yonke iqiniso lokuthi uJesu mkhulu kunoMose, ayengeke abe nasizathu sokungabaza ukuthi ubuKristu buphakeme kunobuJuda. UPawulu waveza ukuthi nakuba uMose abhekwa njengofanelwe ukuphathiswa ‘indlu’ kaNkulunkulu—isizwe, noma ibandla lakwa-Israyeli—wayemane nje engumlindi, noma inceku ekholekile. (Numeri 12:7) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uJesu wayeyiNdodana, inkosi yendlu. (1 Korinte 11:3; Heberu 3:2, 3, 5) Ukuze agcizelele iphuzu lakhe, uPawulu wakhuluma ngaleli qiniso elaziwayo: “Yebo, yileyo naleyondlu yakhiwa othile, kodwa lowo owakha izinto zonke uNkulunkulu.” (Heberu 3:4) Akekho owayengaphika ukuthi uNkulunkulu mkhulu kunanoma ubani, ngoba unguMakhi, noma uMdali wakho konke. Khona-ke, kunengqondo ukuthi njengoba uJesu ayeyisisebenzi esikanye noNkulunkulu, kumelwe ukuba mkhulu kunayo yonke indalo, kuhlanganise noMose.—IzAga 8:30; Kolose 1:15-17.

11, 12. Yini uPawulu anxusa amaKristu angamaHeberu ukuba abambelele kuyo ‘ngokungaxegi kuze kube sekupheleni,’ futhi singasisebenzisa kanjani iseluleko sakhe?

¹¹ Ngempela, amaKristu angamaHeberu ayesesimweni esingcono kakhulu. UPawulu wawakhumbuza ukuthi ‘ayengabahlanganyeli bokubizwa kwasezulwini,’ ilungelo okwakufanele alazise kakhulu kunanoma yini eyayinganikezwa isimiso samaJuda. (Heberu 3:1) Amazwi kaPawulu kumelwe ukuba enza lawo maKristu agcotshiwe azizwa ebonga ngokuthi ayesethubeni lokuthola ifa elisha kunokuba adabuke ngokuthi ayedele izinto eziphathelene nefa lawo lobuJuda. (Filipi 3:8) Ewanxusa ukuba anamathele elungelweni lawo futhi angalithathi kalula, uPawulu wathi: “UKristu wayekholekile njengeNdodana phezu kwendlu [kaNkulunkulu]. Siyindlu yaLowo, uma siqinisa ukubambelela kwethu enkululekweni yethu yokukhuluma nokuziqhayisa kwethu ethembeni sikwenza kungaxegi kuze kube sekupheleni.”—Heberu 3:6.

¹² Yebo, ukuze amaKristu angamaHeberu asinde esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto samaJuda esasisondela, kwakudingeka abambelele ‘ngokungaxegi’ ethembeni ayelinikwe uNkulunkulu, “kuze kube sekupheleni.” Kumelwe senze okufanayo namuhla ukuze sisinde ekupheleni kwalesi simiso. (Mathewu 24:13) Akumelwe sivumele izinkathazo zokuphila, ukunganaki kwabantu, noma ukuthambekela kwethu kokungapheleli, kusenze sintengantenge okholweni esinalo ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu. (Luka 21:16-19) Ukuze sibone indlela esingaziqinisa ngayo, masilalelisise amazwi kaPawulu aqhubekayo.

“Ningazenzi Lukhuni Izinhliziyo Zenu”

13. Yisiphi isixwayiso uPawulu asinikeza, futhi walisebenzisa kanjani iHubo 95?

¹³ Ngemva kokucabangela isimo esingcono amaKristu angamaHeberu ayekuso, uPawulu wanikeza lesi sixwayiso: “Njengoba nje umoya ongcwele usho: ‘Namuhla uma nilalela izwi lakhe siqu, ningazenzi lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu njengasesikhathini sokubangela intukuthelo ebabayo, njengasosukwini lokuvivinya ehlane.’” (Heberu 3:7, 8) UPawulu wayecaphuna iHubo 95, futhi yingakho ayengathi ‘kusho umoya ongcwele.’b (IHubo 95:7, 8; Eksodusi 17:1-7) ImiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu ngomoya wakhe ongcwele.—2 Thimothewu 3:16.

14. Asabela kanjani ama-Israyeli kulokho uJehova ayewenzele khona, futhi ngani?

¹⁴ Ngemva kokukhululwa ebugqilini eGibithe, ama-Israyeli anikwa ilungelo elikhulu lokuba nobuhlobo besivumelwano noJehova. (Eksodusi 19:4, 5; 24:7, 8) Nokho, kunokuba abonise ukwazisa ngalokho uNkulunkulu ayewenzele khona, ngokushesha avukela. (Numeri 13:25–14:10) Kwakungenzeka kanjani lokho? UPawulu wakhomba isizathu: ukuba lukhuni kwezinhliziyo zawo. Kodwa kwenzeka kanjani ukuba izinhliziyo ezizwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi zisabele kulo zibe lukhuni? Futhi yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sivimbele lokhu?

15. (a) ‘Izwi likaNkulunkulu siqu’ liye lezwakala kanjani esikhathini esidlule namanje? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka sizibuze yona ngokuphathelene ‘nezwi likaNkulunkulu’?

¹⁵ UPawulu waqala isixwayiso sakhe ngebinzana eliwumbandela elithi “uma nilalela izwi lakhe siqu.” UNkulunkulu wakhuluma nabantu bakhe esebenzisa uMose nabanye abaprofethi. Khona-ke, uJehova wabe esekhuluma nabo esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. (Heberu 1:1, 2) Namuhla, sineZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe eliphelele, iBhayibheli Elingcwele. Futhi ‘sinesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,’ esimiswe uJesu ukuba sinikeze “ukudla [okungokomoya] ngesikhathi esifanele.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ngakho, uNkulunkulu usakhuluma. Kodwa ingabe thina siyalalela? Ngokwesibonelo, sisabela kanjani eselulekweni esimayelana nokugqoka nokuzilungisa noma ukuzijabulisa nomculo esikukhethayo? Ingabe ‘siyalalela,’ okusho ukunaka nokuthobela esikuzwayo? Uma sinomkhuba wokubeka izaba noma ukungasamukeli iseluleko, sizichaya engozini ecashile yokwenza izinhliziyo zethu zibe lukhuni.

16. Iyiphi enye yezindlela izinhliziyo zethu ezingaba lukhuni ngayo?

¹⁶ Izinhliziyo zethu zingaba lukhuni futhi uma sicela ukungakwenzi lokho esingakwenza futhi okufanele sikwenze. (Jakobe 4:17) Naphezu kwakho konke uJehova ayekwenzele ama-Israyeli, awalubonisanga ukholo, avukela uMose, akhetha ukukholelwa umbiko omubi ngeKhanani, futhi enqaba ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso. (Numeri 14:1-4) Ngakho-ke uJehova wanquma ukuthi ayeyochitha iminyaka engu-40 esehlane—isikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba amalungu angenalukholo aleso sizukulwane afe wonke. Enengwé yiwo, uNkulunkulu wathi: “‘Ngaso sonke isikhathi bayaduka ezinhliziyweni zabo, futhi bona ngokwabo abakazazi izindlela zami.’ Ngakho ngafunga entukuthelweni yami ngathi, ‘Ngeke bangene ekuphumuleni kwami.’” (Heberu 3:9-11) Ingabe siyasibona isifundo esingasifunda kulokhu?

Isifundo Esisitholayo

17. Kungani ama-Israyeli antula ukholo, nakuba abona izenzo zikaJehova zamandla futhi ezwa izimemezelo zakhe?

¹⁷ Isizukulwane sama-Israyeli esaphuma eGibithe sazibonela ngamehlo aso futhi sazizwela ngezindlebe zaso izenzo zamandla nezimemezelo zikaJehova. Noma kunjalo, sasingenalo ukholo lokuthi uNkulunkulu wayengasiholela ngokuphephile eZweni Lesithembiso. Ngani? “Abakazazi izindlela zami,” kusho uJehova. Sasikwazi lokho uJehova ayekushilo futhi wakwenza, kodwa sasingazange simethembe futhi sithembele emandleni akhe okusinakekela. Sasikhathazeke kakhulu ngezidingo zaso siqu nalokho esasikufuna kangangokuthi sasingacabangi ngezindlela zikaNkulunkulu nenjongo yakhe. Yebo, sasintula ukholo esithembisweni sakhe.

18. NgokukaPawulu, iyiphi inkambo eyobangela “inhliziyo embi entula ukholo”?

¹⁸ La mazwi aqhubekayo ayebhekiswe kumaHeberu asebenza ngokunamandla ngendlela efanayo kithi: “Qaphelani, bafowethu, funa kukhule kunoma ubani kini inhliziyo embi entula ukholo ngokuhlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (Heberu 3:12) UPawulu wathinta umnyombo wendaba ngokuphawula ukuthi “inhliziyo embi entula ukholo” iwumphumela ‘wokuhlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ Ngaphambili kule ncwadi, wayekhuluma ‘ngokukhukhuleka’ ngenxa yokunganaki. (Heberu 2:1) Nokho, igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘ukuhlehla’ lisho “ukuqhela” futhi lihlobene negama elithi “ukuhlubuka.” Lisho ukumelana nokuthile ngamabomu, ukumonyuka, ukuhlamuka, kuhambisana nendelelo ethile.

19. Ukungasilaleli iseluleko kungaholela kanjani emiphumeleni emibi kakhulu? Bonisa.

¹⁹ Ngakho-ke, isifundo siwukuthi uma siba nomkhuba ‘wokungalilaleli izwi lakhe siqu,’ singasinaki iseluleko esivela kuJehova ngeZwi lakhe nangesigaba sesigqila esikholekile, ngokushesha izinhliziyo zethu zizoba ezingazweli, ezilukhuni. Ngokwesibonelo, umbhangqwana ongashadile ungase wenze isenzo esibonisa ukusondelana ngokweqile. Kuthiwani uma uvele ungakunaki lokho? Ingabe lokho kungawuvikela ukuba ungakuphindi lokho okwenzile, noma kungamane kukwenze kube lula nakakhulu ukuba ukuphinde? Ngokufanayo, lapho isigaba sesigqila sinikeza iseluleko ngesidingo sokukhetha emculweni nasekuzijabuliseni kwethu, nakokunye okunjalo, ingabe sisamukela ngokwazisa futhi senze ushintsho lapho kudingeka khona? UPawulu wasinxusa ukuba “singakuyeki ukubuthana kwethu ndawonye.” (Heberu 10:24, 25) Naphezu kwalesi seluleko, abanye bayithatha kalula imihlangano yamaKristu. Bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi ukuphuthelwa eminye yayo noma ukungayi nhlobo emihlanganweni ethile imbala akusho lutho.

20. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba sisabele ngendlela efanele eselulekweni esingokomBhalo?

²⁰ Uma singasabeli ngendlela efanele ‘ezwini’ likaJehova, elivezwe ngokucacile emiBhalweni nasezincwadini ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, ngokushesha sizozithola ‘sihlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ Ukungasinaki iseluleko ngokuzithela ngabandayo kungashintsha kalula kube ukusilulaza, ukusigxeka nokumelana naso ngokuqondile. Uma kungalungiswa, umphumela uba “inhliziyo embi entula ukholo,” futhi ngokuvamile kunzima kakhulu ukubuya enkambweni enjalo. (Qhathanisa neyabase-Efesu 4:19.) UJeremiya wabhala ngokufanelekile: “Inhliziyo iyakhohlisa ngaphezu kwakho konke, futhi imbi; ngubani ongayazi na?” (Jeremiya 17:9) Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, uPawulu wanxusa amakholwa angamaHeberu ayekanye naye: “Qhubekani nikhuthazana usuku ngalunye, uma nje kusengathiwa ‘Namuhla,’ funa noma ubani kini enziwe lukhuni amandla okukhohlisa esono.”—Heberu 3:13.

21. Yini sonke esinxuswa ukuba siyenze, futhi yimaphi amathemba esinawo?

²¹ Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi uJehova usakhuluma nathi namuhla, ngeZwi lakhe nangenhlangano yakhe! Siyabonga ngokuthi “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” siyaqhubeka sisisiza ukuba ‘siqinise ukubambelela kwethu ekuqinisekeni esasinakho ekuqaleni sikwenza kungaxegi kuze kube sekupheleni.’ (Heberu 3:14) Manje yisikhathi sokuba sisabele othandweni nasekuqondiseni kukaNkulunkulu. Lapho senza kanjalo, singajabulela esinye sezithembiso zikaJehova ezimangalisayo—‘esokungena’ ekuphumuleni kwakhe. (Heberu 4:3, 10) Yileyo ndaba uPawulu axoxa ngayo namaKristu angamaHeberu ngokulandelayo, futhi yileyo nathi esizoyicabangela esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ungachaza?

◻ Kungani uPawulu awabhalela iseluleko esinamandla kangaka amaKristu angamaHeberu?

◻ UPawulu wawasiza kanjani amaKristu angamaHeberu ukuba aqonde ukuthi ayenokuthile okungcono kunokuphila ngaphansi kweNkolo YobuJuda?

◻ Inhliziyo yomuntu iba kanjani lukhuni?

◻ Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sigweme ukuba kwakheke kithi “inhliziyo embi entula ukholo”?

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Ingabe ubonisa ukholo kuJesu, uMose Omkhulu?