1, 2. (a) Umtshado waqalisa njani? (b) Kuyini okungabe kwananzelelwa yindoda lomfazi wokuqala mayelana lomtshado? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

KUJAYELEKILE ukuthi nxa ijaha selikhulile lithathe lokuthi nxa intombi ingakhula yende. Ukuhlola ukuthi umtshado waqalisa njani lokuthi kungani wabakhona kuzasinceda ukuthi siwuhloniphe futhi sikholise izibusiso ezitholakala kuwo. Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esedale u-Adamu wamnika umsebenzi wokwetha izinyamazana amabizo. Kodwa “u-Adamu wayengelaye umsizi omfaneleyo.” Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu wamlalisa ubuthongo bokufa, wasethatha ubambo lwakhe wenza owesifazana wasemletha kuye. (Bala uGenesisi 2:20-24.) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi umtshado uyisipho esivela kuJehova.

² UJesu laye wakuvuma ukuthi uJehova nguye owathi: “Indoda izatshiya uyise lonina ihlanganiswe lomkayo, kuthi laba ababili bazakuba yinyamanye.” (Mat. 19:4, 5) Sibonile ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ubambo luka-Adamu lapho edala owesifazana. Kungenzakala ukuthi lokhu kwenza indoda le lomkayo bananzelela ukuthi banyamanye. Ngaleso sizatho indoda akumelanga yehlukane  lomkayo loba ukuthi omunye wabo athandane lomunye umuntu eceleni.

3. UNkulunkulu wayehloseni lapho eqalisa umtshado?

³ U-Adamu wathaba wabamba amayezi lapho ebona intombi yakhe eyayilicitshalanga. Owesifazana lo ‘wayemfanele’ sibili njalo wayezakuba ‘ngumsizi’ wakhe. Babezabambisana nsuku zonke ngamunye esenza ingxenye yakhe ukuze kuhlale kulokuthokoza emulini yabo. (Gen. 2:18) Into eyisiqokoqela uNkulunkulu ayeyihlosile lapho eqalisa umtshado yikuthi abantu bazalane bande bagcwalise umhlaba. (Gen. 1:28) Labantwana ababezazalwa babezatshiya oyise labonina batshade njalo batshayelwe ihlahla. Ngakho abantu babezagcwala umhlaba futhi bawenze ube lipharadayisi.

4. Kwenzakalani emtshadweni wokuqala?

⁴ Kuyadanisa ukuthi umtshado wokuqala waphambaniseka ngoba u-Adamu lo-Eva bakhetha ukuhlamukela uJehova. USathane uDeveli obizwa langokuthi ‘yinyoka endala’ nguye owaqila u-Eva ngokumtshela ukuthi nxa angadla “isihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi” uzavuleka amehlo, enelise ukuzikhethela okuhle lokubi. U-Eva wadelela inhloko yakhe u-Adamu, kazange alinde umkakhe ukuze azwe ukuthi uzakuthini ngalolodaba. U-Adamu laye kazange alalele uNkulunkulu, wathatha isithelo asinikwa ngumkakhe wadla.—Isam. 12:9; Gen. 2:9, 16, 17; 3:1-6.

5. Singafundani endleleni u-Adamu lo-Eva abaphendula ngayo uJehova?

⁵ UNkulunkulu wathi esebabuza baqalisa ukuzigeza. U-Adamu wathi: “Umfazi owambeka lapha lami—ungiphile ezinye izithelo zesihlahla ngazidla.” U-Eva yena wathi inyoka yiyo eyayimkhohlisile. (Gen. 3:12, 13) Bacatsha ngomunwe lanxa kwakusegcekeni ukuthi bonile. Ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo uJehova baba ngabahlamuki. Abakwenzayo kuyisibonelo kithi ngoba phela ukuze umtshado uphumelele kumele indoda lomkayo bavume nxa bephambanisile njalo balalele uJehova.

6. Ungasichaza njani isiphrofetho esikuGenesisi 3:15?

⁶ Lanxa uSathane wavoxa izinto e-Edeni, uJehova wenza abantu baba lethemba ngokutsho isiphrofetho sokuqala esitholakala eBhayibhilini. (Bala uGenesisi 3:15.) Isiphrofetho lesi sithi uSathane uzahlifizwa ikhanda ‘yinzalo yowesifazana.’ Owesifazana lo yinhlanganiso kaJehova esezulwini ebunjwa yizigidi zezingilosi ezithembekileyo. Ngamanye amazwi inhlanganiso le singathi ingumkaJehova. Yikho uJehova wayezathuma othile kulezozidalwa zakhe ukuthi ‘azohlifiza’ uSathane njalo enze ukuthi abantu abalalelayo baphinde bathole ithemba lokuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni elalahlwa ngu-Adamu lo-Eva.—Joh. 3:16.

7. (a) Yiphi impumela eyabakhona emtshadweni ngenxa yokuhlamuka kuka-Adamu lo-Eva? (b) IBhayibhili lithi kuyini okumele kwenziwe ngamadoda labesifazana?

⁷ Ukuhlamuka kuka-Adamu lo-Eva kwaba lempumela ebuhlungu emtshadweni wabo lakweminye imitshado eyayizakuba khona. Ngokwesibonelo u-Eva watshelwa ukuthi wayazakuzwa ubuhlungu ngesikhathi ezithwele langesikhathi ebeletha. Lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala lakwabanye abesifazana abayizizukulwane zakhe. Kanti njalo abesifazana babezaphilela ukukhanuka omkabo, babuswe ngamadoda abo futhi abanye babe semeveni njengoba sikubona emitshadweni eminengi lamuhla. (Gen. 3:16) Kodwa iBhayibhili lithi amadoda kumele aphathe kuhle omkawo njalo likhuthaza abesifazana ukuthi bazehlise kubomkabo. (Efe. 5:33) Ngakho ukubambisana kwabantu ababili abamthandayo uNkulunkulu kungenza izinto ezibangela ukungazwanani zibe nganeno emtshadweni wabo kumbe zingabi khona.

8. Landisa imbali yomtshado kusukela ku-Adamu kusiya esikhathini sikaNowa.

⁸ U-Adamu lo-Eva bengakafi bazala amadodana lamadodakazi. (Gen. 5:4) UKhayini owayelizibulo labo wathatha umfazi owayeyisihlobo sakhe wazala abantwana. Omunye wabazukulu bakaKhayini okuthiwa nguLameki nguye owaqala ukuba lesithembu. (Gen. 4:17, 19) Ngalesosikhathi balutshwana abantu ababethembekile kuJehova. Abanye babo ngu-Abela, u-Enoki loNowa lemuli yakhe. IBhayibhili lithi ngezinsuku zikaNowa, “amadodana kaNkulunkulu abona ukuthi amadodakazi abantu ayemahle.” Yikho ‘azikhethela awafunayo awathatha.’ Lapho izingilosi lezi ezasezintshintshile zaba lemizimba yabantu zilala labesifazana labo, kwazalwa abantwana ababebakhulu kakhulu, belodlakela futhi bebizwa ngokuthi ngamaNefilimi. Ngalesosikhathi ‘ukuxhwala kwabantu kwasekukukhulu emhlabeni, njalo zonke izinkanuko zeminakano yezinhliziyo zabo zaziyibubi kuphela sonke isikhathi.’—Gen. 6:1-5

9. UJehova wabenzani abantu ababi ngesikhathi sikaNowa njalo thina sifundani kulokho?

⁹ UJehova kazange agoqe izandla kodwa waletha uZamcolo wabakhucula bonke labobantu ababi. Ngalesosikhathi abantu babezikholisela impilo yansuku zonke nje bethatha njalo besendisa, abazange babe lendaba lalokho “uNowa, umtshumayeli wokulunga” ayebatshela khona ngokubhujiswa okwakusondela. (2 Phet. 2:5) UJesu wathi okwenzakala ngezinsuku zikaNowa yikho kanye okuzakwenzakala lasezinsukwini zokucina. (Bala uMathewu 24:37-39.) Lamuhla izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ziyatshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke ukuze kube yibufakazi kubo bonke abantu. Kodwa abantu abanengi kabalandaba lazo. Manje kuyini esikufundayo kulokho okwenzakala ngesikhathi sikaNowa? Sifunda ukuthi akumelanga sivumele izinto ezinjengokutshada lokukhulisa abantwana zisiphambanise size sikhohlwe ukuthi usuku lukaJehova seluseduze.

10. (a) Ezindaweni ezinengi abantu basebeziphatha njani? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo esihle esabekwa ngu-Abhrahama loSara?

¹⁰ UNowa lamadodana akhe abazange bathathe isithembu. Kodwa ngemva kukaZamcolo abantu baqalisa ukuthatha abafazi abanengi. Ezindaweni ezinengi ukuziphatha kubi emacansini kwasekwandile njalo abantu basebekwenza kube yingxenye yemikhuba yabo yokukhonza. UNkulunkulu watshela u-Abhrahama loSara ukuthi basuke elizweni lakibo baye eKhenani. Elizweni ababesiya kulo kwakugcwele abantu ababeziphatha kubi futhi bengawuhloniphi umtshado. Yikho uJehova wabhubhisa iSodoma leGomora ngoba abantu ababehlala kulawomadolobho babeyiziphingi futhi besenza imikhuba eyenyanyekayo yokuziphatha kubi. U-Abhrahama wayikhokhela kuhle imuli yakhe lanxa wayehlala phakathi kwezigilamkhuba lezi. Lomkakhe uSara waba yisibonelo esihle ngoba wayezithoba kumyeni wakhe. (Bala u-1 Phetro 3:3-6.) U-Abhrahama waba leqiniso lokuthi udingela u-Isaka intombi ebantwini abakhonza uJehova. Kanti njalo u-Isaka laye wenza okufananayo kuJakhobe.

11. UMthetho kaMosi wawubavikela njani abako-Israyeli?

¹¹ Ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova wenza isivumelwano labantwana bako-Israyeli. Ngalesosikhathi wabanika uMthetho futhi yiwo owawuzabaqondisa ezindabeni zomtshado lezesithembu. UMthetho lo wawungabavumeli ukuthi batshade labantu bezinye izizwe ukuze bahlale bemsulwa ekukhonzeni. (Bala  uDutheronomi 7:3, 4.) Nxa kwakusiba lokuxabana phakathi kwendoda lomkayo, indaba yayihanjiswa emadodeni amadala ukuze ayilungise. Izindaba ezinjengokungathembeki, ubukhwele kanye lokucabangelana okubi zazilungiswa ngendlela eqondileyo. Ukuchitha umtshado kwakuvunyelwa kodwa umuntu wayengeke akwenze mahlayana nje. Ngokwesibonelo indoda yayivunyelwa ukuthi yehlukane lomkayo nxa ifumene “ihlazo ngaye.” (Dute. 24:1) IBhayibhili alitsho ukuthi ‘lihlazo’ bani umuntu ayengabe elenzile kodwa sileqiniso ukuthi kwakungayisizo zindaba ezincane nje ezingatsho lutho.—Levi. 19:18.

12, 13. (a) Amanye amadoda ayebaphatha njani omkawo ngesikhathi sikaMalaki? (b) Kungenzakalani nxa umzalwane loba udade angakhohlisa umkakhe ngokufeba lomunye umuntu?

¹² Ngezinsuku zomphrofethi uMalaki amadoda amanengi angamaJuda ayekhohlisa omkawo ngokwehlukana labo ngezizathu ezingelangqondo. Amadoda la ayesehlukana labomkawo ukuze athathe abanye ababesesezintombi kumbe abezinye izizwe ababengamkhonzi uJehova. Langesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni amadoda angamaJuda ayelokhu ewenza umkhuba wokwehlukana labomkawo “loba kungasiphi isizatho.” (Mat. 19:3) Lokhu kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu uJehova.—Bala uMalaki 2:13-16.

¹³ Lamuhla kasilindelanga ukuthi umuntu okhonza uJehova akhohlise umkakhe. Kodwa ake sithi umzalwane loba udade otshadileyo usekhohlise umkakhe ngokufeba lomunye umuntu eceleni abesesehlukana lomkakhe atshade lalowomuntu. Nxa okwenzileyo lokhu engaphenduki uyasuswa ebandleni ukuze ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile futhi limsulwa. (1 Khor. 5:11-13) Kanti njalo kuzamele atshengise “izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka” ukuze abuyiselwe ebandleni. (Luk. 3:8; 2 Khor. 2:5-10) Lanxa kungelasikhathi esibekiweyo sokuthi umuntu owenze ihlazo leli angabuyiselwa nini ebandleni, indaba le ngeke iphonguthathwa lula nje. Kungathatha umnyaka kumbe iminyaka ethile ukuthi atshengise ubufakazi bokuthi usephendukile loba hatshi. Lanxa engabuyiselwa ebandleni kuzamele ‘ame phambi kwesihlalo sikaNkulunkulu sokwahlulela.’—Rom. 14:10-12; khangela INqabayokulinda ka-November 15 1979 amakhasi 31-32.

14. UMthetho wabasiza njani abako-Israyeli?

¹⁴ Abako-Israyeli baqhubeka bengaphansi koMthetho kaMosi okweminyaka edlula 1 500. Wawubasiza ukuthi basebenzise izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ezindabeni eziphathelane lemuli kanye lezinye ezitshiyeneyo futhi wabaqondisa kwaze kwafika uMesiya. (Gal. 3:23, 24) Lapho uJesu esifa, isivumelwano soMthetho saphela njalo uJehova waqalisa uhlelo olutsha. (Heb. 8:6) Lokhu kwenza ukuthi ezinye izinto ezazivunyelwa eMthethweni kaMosi zingasasebenzi kumaKhristu.

15. (a) Yisiphi isimiso esimayelana lomtshado esasizasebenza ebandleni lobuKhristu? (b) Yiziphi izinto okumele umKhristu azikhumbule nxa ecabanga ukuchitha umtshado?

¹⁵ Kwelinye ilanga abaFarisi babuza uJesu mayelana lomtshado. UJesu wasebatshela ukuthi lanxa uMthetho kaMosi wawuvumela ukuthi umuntu alahle umkakhe, kayisikho uNkulunkulu ayevele ekuhlosile ekuqaleni. (Mat. 19:6-8) Impendulo kaJesu yatshengisa ukuthi lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile ngomtshado ensimini yase-Edeni yikho okwakuzasebenza ebandleni lobuKhristu. (1 Tim. 3:2, 12) Kwakuzamele abatshadileyo ‘babenyamanye,’ bahlale belobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu njalo bagcine uthando lwabo luvutha  ukuze umtshado wabo uqine. Ngakho umuntu owayengehlukana lomkakhe ngaphandle kokuba efebile wayengasoze akhululeke ukutshada lomunye. (Mat. 19:9) Omunye angakhetha ukumxolela umngane wakhe ofebileyo nxa ebona ukuthi uyazisola ngalokho akwenzileyo. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguHoseya, wamxolela umkakhe uGomeri owayeyisifebe. UJehova laye waba lesihawu wabaxolela abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi bephenduka ebufebeni babo bokukhonza abanye onkulunkulu. (Hos. 3:1-5) Kodwa nanku okunye esingakutsho endabeni le, nxa umuntu ekwazi ukuthi umngane wakhe ufebile kodwa abaseqhubeka elala laye, iMibhalo ayisamvumeli ukuthi ehlukane laye ngoba isenzo lesi sitshengisa ukuthi usemxolele.

16. UJesu wathini ngokungatshadi?

¹⁶ UJesu wakubeka kwacaca ukuthi umKhristu angehlukana lomkakhe kuphela nxa efebile. Ngemva kwalokho wakhuluma ngalabo abakhetha ukuhlala bengatshadanga. Wathi: “Lowo ongakwamukela lokhu kakwemukele.” (Mat. 19:10-12) Banengi abazalwane labodade abakhethe ukuhlala bengatshadanga ukuze bakhonze uJehova kungelazinto ezibaphambanisayo. Siyababonga kakhulu ngalokho abakwenzayo.

17. Yiziphi izinto okumele umuntu acabangisise ngazo mayelana lokutshada?

¹⁷ Umuntu ngamunye uyazikhethela ukuthi uyafuna ukutshada loba hatshi futhi ukhululekile ukuhlala engatshadanga nxa esenelisa. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabancoma kakhulu abantu abangatshadanga. Lanxa kunjalo wathi: “Njengoba kulokuxhwala okungaka, indoda nganye kumele ibe lomkayo, lomfazi ngamunye abe lendoda yakhe.” Waseqhubeka wathi: “Kodwa uma bengeke bazithibe, kabende ngoba ukwenda kungcono kulokutshiseka ngokufisa.” (1 Khor. 7:2, 9) Ukutshada kungasiza ukuthi umuntu angabi elokhu etshiswa yinkanuko okungabangela ukuthi acine etshaya ibhonyaponya loba afebe. Kanti njalo umuntu kumele azibuze ukuthi usekulungele yini ukutshada, ngoba uPhawuli wathi: “Uma umuntu ecabanga ukuthi uziphatha ngokungafanelanga ngenxa yokuhlala engatshadanga futhi esedlule isikhathi lapho inkanuko eziyabe zitshisa khona kakhulu njalo esizwa kusithi kathathe, kenze njengokuthanda kwakhe. Kenzi sono, katshade.” (1 Khor. 7:36, NW; 1 Tim. 4:1-3) Kodwa umuntu akumelanga atshade ngenxa yokutshiswa yimizwa yokufuna ukuya emacansini ejayelekileyo nxa abafana lamankazana bekhula. Umuntu okulesisigaba angabe engakakulungeli ukuba ngumama loba ubaba womuzi.

18, 19. (a) Umtshado wamaKhristu kumele ubunjwe ngabantu abanjani? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Umtshado wamaKhristu kumele ubunjwe ngabantu ababili abazinikele kuJehova futhi abamthanda ngenhliziyo yonke. Bobabili kumele bathandane okwamagama ukuze benelise ukuhlala benyamanye baze behlukaniswe yikufa. Ukutshada kuphela eNkosini kuzabenza bathole izibusiso ngenxa yokuthi bayabe benze khona kanye uJehova akufunayo. (1 Khor. 7:39) Kanti njalo umtshado wabo uzaphumelela nxa bangaqhubeka bevumela ukuthi iBhayibhili libakhokhele kukho konke abakwenzayo.

¹⁹ Sesingene sagamanxa “ezinsukwini zokucina” futhi kugcwele okhanda limtshela okwakhe abangawuhloniphiyo umtshado. Ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngemicijo eseMibhalweni enganceda ukuthi imitshado yamaKhristu iphumelele. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) UJehova usinike iLizwi lakhe futhi liyasinceda ngakho konke esikudingayo ukuze sihlale sithokoza emitshadweni yethu njengoba silokhu sisendleleni eya ekuphileni okuphakade.—Mat. 7:13, 14.