1-2. (a) Izinto zazimi njani eJudiya ngesikhathi umphostoli uPhawuli ebhalela amaHebheru incwadi? (b) Incwadi leyo yayizawanceda njani?

 AMAKHRISTU ayehlala eJerusalema leJudiya ahlangana lobunzima ngemva kokufa kukaJesu. Ibandla lamaKhristu lathi lisanda kubunjwa, amaKhristu la aqalisa ukuhlukuluzwa kakhulu. (Imiseb. 8:1) Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-20 kwaba lokunye okwawathwalisa nzima. Ezomnotho zawohloka, mhlawumbe kwabangelwa yindlala eyayike yaba khona endaweni leyo. (Imiseb. 11:​27-30) Kodwa ngabo-61 C.E., kwathi cosololo amaKhristu aba lokuthula, lanxa ayesazokubona okukhulu. Ngalesosikhathi amukela incwadi eyayivela kumphostoli uPhawuli eyayizawanceda ukuthi alungele ubunzima obabusazowehlela.

² Incwadi eyayibhalelwe amaHebheru yafika ngesikhathi sibili ngoba ukuthula ababelakho kwakungokwesikhatshana. UPhawuli wanika amaKhristu la amacebo ayezawanceda ukuthi aqinisele ebunzimeni obasebuseduze. Ukubhujiswa komumo wezinto wamaJuda uJesu ayekhulume ngakho kwasekuseduze. (Luk. 21:20) UPhawuli lamaKhristu ayeseJudiya babengakwazi ukuthi lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala nini. Lanxa kunjalo amaKhristu la ayengasebenzisa isikhathi leso esasisele ukuthi aqinise ukholo lwawo futhi afunde ukuqinisela ukuze alungele ubunzima obabusiza.—Heb. 10:25; 12:​1, 2.

3. Ukuhlola incwadi eyayibhalelwe amaHebheru kuzasinceda njani?

 ³ Sekuseduze ukuthi lathi sihlangane lobunzima obukhulu ukwedlula lobo obehlela amaKhristu angamaHebheru. (Mat. 24:21; Isam. 16:​14, 16) Esihlokweni lesi sizahlola amacebo uJehova awanika amaKhristu la besesibona ukuthi lathi angasinceda njani.

“ASIKUSEBENZELENI NZIMA UKUBA LOKHOLO OLUQINILEYO”

4. Yibuphi ubunzima obehlela amaJuda ayesengamaKhristu? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁴ AmaJuda ayesengamaKhristu kwakumele alwisane lezinto ezinengi. Kuqala, amaJuda ayeyisizwe sikaJehova esikhethiweyo. IJerusalema kwakuyisigodlo samakhosi ayemela uJehova njalo ithempeli elaliseJerusalema yilo ayekhonzelwa kulo. AmaJuda ayethembekile ayelandela uMthetho kaMosi ayewufundiswa ngabakhokheli bawo. Ayephiwa imithetho eyayiwatshela okwakumele akudle, leyayimayelana lokusoka, kanye lokuthi kwakumele abaphathe njani abantu bezinye izizwe. Kodwa ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, uJehova wayengasayamukeli imihlatshelo eyayisenziwa ngamaJuda. Yikho kwakunzima ukuthi amaJuda ayesengamaKhristu atshiye ukulandela okwakutshiwo nguMthetho. (Heb. 10:​1, 4, 10) Lamanye amaKhristu ayelokholo oluqinileyo njengomphostoli uPhetro athwala nzima ukwamukela utshintsho lolu. (Imiseb. 10:​9-14; Gal. 2:​11-14) Izinto ezintsha ezasezikholwa ngamaKhristu la zenza ukuthi ahlaselwe ngabakhokheli benkolo abangamaJuda.

5. Kuyini okwakuthwalise nzima amaKhristu angamaHebheru?

⁵ AmaKhristu angamaHebheru ayehlaselwa ngendlela ezimbili ezitshiyeneyo. Abakhokheli benkolo abangamaJuda basebebona angathi amaKhristu la asehlamuka. Kanti njalo amanye amaKhristu ayelokhu esithi abalandeli bakaKhristu kumele baqhubeke belandela okunye okuseMthethweni kaMosi. Engxenye lokhu babekwenzela ukuthi bangahlukuluzwa. (Gal. 6:12) Kuyini  okwakuzanceda amaKhristu la athembekileyo ukuthi aqhubeke ebambelele eqinisweni?

6. UPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu angamaHebheru ukuthi enzeni? (UHebheru 5:14–6:1)

⁶ UPhawuli wathi ebhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru incwadi, wawakhuthaza ukuthi agebhe ajule eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. (Bala uHebheru 5:14–6:1.) Wasebenzisa iMibhalo yesiHebheru ukuze awatshengise ukuthi indlela yamaKhristu yokukhonza yayingcono kakhulu ukwedlula indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo. a UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi nxa amaKhristu la angagebha ajule ayezathola ulwazi olunengi futhi azwisise iqiniso. Lokhu kwakuzawanceda ukuthi enelise ukulahla imfundiso ezingamanga ezazingawaphambukisa.

7. Yibuphi ubunzima esihlangana labo?

⁷ Lalamuhla banengi abantu abafafaza izinto eziphikisana lalokho uJehova athi kuqondile. Abanye abantu bayasisola nxa silandela izimiso zikaJehova ezimayelana lokuziphatha, besithi sithwalisa abantu nzima futhi silesihluku. Khathesi indlela abantu ababona ngayo izinto itshiyene kakhulu lendlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. (Zaga. 17:15) Ngakho kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sinanzelele imibono yabantu abaphikisana loJehova futhi singayamukeli. Akumelanga sivumele abantu abangalandeli imilayo kaJehova basenze siphambuke sicine siyekela ukwenza okuqondileyo.—Heb. 13:9.

8. Kuyini okumele sikwenze ukuze sibe lokholo oluqinileyo?

⁸ UPhawuli watshela amaKhristu angamaHebheru ukuthi kumele asebenze nzima ukuze abe lokholo oluqinileyo. Lathi kumele senze njalo. Kumele sigebhe sijule eBhayibhilini ukuze sithole ulwazi njalo sizwisise indlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Lanxa umuntu esezinikele kuJehova wabhabhathizwa kumele aqhubeke ekwenza lokhu. Sonke kumele sihlale sitaditsha iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kungelani lokuthi sesilesikhathi esinganani sikhonza uJehova. (Hubo. 1:2) Nxa silohlelo lokutaditsha esilulandelayo, sizenelisa ukuqinisa ukholo lwethu njengoba nje uPhawuli wagcizelela ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi amaKhristu abe lokholo.—Heb. 11:​1, 6.

KUMELE SIBE ‘LOKHOLO UKUZE SILONDOLOZE UKUPHILA KWETHU’

9. Kungani kwakumele amaKhristu angamaHebheru abe lokholo oluqinileyo?

⁹ AmaKhristu angamaHebheru kwakumele abe lokholo oluqinileyo ukuze asinde ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okwasekuzaqalisa eJudiya. (Heb. 10:​37-39) UJesu wayexwayise abalandeli bakhe ukuthi nxa bengabona iJerusalema isigonjolozelwe ngamabutho, baqalise ukubaleka. AmaKhristu wonke kwakumele awalalele amazwi la kungelani lokuthi ayehlala phakathi eJerusalema kumbe emaphandleni. (Luk. 21:​20-24) Okwakujayelekile ngalesosikhathi yikuthi nxa abantu babehlaselwa yisitha babalekele edolobheni elaligonjolozelwe yimiduli njengeJerusalema. Kwakungakhanya kuyibuphukuphuku ukuthi umuntu ohlala edolobheni elinjalo abalekele ezintabeni. Yikho kwakudinga ukuthi amaKhristu abe lokholo oluqinileyo sibili.

10. Kuyini okwakuzanceda amaKhristu ukuthi asinde? (UHebheru 13:17)

¹⁰ AmaKhristu angamaHebheru kwakumele abathembe labo ababebekwe nguJesu ukuthi bakhokhele ibandla. Kumele ukuthi ababekhokhela ebandleni batshela abantu ukuthi  babaleke nini lokuthi lokho kwakumele bakwenze njani. (Bala uHebheru 13:17.) Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “lalelani” kuHebheru 13:17 liveza ukuthi umuntu lo uyabe elalela ngenxa yokuthi uyabe emthemba lowo oyabe emtshela okumele akwenze. Okwenza alalele ayisikho ukuthi umuntu omtshelayo ulesikhundla, kodwa yikuthi uyamthemba. Yikho amaKhristu angamaHebheru kwakumele abathembe labo ababebekwe ukuthi bakhokhele ukuhlupheka kungakafiki. Nxa amaKhristu ayelalela abakhokhelayo ngesikhathi kulokuthula, kwakuzakuba lula ukuthi alalele ngezikhathi ezinzima.

11. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi amaKhristu abe lokholo oluqinileyo?

¹¹ Lathi lamuhla kumele sibe lokholo njengamaKhristu angamaHebheru. Abantu abanengi esiphila labo abakukholwa okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lokuphela komumo lo wezinto. (2 Phet. 3:​3, 4) Lanxa iBhayibhili lisitshela okunye okuphathelane lokuhlupheka okukhulu, kunengi esingakwaziyo. Kumele sibe lokholo oluqinileyo, sithembe ukuthi ukuphela komumo lo wezinto kuzafika ngesikhathi esifaneleyo lokuthi uJehova kasoze asilahle.—Hab. 2:3.

12. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sisinde ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?

¹² Kumele siyithembe “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo,” njengoba kuyiyo uJehova ayisebenzisayo ukuthi asikhokhele lamuhla. (Mat. 24:45) Ekuqaliseni kokuhlupheka okukhulu, singatshelwa lokho okumele sikwenze ukuze sisinde, njengoba lamaKhristu angamaHebheru atshelwa okwakumele akwenze ngesikhathi amaRoma esehlasela eJudiya. Kumele sihle siqalise khathesi ukubathemba labo abasetshenziswa nguJehova ukuthi bakhokhele inhlanganiso yakhe. Nxa khathesi kusithwalisa nzima ukulalela lokho abasitshela khona, ngeke kube lula ukuthi sibalalele ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu.

13. Kungani kwakuqakathekile ukulandela iseluleko esikuHebheru 13:5?

¹³ Ngesikhathi amaKhristu angamaHebheru elindele ukutshelwa ukuthi abaleke, kwakumele aqakathekise ukukhonza uJehova, ‘angathandi imali.’ (Bala uHebheru 13:5.) Amanye ayeke ahlaselwa yindlala njalo amanye ayedubeka. (Heb. 10:​32-34) Kwakungabe kulamanye amaKhristu ayengabe ezimisele ukuqhubeka eqinisela ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle, kodwa esebona kungcono ukuthi abuthelele inotho ukuze iwavikele. Lanxa ayengaze abe lemali enengi, yayingasoze iwavikele nxa ukuhlupheka sekuqalisile. (Jak. 5:3) Labo ababelezinto ezinengi kwakungaba nzima ukuthi babaleke batshiye izindlu zabo lempahla yabo.

14. Ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo kuzasinceda njani ukuthi singathandi inotho?

¹⁴ Nxa sikukholwa ukuthi umumo lo wezinto ususiyaphela, asisoze sitshone sibuthelela inotho. Phela abantu “bazaphosela isiliva sabo emigwaqweni” ngoba bazananzelela ukuthi “isiliva sabo kanye legolide labo akusoze kubasindise ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova.” (Hez. 7:19) Kulokuthi sisebenze nzima sizama ukubuthelela imali, kumele senze izinqumo ezizasinceda ukuthi siqakathekise ukukhonza uJehova. Lokhu kugoqela ukubalekela ukudala izikwelede kungelasidingo kumbe ukubuthelela izinto ezinengi kakhulu ezizasithathela isikhathi sethu. Kanti njalo kumele sinanzelele singaqakathekisi kakhulu izinto esilazo. (Mat. 6:​19, 24) Njengoba ukuphela kusondela kumele sikhethe ukuthi ngubani esimthembayo phakathi kukaJehova kanye lezinto esingabe silazo.

 “KUMELE LIQINISELE”

15. Kungani kwakumele amaKhristu angamaHebheru aqinisele?

¹⁵ AmaKhristu angamaHebheru kwakumele afunde ukuqinisela ukuze aqhubeke ekhonza uJehova ngenxa yokuthi ayesazohlupheka. (Heb. 10:36) Amanye ayeseke ahlukuluzwa kakhulu kodwa amanengi amukela iqiniso ngesikhathi kulokuthula. UPhawuli wathi lanxa amaKhristu la ayeqinisele ebunzimeni obutshiyeneyo, ayengakahlupheki kwaze kwaba sekufeni njengalokho okwenzakala kuJesu. (Heb. 12:4) AmaJuda azonda abila ngesikhathi amaJuda amanengi esiba ngamaKhristu futhi aqalisa ukuwahlukuluza. Eminyakeni emilutshwana eyayisanda kwedlula, ukufika kukaPhawuli kwakuvuse isiphithiphithi eJerusalema. AmaJuda adlula 40 “enza isifungo sokuthi nxa angadla loba anathe engakambulali uPhawuli ayabe eqalekisiwe.” (Imiseb. 22:22; 23:​12-14) Lanxa amaKhristu la ayezondwa futhi ehlukuluzwa, kwakumele aqhubeke ehlangana ndawonye, etshumayela indaba ezinhle futhi eqinisa ukholo lwawo.

16. Incwadi yamaHebheru ingasinceda njani nxa sihlukuluzwa? (UHebheru 12:7)

¹⁶ Kuyini okwakuzanceda amaKhristu angamaHebheru ukuthi aqinisele ngesikhathi ehlukuluzwa? Inhloso kaPhawuli yayingeyokuncedisa amaKhristu ukuze abekwazi ukuthi ukuqinisela ebunzimeni kwakuzawanceda njani. Ngakho wachasisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayevumela ukuthi adlule ebunzimeni ukuze awaqeqetshe. (Bala uHebheru 12:7.) Lokhu kwakuzawanceda ukuthi athuthuke, abe lobuntu obuthokozisa uJehova. Nxa amaKhristu la ayengacabangisisa ngokuthi kwakuzawanceda njani ukudlula ebunzimeni, kwakuzakuba lula ukuthi aqinisele.—Heb. 12:11.

17. Kuyini UPhawuli ayekwazi ngokuqinisela nxa uhlukuluzwa?

¹⁷ UPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu angamaHebheru ukuthi aqinisele ebunzimeni,  angakhalali. Wayengakuphumputhi lokho ayekubhala ngoba wayeke wadlula kukho. Wayeke wahlukuluza amaKhristu yikho wayelwazi ulunya lwabantu ababewahlukuluza. Kanti njalo wathi esebe ngumKhristu laye wahlukuluzwa ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo kodwa waqinisela. (2 Khor. 11:​23-25) Yikho wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi amaKhristu kwakumele enzeni ukuze aqinisele. Wakhumbuza amaKhristu la ukuthi nxa esebunzimeni kwakungamelanga azithembe wona kodwa kwakumele athembele kuJehova. Lokho yikho okwenza uPhawuli waba lesibindi waze wathi: “UJehova ungumsizi wami, angisoze ngesabe.”—Heb. 13:6.

18. Kuyini okumele sikwazi ngekusasa ukuze siqinisele nxa sesihlukuluzwa?

¹⁸ Kwezinye indawo abafowethu labodadewethu bayahlukuluzwa. Ezinye indlela esingatshengisa ngazo ukuthi siyabathanda yikubathandazela kanye lokubanika ezinye izinto abangabe bezifuna. (Heb. 10:33) IBhayibhili likubeka kucace ukuthi, “bonke abazimisele ukuphila bezinikele kuNkulunkulu futhi bemanyene loKhristu uJesu labo bazahlukuluzwa.” (2 Thim. 3:12) Lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi sonke kumele silungiselele izikhathi ezinzima ezizayo. Kasiqhubekeni simthemba ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova, singathandabuzi ukuthi uzasincedisa ukuthi siqinisele kuloba yibuphi ubunzima obungasehlela. Ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, bonke abaqotho kuye uzabaphumuza ebunzimeni.—2 Thes. 1:​7, 8.

19. Kuyini esingakwenza okungasinceda ukuthi silungele ukuhlupheka okukhulu? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁹ Asithandabuzi ukuthi incwadi le yawanceda kakhulu amaKhristu angamaHebheru ukuthi alungele ukuhlupheka okwakusazowehlela. UPhawuli wakhuthaza amaKhristu la ukuthi agebhe ajule eMibhalweni ukuze athole ulwazi futhi alizwisise kuhle iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuzawanceda ukuthi ananzelele imfundiso ezazingaxegisa ukholo lwawo futhi angazamukeli. Wawakhuthaza ukuthi aqinise ukholo lwawo ukuze aphangise ukwenza okwakukhulunywe nguJesu kanye lalokho ayezakutshelwa ngabakhokhelayo ebandleni. Kanti njalo wancedisa amaKhristu ukuthi aqinisele ebunzimeni ngokuwakhumbuza ukuthi ukuhlukuluzwa kwakuwanika ithuba lokuthi aqeqetshwe nguBaba wawo olothando uJehova. Lathi singawasebenzisa amacebo la aseBhayibhilini. Nxa singenza njalo sizenelisa ukuqinisela kuze kube sekucineni.—Heb. 3:14.