ISAHLUKO 1
“NguJehova UNkulunkulu Wakho Okumele Umkhonze”
ESIZAKUFUNDA: Kungani kumele ukukhonza kweqiniso kuvuselelwe?
1, 2. Kwenzakala njani ukuthi uJesu abe senkangala yeJudiya ngo-29 C.E., futhi kwenzakalani ekhonale? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)
KUNGENZAKALA ukuthi kusekupheleni kuka-October kumbe ekuqaliseni kukaNovember. UJesu uthi eqeda ukubhabhathizwa lokugcotshwa, umoya ongcwele umkhokhele umuse enkangala yeJudiya, enyakatho yoLwandle Lwesawudo. Uhlala endaweni le okwamalanga angu-40 ezile ukudla, ethandaza futhi ecabangisisa. Kungenzakala ukuthi uJehova ukhuluma leNdodana yakhe ngalesisikhathi eyiqinisa njalo eyincedisa ukuthi ibulungele ubunzima obuzayehlela.
2 UJesu uthi eselambile, uSathane amlande ezomlinga. Okwenzakala lapho kungakunceda wena labo bonke abafuna ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo.
“Nxa Uyindodana KaNkulunkulu . . .”
3, 4. (a) Ngesikhathi uSathane elinga uJesu okokuqala lokwesibili wasebenzisa waphi amazwi njalo kuyini ayefuna uJesu akuthandabuze? (b) USathane angasilinga njani lamuhla?
3 Bala uMathewu 4:1-7. Ngesikhathi uSathane elinga uJesu, waqalisa ngamazwi athi: “Nxa uyindodana kaNkulunkulu.” Amazwi la wawasebenzisa lapho elinga uJesu okokuqala lokwesibili. USathane wayethandabuza yini ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu? Hatshi. Wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi uJesu lizibulo likaNkulunkulu ngoba laye wayeke waba yindodana kaNkulunkulu futhi wayehlala ezulwini. (Kol. 1:15) Asithandabuzi lokuthi wawezwa amazwi akhulunywa nguJehova esezulwini ngesikhathi uJesu ebhabhathizwa, athi: “Le yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo futhi engiyamukelayo.” (Mat. 3:17) Kungenzeka uSathane wayefuna uJesu angamthembi uYise futhi acabange ukuthi kalandaba laye. Ngesikhathi uSathane elinga uJesu ukuthi atshintshe amatshe abe yizinkwa, kwakungathi uthi: ‘Nxa uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, yindaba uYihlo engakuniki ukudla?’ Lapho emlinga ukuthi eqe esuka ethempelini, kwakufanana lokuthi uthi: ‘Njengoba uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uyamthemba yini uYihlo ukuthi uzakuvikela?’
4 Lalamuhla uSathane usebenzisa izilingo ezinjengalezi. (2 Khor. 2:11) Uyalinda abesesihlasela ngendlela ezicatshileyo nxa esibona sidanile loba singelamandla. (2 Khor. 11:14) Uzama ukusenza sicabange ukuthi uJehova kasithandi futhi kathokozi ngesikwenzayo. Uzama lokwenza sikholwe ukuthi uJehova kasoze akwenze lokho akuthembisa eLizwini lakhe. Kodwa lawo ngamanga aluhlaza tshoko. (Joh. 8:44) Manje singenzani ukuze simnqobe?
5. UJesu wamphendula njani uSathane ngesikhathi emlinga okokuqala lokwesibili?
5 Ake sibone ukuthi uJesu wamphendula njani uSathane ngesikhathi emlinga okokuqala lokwesibili. Wayemthemba ngehliziyo yonke uYise futhi wayeqiniseka ukuthi uyamthanda. UJesu wahle wamphendula uSathane esebenzisa amazwi aseLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Wakhetha ukusebenzisa amavesi alebizo likaNkulunkulu. (Dute. 6:16; 8:3) Wasebenzisa ibizo likaYise ukuze atshengise ukuthi uyamthemba. Phela ibizo likaNkulunkulu litshengisa ukuthi uyazigcwalisa zonke izithembiso zakhe. a
6, 7. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sinqobe izilingo zikaSathane?
6 Lathi singenelisa ukunqoba izilingo zikaSathane nxa singasebenzisa esikubala eBhayibhilini futhi sicabangisise ngokuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu litshoni. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda bonke abamkhonzayo, kugoqele lalabo abadanileyo labahlulukelweyo. Ukukhumbula lokho kuzakwenza ukuthi singamkholwa uSathane nxa eqamba amanga esithi uJehova kasithandi futhi ngeke asamukele. (Hubo. 34:18; 1 Phet. 5:8) Nxa singahlala sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe, sizamthemba ngenhliziyo yonke.—Zaga. 3:5, 6.
7 Kodwa kuyini vele uSathane ayabe ekuhlosile nxa esilinga? Kuyini ayabe ekufuna kithi? Impendulo yemibuzo le yakhanya ngesikhathi uSathane eselinga uJesu okwesithathu.
‘Guqa Phansi Ungikhonze Kanye Nje Kuphela’
8. Ngesikhathi uSathane elinga uJesu okwesithathu, wakuveza njani egcekeni lokho ayefuna uJesu akwenze?
8 Bala uMathewu 4:8-11. USathane wathi eselinga uJesu okwesithathu wakuveza egcekeni lokho ayekuhlosile. Watshengisa uJesu yonke imibuso yomhlaba lenkazimulo yayo, kodwa kazange amtshengise ububi bayo. Mhlawumbe lokhu wakwenza ngokumtshengisa umbono, wasesithi kuJesu: “Ngizakupha zonke izinto lezi nxa ungaguqa phansi ungikhonze kanye nje kuphela.” b Kuyakhanya ukuthi uSathane wayekuhlose ukuthi uJesu amkhonze. Wayefuna ukuthi uJesu ahlamukele uYise akhonze yena. Wayefuna uJesu acabange ukuthi izinto zazizamhambela kuhle nxa wayengenza lokho amtshela khona. Kwakungathi utshela uJesu ukuthi wayengathola amandla okubusa lenotho yomhlaba wonke engazange ahlupheke. Ayekutsho yikuthi wayezamnika konke lokhu engazange afakwe umqhele wameva, abhaxabulwe loba abethelwe esigodweni sokuhlutshwa. UJesu kazange akuphike ukuthi uSathane nguye obusa wonke umhlaba. (Joh. 12:31; 1 Joh. 5:19) USathane wayezimisele ukunika uJesu loba yini nxa leyonto yayizakwenza uJesu angakhonzi uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo.
9. (a) Kuyini uSathane akufunayo ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu njalo usilinga njani? (b) Kutshoni ukukhonza? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “Kutshoni Ukukhonza?”)
9 Lalamuhla uSathane ufuna simkhonze futhi lokho singakwenza singananzeleli. Abantu bangamkhonza bengahlosanga ngenxa yokuthi nguye “unkulunkulu womumo lo wezinto.” (2 Khor. 4:4) Lanxa kulamabhiliyoni abantu abamkhonzayo, kasuthiseki ngakho. Uzama ukuhuga ngitsho lezinceku zikaJehova ukuthi zikhonze yena. Uzama ukusilinga esebenzisa inotho loba ngokusenza sifise ukuba lezikhundla eziphezulu emhlabeni lo. Kodwa thina sizimisele ukuhlupheka lokuhlala sithembekile ngenxa yokwenza okulungileyo. (1 Phet. 3:14) Nxa singavuma ukunqotshwa yizilingo zikaSathane sitshiye ukukhonza kweqiniso, uSathane uyabe esengunkulunkulu wethu. Kuyabe kufanana lokuthi sesimguqele samkhonza. Manje singenzani ukuze singacini sesikhonza uSathane?
10. UJesu wamphendula wathini uSathane ngesikhathi emlinga okwesithathu futhi kungani waphendula njalo?
10 UJesu wathini ngesikhathi uSathane emlinga okwesithathu? Wamphendula wathi: “Suka Sathane!” Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayezimisele ukuhlala eqotho kuJehova. Lalapha uJesu wakhetha ukusebenzisa ivesi elebizo likaNkulunkulu etholakala kuDutheronomi. Wathi: “Kubhaliwe ukuthi: ‘NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumele umkhonze njalo nguye yedwa okumele umenzele inkonzo engcwele.’” (Mat. 4:10; Dute. 6:13) UJesu kazange avume ukuyengwa nguSathane. Kazange ahugwe yinotho lesikhundla uSathane ayefuna ukumnika sona ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi konke lokhu ngokwesikhatshana. Kodwa wakhetha ukuhlala eqotho lanxa lokho kwakuzakwenza ukuthi ahlupheke. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uYise nguye kuphela okumele akhonzwe lokuthi ‘ukuguqa kanye nje kuphela’ phambi kukaSathane kwakufanana lokumkhonza. Kazange avume ukuthi uSathane abe ngunkulunkulu wakhe. UDeveli wathi ebona ukuthi wehlulekile ukuyenga uJesu, wasuka wahamba. c
“SUKA SATHANE!” (Khangela indima 10)
11. Singamnqoba njani uSathane?
11 Singenelisa ukunqoba izilingo ezivela kuSathane labantu bakhe ngenxa yokuthi lathi silenkululeko yokuzikhethela njengoJesu. UJehova nguye osinike isipho lesi. Akulamuntu ongasibamba ngamandla ukuthi sitshiye ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Ngitsho loSathane kalamandla okwenza njalo. Kodwa nxa singaba qotho kuJehova ‘simelane loSathane siqinile ekukholweni,’ kuyabe kungathi sithi: “Suka Sathane!” (1 Phet. 5:9) Khumbula ukuthi uSathane wathi ebona ukuthi wehlulekile ukuyenga uJesu, wasuka wahamba. IBhayibhili lithi ‘singamelana loDeveli uzasibalekela.’—Jak. 4:7.
Siyenelisa ukukhetha esingakwenza nxa uSathane esilinga (Khangela indima 11, 19)
Isitha Sokukhonza Kweqiniso
12. Ensimini yase-Edeni uSathane watshengisa njani ukuthi kafuni abantu bakhonze uJehova?
12 Isilingo sokucina uSathane asisebenzisa kuJesu satshengisa ukuthi uyisitha sokukhonza kweqiniso. Kudala ensimini ye-Edeni uSathane wakuveza egcekeni ukuthi kafuni ukuthi abantu bakhonze uJehova. USathane waqila u-Eva, u-Eva yena waseyenga u-Adamu ukuthi angawulaleli umlayo kaJehova. Waphumelela ukubenza bakhonze yena. (Bala uGenesisi 3:1-5; 2 Khor. 11:3; Isam. 12:9) Lanxa babengabe bengakwazi ukuthi ngubani obalingayo sibisibili, bamlalela bavuma ukuthi abe ngunkulunkulu wabo. USathane wenza ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva bahlamukele uJehova. Ngokwenza lokhu wayehlasela ubukhosi bukaJehova lokukhonza kweqiniso. Njani?
13. Kungani kumele sikhonze uJehova kuphela?
13 Ubukhosi bukaJehova lokukhonza kweqiniso kuhamba ndawonye. UJehova nguye okumele akhonzwe ngenxa yokuthi unguMbusi wendawo yonke futhi nguye ‘owadala zonke izinto.’ (Isam. 4:11) UJehova wadala u-Adamu lo-Eva wabafaka ensimini yase-Edeni. Wayefuna ukuthi emhlabeni wonke kugcwale abantu abangelasono, ababezamkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke langendlela ayifunayo. (Gen. 1:28) USathane wahlasela ubukhosi bukaJehova ngenxa yokuthi wayefuna abantu bakhonze yena kulokuthi bakhonze uJehova iNkosi Enkulu.—Jak. 1:14, 15.
14. USathane waphumelela yini ukutshabalalisa ukukhonza kweqiniso? Chasisa.
14 USathane waphumelela yini ukutshabalalisa ukukhonza kweqiniso? Hatshi kaphumelelanga. Aphumelela ukukwenza yikuyenga u-Adamu lo-Eva ukuthi bahlamukele uNkulunkulu. Kusukela lapho uSathane wenze konke angakwenza ukuze ayenge abantu ukuthi bangamkhonzi uJehova uNkulunkulu. UJesu engakabuyi emhlabeni, uSathane wazama ngamandla wonke ukuyenga abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi batshiye ukumkhonza. Kwathi abaphostoli sebefile, uSathane wenza ukuthi kube labahlamuki ebandleni lobuKhristu. Baba banengi kwaze kwacina kukhanya angathi akuselamuntu okhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo. (Mat. 13:24-30, 36-43; Imiseb. 20:29, 30) Ngemva kuka-100 C.E., kwakungasakhanyi ukuthi ngobani amaKhristu eqiniso njengoba kwasekulabantu abanengi ababezithi bangamaKhristu. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basebethunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu, okutsho inkolo yamanga. Lanxa kunjalo uSathane wehlulekile ukutshabalalisa ukukhonza kweqiniso. Akulanto engavimba uNkulunkulu ukuthi agcwalise inhloso yakhe yokuthi abantu bamkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. (Isaya. 46:10; 55:8-11) Phela ibizo lakhe lisikhumbuza ukuthi akulalutho olumehlulayo. UJehova uyakugcwalisa konke akuhlosileyo.
UJesu Wavikela Ukukhonza Kweqiniso
15. Kuyini uJehova akwenzayo e-Edeni ukuze abe leqiniso lokuthi inhloso yakhe iyagcwaliseka?
15 U-Adamu lo-Eva bathi sebewonile, kukhona uJehova akwenzayo ukuze abe leqiniso lokuthi inhloso yakhe iyagcwaliseka. (Bala uGenesisi 3:14-19.) Wahle wabagweba abahlamuki laba. Waqala ngoSathane ngoba nguye owayeqale ukuhlamuka, waselandela ngo-Eva wacina ngo-Adamu. Wakhuluma loSathane wamtshela ‘ngenzalo’ eyayizabuya eyayizalungisa wonke umonakalo ayesewudalile. ‘Inzalo’ le yayizakwenza umsebenzi oqakathekileyo owawuzakwenza ukuthi lokho uJehova ayekuhlosile ngokukhonza kweqiniso kugcwaliseke.
16. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi uzimisele ukugcwalisa inhloso yakhe?
16 Lanxa u-Adamu lo-Eva basebehlamukile, uJehova kazange ayikhohlwe inhloso yakhe. Wenza ukuthi kube lendlela abantu abalesono ababengamkhonza ngayo ukuze abamukele. Lokhu sizaxoxa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo. (Heb. 11:4–12:1) Okunye uJehova akwenzayo yikuphefumulela abaphrofethi bakhe ukuthi babhale iziphrofetho ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso. Abanye babo kwakungu-Isaya loJeremiya loHezekheli. Indaba yokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso kukhulunywa ngayo kakhulu eBhayibhilini. Iziphrofetho lezi zazizagcwaliswa ‘yinzalo’ eyayithenjisiwe, okutsho uJesu labangu-144 000. UJesu Khristu nguye oyisiqokoqela enzalweni le. (Gal. 3:16) Indlela uJesu aphendula ngayo ngesikhathi uSathane emlinga okwesithathu yatshengisa ukuthi wayekuvikela sibili ukukhonza kweqiniso. Yikho uJehova wakhetha uJesu ukuthi kube nguye ogcwalisa iziphrofetho eziphathelane lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso. (Isam. 19:10) UJesu wayezakhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu ekuthunjweni yinkolo yamanga, abesebancedisa ukuthi baqalise ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela ayamukelayo.
Uzakwenzani?
17. Kungani sizithanda iziphrofetho ezimayelana lokubuyiselwa kokukhonza kweqiniso?
17 Ukuhlola iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso kuyasithokozisa futhi kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwethu. Siyazithanda kakhulu iziphrofetho lezi ngoba sisilindele ngabomvu isikhathi lapho izingilosi labo bonke abantu emhlabeni abazamanyana khona bakhonze uJehova iNkosi Enkulu. Iziphrofetho lezo zisinika ithemba ngoba zisitshela ngezinto ezinhle esizazenzelwa nguJehova. Sonke sisilindele isikhathi okuzagcwaliseka ngaso zonke izithembiso zikaJehova. Sizabona abantu esibathandayo bevuswa lomhlaba usiba lipharadayisi futhi sizaphila kuze kube nini lanini siqine saka.—Isaya. 33:24; 35:5, 6; Isam. 20:12, 13; 21:3, 4.
18. Sizafundani ebhukwini leli?
18 Ebhukwini leli sizahlola iziphrofetho ezizasiqinisa ukholo ezabhalwa ngumphrofethi uHezekheli. Ezinengi zikhuluma ngokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso. Sizaxoxa ngokuthi iziphrofetho lezo zingenelana njani lezinye iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini. Sizabona lokuthi uKhristu wazigcwalisa njani lokuthi thina zisinceda njani.—Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Okusebhukwini LikaHezekheli.”
19. Uzimisele ukwenzani futhi kungani uzimisele ukwenza njalo?
19 USathane wehluleka ukuyenga uJesu ukuthi atshiye ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngesikhathi emlinga enkangala yeJudiya ngo-29 C.E. Kodwa kuthiwani ngathi? USathane uzimisele ukusilinga ukuze sitshiye ukukhonza kweqiniso. (Isam. 12:12, 17) Kwangathi ibhuku leli lingakunceda ukuthi wenze konke okusemandleni akho ukuthi ulwisane lamacebo kaSathane. Indlela esiziphatha ngayo lesikhuluma ngayo kumele itshengise ukuthi siyavumelana lamazwi kaJesu athi: “NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumele umkhonze.” Singenza njalo sizayibona inhloso kaJehova igcwaliseka. Ngalesosikhathi zonke izingilosi labantu bonke bayabe sebekhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo ngoba nguye yedwa okufanele ukuthi akhonzwe!
a Abanye bathi ibizo elithi Jehova litsho ukuthi, “Wenza Ukuthi Kube Khona.” Ibizo leli limfanele sibili uJehova ngoba unguMdali futhi uyakwenza konke akuhlosileyo.
b Elinye ibhuku elikhuluma ngokuseBhayibhilini lithi indlela uSathane alinga ngayo uJesu ‘yayihambelana lendlela alinga ngayo u-Adamu lo-Eva. Bonke kwakumele bakhethe ukuthi bazakwenza intando kaSathane kumbe ekaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakuzatshengisa ukuthi ngubani abamkhonzayo. USathane uzenza unkulunkulu, ufuna abantu bakhonze yena kulokuthi bakhonze uNkulunkulu weqiniso.’
c Indlela izilingo zikaSathane ezibhalwe ngayo eVangelini likaLukha itshiyene lendlela ezibhalwe ngayo kwelikaMathewu. Kukhanya uMathewu wazibhala ngokulandelana kwazo. Nanzi izizatho ezintathu ezenza sitsho njalo: (1) Nxa uMathewu ekhuluma ngesilingo sesibili uqalisa ngamazwi athi uDeveli “wasemthatha,” okutshengisa ukuthi salandela esokuqala. (2) Kulengqondo ukuthi izilingo eziqalisa ngamazwi athi, “Nxa uyindodana kaNkulunkulu” zibe ngezokuqala ngoba uSathane wayengakaphumeli egcekeni ukuthi ufuna uJesu ephule ubuqotho bakhe, kodwa kwesokucina wasekubeka kwacaca ukuthi ufuna uJesu amkhonze. (Eks. 20:2, 3) (3) Kumele ukuthi isilingo esithi ‘guqa phansi ungikhonze’ ngesesithathu futhi ngesokucina ngoba uJesu waphendula wathi “Suka Sathane,” uSathane wahle wasuka.—Mat. 4:5, 10, 11.
