EMZEKELISWENI wamathalenta uJesu wawuveza egcekeni umsebenzi okumele wenziwe ngabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo. Kumele sikuzwisise ukuthi umzekeliso lo utshoni ngoba ulezifundo ezinhle kuwo wonke amaKhristu eqiniso, kungelani lokuthi alethemba lokuphila ezulwini loba emhlabeni.

1, 2. Kungani uJesu walandisa umzekeliso wamathalenta?

² UJesu walandisa umzekeliso lo lapho ephendula umbuzo wabafundi bakhe owawuphathelane ‘lesiboniso sokuba khona kwakhe lesokucina komumo wezinto.’ (Mat. 24:3, NW) Yikho-ke umzekeliso lo ugcwaliseka esikhathini sethu futhi uyingxenye yesiboniso esitshengisa ukuthi uJesu usekhona, okutsho ukuthi useyiNkosi.

3. Yiziphi izifundo esizithola emizekelisweni ekuMathewu izahluko 24 lo-25?

³ KuMathewu 24:45 kusiya kuMathewu 25:46 kulemizekeliso emine eyalandiswa nguJesu. Walandisa umzekeliso wamathalenta, lowenceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo, lowezintombi ezilitshumi kanye lowezimvu lezimbuzi. Imizekeliso le wayitsho lapho ephendula abafundi bakhe ababembuze ukuthi sizakuba yini isiboniso sokuba khona kwakhe. Kuyo yonke imizekeliso le uJesu waveza okunengi okwakuzatshengisa ukuthi ngobani abalandeli bakhe beqiniso ezinsukwini zokucina. Okwakhulunywa nguJesu lapho elandisa umzekeliso wezintombi lowamathalenta kanye lowenceku ethembekileyo  kuqondane labalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo. Emzekelisweni wenceku ethembekileyo uJesu waveza ukuthi ezinsukwini zokucina kwakuzamele iqembu elincane labagcotshiweyo lihlakaniphe njalo lithembeke emsebenzini wokufundisa izisebenzi zalapha ekhaya. Kowezintombi waqonqosela bonke abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo ukuthi kwakuzamele bazilungiselele futhi baphaphame ngoba bekwazi ukuthi uJesu uyeza lanxa bengalwazi usuku loba ihora. Kowamathalenta uJesu watshengisa ukuthi abagcotshiweyo kwakuzamele bakhuthale emisebenzini yobuKhristu abayiphathisiweyo. Emzekelisweni wokucina, ophathelane lezimvu lezimbuzi, wayesekhuluma ngabalandeli bakhe abazaphila emhlabeni. Wagcizelela lokuthi kwakuzamele babeqotho njalo benze konke abangakwenza ukuze basekele abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiweyo abasemhlabeni. * Khathesi kasihlolisiseni umzekeliso wamathalenta.

4, 5. Imela bani indoda kumbe umnini wezisebenzi, njalo ithalenta elilodwa lilingana lemali enganani?

⁴ Bala uMathewu 25:14-30. Sekulesikhathi eside amabhuku ethu echaza ukuthi uJesu nguye indoda loba umnini wezisebenzi okukhulunywa ngaye emzekelisweni wamathalenta lokuthi wahamba elizweni elikude lapho esenyukela ezulwini ngo-33 C.E. Komunye umzekeliso ohambelana lowamathalenta uJesu waveza ukuthi waya elizweni elikude ukuze ‘ayegcotshwa ubukhosi.’ (Luk. 19:12) UJesu kazange ahle aphiwe wonke amandla okubusa lapho efika ezulwini. * Kodwa wafika “wahlala phansi esandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi ulindele izitha zakhe ukuba zibe yisinabelo sakhe.”—Heb. 10:12, 13.

⁵ Indoda esemzekelisweni lo yayilamathalenta angu-8 njalo le kwakuyimali enengi okwamagama ngalesosikhathi. * Indoda le ingakayi elizweni elikude yanika izisebenzi zayo amathalenta la ikhangelele ukuthi zisale zisenza ibhizimusi ngawo. UJesu laye ufanana lendoda esemzekelisweni ngoba engakenyukeli ezulwini wayelenotho eligugu okumangalisayo. Kwakuyinotho bani leyo? Kwakungumsebenzi ayewenza esesemhlabeni.

6, 7. Amelani amathalenta?

⁶ UJesu wayewuqakathekisa kakhulu umsebenzi wakhe wokutshumayela lokufundisa. (Bala uLukha 4:43.) Lapho esenza umsebenzi lo kufanana lokuthi wayelima insimu eyayizakhupha inala emangalisayo. Wayeke watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Vulani amehlo enu likhangele amasimu! Amabele aselungele ukuvunwa.” (Joh. 4:35-38) Wayekhuluma ngokuqoqwa kwabantu abanengi ababezakwamukela izindaba ezinhle babe ngabalandeli bakhe. Akulamlimi okhutheleyo ongaphongutshiya insimu isilungele ukuvunwa. UJesu laye wayengeke ayitshiye ingelazisebenzi insimu eyayisilungele ukuvunwa. Yikho-ke esanda kuvuswa njalo engakenyukeli ezulwini wanika abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi oqakatheke kakhulu, wathi: “Ngakho hambani lenze abafundi.” (Mat. 28:18-20) Siyabona-ke ukuthi wabaphathisa inotho eligugu kakhulu, okutsho inkonzo yobuKhristu.—2 Khor. 4:7.

⁷ Lokhu kusitshengisani? Kusitshengisa ukuthi lapho uJesu enika abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi, wayebaphathisa ‘impahla yakhe’ loba amathalenta akhe. (Mat. 25:14) Ngamazwi alula nje singathi  amathalenta ngumsebenzi wokutshumayela lokwenza abafundi.

8. Umqhatshi wayekhangeleleni lanxa wayenike izisebenzi zakhe amathalenta angalinganiyo?

⁸ Emzekelisweni wamathalenta sitshelwa ukuthi umqhatshi wanika isisebenzi esisodwa amathalenta amahlanu, esinye wasinika amabili njalo esinye wasipha elilodwa nje. (Mat. 25:15) Lanxa izisebenzi lezi zaphiwa inani elitshiyeneyo lamathalenta, umqhatshi wazo wayekhangelele ukuthi zonke zikhuthale nxa sezisenza ibhizimusi ngamathalenta la, okutsho ukuthi zenze konke ezingakwenza ukuze zifeze inkonzo. (Mat. 22:37; Kol. 3:23) Kusukela ngePhentekhosti ngomnyaka ka-33 C.E., abalandeli bakaKhristu baqalisa ukwenza ibhizimusi ngamathalenta. Indlela ababekhuthele ngayo emsebenzini wokutshumayela lokwenza abafundi ibekwe yacaca ebhukwini leMiSebenzi. *—ImiSeb. 6:7; 12:24; 19:20.

9. (a) Izinceku ezimbili ezithembekileyo zawasebenzisa njani amathalenta, njalo lokhu kusifundisani? (b) Yisiphi isibusiso esinikwe “ezinye izimvu”?

⁹ Ngesikhathi sokuphela, ikakhulu kusukela ngo-1919 izinceku zikaKhristu ezigcotshiweyo njalo ezithembekileyo bezilokhu zisenza  ibhizimusi ngamathalenta oMqhatshi wazo. Abafowethu labodadewethu abagcotshiweyo bebelokhu besenza konke abangakwenza njengezisebenzi ezimbili ezisemzekelisweni wamathalenta. Akumelanga sitshone sizihlupha ngokuthi ngubani owathola amathalenta amahlanu lokuthi ngubani owathola amabili. Umzekeliso utshengisa ukuthi zonke izinceku zazisebenza gadalala zaze zathola inzuzo elingana lalokho ezazikuphiwe, okutshengisa ukuthi akula eyayingcono kulenye. Abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bona bangena njani endabeni le? Balomsebenzi oqakatheke kakhulu! Umzekeliso kaJesu wezimvu lezimbuzi usifundisa ukuthi abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni balesibusiso sokuncedisa abagcotshiweyo emsebenzini wokutshumayela lokufundisa. Kulezinsuku zokucina ezinzima amaqembu la womabili ayatshiseka emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi futhi asebenza emanyene ‘njengomhlambi owodwa.’—Joh. 10:16.

10. Yiwuphi umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwayo oyisiboniso sokuba khona kukaJesu?

¹⁰ UMqhatshi ukhangelele ukuthi izisebenzi zakhe zibuthe abafundi abanengi. Sibonile ukuthi ekhulwini lokuqala abalandeli bakhe ababethembekile bakwenza lokhu. Kodwa njengoba umzekeliso wamathalenta ugcwaliseka kulesisikhathi sokuphela, uyenziwa yini umsebenzi lo? Khathesi izinceku zikaJesu ezithembekileyo njalo ezikhutheleyo zenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela lokwenza abafundi omkhulu kakhulu emhlabeni jikelele. Ukukhuthala kwazo kwenza ukuthi umnyaka munye ngamunye kubhaphathizwe izinkulungwane lezinkulungwane zabantu besiba ngabamemezeli boMbuso. Lokhu kwenza kucace ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela lokufundisa uyisiboniso esiqakatheke kakhulu esitshengisa ukuthi uJesu useyiNkosi. Kumele ukuthi uMqhatshi wazo uyathokoza sibili!

11. Kuyini okwenza sithi uJesu uzabuya ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu esezohlola ukuthi izinceku zakhe zisebenze njani?

¹¹ UJesu uzabuya nini esezohlola ukuthi izisebenzi zakhe ziwenze njani umsebenzi aziphathise wona? Uzabuya ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekusiyaphela. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Esiphrofethweni sakhe esilotshwe kuMathewu izahluko 24 lo-25, uJesu wakhuluma kanengi ngokuza kwakhe loba ukufika kwakhe. Lapho ekhuluma ngokwahlulela okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu wathi abantu ‘bazabona iNdodana yoMuntu isiza ngamayezi esibhakabhakeni.’ Wakhuthaza  abalandeli bakhe ababezaphila ezinsukwini zokucina ukuthi bahlale bephapheme, wathi: “Kalikwazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu izafika ngaluphi usuku.” Waphinda wathi: “INdodana yoMuntu izafika ngesikhathi leso elizabe lingayikhumbuleli sona.” (Mat. 24:30, 42, 44) Yikho-ke lapho uJesu esithi “umnini walezozisebenzi wabuya wafisa ukwazi ukuthi babehambise njani ngaleyomali,” kumele ukuthi wayesitsho isikhathi ayezabuya ngaso ekupheleni komhlaba lo omubi esezokwahlulela. *—Mat. 25:19.

12, 13. (a) Umqhatshi wathini ezincekwini ezimbili, futhi kungani watsho njalo? (b) Abagcotshiweyo bazabekwa nini uphawu okokucina? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Abagcotshiweyo Abafa Ukuhlupheka Okukhulu Kungakaqalisi Babekwa Nini Uphawu?”) (c) Ngemva kokwahlulelwa, abayizimvu bazathola mvuzo bani?

¹² Emzekelisweni sitshelwa ukuthi lapho umqhatshi ephenduka wathola izinceku ezimbili zithembekile. Eyayiphiwe amathalenta amahlanu yayisilamanye futhi amahlanu, leyayiphiwe amabili yayisilamanye amabili. Zombili umqhatshi wazitshela wathi: “Wenze kuhle, nceku elungileyo lethembekileyo! Uthembekile ezintweni ezilutshwana; ngizakuphathisa izinto ezinengi.” (Mat. 25:21, 23) Manje kuyini okumele sikukhangelele nxa uJesu onguye uMqhatshi esebuya ukuzokwahlulela ngesikhathi esizayo?

¹³ Izinceku ezimbili zimela abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo abakhutheleyo enkonzweni. Abagcotshiweyo bazabekwa uphawu okokucina nxa ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekuzaqalisa. (Isam. 7:1-3) I-Amagedoni ingakaqalisi, uJesu uzabanika umvuzo wabo abawuthenjisiweyo wokuya ezulwini. Kuzakwenzakalani kulabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni abancedisa abagcotshiweyo emsebenzini wokutshumayela? Bazabe sebahlulelwe kwathiwa bayizimvu njalo bazaphiwa isibusiso sokuphila emhlabeni bebuswa nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Mat. 25:34.

14, 15. UJesu wayesitsho ukuthi inengi labafowabo abagcotshiweyo lizantshintsha lenze njengenceku embi yini? Chaza.

¹⁴ Emzekelisweni sitshelwa ukuthi inceku yesithathu yagqibela ithalenta layo kulokuthi yenze ibhizimusi ngalo kumbe ilifake ebhanga ukuze umqhatshi athole imali isizele. Inceku le yaba yisiqholo sibili ngoba yekela ngabomo ukwenza lokho okwakufunwa ngumqhatshi. Yikho umqhatshi wayibiza ngokuthi ‘yinceku embi, elivila.’ Wahle wayithathela ithalenta waselinika leyo eyayisilamathalenta alitshumi. Ngemva kwalokho yaphoselwa ‘ngaphandle ebumnyameni lapho okuzakuba khona ukukhala lokugedla amazinyo.’—Mat. 25:24-30; Luk. 19:22, 23.

¹⁵ Kambe sesingathi lapho uJesu ekhuluma ngenceku eyafihla ithalenta layo, wayesitsho ukuthi kulenani labagcotshiweyo ababezakuba yinceku embi njalo elivila? Hatshi. Okungasinceda ukuthi sikuzwisise lokhu yikukhangela okwakhulunywa nguJesu kweminye  imizekeliso emibili. Emzekelisweni wenceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo wakhuluma ngenceku embi eyatshaya ezinye izisebenzi. Kayisikho ukuthi uJesu wayesithi kwakuzakuba lenceku enjalo. Kodwa wayexwayisa inceku ethembekileyo ukuthi ingabi yinceku embi. Lasemzekelisweni wezintombi ezilitshumi akusikho ukuthi uJesu wayesithi ingxenye yabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo izakuba njengezintombi ezinhlanu eziyiziwula. Kodwa wayexwayisa abafowabo abagcotshiweyo mayelana lengozi eyayingabehlela nxa bengayekela ukuhlala bephapheme futhi bezilungiselele. * Imizekeliso le emibili yenza sibone ukuthi lasemzekelisweni wamathalenta, uJesu wayengahlosanga ukusitshela ukuthi ezinsukwini zokucina inengi labafowabo abagcotshiweyo lalizakuba yinceku embi njalo elivila. Kodwa wayexwayisa abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo ukuthi bahlale bekhuthele emsebenzini ‘wokudayisa’ amathalenta abo, okutsho ukwenza ibhizimusi ngawo, kanye lokuthi bangalandeli imicabango kanye lezenzo zenceku embi.—Mat. 25:16.

16. (a) Sifundeni emzekelisweni wamathalenta? (b) Sesiwuzwisisa njani umzekeliso wamathalenta? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Ukuzwisisa Umzekeliso Wamathalenta.”)

¹⁶ Yiziphi izifundo ezimbili esizitholileyo emzekelisweni wamathalenta? Okwakuqala, sifunde ukuthi uKhristu onguye uMqhatshi unike izinceku zakhe ezigcotshiweyo umsebenzi oligugu kakhulu wokutshumayela lokwenza abafundi. Okwesibili esikufundileyo yikuthi uKhristu ukhangelele ukuthi sonke sikhuthale emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Nxa singenza njalo sizakuba lesiqiniselo sokuthi uMqhatshi wethu uzasinika umvuzo ngenxa yokuthi siyabe siphapheme, silokholo njalo siqotho.—Mat. 25:21, 23, 34.