1. Yisiphi iseluleko umphostoli uPetru asinika ayekholwa nabo, futhi kungani kungase kubonakale kunzima ukusisebenzisa?

KUNGAKHATHALISEKI ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila emhlabeni noma ezulwini, singazuza ngokuhlola iseluleko umphostoli uPetru asinika amaKristu agcotshiwe angekhulu lokuqala. UPetru wabhala: “NjengoNgcwele owanibiza, nani yibani ngcwele kukho konke ukuziphatha kwenu, ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Kumelwe nibe ngcwele, ngoba mina ngingcwele.’” (1 Pet. 1:15, 16) Kula mazwi, sifunda ukuthi singamlingisa uJehova, oyisibonelo esivelele sobungcwele. Singakwazi ukuba ngcwele futhi kumelwe sibe ngcwele endleleni esiziphatha ngayo. Kungase kubonakale kungenakwenzeka lokho ngenxa yokuthi sinesono. UPetru wayenamaphutha, kodwa isibonelo sakhe sibonisa ukuthi singakwazi ‘ukuba ngcwele.’

2. Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

² Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngemibuzo elandelayo: Kusho ukuthini ukuba ngcwele? IBhayibheli lisifundisani ngobungcwele bukaJehova? Singaziphatha kanjani ngendlela engcwele? Yikuphi ukuhlobana okukhona phakathi kobungcwele nobuhlobo bethu noJehova?

3. Yimuphi umbono abantu abaningi abanawo ngokuba ngcwele, kodwa singawutholaphi umbono onembile?

³ Lapho abantu abaningi becabanga ngomuntu ongcwele, babona umuntu ogqoke izivatho zesonto, ongajabule ohlale enobuso obuswacile. Kodwa umuntu ongcwele akanjalo. UJehova ongcwele uchazwa ngokuthi ‘uNkulunkulu ojabulayo.’ (1 Thim. 1:11) Labo abamkhonzayo kuthiwa “bayajabula.” (IHu. 144:15) UJesu wabalahla ababegqoka izingubo ezazibenza bavelele, befuna bonke abantu bababheke njengabalungile. (Math. 6:1; Marku 12:38) NjengamaKristu, umbono wethu  ngobungcwele uqondiswa yilokho esikufunde eBhayibhelini. Siyaqiniseka ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele nonothando akasoze asinika umyalo okungaba nzima ukuwulalela. Ngakho lapho uJehova ethi kithi: “Kumelwe nibe ngcwele,” asingabazi ukuthi singakwazi ukuba ngcwele. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba sibe ngcwele endleleni esiziphatha ngayo, kudingeka siqonde ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukuba ngcwele.

4. Lisho ukuthini igama elithi “ngcwele” nelithi “ubungcwele?”

⁴ Kusho ukuthini ukuba ngcwele? EBhayibhelini, igama elithi “ngcwele” nelithi “ubungcwele” abhekisela ekubeni abahlanzekile endleleni esikhonza ngayo nasendleleni esiziphatha ngayo. Angadlulisela nomqondo wokuhlukaniselwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, siba abangcwele uma sihlanzekile endleleni esiziphatha ngayo, sikhonza uJehova ngendlela eyamukelekayo, futhi siba nobuhlobo obuseduze naye. Ukucabanga nje ngokuthi singaba nobuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele kuyasimangaza ngempela, ikakhulukazi uma sicabanga ngalokho iBhayibheli elisifundisa kona ngobungcwele bukaJehova.

5. Singafundani ngoJehova ezingelosini ezithembekile?

⁵ UJehova ungcwele futhi uhlanzekile ngazo zonke izindlela. Lokhu sikubona endleleni amaserafi​—izidalwa eziyizingelosi eziseduze kwesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi—amchaza ngayo. Amanye amemeza: “Ungcwele, ungcwele, ungcwele uJehova wamabutho.” (Isaya 6:3) Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ukuze zibe nobuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu wazo ongcwele, izingelosi nazo kumelwe zibe ngcwele​—futhi zingcwele. Empeleni, ukuba khona nje kwengelosi kaJehova emhlabeni kungenza indawo ibe ngcwele. Yilokho okwenzeka ngesikhathi uMose eseduze kwesihlahla sameva esivuthayo.​—Eks. 3:2-5; Josh. 5:15.

6-7. (a) Ngokuka-Eksodusi 15:1, 11, uMose wabugcizelela kanjani ubungcwele bukaNkulunkulu? (b) Yini eyayikhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungcwele? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

⁶ Ngemva kokuba uMose ehole ama-Israyeli adabula uLwandle Olubomvu, wagcizelela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova, ungcwele. (Funda u-Eksodusi 15:1, 11.) Ukuziphatha kwababekhonza onkulunkulu baseGibhithe kwakungengcwele neze. Kwakunjalo nangalabo ababekhonza onkulunkulu baseKhanani. Ukukhulekela kwabo kwakuhlanganisa ukwenza imihlatshelo ngezingane nezenzo zocansi ezinyanyekayo. (Lev. 18:3, 4, 21-24; Dut. 18:9, 10) Ngokuphambene nalokho, uJehova akasoze acela izikhonzi zakhe ukuba zenze izinto ezingahlanzekile. Ungumthombo wobungcwele. Lokhu kwacaciswa ngombhalo owawuqoshwe ocwecweni lwegolide olwaluba sedukwini lokushuqula lompristi ophakeme. Kulolu cwecwe kwakuqoshwe amagama athi: “Ubungcwele bungobukaJehova.”​—Eks. 28:36-38.

⁷ Lo mbhalo owawusocwecweni waqinisekisa noma ubani owubonayo ukuthi uJehova ungcwele ngempela. Kodwa kuthiwani-ke ngomIsrayeli owayengakwazi ukulubona ucwecwe ngenxa yokuthi wayengakwazi ukusondela kumpristi ophakeme? Wawungamlahlekela yini lo myalezo obalulekile? Lutho neze! Wonke ama-Israyeli ayewuzwa lo myalezo lapho kufundwa uMthetho phambi kwamadoda, abesifazane nezingane. (Dut. 31:9-12) Ukube wawukhona, wawuyozwa la mazwi: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, kumelwe . . . nibe ngcwele ngoba mina ngingcwele.” “Kumelwe nibe ngcwele kimi ngoba mina Jehova ngingcwele.”​—Lev. 11:44, 45; 20:7, 26.

8. Yini esiyifunda kuLevitikusi 19:2 nakweyoku-1 Petru 1:14-16?

 ⁸ Ake sigxile emazwini akuLevitikusi 19:2 ayefundelwa bonke abantu. UJehova wathi kuMose: “Khuluma nayo yonke inhlangano yama-Israyeli, uthi kuyo, ‘Kufanele nibe ngcwele, ngoba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngingcwele.’” Kungenzeka uPetru wayecaphuna lelo vesi lapho enxusa amaKristu ukuba ‘abe ngcwele.’ (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:14-16.) Kuyavunywa ukuthi asisekho ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose. Noma kunjalo, lokho uPetru akubhala kuqinisekisa lokho esikufunda kuLevitikusi 19:2, ukuthi uJehova ungcwele futhi labo abamthandayo kufanele balwele ukuba ngcwele. Lokhu kuyiqiniso kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini noma emhlabeni oyipharadesi.​—1 Pet. 1:4; 2 Pet. 3:13.

9. Kuzosisiza ngani ukufunda uLevitikusi isahluko 19?

⁹ Ngenxa yokuthi sifuna ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele, simagange ukufunda ukuthi yini esingayenza ukuze sibe ngcwele. UJehova usinikeza amacebiso awusizo. Lawo macebiso amahle siwathola kuLevitikusi isahluko 19. Isazi esingumHebheru uMarcus Kalisch sabhala: “Lesi sahluko esimangalisayo mhlawumbe yisona esiqukethe izinto eziningi kakhulu nezihlukahlukene futhi mhlawumbe yisona esibaluleke kunazo zonke ezahlukweni zikaLevitikusi, uma kuwukuthi akusona esibaluleke kunazo zonke ezincwadini zokuqala ezinhlanu zeBhayibheli.” Ake sihlole amanye amavesi akulesi sahluko anezifundo ezibalulekile esingazisebenzisa ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke. Njengoba siwahlola, khumbula ukuthi izifundo ezitholakala kuwo zandulelwa amagama athi: “Kufanele nibe ngcwele.”

10-11. Yisiphi isiqondiso sokuziphatha ngendlela engcwele esivelele emazwini asekuqaleni kukaLevitikusi isahluko 19, futhi kufanele sisibheke kanjani?

¹⁰ Ngemva kokutshela ama-Israyeli ukuthi kufanele abe ngcwele, uJehova wanezela: “Ngamunye wenu kufanele ahloniphe uyise nonina . . . NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.”​—Lev. 19:2, 3.

¹¹ Kuyacaca ukuthi kufanele sisilalele isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuhlonipha abazali bethu. Khumbula ngesikhathi indoda ethile  ibuza uJesu: “Yini enhle okumelwe ngiyenze ukuze ngithole ukuphila okuphakade?” Phakathi kokunye uJesu akusho ukuthi le ndoda kwakudingeka ihloniphe uyise nonina. (Math. 19:16-19) UJesu waze wabalahla abaFarisi nababhali ababezama ngobuqili ukungawulaleli lowo myalo. Ngokwenza kanjalo, ‘babelishaya indiva izwi likaNkulunkulu.’ (Math. 15:3-6) “Izwi likaNkulunkulu” lalihlanganisa nomyalo wesihlanu eMiyalweni Eyishumi kanye nalokho esikufunda kuLevitikusi 19:3. (Eks. 20:12) Phinde ukhumbule ukuthi isiqondiso esikuLevitikusi 19:3​—sokuhlonipha uyihlo nonyoko—​silandela amazwi athi: “Kufanele nibe ngcwele, ngoba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngingcwele.”

12. Ngokuvumelana neseluleko esikuLevitikusi 19:3, yimuphi umbuzo esingase sizibuze wona?

¹² Ngokuvumelana neseluleko sikaJehova sokuba sihloniphe abazali bethu, singase sizibuze, ‘Ngenzenjani mina kule ndaba?’ Uma unomuzwa wokuthi kwakufanele wenze okwengeziwe esikhathini esidlule, unganquma ukwenza kangcono manje. Ngeke ukwazi ukushintsha osekwenzekile, kodwa kusukela manje kuqhubeke ungazimisela ukubenzela okwengeziwe. Mhlawumbe ungahlela ukuchitha isikhathi esengeziwe nabo. Noma, kunganjani ubasekele ngokwengeziwe ngokomoya, ngokomzwelo nangezinto abazidingayo? Ukwenza kanjalo kuvumelana noLevitikusi 19:3.

13. (a) Yisiphi esinye iseluleko esisithola kuLevitikusi 19:3? (b) Namuhla, singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaJesu esikuLuka 4:16-18?

¹³ ULevitikusi 19:3 usifundisa okunye ngokuba ngcwele. Ukhuluma ngokugcina iSabatha. AmaKristu awekho ngaphansi koMthetho, ngakho akudingeki sigcine iSabatha lamasonto onke. Noma kunjalo, kuningi esingakufunda endleleni ama-Israyeli ayegcina ngayo iSabatha nokuthi ayezuza kanjani kulo. ISabatha laliyisikhathi sokuphumula ekwenzeni imisebenzi evamile, kugxilwe ezintweni ezingokomoya. * Yingakho ngalolo suku uJesu ayeya esinagogeni edolobheni langakubo ayofunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Eks. 31:12-15; funda uLuka 4:16-18.) Umyalo kaNkulunkulu okuLevitikusi 19:3 othi “nigcine amasabatha [akhe]” kufanele usenze sibekele eceleni isikhathi sokugxila ezintweni ezingokomoya. Ucabanga ukuthi lukhona yini ushintsho okufanele ulwenze? Uma ngokuvamile ubekela eceleni isikhathi sokugxila ezintweni ezingokomoya, uzoba nobuhlobo obuseduze nobuqinile noJehova, okuyinto ebalulekile ukuze ube ngcwele.

14. Yiliphi iqiniso elibalulekile eligcizelelwa kuLevitikusi isahluko 19?

¹⁴ ULevitikusi isahluko 19 uphindaphinda iqiniso elibalulekile elingasisiza sihlale singcwele. Ivesi 4 liphetha ngamazwi athi: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.” Leyo nkulumo noma efana nayo ivela izikhathi ezingu-16 kulesi sahluko. Lokhu kusikhumbuza umyalo wokuqala othi: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho . . . Akumelwe ube nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami.” (Eks. 20:2, 3) UmKristu ngamunye ofuna ukuba ngcwele kumelwe aqiniseke ukuthi ayikho into noma umuntu ophazamisa ubuhlobo bakhe noNkulunkulu wakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi sibizwa ngoFakazi BakaJehova, sizimisele ukugwema ukwenza noma yini ehlambalaza nengcolisa igama lakhe elingcwele.​—Lev. 19:12; Isaya 57:15.

15. Amavesi akuLevitikusi isahluko 19 akhuluma ngemihlatshelo kufanele asenze sifune ukwenzani?

 ¹⁵ Kuma-Israyeli, ukwamukela uJehova njengoNkulunkulu wawo kwakuhilela ukugcina imithetho eminingi. ULevitikusi 18:4 uthi: “Kufanele nenze ngokuvumelana nezinqumo zami zokwahlulela, nigcine imithetho yami, nihambe kuyo. NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.” Isahluko 19 sinayo eminye yaleyo “mithetho.” Ngokwesibonelo, amavesi 5-8, 21, 22 akhuluma ngemihlatshelo yezilwane. Kwakufanele yenziwe ngendlela engeke ‘ingcolise into engcwele kaJehova.’ Ukufunda lawo mavesi kufanele kusenze sifune ukujabulisa uJehova nokumnika imihlatshelo yokudumisa eyamukelekayo, njengoba kusho eyamaHebheru 13:15.

16. Yisiphi isimiso esisikhumbuza umehluko phakathi kwalabo abakhonza uNkulunkulu nalabo abangamkhonzi?

¹⁶ Ukuze sibe ngcwele, kumelwe sizimisele ukwehluka. Kungaba inselele loko. Ngezinye izikhathi esifunda nabo, esisebenza nabo, izihlobo zethu ezingakholwa nabanye bangase basicindezele ukuba senze izinto ezingaphazamisa ukukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu. Uma bekwenza lokho, kunesinqumo esibalulekile okumelwe sisenze. Yini engasisiza senze isinqumo esihle? Cabanga ngesimiso esikuLevitikusi 19:19, onengxenye ethi: “Ungayigqoki ingubo eyenziwe ngezinhlobo ezimbili zendwangu ezixutshanisiwe.” Lowo mthetho wawusiza ekuhlukaniseni ama-Israyeli ezizweni eziwazungezile. Namuhla thina siyazigqoka izingubo ezenziwe ngezindwangu ezixutshanisiwe, njengokotini, i-polyester, iwuli nosilika. Kodwa siyenqaba ukufana nabantu abanezinkolelo eziphambene nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli nabenza izinto ezingavumelani nazo, ngisho noma kungabantu esifunda nabo, esisebenza nabo noma izihlobo. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi siyazithanda izihlobo zethu nomakhelwane. Noma kunjalo, uma sekuziwa ezintweni ezibalulekile, sizimisele ukwehluka ngoba singabantu bakaJehova. Khumbula ukuthi ukuhlukaniselwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kuyingxenye yokuba ngcwele. Kubalulekile lokho uma sifuna ukuba ngcwele.​—2 Kor. 6:14-16; 1 Pet. 4:3, 4.

17-18. Yisiphi isifundo esibalulekile esisifunda kuLevitikusi 19:23-25?

¹⁷ Inkulumo ethi “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu” kwakufanele isize ama-Israyeli abeke ubuhlobo bawo noJehova kuqala ekuphileni kwawo. Kanjani? ULevitikusi 19:23-25 uyasitshela. (Yifunde.) Cabanga ukuthi la mazwi ayeyosho ukuthini kuma-Israyeli ngemva kokuba engene eZweni Lesithembiso.  Uma umuntu etshale izihlahla zezithelo, kwakungafanele adle kuzo kuze kuphele iminyaka emithathu. Ngonyaka wesine, lezo zithelo zazibekelwa ukusetshenziswa endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu. Umnikazi wayengazidla kuphela ngonyaka wesihlanu. Lo mthetho kwakufanele usize ama-Israyeli aqonde ukuthi kwakungafanele abeke izidingo zawo kuqala. Kwakufanele athembe uJehova ukuthi uzowanika izinto azidingayo futhi kwakufanele enze ukukhonza kwawo uJehova kuze kuqala. Wayeyoqiniseka ukuthi anokudla okwanele. UNkulunkulu wawakhuthaza ukuba anikele ngesandla esivulekile endlini yakhe engcwele, lapho ayekhonzwa khona.

¹⁸ Umthetho okuLevitikusi 19:23-25 usikhumbuza amazwi uJesu awasho eNtshumayelweni YaseNtabeni. Wathi: “Yekani ukukhathazeka . . . ngokuqondene nokuthi niyodlani noma niyophuzani.” Wanezela: “UYihlo wasezulwini uyazi ukuthi niyazidinga zonke lezi zinto.” UNkulunkulu uzosinika esikudingayo njengoba enza nasezinyonini. (Math. 6:25, 26, 32) Siyamethemba uJehova njengoMondli wethu. Sibenzela “okuhle ngesihe” nabaswele kodwa asishayi icilongo. Siyashesha nokunikelela izindleko zebandla. UJehova uyasibona lapho sipha ngesandla esivulekile futhi uyosivuza. (Math. 6:2-4) Ngokwenza kanjalo sibonisa ukuthi siyaziqonda izifundo ezikuLevitikusi 19:23-25.

19. Uzuze kanjani ekufundeni le ngxenye kaLevitikusi?

¹⁹ Sihlole izingxenye ezimbalwa nje zikaLevitikusi isahluko 19, safunda izindlela esingafana ngazo noNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele. Ngokumlingisa, sizama ukuba ‘ngcwele kukho konke ukuziphatha kwethu.’ (1 Pet. 1:15) Abaningi abangamkhonzi uJehova bangofakazi bokuzibonela loko kuziphatha kwethu okuhle. Empeleni kwenze abanye bakhazimulisa uJehova. (1 Pet. 2:12) Kodwa kuningi okunye esingakufunda kuLevitikusi isahluko 19. Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngamanye amavesi akuleso sahluko futhi sizosisiza sibone nezinye izingxenye esingaba “ngcwele” kuzo ekuphileni kwethu, njengoba uPetru anxusa.