1, 2. (a) Wacala njani umshado? (b) Yini indvodza newesifazane bekucala lokungenteka bebayati ngemshado? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

UMSHADO uyincenye lenkhulu yekuphila. Kuhlola umsuka wawo nenjongo yawo, kungasisita kutsi sibe nembono lofanele ngalobuhlobo futsi sijabulele tibusiso tawo ngalokugcwele. Ngemuva kwekutsi Nkulunkulu adale umuntfu wekucala Adamu, waletsa tilwane kuye kute atetse emagama. “Kepha Adamu akamtfolanga umsiti labelungele yena.” Ngako Nkulunkulu wabangela kutsi Adamu aphatfwe butfongo lobukhulu, wabese utsatsa lubhambo kuye wakha ngalo umuntfu wesifazane, ngemuvakwaloko wamletsa endvodzeni. (Fundza Genesisi 2:20-24.) Kungako kutsiwa umshado wasungulwa nguNkulunkulu.

² Jesu wasicinisekisa kutsi nguJehova lowatsi: ‘Indvodza itawushiya uyise nenina inamatsele kumkayo, futsi laba lababili bayawuba nyamanye.’ (Mat. 19:4, 5) Kungenteka kusebentisa kwaNkulunkulu lubhambo lwa-Adamu kute ente umfati wekucala ngiko lokwabangela bo-Adamu na-Eva kutsi basondzelane. Bekute simiso sekutsi kufanele kube nedivosi nobe sekutsi umuntfu atsatse sitsembu.

3. Beyiyini injongo lebalulekile yemshado?

³ Adamu wajabula ngekuba nemfati lomuhle, futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wametsa watsi ngu-Eva. Njengobe ‘abelungele’ Adamu, bekatawuba ‘ngumsiti’ wakhe futsi bobabili bajabulisane onkhe malanga ngekufeza tindzima tabo njengendvodza nemfati. (Gen. 2:18) Injongo lebeyibalulekile yemshado beyikugcwalisa umhlaba ngebantfu. (Gen. 1:28) Ngisho nobe abatsandza batali bawo, emadvodzana nemadvodzakati kulindzeleke kutsi abashiye kute akhe imindeni lemisha. Bantfu bekufanele bagcwalise umhlaba ngelizinga lelifanele futsi bente likhaya labo leliyipharadisi lifinyelele umhlaba wonkhe.

4. Kwentekani emshadweni wekucala?

⁴ Umshado wekucala wabhekana nenhlekelele ngobe bo-Adamu na-Eva bakhetsa kulisebentisa kabi lilungelo labo lekutikhetsela ngekutsi bangamlaleli Jehova. “Inyoka yekucala” lebeyibitwa ngekutsi nguSathane Develi, yayenga Eva ngekutsi imente akholelwe kutsi kudla “sitselo sesihlahla sekwati lokulungile nalokungakalungi,” kwakutamenta abe nelwati lolukhetsekile, akwati kukhetsa kutsi yini lelungile nalengakalungi. Akazange ayihloniphe indvodza yakhe njengenhloko ngobe akayibutanga kucala ngalendzaba. Na-Adamu esikhundleni sekutsi alalele Nkulunkulu, wavele wasitsatsa lesitselo lasiniketwa ngu-Eva wasidla.​—Semb. 12:9; Gen. 2:9, 16, 17; 3:1-6.

5. Singafundzani kuloko bo-Adamu na-Eva labakusho ngesikhatsi baphendvula Jehova?

⁵ Ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu ambuta ngaloko lokwentekile, Adamu watsi: “Ngulomfati lowanginika yena kutsi ahlale nami, nguye lona longinike lesitselo, ngase ngiyasidla.” Eva yena wasola inyoka ngekutsi ngiyo lebeyimyengile. (Gen. 3:12, 13) Baniketa tizatfu letifile letite bufakazi lobuvakalako. Ngesizatfu sekutsi bo-Adamu na-Eva abazange bamlalele Jehova, wabese ubatsatsa njengetihlubuki letilahliwe. Loko kusecwayiso kitsi. Kute imishado iphumelele kufanele ngamunye kubantfu labashadene ayente kahle indzima yakhe futsi alalele Jehova.

6. Ungamchaza njani Genesisi 3:15?

⁶ Ngisho nobe Sathane adukisa bantfu e-Edeni, Jehova wabaniketa litsemba esiphrofethweni sekucala seliBhayibheli. (Fundza Genesisi 3:15.) Lesidalwa sekucala lesavukela sitawufihlitwa ‘yintalo yemfati.’ Ngako Jehova wasivetela budlelwane lanabo nesicumbi lesikhulu setidalwa temoya letilungile naletimkhontako ezulwini. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi imiBhalo yaveta kutsi ngenhlangano yakhe lefanekisela umfati, Nkulunkulu utawutfumela lotsite ‘lotawufihlita’ Develi futsi ente kutsi bantfu labalalelako bajabulele loko lokwalahlwa ngumndeni wekucala​—lokukuphila phakadze emhlabeni nekugcwalisa injongo yaJehova yasekucaleni.​—Joh. 3:16.

7. (a) Kusukela bo-Adamu na-Eva bahlubuka, yini leyentekako emishadweni leminyenti? (b) Yini liBhayibheli lelifuna emadvodza nebafati bayente?

⁷ Kuhlubuka kwa-Adamu na-Eva kwaba nemtselela lotsite emshadweni wabo kanye nakuleminye imishado leyalandzela. Nasi sibonelo: Eva nesitukulwane sakhe lesibantfu labasikati besitawubhekana nebuhlungu lobukhulu bekukhulelwa kanye nekubeleka. Bafati bebatawufisa kuba nemadvodza abo kani emadvodza wona bekatawubusa bafati bawo mhlawumbe aze abagcilate, njengobe kwenteka emindenini leminyenti lamuhla. (Gen. 3:16) LiBhayibheli lifuna kutsi emadvodza asebentise bunhloko bawo ngelutsandvo. Kanjalo nebafati kufanele batitfobe ebunhlokweni bemadvodza abo. (Ef. 5:33) Nangabe bantfu labashadene labesaba Nkulunkulu babambisana, timo letibangela kungevani tiyehla nobe tingabi khona nhlobo emkhatsini wabo.

8. Utsini umlandvo wemshado kusukela esikhatsini sa-Adamu kuye esikhatsini saZamcolo?

⁸ Ngemuva kwekutsi bo-Adamu na-Eva bonile, batala emadvodzana nemadvodzakati. (Gen. 5:4) Indvodzana yabo yekucala, Khayini, yashada nesihlobo sayo. Situkulwane saKhayini lokunguLameki, ngumuntfu wekucala lokwabhalwa ngaye kutsi waba nebafati lababili. (Gen. 4:17, 19) Bambalwa bantfu lebebakhonta Jehova esitukulwaneni lebesikhona kusukela ku-Adamu kuyofika kuZamcolo wangelusuku lwaNowa. Labanye babo bekungu-Abela, Enoke kanye naNowa nemndeni wakhe. Mayelana nesikhatsi saNowa, liBhayibheli litsi: “Emadvodzana aNkulunkulu atibona letintfombi kutsi tinhle.” Ngako, “ase atikhetsela letinye emkhatsini wato atenta bafati bawo.” Lokuhlangana lobekungasiko kwemvelo kwebafati netidalwa temoya letatigucula taba nemitimba yebantfu, kwenta kutsi batale inhlanganisela yebantfu labanebudlova lebebatiwa ngekutsi ngemaNifilu. Ngetulu kwaloko, ‘kwakukukhulu kona kwemuntfu emhlabeni’ futsi ‘yonkhe imizindlo nemicabango yenhlitiyo yakhe imibi ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi.’​—Gen. 6:1-5.

9. Yini Jehova layenta ngalababi bangesikhatsi saNowa, futsi yini lesiyifundzako kuloko lokwenteka?

⁹ Jehova waletsa Zamcolo esikhatsini saNowa kute abhubhise bonkhe bantfu lababi. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bantfu bebamatasa ngemisebenti yabo yelilanga nelilanga lefaka ekhatsi kushada, futsi abazange bamnake “Nowa umshumayeli wekulunga” kanye naloko lebekakusho mayelana nembhumbhiso leyayisondzela. (2 Phet. 2:5) Jesu wacatsanisa simo sangaleso sikhatsi naloko lebesitakubona esikhatsini setfu. (Fundza Matewu 24:37-39.) Lamuhla, bantfu labanyenti abafuni kulalela tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu letishunyayelwa emhlabeni wonkhe kuze kube bufakazi etiveni tonkhe, ngaphambi kwekutsi lelive lelibi licedvwe. Kufanele sicabange ngesifundvo sekutsi ngisho netindzaba temindeni letifaka ekhatsi imishado nekukhulisa bantfwana, akukafaneli sikuvumele kusente singasabi nawo umuva wekuphutfuma njengobe kusondzela lusuku lwaJehova.

10. (a) Emasikweni lamanyenti, ngukuphi kutiphatsa lokubi lobekuvamile? (b) Abrahama naSara basibeka njani sibonelo lesihle emshadweni wabo?

¹⁰ Ngisho nobe Nowa nemadvodzana akhe lamatsatfu bebangakatsatsi sitsembu, kodvwa sasivamile esikhatsini sasendvulo. Emasikweni lamanyenti kutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicasi kwakuyindlela yabo yekuphila, futsi besekungene nasemasikweni etinkholo. Ngesikhatsi Abrama (Abrahama) nemkakhe Sarayi (Sara) balalela Nkulunkulu futsi batfutsela eKhenani, bafike batfola kutsi lendzawo beyigcwele kutiphatsa lebekwenta umshado ubonakale uyintfo lengenamsebenti. Ngako Jehova wayala kutsi iSodoma neGomora kubhujiswe ngobe takhamuti takhona betenta futsi tikhutsata kutiphatsa lokubi ngelizinga lelikhulu. Abrahama wawuhola kahle umndeni wakhe, naSara wabeka sibonelo lesihle sekutitfoba ekuholeni kwendvodza yakhe. (Fundza 1 Phetro 3:3-6.) Abrahama waciniseka kutsi indvodzana yakhe Isaka ishada nemkhulekeli waJehova. Ngendlela lefanako, kutimisela ekukhonteni kweliciniso kwayicondzisa indvodzana ya-Isaka lenguJakobe, njengobe emadvodzana ayo aba bokhokho betive letilishumi nakubili taka-Israyeli.

11. UMtsetfo waMosi bewuwavikela njani ema-Israyeli?

¹¹ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehova wenta sivumelwano sebuhlobo emkhatsini wakhe nesitukulwane saJakobe (Israyeli). Esikhatsini sasendvulo, bekulandzelwa uMtsetfo  waMosi nakwentiwa imishado, lokufaka ekhatsi kutsatsa sitsembu. Loko kwavikela ema-Israyeli kutsi angashadi nebantfu labakhonta labanye bonkulunkulu futsi kwawasita ahlala ekukhonteni kweliciniso. (Fundza Dutheronomi 7:3, 4.) Nakwenteka kuphakama tinkinga letimatima emshadweni, emadvodza lamadzala abevame kuniketa lusito. Kungetsembeki, sikhwele kanye nekusolwa ngentfo letsite bekulungiswa ngendlela lefanele. Idivosi beyivumelekile, kodvwa ngetizatfu letivakalako. Indvodza beyingamdivosa umkayo nangabe ‘itfola lokutsite lokulihlazo kuye.’ (Dut. 24:1, NW.) Akuchazwa kutsi nguliphi ‘lelihlazo,’ kodvwa kunencondvo kuphetsa ngekutsi bekungasito nje tintfo letincane.​—Lev. 19:18.

12, 13. (a) Ngesikhatsi saMalakhi, lamanye emadvodza abebaphatsa njani bafati bawo? (b) Lamuhla, nangabe umuntfu lobhatjatisiwe abaleka nemlingani wemshado walomunye umuntfu, itawuba yini imiphumela?

¹² Ngesikhatsi semphrofethi Malakhi, emadvodza lamanyenti langemaJuda abengaketsembeki kubafati bawo ngobe bekabadivosa ngetizatfu letinyenti letingevakali. Lamadvodza bekabese ayehlukana nebafati bawo basebusheni, mhlawumbe kuze ashade nebafati labasebasha nobe bafati betive. Nangalesikhatsi Jesu alapha emhlabeni, emadvodza langemaJuda ngekungetsembeki abesolo adivosa bafati bawo “nganobe ngusiphi sizatfu.” (Mat. 19:3) Jehova Nkulunkulu abelutondza loluhlobo lwedivosi.​—Fundza Malakhi 2:13-16.

¹³ Lamuhla, kungetsembeki emshadweni angeke kubeketelelwe kubantfu baJehova. Kodvwa asesitsi indvodza letsite nobe umfati loshadile ubaleka nemlingani wemshado walomunye umuntfu bese ngemuva kwekutfola idivosi ashade nalona labaleke naye. Nangabe angaphendvuki, utawuyekeliswa kuba nguFakazi kute kugcinwe libandla lihlantekile. (1 Khor. 5:11-13) Kutawudzingeka kutsi loyo muntfu ‘atsele titselo letiveta kuphendvuka’ ngaphambi kwekutsi abuyiselwe. (Luk. 3:8; 2 Khor. 2:5-10) Kute sikhatsi lesibekiwe lokufanele asihlale ngaphambi kwekutsi abuyiselwe, kodvwa akukafaneli kutsatselwe phansi kona kwakhe ngisho nobe kungakavami kungetsembeki lokunjalo kubantfu baNkulunkulu. Kungase kutsatse sikhatsi lesitsite, mhlawumbe kungaba ngumnyaka nobe ngetulu, ngemuva kwekutsi lesoni sibonise bufakazi bekutsi siphendvuke mbamba. Nanobe loyo muntfu sekabuyiselwe, kusetawudzingeka kutsi alandzise “embikwesihlalo saNkulunkulu sekwehlulela.”​—Roma 14:10-12; hlola Sicongosekulindza saNovember 15, 1979, emakh. 31-32, ngesiNgisi.

14. UMtsetfo bewunayiphi injongo?

¹⁴ UMtsetfo waMosi walawula tindzaba tema-Israyeli iminyaka lengetulu kwa-1 500. Loko kwasita bantfu baNkulunkulu kutsi batigcine etingcondweni tabo timiso letilungile nabalungisa tinkinga temindeni naletinye tindzaba, futsi loko kwaba sivikelo kwaze kwefika Mesiya. (Gal. 3:23, 24) Nakufa Jesu, uMtsetfo waMosi wabese awusasetjentiswa, ngako Nkulunkulu wenta lilungiselelo lelisha. (Heb. 8:6) Kulelilungiselelo, letinye tintfo lebetivumelekile kuloMtsetfo besetingasasebenti.

15. (a) Ebandleni lebuKhristu, ngusiphi simiso semshado lokufanele sisetjentiswe? (b) Ngutiphi tintfo umKhristu lokufanele acabange ngato nangabe acabanga kudivosa?

¹⁵ Aphendvula umbuto webaFarisi lomayelana nesivumelwano lesentiwa nguMosi sekudivosa, Jesu watsi: “Bekungasinjalo kusukela ekucaleni.” (Mat. 19:6-8) Ngaleyo ndlela, Jesu waveta kutsi simiso saNkulunkulu semshado sasensimini yase-Edeni kwakufanele sichubeke sisebenta ngisho nasebandleni  lebuKhristu. (1 Thim. 3:2, 12) Kuba ‘nyamanye’ bekusho kutsi bantfu labashadene bekufanele banamatselane, bavumele lutsandvo lwaNkulunkulu kanye nelwabo bobabili lucinise umshado wabo. Idivosi lesemtsetfweni kodvwa lengakasekelwa ekutiphatseni lokubi ngekwelicasi, ayimkhululi umuntfu kutsi aphindze ashade nalomunye. (Mat. 19:9) Umuntfu angase akhetse kumcolela umlingani wakhe wemshado lophingile kodvwa losekaphendvukile, njengobe nemphrofethi Hoseya amcolela umfati wakhe Gomeri lobekatiphetse kabi. Ngendlela lefanako, Jehova wabonisa umusa kuma-Israyeli laphendvuka ngemuva kwekuphinga lokungumfanekiso nabonkulunkulu baletinye tive. (Hos. 3:1-5) Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, nangabe umuntfu ati kutsi umlingani wakhe wemshado uphingile futsi akhetsa kuchubeka alala naye, loko kubonisa kutsi sewumcolele futsi sewute sizatfu lesisekelwe emiBhalweni sekumdivosa.

16. Jesu watsini ngekungashadi?

¹⁶ Ngemuva kwekuchaza kutsi kumaKhristu asikho sisekelo sedivosi ngaphandle kwekutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicasi, Jesu wase ukhuluma ‘ngalabo labaphiwe’ sipho sekungashadi. Wengeta watsi: “Lokhonako kukwenta loku akakwente.” (Mat. 19:10-12) Labanyenti bakhetse kuhlala bangakashadi kute bakwati kukhonta Jehova bangaphatamiseki. Loko kubenta bafanelwe kudvunyiswa.

17. Yini lengasita umKhristu nakacabangela kushada?

¹⁷ Sonkhe singasisebentisa lesipho sekungashadi, kodvwa umuntfu ngamunye uyatincumela enhlitiyweni yakhe kutsi utawushada yini nobe cha. Umphostoli Pawula wakukhutsata kungashadi kodvwa waphindze watsi: “Ngenca yekwandza kwebudlundlulu, nguleyo naleyo ndvodza ayibe newayo umfati, nemfati abe neyakhe indvodza.” Wengeta watsi: “Nangabe bangakhoni kutibamba, abashade, ngobe kuncono kushada kunekushiswa yinkhanuko.” Kushada kungamsita umuntfu kutsi abalekele kutiphatsa lokubi, lokufaka ekhatsi kushaya indlwabu nobe kutiphatsa lokubi ngekwelicasi. Ngetulu kwaloko, iminyaka kungaba ngulenye yetintfo lokufanele uticabangele, kungako umphostoli Pawula atsi: “Nangabe lotsite acabanga kutsi uyehluleka kutibamba ekungashadini kwakhe, futsi asendlulile ekuchumeni kwenkhanuko yebusha, nguloku lokufanele akwente: Akente loko lakufunako, utawube angoni. Akashade.” (1 Khor. 7:2, 9, 36; 1 Thim. 4:1-3) Nobe kunjalo, akukafaneli sifiso lesibangelwa busha sente umuntfu ashade. Kungenteka akavutfwa ngalokwanele kutsi angakhona kunakekela umndeni.

18, 19. (a) Umshado webuKhristu kufanele ucale njani? (b) Sitawucoca ngani esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

¹⁸ Umshado webuKhristu kufanele ucalwe bantfu labatinikele kuJehova futsi labamtsandza ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yabo. Kufanele futsi batsandzane kakhulu kangangekutsi baze babenesifiso sekuhlanganiswa sibopho semshado. Batawubusiswa nabalalela umyalo wekushada ‘eNkhosini kuphela.’ (1 Khor. 7:39) Nasebashadile, akungabateki kutsi batawuvuma kutsi liBhayibheli liniketa seluleko lesincono kakhulu lesenta umshado uphumelele.

¹⁹ Sihloko lesilandzelako sitawucoca ngemaphuzu lasekelwe emiBhalweni langasita emaKhristu lashadile kutsi abhekane netinsayeya njengobe aphila “emalangeni ekugcina,” lapho khona emadvodza nebafati labanyenti banemikhuba leyenta imishado ingaphumeleli. (2 Thim. 3:1-5) EVini lakhe leligugu, Jehova usinikete loko lesikudzingako kute sibe nemishado lejabulako nalephumelelako njengobe sichubeka sihamba nebantfu bakhe kulomgwaco loya ekuphileni lokuphakadze.​—Mat. 7:13, 14.