1. Ngutiphi tihloko bantfu baNkulunkulu labavame kufundza ngato, futsi sizuza njani ngekutifundza?

NAWULUNGISELELA sifundvo se-Sicongosekulindza, wake watibuta yini kutsi: ‘Asikaze yini siyifundze lendzaba?’ Nangabe bewusolo utihlanganisa nelibandla lebuKhristu sikhatsi lesitsite, mhlawumbe ucaphele kutsi letinye tihloko tifundvwa njalo. Kufundza ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu, ngenhlawulo, ngemsebenti wekwenta bafundzi kanye nebuntfu lobufaka ekhatsi lutsandvo nekukholwa, kutintfo lesivame kufundza ngato. Ngekuhlola letihloko, siyasitwa kutsi sihlale siphilile ekukholweni futsi ‘sibe benti belivi, singabi balaleli nje kuphela.’—Jak. 1:22.

2. (a) Ngalokuvamile tikhumbuto taNkulunkulu tibhekisela kukuphi? (b) Tikhumbuto taNkulunkulu tehluke njani kunetebantfu?

² Ligama lesiHebheru lelitsi “sikhumbuto” ngalokuvamile libhekisela emitsetfweni, emiyalweni nasetimisweni Nkulunkulu latiniketa bantfu bakhe. Ngalokwehlukile kunemitsetfo yebantfu levame kulungiswa nobe kushintjwa, imitsetfo netimiso taJehova kuhlale kwetsembekile. Nanobe letinye taletimiso tiniketwa ngesikhatsi lesitsite nobe etimeni letitsite, akwenteki tibe liphutsa nobe tingasebenti. Umhlabeli watsi: “Timiso takho tiliciniso phakadze naphakadze.”—Hla. 119:144.

3, 4. (a) Tikhumbuto taJehova tingase tihlanganise ini? (b) Ema-Israyeli abetawuzuza njani kube atilalela?

³ Mhlawumbe ucaphele kutsi tikhumbuto taJehova ngaletinye tikhatsi tifaka ekhatsi imilayeto lesecwayiso. Sive saka-Israyeli njalo besitfola tecwayiso ngebaphrofethi baNkulunkulu. Sibonelo saloku kutsi ngaphambi nje kwekutsi ema-Israyeli angene eVeni Lesetsembiso, Mosi wawecwayisa watsi: “Caphelani-ke kutsi tinhlitiyo tenu tingayengeki bese niyaphambuka nikhonte labanye bonkulunkulu nikhotsamele bona. Ngobe lulaka lwaSimakadze luyawunivutsela.” (Dut. 11:16, 17) LiBhayibheli lembula kutsi Nkulunkulu wanika bantfu bakhe tikhumbuto letinyenti letilusito.

 ⁴ Etimeni letinyenti, Jehova wancenga ema-Israyeli kutsi amesabe, alalele livi lakhe aphindze angcwelise libito lakhe. (Dut. 4:29-31; 5:28, 29) Kube atilalela letikhumbuto, ngalokucinisekile abetawutfola tibusiso letinyenti.—Lev. 26:3-6; Dut. 28:1-4.

5. Wabangelwa yini Jehova kutsi alwele iNkhosi Hezekiya?

⁵ Emlandvweni wema-Israyeli, Nkulunkulu wetsembeka kuloko lebekakwetsembisile. Sibonelo saloku kutsi ngesikhatsi iNkhosi Senaheribi yase-Asiriya ingena kaJuda futsi isongela iNkhosi Hezekiya ngekutsi itayiketula, Jehova wangenela ngekutfumela ingilosi. Ngebusuku lobubodvwa, ingilosi yaNkulunkulu yabhubhisa “onkhe emachawe lanemandla” kulelibutfo lema-Asiriya, kute Senaheribi abuyele emuva ehluliwe. (2 Khr. 32:21; 2 Khos. 19:35) Wabangelwa yini Nkulunkulu kutsi alwele iNkhosi Hezekiya? Kungenca yekutsi “[Hezekiya] wabambelela kuSimakadze, akazange ayekele kumlandzela, wayigcina yonkhe imitsetfo yaSimakadze labeyinike Mosi.”—2 Khos. 18:1, 5, 6.

6. INkhosi Josaya yakukhombisa njani kwetsembela kuJehova?

⁶ Lesinye sibonelo semuntfu lowalalela imiyalo yaJehova yiNkhosi Josaya. Nakaneminyaka lesiphohlongo budzala, “wenta lokuhle emehlweni aSimakadze . . . akazange aphambukele ngesekudla nome ngesancele.” (2 Khr. 34:1, 2) Josaya wakhombisa kwetsembela kuJehova ngekutsi ahlante live ekukhonteni titfombe futsi abuyisele kukhonta kweliciniso. Ngekwenta njalo, Josaya akazange nje atiletsele yena kuphela tibusiso kodvwa nasonkhe sive.—Fundza 2 Tikhronike 34:31-33.

7. Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli angalaleli tikhumbuto taJehova, waba yini umphumela?

⁷ Ngalokudzabukisako, bantfu baNkulunkulu abazange ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi betsembele ngalokuphelele etikhumbutweni taJehova. Kulamakhulu eminyaka, bebagucugucuka bahle balalela bahle bangalaleli. Ngesikhatsi baphelelwa kukholwa, bebavame kusebentisa emavi emphostoli Pawula latsi “sigujuteliswe ngemagagasi, sipheshulwe ngimimoya yonkhe yetimfundziso tekukhohlisa.” (Ef. 4:13, 14) Njengobe bekushiwo, ngesikhatsi bangabeki litsemba labo etikhumbutweni taNkulunkulu, bavuna kabuhlungu.—Lev. 26:23-25; Jer. 5:23-25.

8. Yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni sema-Israyeli?

⁸ Ngutiphi tindlela lesingazuza ngato esibonelweni sema-Israyeli? Nalamuhla tinceku  taNkulunkulu titfola seluleko nesiyalo njengobe nema-Israyeli asitfola. (2 Phet. 1:12) LiVi laNkulunkulu leliphefumulelwe lingaba sikhumbuto kitsi ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nasilifundza. Njengobe sibantfu labakhululekile, siyatikhetsela kutsi sitatilalela yini ticondziso taJehova nobe sitawuchubeka senta loko lesikubona kulungile emehlweni etfu. (Taga 14:12) Ase sicoce ngaletinye tizatfu letisenta setsembele etikhumbutweni taJehova nekutsi singazuza njani ngekutilalela.

9. Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli asehlane, Jehova wawacinisekisa njani kutsi uyawasekela?

⁹ Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli aseluhambeni lwawo leminyaka lengu-40, adzabula ‘lihlane lelesabekako.’ Jehova akazange awanikete imininingwane lecacile mayelana nekutsi utawacondzisa, awavikele futsi awanakekele njani. Nobe kunjalo, tikhatsi letinyenti Nkulunkulu wawakhombisa kutsi angetsembela kuye naseticondzisweni takhe. Jehova wasebentisa lifu emini wasebentisa umlilo ebusuku kute akhumbute ema-Israyeli kutsi uyawasekela kuloluhambo lwawo lolumatima. (Dut. 1:19; Eks. 40:36-38) Wawasekela nangetidzingo letisisekelo. ‘Timphahla tawo atizange tiguge, kantsi netinyawo tawo atizange tivuvuke.’ Ecinisweni, ‘awazange eswele lutfo.’—Neh. 9:19-21.

10. Jehova ubacondzisa njani bantfu bakhe lamuhla?

¹⁰ Tinceku taNkulunkulu lamuhla tisemnyango welive lelisha lekulunga. Siyetsembela yini kuJehova kutsi utasiniketa loko lesikudzingako kute sikhone kusindza ‘ekuhluphekeni lokukhulu’ lokutako? (Mat. 24:21, 22; Hla. 119:40, 41) Kuliciniso kutsi Jehova akabangeli kutsi kube nelifu nobe umlilo lotasicondzisa kute singene emhlabeni lomusha. Kodvwa usebentisa inhlangano yakhe kute isisite sihlale siphapheme. Sibonelo saloko kutsi kugcizelelwe kakhulu kwakha buhlobo betfu naNkulunkulu ngekufundza liBhayibheli, ngekuba neKukhonta kweMndeni kwakusihlwa nekubakhona njalo emhlanganweni nasemsebentini wekushumayela. Silwentile yini lushintjo kute silandzele leticondziso? Kwenta njalo kutasisita kutsi sakhe kukholwa lokutasenta siphile sidzimate singene emhlabeni lomusha.

11. Ngutiphi tindlela Nkulunkulu lakhombise ngato kutsi uyasikhatsalela?

¹¹ Ngetulu kwekusisita kutsi sihlale siphapheme ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu, ticondziso lesititfolako tisisita kutsi sibhekane netinkinga tamalanga onkhe. Loku kufaka ekhatsi kuba nembono lokahle ngemcebo nekugcina liso letfu lilula kute sinciphise kukhatsateka. Siphindze sazuza eticondzisweni letimayelana nendlela yekugcoka nekutilungisa, kukhetsa kutijabulisa lokwakhako nekutsatsa sincumo endzabeni yemfundvo. Cabanga nangetikhumbuto lesititfolile letimayelana nekuphepha emakhaya etfu, etimotweni, emaHholweni eMbuso kanye nekulungela timo letiphutfumako lokungenteka tivele. Ticondziso letinjalo tiyakhombisa kutsi Nkulunkulu uyasikhatsalela.

12. (a) Yini Jesu lakhuluma ngayo kanyenti nebafundzi bakhe? (b) Ngusiphi sento sekutfobeka Phetro langazange asikhohlwe, futsi kufanele kusitsintse njani loko?

¹² Ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka, bantfu baNkulunkulu bebatfola tikhumbuto njalo. Jesu wakhuluma kanyenti nebafundzi bakhe ngesidzingo sekutfutfukisa kutfobeka. Nobe kunjalo, akatange nje agcine ngekubatjela kuphela kutsi kusho kutsini kutfobeka kodvwa wabakhombisa ngetento. Ngelilanga lakhe lekugcina emhlabeni, Jesu wabutsela ndzawonye baphostoli bakhe kute babe neliPhasika. Ngesikhatsi baphostoli bakhe basadla, Jesu wasukuma wabageza tinyawo, lokusento lebesivame kwentiwa tisebenti. (Joh.  13:1-17) Lesento sekutfobeka sabatsintsa kakhulu. Ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-30, umphostoli Phetro lobekakhona kulesidlo seliPhasika, waniketa labo labekholwa nabo seluleko mayelana nekutfobeka. (1 Phet. 5:5) Sibonelo saJesu sisifundzisa kutsi sonkhe kufanele sitfobeke nasisebentelana nalabanye.—Fil. 2:5-8.

13. Jesu wakhumbuta bafundzi bakhe ngesidzingo sekutfutfukisa ini lebalulekile?

¹³ Sidzingo sekuba nekukholwa lokucinile bekungulesinye setihloko Jesu labevame kucoca ngaso nakanebafundzi bakhe. Ngesizatfu sekutsi bafundzi bakhe behluleka kwelapha umfana lobekanelidimoni, babuta Jesu kutsi: “Kwentiwe yini kutsi tsine sehluleke kulikhipha lelidimoni?” Jesu wabaphendvula watsi: “Kwentiwe kutsi nine ninekukholwa lokuncane, ngobe ngicinisile, ngitsi kini: Naningaba nekukholwa lokuncane lokungangenhlavu yendlulamitsi, . . . Kute lokungete kwenteka kini.” (Mat. 17:14-20) Kusukela Jesu acala umsebenti wekushumayela emhlabeni waze wayowucedza, abefundzisa bafundzi bakhe kutsi kukholwa kubaluleke kakhulu. (Fundza Matewu 21:18-22.) Siyawasebentisa yini ematfuba lasivulekele ekucinisa kukholwa kwetfu lesiwatfola ngeticondziso emihlanganweni lemikhulu nasemihlanganweni yelibandla? Akusiyo nje imibutsano yekutsi sihlangane sijabule nje kuphela; litfuba lekutsi sikhombise kwetsembela kuJehova.

14. Kungani kubalulekile kukhombisa lutsandvo lolufanana nelwaKhristu lamuhla?

¹⁴ ImiBhalo YemaKhristu YesiGriki icuketse tikhumbuto letisisita kutsi sikhombise lutsandvo ngalabanye. Jesu watsi umyalo wesibili lomkhulu ‘kutsandza makhelwane wakho, njengobe utitsandza wena.’ (Mat. 22:39) NaJakobe umnakabo Jesu watsi lutsandvo ‘ngumtsetfo webukhosi.’ (Jak. 2:8) Umphostoli Johane wabhala watsi: “Batsandzekako, anginibhaleli wona umyalo lomusha kodvwa wona lowo lomdzala lenawuva kusukela ekucaleni.” (1 Joh. 2:7, 8) Johane bekabhekisele kukuphi nakakhuluma ‘ngemyalo lomdzala’? Bekabhekisele emyalweni welutsandvo. ‘Wawumdzala’ ngemcondvo wekutsi Jesu wawukhipha eminyakeni leminyenti leyendlulile, “kusukela ekucaleni.” Kodvwa ‘wawumusha’ ngobe bafundzi bakhe kamuva bekufanele bakhombise lutsandvo lwekutidzela kuletinye timo letinsha lebebabhekene nato. Njengobe sibafundzi baKhristu, asitijabuleli yini tecwayiso letisisita kutsi singabi nemona njengobe bantfu labanyenti emhlabeni banawo, lokungatsikameta lutsandvo lwetfu ngabomakhelwane betfu?

15. Ngumuphi umsebenti loyinhloko Jesu labewutele emhlabeni?

¹⁵ Jesu abebakhatsalela bantfu. Sibona indlela labebakhatsalela ngayo ngesikhatsi  elapha labagulako futsi avusa labafile. Nobe kunjalo, umsebenti waJesu loyinhloko kwakungesiko kwelapha bantfu. Kushumayela nekufundzisa kwakhe kwasita bantfu ngelizinga lelikhulu. Ngayiphi indlela? Siyati kutsi labo Jesu labelapha ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi baguga futsi bafa, kodvwa labo labawemukela umlayeto labewushumayela batibeka etfubeni lekutfola kuphila lokuphakadze.—Joh. 11:25, 26.

16. Lamuhla umsebenti wekushumayela ngeMbuso newekwenta bafundzi wentiwa ngelizinga lelikhulu kangakanani?

¹⁶ Umsebenti wekushumayela lowacaliswa nguJesu ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka nyalo wentiwa ngelizinga lelikhulu kakhulu. Jesu wayala bafundzi bakhe watsi: “Ngako-ke hambani, nente tive tonkhe tibe bafundzi bami.” (Mat. 28:19) Esikhatsini lesendlulile bafundzi baJesu babenta bafundzi, natsi siyachubeka sibenta. BoFakazi BaJehova labangetulu kwetigidzi letisikhombisa bamemetela uMbuso waNkulunkulu ngenshisekelo emaveni langetulu kwa-230, futsi bafundza liBhayibheli nebantfu labatigidzi. Lomsebenti wekushumayela uniketa bufakazi bekutsi siphila emalangeni ekugcina.

17. Ngusiphi seluleko Pawula naPhetro labasiniketa?

¹⁷ Kusebaleni kutsi tikhumbuto tawasita emaKhristu ekucala kutsi acine ekukholweni. Cabanga ngesikhutsato Thimothi lasitfola ngesikhatsi umphostoli Pawula lobekasiboshwa eRoma amtjela kutsi ‘alandzele etinyatselweni temavi lacinile lamfundzisa wona.’ (2 Thim. 1:13) Ngemuva kwekukhutsata emaKhristu lakanye nawo kutsi atfutfukise endzabeni yekubeketela, lutsandvo lwebuzalwane nekutibamba, umphostoli Phetro watsi: “Ngiyawube ngiloku nginikhumbuta ngaleto tintfo, nome senitati nje, nihleti nicinile kuleliciniso.”—2 Phet. 1:5-8, 12.

18. EmaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala leminyaka abetitsatsa njani tikhumbuto?

¹⁸ Tincwadzi letabhalwa nguPawula naPhetro tendlulisela ‘emavi lakhulunywa kwekucala baphrofethi labangcwele.’ (2 Phet. 3:2) Bazalwane betfu ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka bacansuka yini nabatfola leticondziso? Cha, ngobe bebati kutsi Nkulunkulu uyabatsandza futsi loko kwabasita ‘bakhula emseni nasekuyatini iNkhosi neMsindzisi Jesu Khristu.’—2 Phet. 3:18.

19, 20. Kungani kufanele setsembele etikhumbutweni taJehova, futsi sizuza njani ngekwenta njalo?

¹⁹ Lamuhla sinetizatfu letinyenti tekubeka litsemba letfu etikhumbutweni taJehova letiseVini lakhe leliliciniso, liBhayibheli. (Fundza Joshuwa 23:14.) Likhuluma ngendlela Nkulunkulu lasebentelana ngayo nebantfu labanesono iminyaka lengetulu kwaletinkhulungwane. Lomlandvo wabhalwa ngenjongo yekutsi sizuze. (Rom. 15:4; 1 Khor. 10:11) Sikubonile kugcwaliseka kwetiphrofetho teliBhayibheli. Siphrofetho singafaniswa netikhumbuto lesiniketwa tona kusenesikhatsi. Sibonelo saloku kutsi tigidzi tebantfu tingenile ekukhonteni Jehova ngeliciniso, njengobe kwakuphrofethiwe kutsi loko kutakwenteka “ngemalanga ekugcina.” (Isa. 2:2, 3) Tintfo letimbi letenteka emhlabeni nato tigcwalisa tiphrofetho teliBhayibheli. Njengobe kwashiwo, umkhankaso lomkhulu lochubekako emhlabeni wonkhe wekushumayela ugcwalisa emavi aJesu.—Mat. 24:14.

²⁰ UMdali wetfu ukukhombise ngalokucacile kutsi singetsembela kuye. Siyazuza yini ngekwetsembela kuye? Sidzinga kutikholelwa tikhumbuto takhe. Nguloko lokwentiwa nguRosellen. Utsi: “Njengobe ngangetsembele ngalokuphelele kuJehova, ngacala kukubona ngalokucacile kutsi uyangitsandza futsi uyanginakekela ungipha nemandla.” Shengatsi natsi singazuza ngekuhlala sitilalela tikhumbuto taJehova.