ISAHLUKO 1
“NguJehova UNkulunkulu Wakho Okumelwe Umkhonze”
IPHUZU ELIYINHLOKO: Okwenza kudingeke ukuba indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova ibuyiselwe
1, 2. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uJesu abe sehlane laseJudiya ekwindla ka-29 C.E., futhi kwenzekani kuye lapho? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)
KUSEKUQALENI kwekwindla ka-29 C.E, uJesu usehlane laseJudiya, enyakatho yoLwandle Olufile. Ngemva kokubhapathizwa nokugcotshwa kwakhe, umoya ongcwele umholele kule ndawo. UJesu usehlale izinsuku ezingu-40 eyedwa ezile ukudla, ethandaza futhi ezindla kule ndawo eyomile enamadwala nemihosha. Kungenzeka ukuthi phakathi nalesi sikhathi uJehova usekhulumile neNdodana yakhe eyilungiselela okuzokwenzeka.
2 Manje njengoba uJesu esephelelwa amandla ngenxa yendlala, uSathane uyafika kuye. Okube sekulandela kwembula impikiswano ebalulekile, ethinta bonke abathanda ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa, okuhlanganisa nawe.
“Uma Uyindodana KaNkulunkulu . . . ”
3, 4. (a) Imaphi amazwi uSathane ethula ngawo izilingo zokuqala ezimbili, futhi yini okungenzeka wayezama ukwenza uJesu ayingabaze? (b) USathane uwasebenzisa kanjani amaqhinga afanayo namuhla?
3 Funda uMathewu 4:1-7. USathane wethula izilingo zakhe zokuqala ngala mazwi obuqili, “Uma uyindodana kaNkulunkulu.” Ingabe uSathane wayengabaza ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu? Cha. Leyo ndodana kaNkulunkulu eyingelosi eyisihlubuki yayazi kahle ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyizibulo. (Kol. 1:15) Akungabazeki ukuthi uSathane wayekwazi okwashiwo uJehova esezulwini ngesikhathi uJesu ebhapathizwa: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Math. 3:17) Kungenzeka uSathane wayefuna uJesu angabaze ukuthi angamethemba uYise nokuthi uyamkhathalela ngempela. Ngokuqondene nesilingo sokuqala—sokuphendula amatshe abe isinkwa—kwakufana nokuthi uSathane uthi: ‘Njengoba uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, kungani uYihlo engakuniki ukudla kuleli hlane elingenalutho?’ Ngokuqondene nesilingo sesibili—sokuba uJesu aziphonse phansi esuka phezu kombhoshongo wethempeli—kwakufana nokuthi uSathane uthi: ‘Njengoba uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uyamethemba ngempela uYihlo ukuthi uzokuvikela?’
4 USathane usebenzisa amaqhinga afanayo nanamuhla. (2 Kor. 2:11) Lo Mlingi ulinda kuze kube yilapho abantu abakhonza uJehova ngeqiniso bebuthaka noma bedikibele, bese eyabahlasela, ngokuvamile ngezindlela ezicashile. (2 Kor. 11:14) Uzama ukusikhohlisa ukuze sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova akasoze asithanda noma asamukela. Uphinde asenze sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova akathembekile nokuthi ngeke akwenze lokho akuthembise eZwini lakhe. Kodwa ayingozi lawo manga. (Joh. 8:44) Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi asiwakholwa?
5. Wasabela kanjani uJesu ngemva kokulingwa okokuqala nokwesibili?
5 Cabanga ngalokho uJesu akusho lapho uSathane emlinga okokuqala nokwesibili. Wayengangabazi ukuthi uYise uyamthanda futhi wayethembele kuye ngokuphelele. Ngaphandle kokungabaza, uJesu wacaphuna iZwi likaYise eliphefumulelwe ebonisa ukuthi akamkholelwa uSathane. Kuyafaneleka ukuthi uJesu wacaphuna imiBhalo enegama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova. (Dut. 6:16; 8:3) Ngokusebenzisa leli gama eliyisiqinisekiso sokuthi uJehova uzozigcwalisa zonke izithembiso—iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yabonisa ukuthi iyamethemba uYise. *
6, 7. Singalwa kanjani nokuhlasela kukaSathane okucashile?
6 Singalwa nokuhlasela kukaSathane okucashile ngokuthembela eZwini likaJehova nangokucabanga ngencazelo yegama lakhe. Uma sikubhekisa kithi lokho imiBhalo ekushoyo ngothando lukaJehova, nokukhathalela kwakhe izikhonzi zakhe kuhlanganise nezidikibele, ngeke siwakholelwe amanga kaSathane athi uJehova akasoze asithanda noma asamukela. (IHu. 34:18; 1 Pet. 5:8) Uma sikhumbula nokuthi uJehova uhlale enza ngokuvumelana negama lakhe, ngeke singabaze ukuthi uMgcwalisi wezithembiso uyakufanelekela ukuba simethembe ngokuphelele.—IzAga 3:5, 6.
7 Kodwa iyini ngempela inhloso kaSathane? Ufunani ngempela kithi? Impendulo yaba sobala lapho uSathane eselinga uJesu okwesithathu.
‘Iwa Phansi Ungikhonze’
8. Lapho eselinga uJesu okwesithathu, uSathane wabonisa kanjani ukuthi yini ngempela ayifunayo?
8 Funda uMathewu 4:8-11. Lapho eselinga uJesu okwesithathu, uSathane wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi yini ayifunayo. USathane wabonisa uJesu “yonke imibuso yezwe nenkazimulo yayo” (cishe esebenzisa umbono)—kodwa akambonisanga yonke inkohlakalo yayo. Wabe esethi kuJesu: “Zonke lezi zinto ngizokunika zona uma uwa phansi ungikhonza.” * Yilokho-ke ayekufuna—ukuba amkhonze! USathane wayefuna ukuba uJesu ahlubuke uYise bese enza lo Mlingi abe unkulunkulu wakhe. Kwakungabonakala sengathi uSathane ufuna ukwenzela uJesu izinto zibe lula. Wayethi uJesu angaba nawo wonke amandla nengcebo futhi kwakungeke kudingeke ahlupheke—athwaliswe umqhele wameva, abhaxabulwe, alengiswe nasesigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Kwakuyisilingo sangempela lesi ngoba uJesu akazange aphike ukuthi nguSathane obusa ohulumeni bezwe! (Joh. 12:31; 1 Joh. 5:19) Ngokuqinisekile, uSathane wayengenza noma yini ukuze aphambukise uJesu ekukhonzeni uYise ngendlela emsulwa.
9. (a) Yini ngempela uSathane ayifunayo kubantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu, futhi uzama kanjani ukusilinga? (b) Kuhilelani ukukhonza kwethu uNkulunkulu? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Kuyini Ukukhonza?”)
9 Nanamuhla, uSathane usafuna simkhonze—ngokuqondile noma ngezindlela ezicashile. Njengoba uSathane ‘engunkulunkulu waleli zwe,’ izinkolo zamanga zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu zisuke zikhonza yena ngendlela ecashile. (2 Kor. 4:4) Kodwa njengoba enganeliswa yizigidi zabantu abangamkhonzi uNkulunkulu, ufuna ukulinga nalabo abamkhonzayo ukuba benze okuphambene nentando kaNkulunkulu. Uzama ukusiyengela ekufuneni ingcebo namandla kuleli zwe, kunokuphila ngendlela efanele amaKristu engase ihilele ukuhlupheka “ngenxa yokulunga.” (1 Pet. 3:14) Ukube besingavumela isilingo sokushiya indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu, sibe yingxenye yezwe likaSathane, bekuyofana nokuthi sikhothamela uSathane, siyamkhonza, simenza uNkulunkulu wethu. Singasinqoba kanjani isilingo esinjalo?
10. Wathini uJesu lapho elingwa okwesithathu futhi kungani?
10 Phawula indlela uJesu aphendula ngayo lapho uSathane emlinga okwesithathu. Ebonisa ukuthi uqotho kuJehova, waxosha uMlingi ngokushesha wathi: “Hamba, Sathane!” Njengoba ayenzile lapho elingwa okokuqala nokwesibili, uJesu wabe esecaphuna umBhalo kaDuteronomi onegama likaNkulunkulu: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumelwe umkhonze, nguye yedwa okumelwe unikele kuye inkonzo engcwele.’” (Math. 4:10; Dut. 6:13) Ngaleyo ndlela, uJesu wenqaba isilingo sokuphila ukuphila okungenazinkinga nesokuba nesikhundla esivelele kodwa esasizoba esesikhashana. Wayeqaphela ukuthi nguYise kuphela okufanele akhonzwe nokuthi ngisho nokwenza isenzo esisodwa nje sokukhonza uSathane kwakuyobonisa ukuthi uzithoba kuye. UJesu wenqaba ngokuqinile ukwenza lo Mlingi omubi abe unkulunkulu wakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu wenqaba ukwenza lokho uSathane ayekushilo, “uDeveli wamshiya.” *
“HAMBA, SATHANE!” (Bheka isigaba 10)
11. Singalwa kanjani noSathane nezilingo zakhe?
11 Singalwa noSathane nezilingo zezwe lakhe elibi ngoba, njengoJesu, nathi sinenkululeko yokukhetha. UJehova usiphe isipho esihle esiyinkululeko yokuzikhethela. Ngenxa yalokho, akukho muntu ongasiphoqa ukuba siyeke ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa, ngisho nengelosi embi enamandla, uMlingi. Uma siba qotho, ‘simelana [noSathane], siqine okholweni,’ empeleni sisuke sithi: “Hamba, Sathane!” (1 Pet. 5:9) Khumbula, uSathane wahamba ngemva kokuba uJesu emxoshile. Ngendlela efanayo, iBhayibheli liyasiqinisekisa: “Melanani noDeveli khona-ke uyonibalekela.”—Jak. 4:7.
Singakwazi ukukhetha ukwenqaba izilingo zezwe likaSathane (Bheka izigaba 11, 19)
Isitha Esimelene Nokukhonzwa KukaNkulunkulu Ngendlela Emsulwa
12. E-Edene, uSathane wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyena omelene nokukhonzwa kukaNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa?
12 Lapho uSathane elinga uJesu okokugcina, wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi uyena owaba isitha sokuqala esamelana nokukhonzwa kukaNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa. Eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ngaphambi kwalokho, ensimini yase-Edene, uSathane waqala lapho ukuveza ukuthi akafuni ukuba uJehova akhonzwe. Ngokuyenga u-Eva, yena owabe esenza u-Adamu ukuba eqe umyalo kaJehova, uSathane waba umholi nomqondisi wabo. (Funda uGenesise 3:1-5; 2 Kor. 11:3; IsAm. 12:9) Empeleni, waba unkulunkulu wabo, bona baba izikhonzi zakhe nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi babengazi ukuthi ubani obadukisayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokubangela ukuhlubuka kwase-Edene, uSathane akagcinanga ngokuhlasela ubukhosi bukaJehova noma ilungelo lakhe lokubusa, kodwa wahlasela nendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza. Kanjani?
13. Ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa kuhileleke kanjani empikiswaneni ephathelene nobukhosi?
13 Impikiswano yobukhosi ihilela nendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. NguMbusi weqiniso kuphela, Lowo ‘owadala zonke izinto,’ okufanelwe akhonzwe. (IsAm. 4:11) Lapho uJehova edala u-Adamu no-Eva abangenasono futhi ebabeka ensimini yase-Edene, wayehlose ukuba ekugcineni wonke umhlaba ugcwale abantu abangenasono abazimisele ukumkhonza—ukumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa ngezinhliziyo ezimsulwa. (Gen. 1:28) USathane wahlasela ubukhosi bukaJehova ngoba ehalela into efanele iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova kuphela—ukukhonzwa.—Jak. 1:14, 15.
14. USathane waphumelela yini ekuhlaseleni indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu? Kungani?
14 USathane waphumelela yini ukuhlasela indlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu? Wakwazi ukwenza u-Adamu no-Eva bahlubuke uNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, uSathane ubelokhu elwa nendlela efanele yokukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu, efuna ukuhlubula abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. USathane akayiyekanga imizamo yakhe yokulinga izikhonzi zikaJehova ezikhathini zangaphambi kobuKristu. Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., wabangela ukuhlubuka okwangcolisa ibandla lobuKristu. Kwabonakala sengathi abasekho abantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa. (Math. 13:24-30, 36-43; IzE. 20:29, 30) Kusukela ngekhulu lesibili C.E., kwaba yisikhathi eside izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu zingakwazi ukwenza imisebenzi yokumkhonza ngoba zithunjwe iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, eliwumbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Kodwa uSathane akaphumelelanga ukubhuntshisa injongo kaNkulunkulu ephathelene nokumkhonza ngendlela emsulwa. Akukho okungavimba uNkulunkulu ukuba afeze injongo yakhe. (Isaya 46:10; 55:8-11) Kuhileleke igama lakhe futhi ngaso sonke isikhathi wenza ngokuvumelana nalo. UJehova unguMgcwalisi wenjongo yakhe ongahluleki!
Ukukhonza UJehova Ngendlela Emsulwa Kuyavikelwa
15. Yiziphi izinyathelo uJehova azithathela izihlubuki e-Edene ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi injongo yakhe iyaphumelela?
15 E-Edene uJehova wathatha izinyathelo ngokushesha zokujezisa lezi zihlubuki nokuqinisekisa ukuthi injongo yakhe izofezeka. (Funda uGenesise 3:14-19.) Kwathi lapho u-Adamu no-Eva bengakaphumi nakuphuma ensimini, uJehova wazahlulela lezi zihlubuki ezintathu, ezahlulela ngokulandelana kokona kwazo—waqala ngoSathane, weza ngo-Eva wagcina ngo-Adamu. Lapho uJehova ekhuluma ngokuqondile noSathane, owayengabonakali kodwa kunguyena owayeqale lokhu kuhlubuka, uJehova wabikezela ngokuza “kwenzalo” eyayiyoqeda imiphumela yalokhu kuhlubuka. Leyo “nzalo” ethenjisiwe yayiyoba nendima ebalulekile ekugcwaliseni injongo kaJehova ephathelene nendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza.
16. Ngemva kokuhlubuka e-Edene, yini uJehova ayenza ukuze aqinisekise ukuthi injongo yakhe iqhubekela phambili?
16 Ngemva kokuhlubuka kwase-Edene, uJehova ubelokhu esebenzela ukufeza injongo yakhe. Wenza izinhlelo zokuba abantu abanesono bakwazi ukumkhonza ngendlela ayamukelayo, njengoba sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo. (Heb. 11:4–12:1) Waphefumulela nababhali beBhayibheli—abanjengo-Isaya, uJeremiya noHezekeli—ukuba babhale iziprofetho ezimnandi eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uJehova. Lokho kubuyiselwa kuyisihloko esivelele seBhayibheli. Zonke lezo ziprofetho zaziyogcwaliswa ‘inzalo’ ethenjisiwe, ngokuyinhloko eyaba uJesu Kristu. (Gal. 3:16) UJesu uyena ngokuyinhloko olwela ukuba uJehova akhonzwe ngendlela emsulwa, njengoba abonisa ngokucacile empendulweni yakhe lapho elingwa okwesithathu. Yebo, nguJesu owamiswa uJehova ukuba agcwalise iziprofetho ezimayelana nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokumkhonza. (IsAm. 19:10) Uzokhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakwazi ukwenza imisebenzi yokumkhonza, bese ebangela ukuba uNkulunkulu aphinde akhonzwe ngendlela emsulwa njengoba kufanele.
Yini Wena Ozoyenza?
17. Kungani sizithanda kakhulu iziprofetho eziseBhayibhelini eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu?
17 Kuyajabulisa futhi kuqinisa ukholo ukuhlola iziprofetho zeBhayibheli eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Sizithanda kakhulu lezo ziprofetho ngoba silangazelela isikhathi lapho zonke izidalwa ezisezulwini nasemhlabeni ziyoba nobunye ekukhonzeni iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngendlela emsulwa. Lezi ziprofetho zisinika nethemba ngoba ziphakathi kwezinto eziningi ezisithinta inhliziyo eziseZwini likaNkulunkulu. Ukhona yini kithi ongakulangazeleli ukubona iziprofetho zikaJehova zigcwaliseka—ezihlanganisa ukuvuswa kwabantu esibathandayo asebashona, umhlaba oyipharadesi nokuphila phakade sesiyimiqemane?—Isaya 33:24; 35:5, 6; IsAm. 20:12, 13; 21:3, 4.
18. Yini esizoyihlola kule ncwadi?
18 Kule ncwadi, sizohlola iziprofetho ezimnandi ezitholakala encwadini yeBhayibheli kaHezekeli. Eziningi zalezo ziprofetho zigxile ekubuyiselweni kwendlela emsulwa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Sizoxoxa ngendlela iziprofetho zikaHezekeli ezihlobana ngayo nezinye iziprofetho, nendlela ezizogcwaliseka ngayo ngoKristu nokuthi zisithinta kanjani thina.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Okuqukethwe Incwadi KaHezekeli.”
19. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza futhi kungani?
19 Emuva le ehlane laseJudiya ngo-29 C.E., uSathane wehluleka ukwenza uJesu ayeke ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela emsulwa. Kodwa kuthiwani ngathi? USathane uzimisele ngisho nakakhulu ukusiyekisa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. (IsAm. 12:12, 17) Kwangathi le ncwadi ingasisiza sizimisele ngisho nakakhulu ukumelana nalo Mlingi omubi. Kwangathi amazwi nezenzo zethu kungabonisa ukuthi sivumelana ngokugcwele nala mazwi, “NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumelwe umkhonze.” Uma senza kanjalo siyoba sethubeni lokuphila size sibone injongo kaNkulunkulu ekhazimulayo igcwaliseka ekugcineni—bonke abantu ezulwini nasemhlabeni bemunye ekunikezeni uJehova lokho okumfanele kakhulu kangaka, ukukhonzwa ngendlela emsulwa ngezinhliziyo ezimsulwa!
^ par. 5 Abanye baqonda igama likaJehova njengelisho ukuthi “Ubangela Ukuba Kube Khona.” Liyayifanela indima kaJehova njengoMdali nanjengoMgcwalisi wezinjongo zakhe.
^ par. 8 Ngokuqondene nala mazwi kaSathane, enye incwadi echaza iBhayibheli ithi: “Njengasekuvivinyweni kokuqala u-Adamu no-Eva abahluleka ukumelana nako. . . , le ndaba igxile ekukhetheni phakathi kokwenza intando kaSathane noma intando kaNkulunkulu, okusho ukukhonza lo noma lo. Ngempela, uSathane uyaziphakamisa uzibeka esikhundleni sokuwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu.”
^ par. 10 IVangeli likaLuka lizibeka ngendlela ehlukile lezi zilingo, kodwa ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi elikaMathewu lizibeka ngendlela ezilandelana ngayo. Cabanga nganazi izizathu ezintathu. (1) Kwamanye amaBhayibheli uMathewu wethula isilingo sesibili ngamagama athi “ngemva kwalokho,” okusikisela ukuthi yisona esalandela ngemva kwesokuqala. (2) Kubonakala kunengqondo ukuba izilingo ezimbili ezicashile—ngasinye esiqala ngamazwi athi “Uma uyindodana kaNkulunkulu”—zilandelwe isilingo esisobala sokuphula umyalo wokuqala. (Eks. 20:2, 3) (3) Kunengqondo ukuba amazwi kaJesu athi “Hamba, Sathane!” alandele isilingo sesithathu nesingesokugcina.—Math. 4:5, 10, 11.
