1. Yisiphi isikhuthazo uJehova asinika ngesikhathi izidalwa zakhe zivukela e-Edene?

KUSUKELA abantu baba nesono nokungapheleli, uJehova uye wazibonakalisa enguNkulunkulu onika isikhuthazo. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuvukela kwase-Edene, wanika inzalo ka-Adamu isizathu sokuqina idolo. Lalisekhona ithemba ngesintu. Lapho sesiqondwa, isithembiso esiyisiprofetho esikuGenesise 3:15 sasiyonika abantu ithemba lokuthi ekugcineni uSathane uDeveli, “inyoka yokuqala,” uzobhujiswa nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe emibi.​—IsAm. 12:9; 1 Joh. 3:8.

2. UJehova wamkhuthaza kanjani uNowa?

² Inceku kaJehova uNowa yayiphila phakathi kwabantu ababengamkhonzi uNkulunkulu, ukuphela kwabantu ababekhonza uJehova kwakungamalungu omndeni wakhe. Ezweni  elaligcwele udlame nelalinabantu abangenaso isimilo, uNowa wayengase adikibale. (Gen. 6:4, 5, 11; Jude 6) Kodwa uJehova wamnika ulwazi olwamenza waba nesibindi esasizomsiza akhuthazele emizamweni yakhe ‘yokuhamba noNkulunkulu.’ (Gen. 6:9) UJehova watshela uNowa ukuthi wayezobhubhisa abantu ababi wabe esemchazela ukuthi yini okumelwe ayenze ukuze umndeni wakhe usinde. (Gen. 6:13-18) UJehova wazibonakalisa kuNowa enguNkulunkulu wesikhuthazo.

3. Yisiphi isikhuthazo esatholwa uJoshuwa? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

³ Kamuva, uJoshuwa wanikwa umsebenzi omkhulu wokungenisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu eZweni Lesithembiso. Lokho kwakuhilela ukunqoba amabutho anamandla ezizwe ezazihlala kuleyo ndawo. UJoshuwa wayenazo zonke izizathu zokwesaba. Azi lokhu, uJehova watshela uMose ukuba aqinisekise uJoshuwa. UNkulunkulu wathi: “Misa uJoshuwa futhi umkhuthaze, umqinise, ngoba nguye ozowela phambi kwalesi sizwe futhi nguye ozosenza ukuba silizuze njengefa izwe ozolibona.” (Dut. 3:28) Ngaphambi kokuba uJoshuwa aye empini, uJehova wamkhuthaza, wathi: “Angikuyalanga yini? Yiba nesibindi uqine. Ungethuki noma wesabe, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.” (Josh. 1:1, 9) Yeka isikhuthazo esiqinisa idolo!

4, 5. (a) Yisiphi isikhuthazo uJehova asinika abantu bakhe endulo? (b) UJehova wayikhuthaza kanjani iNdodana yakhe?

⁴ UJehova akagcinanga ngokhuthaza abantu abathile kodwa wakhuthaza abantu bakhe njengeqembu. UNkulunkulu wayazi ukuthi amaJuda ayezodinga isikhuthazo lapho ethunjiwe eBhabhiloni, ngakho washo lesi siprofetho esiyisikhuthazo: “Ungesabi, ngoba nginawe. Ungaqalazi ngapha nangapha, ngoba nginguNkulunkulu wakho. Ngizokuqinisa. Impela ngizokusiza. Impela ngizoqhubeka ngikubambé ngokuqinile ngesandla sami sokunene sokulunga.” (Isaya 41:10) AmaKristu okuqala aqinisekiswa ngendlela efanayo futhi kunjalo nangamaKristu namuhla.​—Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:3, 4.

⁵ UJesu naye wasithola isikhuthazo kuYise. Lapho ebhapathizwa, uJesu wezwa izwi livela ezulwini lithi: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Math. 3:17) Kumelwe ukuba lawo mazwi amqinisa uJesu phakathi nayo yonke inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni.

6. Umfanekiso wamathalenta ukhuthaza kanjani?

⁶ UJesu walingisa isibonelo sikaYise. Umfanekiso wamathalenta owashiwo uJesu esiprofethweni sakhe esimayelana nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto, ukhuthaza ukuthembeka. Inkosi yasho la mazwi encekwini yayo ngayinye ethembekile: “Wenze kahle, nceku enhle nethembekile! Wathembeka ezintweni ezimbalwa. Ngizokumisa phezu kwezinto eziningi. Ngena enjabulweni yenkosi yakho.” (Math 25:21, 23) Ngempela, leso kwakuyisikhuthazo esinamandla sokuqhubeka nokukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka!

7. UJesu wabakhuthaza kanjani abaphostoli kanye noPetru ngokukhethekile?

⁷ Abaphostoli bakaJesu babevame ukuphikisana ngokuthi ubani omkhulu kunabo kodwa ngesineke uJesu wabakhuthaza ukuba bathobeke futhi babe izinceku, hhayi izikhulu. (Luka 22:24-26) UPetru wadumaza uJesu izikhathi  eziningana. (Math 16:21-23; 26:31-35, 75) Kunokuba amlahle, uJesu wamkhuthaza, wabe esemyala ukuba aqinise abafowabo.​—Joh 21:16.

8. UHezekiya waziqinisa kanjani izikhulu zempi nabantu bakwaJuda?

⁸ Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba iNdodana kaJehova ize emhlabeni futhi ibeke isibonelo esihle sendlela yokunikeza isikhuthazo, izinceku zikaJehova zazisiphaphamele isidingo sokukhuthazana. Ngesikhathi uHezekiya esongelwa abase-Asiriya, waqoqa izinduna zempi nabantu bakwaJuda ukuze abakhuthaze. “Abantu babe sebeziqinisa ngamazwi” akhe.​—Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 32:6-8.

9. Incwadi kaJobe isifundisani ngokunika isikhuthazo?

⁹ Nakuba ayedinga ukududuzwa, uJobe wafundisa “abaduduzi [bakhe abathathu] abayinkathazo” indlela yokukhuthaza abanye. Wabatshela ukuthi ukube ubeyibo ubezoba ‘qinisa ngamazwi omlomo wakhe, futhi induduzo yezindebe zakhe ibiyobanqanda.’ (Jobe 16:1-5) Ekugcineni, uJobe wathola isikhuthazo ku-Elihu nakuJehova.​—Jobe 33:24, 25; 36:1, 11; 42:7, 10.

10, 11. (a) Kungani indodakazi kaJefta yayidinga ukukhuthazwa? (b) Obani namuhla abadinga ukukhuthazwa ngendlela efanayo?

¹⁰ Omunye umuntu wasendulo owayedinga isikhuthazo, indodakazi kaJefta. Ngaphambi kokuba ayolwa nama-Amoni, umaHluleli uJefta wafunga kuJehova ukuthi uma enganqoba, umuntu wokuqala oyophuma amhlangabeze ngemva kwempi wayeyonikela ngaye enkonzweni kaJehova ethempelini. Indodakazi yakhe, okuwukuphela kwayo, iyona eyaphuma kuqala iyojabulela ukunqoba kukayise. UJefta waphatheka kabi. Kodwa wasigcina isithembiso sakhe futhi wayisa indodakazi yakhe eyintombi nto eShilo ukuze ikhonze etabernakele ukuphila kwayo konke.​—AbaHl. 11:30-35.

¹¹ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwakunzima kangakanani kuJefta, kumelwe ukuba kwakunzima nakakhulu ngendodakazi yakhe, eyavumelana ngokuzithandela nesinqumo sikayise. (AbaHl. 11:36, 37) Ngenxa yalokho yadela ithuba lokushada, elokuba nezingane nelokwandisa umndeni wakubo. Kubo bonke abantu ngaleso sikhathi, nguyena ngempela owayedinga isikhuthazo. Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuthi: “Unyaka nonyaka amadodakazi akwa-Israyeli ayeya kotusa indodakazi kaJefta waseGileyadi, izinsuku ezine ngonyaka.” (AbaHl. 11:39, 40) AmaKristu angashadile agxila “ezintweni zeNkosi” nawo ayakufanelekela ukunconywa nokukhuthazwa.​—1 Kor. 7:32-35.

12, 13. UPetru wabakhuthaza kanjani abafowabo?

¹² Ebusuku, ngaphambi kokuba uJesu abulawe, wathi kumphostoli uPetru: “Simoni, Simoni, bheka! uSathane uyanifuna ukuze anihlunge njengokolweni nina madoda. Kodwa wena ngikunxusele ukuba ukholo lwakho lungapheli; futhi wena, lapho nje usubuyile, uqinise abafowenu.”​—Luka 22:31, 32.

¹³ UPetru waba insika ebandleni lobuKristu langekhulu lokuqala. (Gal. 2:9) Wakhuthaza abafowabo ngesibonelo sakhe sokuba nesibindi ngePhentekoste nangemva kwalo. Ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe eyathatha isikhathi eside,  wabhalela amaKristu ayekhonza nawo. Wathi: “Nginilobele ngamazwi ambalwa, ukuze ngininike isikhuthazo nobufakazi obuqotho bokuthi lo yiwo isibili umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu; yimani niqinile kuwo.” (1 Pet. 5:12) Izincwadi zikaPetru eziphefumulelwe ziye zaqhubeka zikhuthaza amaKristu kuze kube namuhla. Siyasidinga ngempela lesi sikhuthazo njengoba silindele ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaJehova.​—2  Pet. 3:13.

14, 15. Izincwadi zomphostoli uJohane ziye zawakhuthaza kanjani amaKristu kuze kube namuhla?

¹⁴ Umphostoli uJohane naye wayeyinsika ebandleni lobuKristu ngekhulu lokuqala. IVangeli lakhe elikhuthazayo, elilandisa ngenkonzo kaJesu, liye laba umthombo wesikhuthazo kumaKristu kuze kube namuhla. IVangeli lakhe kuphela elinamazwi kaJesu athi abafundi bakhe bangempela bayobonakala ngokuthandana.​—Funda uJohane 13:34, 35.

¹⁵ Izincwadi ezintathu zikaJohane ziqukethe amanye amaqiniso ayigugu. Lapho sicindezelwe isono esisenzile, kuba sengathi kunomthwalo osukayo lapho sifunda ukuthi “igazi likaJesu . . . lisihlanza kuso sonke isono.” (1 Joh. 1:7) Lapho unembeza uqhubeka nokusihlupha, sihlengezela izinyembezi zenjabulo lapho sifunda ukuthi “uNkulunkulu mkhulu kunezinhliziyo zethu.” (1 Joh. 3:20) UJohane kuphela owabhala ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Joh. 4:8, 16) Incwadi yakhe yesibili neyesithathu incoma amaKristu aqhubeka ‘ehamba eqinisweni.’​—2 Joh. 4; 3 Joh. 3, 4.

16, 17. Yisiphi isikhuthazo umphostoli uPawulu asinika amaKristu angekhulu lokuqala?

¹⁶ Ngekhulu lokuqala, cishe umphostoli owenza okuningi ukuze akhuthaze abafowabo umphostoli uPawulu. Kubonakala  sengathi ngesikhathi kumiswa ubuKristu, abaphostoli abaningi bahlala eJerusalema, eyaqhubeka iyindawo lapho okwakuhlala khona indikimba ebusayo. (IzE. 8:14; 15:2) AmaKristu aseJudiya ashumayela ngoKristu kubantu abase bekholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, umoya ongcwele wathuma umphostoli uPawulu ukuba ayoshumayela kumaGreki nakumaRoma ayekhonza onkulunkulu abaningi.​—Gal. 2:7-9; 1 Thim. 2:7.

¹⁷ UPawulu waya ezindaweni ezikude neziqhelile ezindaweni manje ezaziwa ngokuthi iTurkey, iGreece ne-Italy, emisa amabandla obuKristu phakathi kwabantu abangewona amaJuda. La maKristu ayesanda kuguqukela ebuKristwini ‘ahlupheka ezandleni zabantu’ bakubo futhi ayedinga ukukhuthazwa. (1 Thes. 2:14) Cishe ngonyaka ka-50 C.E., uPawulu wabhalela ibandla elisha laseThesalonika, wathi: “Ngaso sonke isikhathi siyambonga uNkulunkulu lapho sikhuluma ngani nonke emithandazweni yethu, ngoba siwukhumbula ngokungaphezi umsebenzi wenu wokuthembeka nomshikashika wenu.” (1 Thes. 1:2, 3) Waphinda wabanxusa ukuba baqinisane, wathi: “Qhubekani niduduzana futhi nakhana, njengoba nje eqinisweni nenza.”​—1 Thes. 5:11.

18. Indikimba yangekhulu lokuqala yamkhuthaza kanjani uFilipi?

¹⁸ Indikimba ebusayo yangekhulu lokuqala yaba umthombo wesikhuthazo kulabo ababehola nakuwo wonke amaKristu. Lapho uFilipi eshumayela ngoKristu kumaSamariya, indikimba ebusayo yamsekela ngokugcwele. Yathumela amalungu ayo amabili, uPetru noJohane, ukuba athandazele abasanda kuba amaKristu ukuze bathole umoya ongcwele. (IzE. 8:5, 14-17) Kumelwe ukuba uFilipi nalabo ababesanda kuba amaKristu bakhuthazwa ukusekelwa indikimba ebusayo.

19. Incwadi eyathunyelwa indikimba ebusayo yaba namuphi umthelela ebandleni lobuKristu langekhulu lokuqala?

¹⁹ Kamuva, indikimba ebusayo kwadingeka inqume ukuthi kuyadingeka yini ukuba amaKristu angewona amaJuda asoke, njengoba ngokomthetho kaMose amaJuda kwakufanele asoke. (IzE. 15:1, 2) Ngemva kokuhlolisisa imiBhalo futhi beqondiswa umoya ongcwele, abazalwane abaholayo banquma ukuthi sasingasekho isidingo sokusoka, base bebhalela amabandla incwadi echaza lokho. Abameleli bendikimba ebusayo bahambisa izincwadi emabandleni. Umphumela? “Ngemva kokuyifunda, [bajabula] ngaleso sikhuthazo.”​—IzE. 15:27-32.

20. (a) Yisiphi isikhuthazo iNdikimba Ebusayo esinika abazalwane nodade emhlabeni wonke? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo esizowuphendula esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Namuhla, iNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova ikhuthaza umkhaya waseBethel, abasenkonzweni ekhethekile yesikhathi esigcwele kanye nawo wonke amaKristu eqiniso emhlabeni wonke. Umphumela uyafana nowangekhulu lokuqala—abantu bayajabula ngokuthola isikhuthazo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngo-2015 iNdikimba Ebusayo yanyathelisa incwajana ethi Buyela KuJehova, eye yaba isikhuthazo kubantu abaningi emhlabeni wonke. Kodwa ingabe abantu abanegunya kuphela okufanele balingise uJehova ngokunikeza abanye isikhuthazo? Sizothola impendulo yalo mbuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.