1, 2. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso esiye sasindisa ukuphila kwabantu abaningi? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Yisiphi isiqondiso abantu bakaNkulunkulu abanaso esingasindisa ukuphila kwabo?

“YIMA, BHEKA, LALELA.” Sekuyiminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu, kunala mazwi ezimpawini zomgwaqo ezinkulu emigwaqweni enqamula ojantshi besitimela eNyakatho Melika. Kungani? Ukuze izimoto ezinqamula kujantshi zingashayiswa isitimela esisuke sidla amagalane. Ukulalela lezi zixwayiso kuye kwasindisa ukuphila kwabantu abaningi.

² UJehova wenza okungcono kakhulu kunokusibekela izimpawu zokuphepha. Uqondisa abantu bakhe ukuze bakwazi ukuthola ukuphila okuphakade futhi bangangeni ezingozini. UJehova unjengomalusi onothando oqondisa izimvu zakhe futhi azixwayise ukuze zigweme izindlela eziyingozi.—Funda u-Isaya 30:20, 21.

3. Isintu sangena kanjani endleleni eholela ekufeni?

³ Kusukela ekuqaleni komlando wesintu, uJehova uye wanikeza abantu iziyalezo noma iziqondiso ezicacile. Ngokwesibonelo, ensimini yase-Edene, uJehova wanikeza iziyalezo ezicacile  ezaziyoholela isintu ekuphileni okuphakade nasenjabulweni. (Genesise 2:15-17) Kodwa u-Adamu no-Eva basenqaba isiqondiso sikaYise onothando. U-Eva walalela iseluleko okwakubonakala sengathi sivela enyokeni, kwase kuthi u-Adamu walalela umkakhe. Waba yini umphumela? Bobabili bahlupheka futhi bafa bengenathemba. Kanti futhi, ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo, isintu sisonke sase sisendleleni eholela ekufeni.

4. (a) Kungani kwakudingeka iziqondiso ezengeziwe ngemva kukaZamcolo? (b) Izimo ezintsha zayembula kanjani indlela uNkulunkulu acabanga ngayo?

⁴ UNkulunkulu wanika uNowa iziqondiso ezasindisa ukuphila. Ngemva kukaZamcolo, uJehova wayala abantu ukuba bangalidli igazi noma baliphuze. Kungani? UJehova wayesezovumela abantu ukuba badle inyama. Ngenxa yalezi zimo ezintsha, base bedinga iziqondiso ezintsha: “Kuphela inyama enomphefumulo wayo—igazi layo—akumelwe niyidle.” (Genesise 9:1-4) Lo myalo usifundisa indlela uNkulunkulu akubheka ngayo ukuphila, njengoba engumnikazi wako. UnguMdali futhi usinika ukuphila, ngakho unelungelo lokubeka imithetho ephathelene nokuphila. Ngokwesibonelo, wayala ukuba abantu bangabulalani. UNkulunkulu ubheka ukuphila negazi njengokungcwele futhi uzojezisa noma ubani okusebenzisa kabi.—Genesise 9:5, 6.

5. Yini esizoyihlola manje futhi ngani?

⁵ Ngemva kosuku lukaNowa, uNkulunkulu waqhubeka eqondisa abantu bakhe. Kulesi sihloko, sizohlola izibonelo ezimbalwa zendlela abaqondisa ngayo. Ukuhlola lezi zibonelo kuzosenza siqiniseke ngesinqumo sethu sokulandela isiqondiso sikaJehova kuze kube sezweni elisha.

6. Kungani kwakudingekile ukuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu balalele imithetho eyanikezwa ngoMose, futhi isiphi isimo sengqondo ama-Israyeli okwakudingeka abe naso?

⁶ Ngosuku lukaMose, uJehova wanika abantu bakhe iziqondiso ezicacile ngendlela yokuziphatha neyokukhulekela. Kungani? Izimo zase ziphinde zashintsha. Kwase kuphele iminyaka engaphezu kwamakhulu amabili ama-Israyeli eyizigqila eGibhithe, lapho ayezungezwe khona abantu ababekhulekela abafileyo, izithombe, benza nezinye izinto eziningi ezihlambalaza uNkulunkulu. Lapho abantu bakaNkulunkulu bekhululwa eGibhithe, babedinga iziqondiso ezintsha. Babezoba yisizwe esilalela uMthetho kaJehova kuphela. Ezinye izincwadi ezinikeza incazelo zithi igama lesiHebheru elithi “umthetho” lihlobene negama elisho “ukuqondisa, ukunikeza umyalo.” UMthetho wavikela ama-Israyeli ekuziphatheni okubi nasenkolweni yamanga yezizwe ezaziwazungezile. Lapho ama-Israyeli elalela uNkulunkulu wayewabusisa. Lapho emshaya indiva, ayebhekana nemiphumela ebuhlungu.—Funda uDuteronomi 28:1, 2, 15.

7. (a) Chaza ukuthi kungani uJehova anikeza abantu bakhe iziqondiso. (b) UMthetho waba kanjani umfundisi wama-Israyeli?

⁷ Kunesinye futhi isizathu esasenza kudingeke iziqondiso ezintsha. UMthetho wenza ama-Israyeli alungela isenzakalo esibalulekile enjongweni kaJehova, ukufika kukaMesiya, uJesu Kristu. UMthetho wakhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi ayengaphelele. Wawasiza nokuba aqonde ukuthi ayedinga isihlengo, okungukuthi, umhlatshelo ongenasici owawuzozisusa ngokuphelele izono zawo. (Galathiya 3:19;  Hebheru 10:1-10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uMthetho wavikela uhlu lozalo lukaMesiya, wasiza nama-Israyeli ukuba ambone lapho evela. Yebo, uMthetho wawunjengomqondisi wesikhashana noma “umfundisi,” oholela kuKristu.—Galathiya 3:23, 24.

8. Kungani kufanele siqondiswe yizimiso zoMthetho kaMose?

⁸ NjengamaKristu, nathi singazuza eziqondisweni uJehova azinikeza eMthethweni. Kanjani? Singama futhi sibheke izimiso uMthetho osekelwe kuzo. Nakuba singasekho ngaphansi kwaleyo mithetho, sisengaqhubeka sincika kweminingi yayo ukuba isiqondise ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke nasekukhulekeleni kwethu uJehova. UJehova wenza ukuba leyo mithetho ilotshwe eBhayibhelini ukuze sifunde kuyo, siqondiswe yizimiso zayo, futhi sibonge ngokuthi uJesu wasifundisa okuthile okungcono kunoMthetho. Yizwa lokhu okwashiwo uJesu: “Nizwile ukuthi kwathiwa, ‘Ungaphingi.’ Kodwa mina ngithi kini wonke umuntu oqhubeka ebuka owesifazane aze amkhanuke, usephingile naye kakade enhliziyweni yakhe.” Ngakho akudingeki ukuba sigweme isenzo sokuphinga nje kuphela kodwa kudingeka nokuba senqabe imicabango nezifiso zokuziphatha okubi.—Mathewu 5:27, 28.

9. Yiziphi izimo ezintsha ezenza kwadingeka isiqondiso esisha esivela kuNkulunkulu?

⁹ Ngemva kokufika kukaJesu njengoMesiya, uJehova wanikeza iziyalezo ezintsha futhi wembula imininingwane eyengeziwe ngenjongo yakhe. Kungani lokhu kwakudingeka? Ngonyaka ka-33, uJehova wasilahla isizwe sakwa-Israyeli futhi wakhetha ibandla lobuKristu ukuba libe ngabantu bakhe. Ngakho izimo zabantu bakaNkulunkulu zase ziphinde zashintsha.

10. Kungani ibandla lobuKristu lanikezwa imithetho emisha, futhi yayihluke kanjani kuleyo eyayinikezwe ama-Israyeli?

¹⁰ UJehova wayenikeze ama-Israyeli uMthetho KaMose ukuze awafundise indlela yokuphila neyokumkhulekela. Kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengasebona abesizwe esisodwa kodwa babevela ezizweni eziningi nasezizindeni ezihlukahlukene, futhi base bebizwa ngokuthi u-Israyeli ongokomoya. Babeyibandla lobuKristu futhi base besesivumelwaneni esisha. UJehova wabanikeza iziyalezo ezintsha noma ezengeziwe zendlela yokuphila neyokumkhulekela. Ngempela, “uNkulunkulu akakhethi, kodwa ezizweni zonke umuntu omesabayo futhi enze ukulunga uyamukeleka kuye.” (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Babelandela “umthetho kaKristu,” owawusekelwe ngokuyinhloko ezimisweni ezazibhalwe ezinhliziyweni zabo hhayi etsheni. Lo mthetho wawuyoqondisa futhi uzuzise amaKristu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ahlalaphi.—Galathiya 6:2.

11. Yiziphi izici ezimbili zokuphila kobuKristu ezaziyothinteka ngenxa ‘yomthetho kaKristu’?

¹¹ U-Israyeli ongokomoya wazuza kakhulu esiqondisweni sikaJehova asidlulisela ngoJesu. Ngaphambi nje kokuba amise isivumelwano esisha, uJesu wanikeza imiyalo emibili ebalulekile. Omunye wawumayelana nomsebenzi wokushumayela. Kanti omunye wawumayelana nendlela amaKristu okufanele aziphathe ngayo nendlela okufanele aphathe ngayo abanye. Lezi ziyalezo zaziqondiswe kuwo wonke amaKristu, ngakho ziyasebenza kithi sonke namuhla, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi  sinethemba lokuphila phakade ezulwini noma emhlabeni.

12. Yini eyayiyintsha ngomsebenzi wokushumayela?

¹² Esikhathini esidlule, abantu bezizwe kwakudingeka beze kwa-Israyeli ukuze bakhonze uJehova. (1 AmaKhosi 8:41-43) Kodwa uJesu wabe esenikeza umyalo otholakala kuMathewu 28:19, 20. (Funda.) UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘bahambe’ baye kubo bonke abantu. NgePentekoste lonyaka ka-33, uJehova wabonisa ukuthi wayefuna ukuba izindaba ezinhle zishunyayelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba. Ngalolo suku, amalungu angu-120 ebandla elalisanda kumiswa agcwala umoya ongcwele futhi aqala ukukhuluma namaJuda namaproselithe ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene. (IzEnzo 2:4-11) Ngokulandelayo, insimu yenabela nakumaSamariya. Kwabe sekuthi ngonyaka ka-36, insimu yakhula ngokwengeziwe yahlanganisa nabeZizwe abangasokile. Lokho kwakusho ukuthi amaKristu kwakufanele ahambe ayoshumayela kubo bonke abantu emhlabeni!

13, 14. (a) Yini ehilelekile ‘emyalweni omusha’ kaJesu? (b) Yini esiyifundayo esibonelweni esabekwa uJesu?

¹³ UJesu wabuye wanikeza “umyalo omusha” ophathelene nendlela yokuphatha abafowethu nodadewethu. (Funda uJohane 13:34, 35.) Kumelwe sibabonise uthando nsuku zonke, kodwa futhi kumelwe sizimisele ukubafela. Lokhu kwakungeyona imfuneko yoMthetho.—Mathewu 22:39; 1 Johane 3:16.

¹⁴ UJesu uyisibonelo esivelele somuntu owabonisa uthando lokuzidela olunjalo. Wayebathanda abafundi bakhe kangangokuba wayezimisele ukubafela. Futhi ulindele ukuba bonke abalandeli bakhe benze okufanayo. Ngakho kufanele sizimisele ukukhuthazelela ubunzima, ngisho nokubafela imbala abafowethu nodadewethu.—1 Thesalonika 2:8.

15, 16. Yiziphi izimo ezintsha esiphila ngaphansi kwazo manje, futhi uNkulunkulu usiqondisa kanjani?

¹⁵ UJesu umise “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” ukuba inike abalandeli bakhe ‘ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Lokhu kudla kuhlanganisa ukunikeza abantu bakaNkulunkulu iziqondiso ezibalulekile lapho izimo zishintsha. Zishintshe kanjani izimo esiphila ngaphansi kwazo?

¹⁶ Siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina” futhi maduzane nje sizobhekana nosizi olungakaze lube khona ngaphambili. (2 Thimothewu 3:1; Marku 13:19) Kanti futhi, uSathane namademoni akhe baye baxoshwa ezulwini baphonswa emhlabeni, okubangela ukuhlupheka kwabantu okukhulu. (IsAmbulo 12:9, 12) Ngaphezu kwalokho, silalela umyalo kaJesu ngokushumayela emhlabeni wonke, kubantu abengeziwe nangezilimi eziningi kunanini ngaphambili!

17, 18. Kufanele sisabele kanjani esiqondisweni esisinikezwayo?

¹⁷ Inhlangano kaNkulunkulu isinikeza amathuluzi amaningi ukuze isisize emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ingabe uyawasebenzisa? Emihlanganweni yethu, sithola isiqondiso sendlela engcono yokusebenzisa la mathuluzi. Ingabe ubheka lezi ziqondiso njengezivela kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁸ Ukuze sithole isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu, kudingeka sinakisise zonke iziqondiso asinika zona ngebandla lobuKristu.  Uma silalela manje, kuyoba lula ukulandela iziqondiso phakathi ‘nosizi olukhulu,’ lapho kuyobhujiswa khona lonke izwe likaSathane elibi. (Mathewu 24:21) Ngemva kwalokho, siyodinga iziqondiso ezintsha zokuphila ezweni elisha lokulunga eliyobe lingenalo ngokuphelele ithonya likaSathane.

19, 20. Yimiphi imiqulu eyovulwa, futhi kuyoba namiphi imiphumela?

¹⁹ Ngosuku lukaMose, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sasidinga iziqondiso ezintsha, ngakho uNkulunkulu wasinika uMthetho. Kamuva, ibandla lobuKristu kwadingeka lilalele “umthetho kaKristu.” Ngokufanayo, iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi ezweni elisha, siyothola imiqulu eneziqondiso ezintsha. (Funda isAmbulo 20:12.) Cishe le miqulu iyochaza lokho uJehova ayobe efuna ukuba abantu bakwenze ngaleso sikhathi. Ngokutadisha leyo miqulu, bonke abantu, kuhlanganise nabavusiwe, bayokwazi ukuthi yini uNkulunkulu afuna bayenze. Le miqulu iyosisiza sifunde okwengeziwe ngendlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Siyoliqonda kangcono neBhayibheli, ngakho ePharadesi siyophathana ngothando, inhlonipho futhi sazisane. (Isaya 26:9) Cabanga nje ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinto esiyozifunda, nesiyozifundisa abanye ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNkosi, uJesu Kristu!

²⁰ Uma silalela iziqondiso ‘ezilotshwe emiqulwini’ futhi sihlale sithembekile kuJehova phakathi novivinyo lokugcina, ngeke awasule amagama ethu ‘emqulwini wokuphila’. Singakuthola ukuphila okuphakade! Ngakho kudingeka SIME ukuze sifunde lokho okushiwo iBhayibheli, SIBHEKE ukuze sikuqonde lokho elikushoyo kithi, futhi SILALELE ngokwenza ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso uNkulunkulu asinikezayo manje. Uma senza lezi zinto, singasinda osizini olukhulu futhi sijabulele ukufunda ngoNkulunkulu wethu ohlakaniphile nonothando, uJehova, kuze kube phakade.—UmShumayeli 3:11; Roma 11:33.