1-2. (a) Sasinjani isimo eJudiya ngesikhathi umphostoli uPawulu ebhala incwadi eya kumaHebheru? (b) Kungani sithi leyo ncwadi ephefumulelwe yayifike ngesikhathi?

 EMINYAKENI eyalandela ukufa kukaJesu, amaKristu angamaHebheru ayehlala eJerusalema naseJudiya abhekana nezikhathi ezinzima. Ngokushesha ngemva kokumiswa kwebandla lobuKristu, amaKristu abhekana noshushiso olunzima. (IzE. 8:1) Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-20 eyalandela, abalandeli bakaKristu babhekana nezimo zomnotho ezinzima kakhulu, okungenzeka zazibangelwe indlala eyayikade ikhona ezweni. (IzE. 11:​27-30) Nokho, ngawo-61 C.E., amaKristu ayejabulela inkathi yokuthula ngokwezinga elithile uma kuqhathaniswa nalokho okwakuseza. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, athola incwadi ephefumulelwe evela kumphostoli uPawulu—incwadi ayeyobona ukuthi yayifike ngesikhathi.

² Incwadi eyayibhalelwe amaHebheru yayifike ngesikhathi ngoba ukuthula okwakujatshulelwa amaKristu kwakungeke kuhlale isikhathi eside. UPawulu wawanika iseluleko esiwusizo lawo maKristu esasiyowasiza akhuthazelele usizi ayezobhekana nalo maduzane. Ukubhujiswa kwesimiso sezinto samaJuda, uJesu ayekubikezele, kwakusondela. (Luka 21:20) Yiqiniso ukuthi akekho phakathi kukaPawulu namaKristu aseJudiya owayazi ngokuqondile ukuthi leyo mbubhiso yayizofika nini. Noma kunjalo, lawo maKristu ayengasebenzisa isikhathi  esisele ukuze azilungiselele ngokuthi aqinise ukholo lwawo nokukhuthazela kwawo.—Heb. 10:25; 12:​1, 2.

3. Kungani amaKristu namuhla kufanele ayinake ngokukhethekile incwadi yamaHebheru?

³ Sekuseduze ukuba sibhekane nosizi olukhulu kakhulu kunalolo amaKristu angamaHebheru abhekana nalo. (Math. 24:21; IsAm. 16:​14, 16) Ake sixoxe ngezinye izeluleko eziwusizo uJehova azinikeza lawo maKristu ezingasisiza nathi.

“MASIZABALAZELE UKUVUTHWA”

4. Yiziphi izinselele abhekana nazo amaJuda angamaKristu? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁴ AmaJuda angamaKristu abhekana nenselele enkulu. Kunesikhathi lapho amaJuda ayengabantu bakaJehova abakhethiwe. IJerusalema lalimelela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu la emhlabeni futhi ithempeli laliyisikhungo sokukhulekela okumsulwa. Wonke amaJuda athembekile ayelandela uMthetho KaMose njengoba wawufundiswa abaholi benkolo. Lezo zimfundiso zazilawula lokho ayekudla, indlela ayebheka ngayo ukusoka, nendlela ayephatha ngayo abeZizwe. Nokho, uJehova akabange esayamukela imihlatshelo yamaJuda ngemva kokufa kukaJesu. Lokho kwaba inselele kumaKristu angamaJuda ayejwayele ukulandela uMthetho. (Heb. 10:​1, 4, 10) Ngisho namaKristu avuthiwe, afana nomphostoli uPetru, akuthola kunzima ukwamukela ezinye zalezo zinguquko. (IzE. 10:​9-14; Gal. 2:​11-14) Ngenxa yezinkolelo zawo ezintsha, lawo maKristu aba izisulu zabaholi benkolo abangamaJuda.

5. Yisiphi isimo amaKristu ayebhekene naso okwakudingeka asiqaphe?

⁵ AmaKristu angamaHebheru ayephikiswa amaqembu amabili. Abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda babeshushisa amaKristu angamaHebheru ngenxa yokuthi ayeseyishiyile inkolo yobuJuda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye ebandleni babephikelela ngokuthi abalandeli bakaKristu mabaqhubeke belandela uMthetho KaMose, mhlawumbe ukuze bagweme ushushiso. (Gal. 6:12) Yini eyayingasiza amaKristu athembekile ukuba anamathele eqinisweni?

6. Yini uPawulu akhuthaza akholwa nabo ukuba bayenze? (Hebheru 5:14–6:1)

 ⁶ Encwadini yakhe ayibhalela amaHebheru, uPawulu wakhuthaza akholwa nabo ukuba bangakhi phezulu lapho betadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Funda amaHebheru 5:14–6:1.) Esebenzisa imiBhalo yesiHebheru, uPawulu wabonisana nabafowabo ngokuthi kungani indlela yokukhulekela yamaKristu yayingcono kakhulu kuneyobuJuda. a UPawulu wayazi ukuthi ukuba nolwazi olwengeziwe nokuliqonda ngokujulile iqiniso kwakuyosiza lawo maKristu ukuba akubone ukucabanga okungamanga futhi akwenqabe ukuze angachezukiswa eqinisweni.

7. Yiziphi izinselele esibhekana nazo namuhla?

⁷ NjengamaKristu angamaHebheru, sibhekana nabantu abasakaza izinto ezingamanga noma imibono ephikisana nemithetho kaJehova yokulunga. Ngokuvamile abantu abasiphikisayo bahlasela izinkolelo zethu ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini ezimayelana nokuziphatha, bethi sinonya futhi asinawo umqondo ovulekile. Indlela leli zwe elicabanga ngayo nemibono yalo kuya ngokuya kuqhela endleleni engenaphutha uNkulunkulu abheka ngayo izinto. (IzAga 17:15) Ngakho kumele sithuthukise ikhono lethu lokubona nokwenqaba imibono abaphikisi abayisebenzisayo ukuze basidikibalise noma baze basiyekise ngisho nokukhonza uJehova.—Heb. 13:9.

8. Yini engasisiza siqhubeke singamaKristu avuthiwe ngokomoya?

⁸ Senza kahle ngokusinakisisa iseluleko uPawulu asinika amaKristu angamaHebheru, ukuba sizabalazele ukuvuthwa ngokomoya. Lokho kuhlanganisa ukungakhi phezulu lapho sitadisha amaqiniso eBhayibheli nokuba nombono kaJehova ngezinto. Lokho siyaqhubeka sikwenza ngisho nangemva kokuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sesinesikhathi esingakanani siseqinisweni, sonke kumele sifunde futhi sitadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo. (IHu. 1:2) Ukuba nesimiso esihle sesifundo somuntu siqu kuzosisiza siqinise ukholo lwethu—okuyimfanelo uPawulu akhuluma kakhulu ngayo encwadini ayeyibhalele amaHebheru.—Heb. 11:​1, 6.

MASIBE “NOKHOLO UKUZE KULONDWE UKUPHILA KWETHU”

9. Kungani kwakubalulekile ukuba amaKristu angamaHebheru abe nokholo oluqinile?

⁹ AmaKristu angamaHebheru kwakuyodingeka abe nokholo oluqinile ukuze akwazi ukumelana nosizi olwaluseza eJudiya. (Heb. 10:​37-39) UJesu wayexwayise abalandeli bakhe ngokuthi lapho bebona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile kwakufanele babalekele ezintabeni. Iseluleko sakhe sasisebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ayehlala kulelo dolobha noma ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni. (Luka 21:​20-24) Ngalezo zikhathi, lapho kufike ibutho ukuze lizohlasela, abantu abahlala emaphandleni babejwayele ukubalekela emadolobheni abiyelwe afana neJerusalema ukuze bathole isivikelo. Ukubalekela ezintabeni kwakungase kubonakale kungenangqondo futhi kwakuyodinga ukholo oluqinile.

10. Ukholo oluqinile lwaluyowasiza ukuba enzeni amaKristu? (Hebheru 13:17)

¹⁰ AmaKristu angamaHebheru kwakuyodingeka abethembe nalabo uJesu ayebasebenzisa ukuba aqondise ibandla. Cishe abaholayo babekhipha iziqondiso ezicacile ukuze basize bonke abasebandleni ukuba balandele isiqondiso sikaJesu, ngesikhathi esifanele nangendlela ehlelekile. (Funda amaHebheru 13: 17.) Igama lesiGreki elithi “lalelani” elisetshenziswe kumaHebheru 13:17 lidlulisela umqondo wokuthi umuntu ulalela ngoba emethemba umuntu okhipha isiqondiso. Lokho kusho okungaphezu kokumane amlalele ngoba nakhu egunyazwe ukuba akhiphe isiqondiso. Ngakho amaKristu angamaHebheru kwakudingeka afunde ukubethemba abaholayo ngaphambi kokuba kufike usizi. Uma amaKristu ayezilalela iziqondiso zabaholayo lapho izinto zihamba kahle, kwakuyoba lula nakakhulu ukuzilalela ngezikhathi ezinzima.

11. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba amaKristu abe nokholo oluqinile namuhla?

¹¹ Nathi namuhla kudingeka sibe nokholo njengoba kwakunjalo nangalabo uPawulu ayebabhalele incwadi. Siphila esikhathini lapho abantu abaningi besenqaba—baze basihleke nokusihleka—isixwayiso seBhayibheli sokuphela kwaleli zwe. (2 Pet. 3:​3, 4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngisho noma iBhayibheli lisambulela imininingwane eminingana mayelana nokuthi yini eyokwenzeka phakathi nosizi olukhulu, ziningi izinto esingazazi. Kudingeka sikukholelwe ngokuqinile ukuthi ukuphela kwaleli zwe kuyofika ngesikhathi esifanele nokuthi uJehova uyosinakekela ngaleso sikhathi.—Hab. 2:3.

12. Yini eyosisiza ukuba sisinde ngosizi olukhulu?

¹² Kumele sikukholelwe ngokuqinile ukuthi namuhla uJehova usebenzisa “inceku ethembekile neqondayo” ukuze asiqondise. (Math. 24:45) Lapho kuqala usizi olukhulu, singase sithole iziqondiso ezicacile ezisindisa ukuphila, njengoba kungenzeka ukuthi amaKristu angamaHebheru nawo azithola ngesikhathi kufika amaRoma. Manje yisikhathi sokuba sisethembe nakakhulu isiqondiso esisithola kulabo abaholayo enhlanganweni kaJehova. Ngeke silindele ukusilalela isiqondiso sabo phakathi nosizi olukhulu uma sihluleka ukusilalela manje.

13. Kungani sasibalulekile iseluleko esikumaHebheru 13:5?

¹³ Ngesikhathi esalinde uphawu lokuba abaleke, amaKristu angamaHebheru kwakudingeka nokuba agcine ukuphila kwawo kulula, ‘angayithandi imali ngokweqile.’ (Funda amaHebheru 13:5.) Amanye awo ayekhuthazelele indlala nokuhlupheka. (Heb. 10:​32-34) Nakuba ake azimisela ukukhuthazelela ubunzima ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle, kungenzeka amanye ayesecabanga ukuthi ukuze avikeleke kwakudingeka acebe. Kodwa imali yayingeke iwavikele lapho iJerusalema libhujiswa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ayecebe kangakanani. (Jak. 5:3) Empeleni, noma ubani owayezithanda ngokweqile izinto zaleli zwe cishe wayeyokuthola kunzima kakhulu ukubaleka ashiye umuzi wakhe nezinto zakhe.

14. Ukholo oluqinile lungazithinta kanjani izinqumo esizenzayo manje ngokuphathelene nezinto zaleli zwe?

¹⁴ Siyokhuthazeka ukuba singazithandi ngokweqile izinto zaleli zwe uma sikukholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi ukuphela kwaleli zwe kuseduze. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu “bayophonsa isiliva labo emigwaqweni” ngoba bayobona ukuthi “isiliva labo negolide labo ngeke kukwazi ukubasindisa ngosuku lolaka lukaJehova.” (Hez. 7:19) Kunokuba sigxile ekwenzeni imali eningi, kudingeka senze izinqumo ezisisiza ukuba siphile ukuphila okulula, ngesikhathi esifanayo sikwazi ukuzinakekela. Lokho kuhlanganisa ukumelana nesilingo sokwenza izikweletu ezingenasidingo noma ukugqilazwa ukunakekela impahla yethu eningi. Siyozama nokugwema ukuzithanda ngokweqile izinto esesinazo kakade. (Math. 6:​19, 24) Njengoba silinde ukuphela kwaleli zwe, ukholo lwethu lungavivinyeka ngenxa yezinto ezibonakalayo noma ngenxa yezinye izinto.

 ‘NINESIDINGO SOKUKHUTHAZELA’

15. Kungani amaKristu angamaHebheru kwakudingeka akhuthazele ngempela?

¹⁵ AmaKristu angamaHebheru kwakuyodingeka akhuthazelele ukuvivinywa kokholo lwawo njengoba isimo sasiya siba sibi nakakhulu eJudiya. (Heb. 10:36) Nakuba amanye amaKristu angamaHebheru ake abhekana noshushiso olunzima esikhathini esingaphambili, amaningi amukela ubuKristu ngesikhathi kunokuthula ngezinga elithile. UPawulu wawakhumbuza ukuthi nakuba ayekhuthazelele ukuvivinywa kokholo lwawo okunzima, ayengahluphekanga njengoJesu, okuwukuthi, kuze kube seqophelweni lokufa. (Heb. 12:4) Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi babanda abantu abangamaKristu, abaphikisi abangamaJuda babethukuthela ngisho nakakhulu futhi babenodlame. Eminyakeni embalwa nje ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke lokho, ukushumayela kukaPawulu eJerusalema kwasusa umsindo. AmaJuda angaphezu kuka-40 “afunga ukuthi ngeke adle noma aphuze aze ambulale uPawulu.” (IzE. 22:22; 23:​12-14) Nakuba lawo maKristu ayezozondwa futhi ashushiswe, kwakusadingeka ahlangane ndawonye ukuze akhonze uNkulunkulu, ashumayele izindaba ezinhle, agcine nokholo lwawo luqinile.

16. Incwadi eyabhalelwa amaHebheru ingasisiza kanjani sibe nombono ofanele ngokushushiswa? (Hebheru 12:7)

¹⁶ Yini eyayiyosiza amaKristu angamaHebheru ukuba akhuthazelele ukuphikiswa ayebhekene nakho? UPawulu wayazi ukuthi lawo maKristu kwakudingeka abe nombono ofanele ngovivinyo ayebhekene nalo. Wabe esechaza ukuthi uNkulunkulu angase avumele lolo vivinyo umKristu abhekene nalo ukuba lumqeqeshe. (Funda amaHebheru 12:7.) Lokho kuqeqeshwa kungasiza umuntu ukuba abe nezimfanelo zobuKristu noma azithuthukise. Ngokugxila emiphumeleni emihle yalolo vivinyo, lawo maKristu angamaHebheru  ayeyokuthola kulula ukukhuthazela.—Heb. 12:11.

17. Yini uPawulu ayeyifundile ngokukhuthazelela ushushiso?

¹⁷ UPawulu wanxusa amaKristu angamaHebheru ukuba abe nesibindi futhi angapheli amandla lapho ekhuthazelela uvivinyo. Wayezokwazi ukuwanika iseluleko esihle ngokuthi ayengalukhuthazelela kanjani ushushiso. Njengoba ayeshushisa amaKristu esikhathini esidlule wayazi ukuthi ayebhekene nani. Wayazi nokuthi lukhuthazelelwa kanjani ushushiso. Phela wayebhekane nezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokuphikiswa ngemva kokuba umKristu. (2 Kor. 11:​23-25) Ngakho uPawulu wayengakhuluma ngokuqiniseka ngokuthi yini edingekayo ukuze umuntu akhuthazele. Wakhumbuza lawo maKristu ukuthi lapho ekhuthazelela uvivinyo kwakudingeka athembele kuJehova angathembeli kuwo. Ngesibindi uPawulu wayengathi: “UJehova ungumsizi wami; ngeke ngesabe.”—Heb. 13:6.

18. Yini sonke esilindele ukuba yenzeke kithi esikhathini esizayo, futhi yini okumele siyenze manje?

¹⁸ Abanye abafowethu bakhuthazelela ushushiso njengamanje. Singabasekela ngokuthi sibathandazele futhi ngezinye izikhathi sibasize ngezindlela ezingokoqobo. (Heb. 10:33) Nokho iBhayibheli lisho ngokucacile ukuthi “bonke labo abafisa ukuphila ngokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu kanye noKristu Jesu nabo bayoshushiswa.” (2 Thim. 3:12) Ngenxa yalokho, sonke kudingeka sikulungele lokho okuseza. Masiqhubeke sithembela kuJehova ngokuphelele, siqiniseka ngokuthi uzosisiza sikhuthazelele noma yiluphi uvivinyo esingase sibhekane nalo. Ngesikhathi esifanele, uyobanika impumuzo bonke abakhulekeli bakhe abathembekile.—2 Thes. 1:​7, 8.

19. Yiziphi izinto esingazenza ezingasisiza silungele usizi olukhulu? (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹⁹ Akungabazeki ukuthi incwadi uPawulu ayibhalela amaHebheru yasiza amaKristu angekhulu lokuqala ukuba alungele usizi ayezobhekana nalo. UPawulu wanxusa abafowabo ukuba bayitadishe ngokucophelela imiBhalo futhi bayiqonde kahle. Ukwenza kanjalo kwakuyobasiza ukuba bazibone futhi bazenqabe izimfundiso ezaziyolwenza buthaka ukholo lwabo. Wabakhuthaza ukuba baqinise ukholo lwabo ukuze basilandele ngokushesha isiqondiso sikaJesu nesalabo abaholayo abandleni. Wabuye wasiza amaKristu ukuba akhuthazelele uvivinyo ngokuthi abe nombono ofanele ngalo, alubheke njengethuba lokuqeqeshwa uBaba wawo onothando. Kwangathi nathi singasisebenzisa lesi seluleko esivela eBhayibhelini. Uma senza kanjalo siyokwazi ukukhuthazela ngokwethembeka kuze kube sekugcineni.—Heb. 3:14.