Xwaya Lonke Uhlobo Lokukhonza Izithombe

“Linakuvumelana kuni ithempeli likaNkulunkulu nezithombe na?”—2 KORINTE 6:16.

1. Yini eyayifanekiselwa yitabernakele namathempeli akwaIsrayeli?

UJEHOVA unethempeli elingahlali izithombe. Lafanekiselwa yitabernakele lakwaIsrayeli elakhiwa uMose kanye namathempeli akhiwa kamuva eJerusalema. Lezozakhiwo zazimelela ‘itabernakele lempela,’ ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu elingokomoya. (Heberu 8:1-5) Lelothempeli liyilungiselelo lokusondela kuNkulunkulu ngokumkhulekela ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu Kristu wesihlengo.—Heberu 9:2-10, 23.

2. Obani ababa yizinsika ethempelini elikhulu likaNkulunkulu elingokomoya, futhi yikuphi ukuma okujatshulelwa yisixuku esikhulu?

² UmKristu ngamunye ogcotshiwe uba “yinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu,” ethola indawo ezulwini. “Isixuku esikhulu” sabanye abakhulekeli bakaJehova ‘sikhonza [uNkulunkulu]’ kulokho okwakumelelwe igceke labeZizwe ethempelini elakhiwa kabusha uHerode. Ngenxa yokuba nokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu, sinokuma okulungileyo okuphumela ekubeni sisindiswe ‘osizini olukhulu.’—IsAmbulo 3:12; 7:9-15.

3, 4. Yini ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe elisemhlabeni elifaniswa nayo, futhi yikuphi ukungcola okungamelwe libe nakho?

³ Ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe emhlabeni lifaniswa ngokomfanekiso nelinye ithempeli elingahlangene nokukhonza izithombe. Kwabanjalo ‘ababekwe uphawu ngomoya ongcwele,’ umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Nakhiwe phezu kwesisekelo sabaphostoli nabaprofethi, uKristu Jesu uqobo lwakhe eyitshe legumbi, okuhlanganiselwe kuye isakhiwo sonke, sikhule sibe-yithempeli elingcwele eNkosini, okukuyo nani, nakhiwe kanye nabanye, ukuba nibe-yindlu kaNkulunkulu  ngoMoya.” (Efesu 1:13; 2:20-22) Laba abangu-144 000 ababekwe uphawu ‘bangamatshe aphilileyo’ njengoba ‘bakha indlu yokomoya, ubupristi obungcwele.’—1 Petru 2:5; IsAmbulo 7:4; 14:1.

⁴ Njengoba labapristi abangaphansi ‘beyisakhiwo sikaNkulunkulu,’ akalivumeli lelithempeli ukuba lingcoliswe. (1 Korinte 3:9, 16, 17) “Maningaboshelwa ejokeni linye nabangakholwayo,” kuxwayisa uPawulu. “Ngokuba kunakuhlanganyela kuni ukulunga nokungalungi na? Kunabudlelwane buni ukukhanya nobumnyama na? Unakuzwana kuni uKristu noBeliyali na? Unasabelo sini okholwayo nongakholwayo na? Linakuvumelana kuni ithempeli likaNkulunkulu nezithombe na?” AmaKristu agcotshiwe, ‘[angakaJehova, NW] uSomandla,’ kumelwe angahlangani nokukhonza izithombe. (2 Korinte 6:14-18) Labo besixuku esikhulu nabo kumelwe bagweme noma yiluphi uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe.

5. Njengoba eqaphela ukuthi uJehova ufanelwe ukuzinikela okukhethekile, yini amaKristu eqiniso ayenzayo?

⁵ Kukhona kokubili izinhlobo ezisobala nezisithekile zokukhonza izithombe. Cha, ukukhonza izithombe akugcini nje ngokukhulekela onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi bamanga. Kuwukukhulekela noma yini noma ubani ngaphandle kukaJehova. NjengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke,  ngokufanelekile ufuna futhi ufanelwe ukuzinikela okuphelele. (Duteronomi 4:24) Eqaphela lokhu, amaKristu eqiniso alalela izixwayiso ezingokomBhalo ezimelene nakho konke ukukhonza izithombe. (1 Korinte 10:7) Ake sicabangele izinhlobo ezithile zokukhonza izithombe okumelwe zigwenywe izinceku zikaJehova.

Ukukhonza Izithombe KweLobukholwa Kwafanekiselwa Kusengaphambili

6. Yiziphi izinto ezinengekayo uHezekeli azibona embonweni?

⁶ Lapho esekuthunjweni kwaseBabiloni ngo-612 B.C.E., umprofethi uHezekeli wathola umbono wezinto eziyizinengiso ezazenziwa amaJuda ayizihlubuki ethempelini likaJehova eJerusalema. UHezekeli wabona ‘isithombe [“uphawu,” NW] somhawu.’ Abadala abangamashumi ayisikhombisa babonakala benikela impepho ethempelini. Abesifazane babonakala belilela unkulunkulu wamanga. Futhi amadoda angu-25 ayekhulekela ilanga. Zazibaluleke ngani lezizenzo zokuhlubuka?

7, 8. Cishe lwaluyini ‘uphawu lomhawu,’ futhi kungani lwabangela ukuba uJehova abe nomhawu?

⁷ Ukukhonza izithombe kweLobukholwa kwafanekiselwa kusengaphambili yizinto eziyizinengiso ezabonwa uHezekeli embonweni. Ngokwesibonelo, wathi: “Bheka, ngasenyakatho kwesango lasealtare lesisithombe [“loluphawu,” NW] somhawu sasisentubeni. [UJehova uNkulunkulu] wathi kimi: Ndodana yomuntu, uyabona yini abakwenzayo, izinengiso ezinkulu indlu yakwaIsrayeli ezenzayo lapha ukuba ngidede kude nendlu yami engcwele na?”—Hezekeli 8:1-6.

⁸ Uphawu lomhawu olwalukhonzwa kungenzeka ukuthi lwaluyisigxobo esingcwele esasimelela unkulunkulukazi wamanga lowo abaseKhanani ababembheka njengomfazi kankulunkulu wabo uBali. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi loluphawu lwaluyini, lwabangela ukuba uJehova abe nomhawu ngoba lwenza ukuzinikela okuphelele kukaIsrayeli kuye kwahlukana phakathi okwakuwukwephula lemiyalo yakhe: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho . . . Ungabi-nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami. Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo, namfanekiso wokusezulwini ngaphezulu, nowokusemhlabeni phansi, nowokusemanzini phansi komhlaba; ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi, ngokuba mina-Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu [“ofuna ukuzinikela okukhethekile,” NW].”—Eksodusi 20:2-5.

9. ELobukholwa liye lamenza kanjani uNkulunkulu abe nomhawu?

⁹ Ukukhulekela uphawu lomhawu ethempelini likaNkulunkulu kwakungenye yezinto ezinkulu ezinengekayo ezazenziwa amaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki. Ngokufanayo, amasonto eLobukholwa angcoliswa yizimpawu nezithombe ezihlazisa uNkulunkulu ezenza kuhlukane phakathi ukuzinikela okukhethekile athi akunikeza Lowo athi ayamkhonza. UNkulunkulu futhi ubangelwa ukuba abe nomhawu ngoba abefundisi bayawenqaba uMbuso wakhe njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu futhi bakhonza inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene—‘amanyala ami endaweni engcwele,’ lapho kungafanele ame khona.—Mathewu 24:15, 16; Marku 13:14.

10. Yini uHezekeli ayibona ngaphakathi ethempelini, futhi lokhu kufana kanjani nalokho okuphawulekayo kweLobukholwa?

¹⁰ Lapho engena ethempelini, uHezekeli uyabika: “Bheka, zonke izimo zezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo, nezilwane ezinengekayo, nazo zonke izithombe zendlu kaIsrayeli kudwetshiwe odongeni nxazonke. Kwakumi phambi kwabo abantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa bamalunga endlu yakwaIsrayeli . . . kwaba-yilowo nalowo enomcengezi wakhe womlilo esandleni sakhe, nephunga lefu lempepho lenyuka.” Ake ucabange! Abadala bakwaIsrayeli ethempelini likaJehova, benikela impepho konkulunkulu bamanga, ababemelelwa yimifanekiso enengekayo eyayidwetshwe odongeni. (Hezekeli 8:10-12) Ngendlela efanayo, izinyoni nezilwane zasendle ziyasetshenziswa njengophawu olumelele amazwe eLobukholwa, abantu abazinikela kuwo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abefundisi abaningi banecala lokusiza ekudukiseni izixuku ngokusekela umbono oyiphutha wokuziphendukela kwemvelo komuntu esuka ohlotsheni olungaphansi kwabantu, izinhlobo zokuphila zezilwane esikhundleni  sokusekela ukulandisa okuyiqiniso kweBhayibheli kwendalo eyenziwa uJehova uNkulunkulu.—IzEnzo 17:24-28.

11. Kungani abesifazane abangamaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki babelilela uTamuzi?

¹¹ Ekungeneni esangweni lendlu kaJehova, uHezekeli wabona abesifazane abangamaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki belilela uTamuzi. (Hezekeli 8:13, 14) AbaseBabiloni nabaseSiriya babebheka uTamuzi njengonkulunkulu wohlaza olukhula ngenkathi yezimvula futhi lufe phakathi nenkathi yokomisa. Ukufa kwalo kwakufanekisela ukufa kukaTamuzi, owayelilelwa minyaka yonke ngabakhulekeli bakhe ngesikhathi sokushisa okukhulu kakhulu. Lapho uhlaza luphinde luvela phakathi nenkathi yezimvula, uTamuzi kwakuthiwa ubuyile ezweni langaphansi. Wayemelelwa uhlamvu lokuqala lwegama lakhe, utau wasendulo owawuwuhlobo oluthile lwesiphambano. Lokhu kungase kusikhumbuze kahle inhlonipho yokukhonza izithombe eLobukholwa elinayo ngesiphambano.

12. Yini uHezekeli ayibona yenziwa amadoda angu-25 angamaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki, futhi yisiphi isenzo esifanayo esenzekayo kweLobukholwa?

¹² Egcekeni elingaphakathi lethempeli, ngokulandelayo uHezekeli wabona amadoda angu-25 angamaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki ekhulekela ilanga—ukwephulwa komyalo kaJehova ngokumelene nokukhonza izithombe okunjalo. (Duteronomi 4:15-19) Labobakhonzi bezithombe futhi babeka igatsha eliyichilo ekhaleni likaNkulunkulu, mhlawumbe elalimelela isitho sobulili sowesilisa. Kungakho uNkulunkulu ayengenakuyiphendula imithandazo yabo, njengoba nje neLobukholwa liyofuna usizo lwakhe phakathi ‘nosizi olukhulu,’ kodwa kube yize. (Mathewu 24:21) Njengoba lawomaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki ayekhulekela ilanga elinikeza ukukhanya efulathele ithempeli likaJehova, kanjalo eLobukholwa alikunaki ukukhanya okuvela kuNkulunkulu, lifundisa izimfundiso zamanga, likhonza ukuhlakanipha kwezwe futhi lishalazelela ukuziphatha okubi.—Hezekeli 8:15-18.

13. Yiziphi izindlela oFakazi BakaJehova abagwema ngazo izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe ezabonakala embonweni kaHezekeli?

¹³ OFakazi BakaJehova bayazigwema izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe eziqhutshwa kweLobukholwa, noma iJerusalema elingokomfanekiso, njengoba kwabonwa kusengaphambili uHezekeli. Asizikhonzi izimpawu ezihlazisa uNkulunkulu. Nakuba sibonisa inhlonipho ‘ngamandla aphethe’ kahulumeni, ukuzithoba kwethu kuwo kulinganiselwe. (Roma 13:1-7; Marku 12:17; IzEnzo 5:29) Ukuzinikela kwethu okusuka enhliziyweni kunikezwa uNkulunkulu noMbuso wakhe. Asifaki umbono wokuziphendukela kwemvelo esikhundleni soMdali nendalo yakhe. (IsAmbulo 4:11) Asilokothi sidumise isiphambano noma sikwenze isithixo ukuphishekela ukuhlakanipha, ifilosofi, noma ezinye izinhlobo zokuhlakanipha kwezwe. (1 Thimothewu 6:20, 21) Futhi sixwaya zonke ezinye izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe. Ziyini ezinye zalezi?

Ezinye Izinhlobo Zokukhonza Izithombe

14. Yikuphi ukuma okuthathwa yizinceku zikaJehova ngokuqondene ‘nesilo’ sesAmbulo 13:1?

¹⁴ AmaKristu awahlanganyeli nesintu ekukhonzeni “isilo” esingokomfanekiso. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “[Ngabona] isilo sikhuphuka elwandle, sinezimpondo eziyishumi namakhanda ayisikhombisa, nasezimpondweni zaso kukhona imiqhele eyishumi . . . Bayakhuleka kuso bonke abakhileyo emhlabeni.” (IsAmbulo 13:1, 8) Izilo zingamelela “amakhosi,” noma imibuso yezombangazwe. (Daniyeli 7:17; 8:3-8, 20-25) Ngakho amakhanda ayisikhombisa esilo sasendle esingokomfanekiso amelela imibuso yezwe—iGibithe, iAsiriya, iBabiloni, amaMede namaPheresiya, iGrisi, iRoma, nenhlanganisela yamaNgisi namaMelika eyakhiwa iBrithani neUnited States of America. Abefundisi beLobukholwa babonisa indelelo enkulu ngoNkulunkulu noKristu ngokuhola isintu ekukhonzeni isimiso sezombangazwe sikaSathane, “umbusi walelizwe.” (Johane 12:31) Nokho, njengabantu abangamaKristu abangathathi-hlangothi nabasekeli boMbuso izinceku zikaJehova ziyakwenqaba ukukhonza izithombe okunjalo.—Jakobe 1:27.

15. Abantu bakaJehova bababheka kanjani osaziwayo bezwe, futhi yini omunye uFakazi ayisho ngalokhu?

¹⁵ Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayakugwema futhi  ukukhonza osaziwayo bezwe bezokuzijabulisa nezemidlalo. Ngemva kokuba ebe uFakazi KaJehova, omunye umculi wathi: “Umculo wokuzijabulisa nowokudansa ungase uvuse izinkanuko ezimbi . . . Umculi ucula ngenjabulo nothando izilaleli eziningi ezingase zibe nomuzwa wokuthi abangane bazo bomshado abanakho. Umculi ngokuvamile uhlanganiswa nalokho acula ngakho. Ngenxa yalokhu abanye ochwepheshe bomculo engibaziyo bathandwa ngempela ngabesifazane. Uma nje umuntu esecwile kulelizwe lamaphupho, lingamholela ekubeni akhonze umculi. Kungase kuqale kungeyona neze ingozi ngokuba umuntu acele isignesha yomculi njengento eyisikhumbuzo. Kodwa abanye baqala ukubheka umculi njengoyisibonelo sokulingiswa, futhi ngokumnikeza ukwazisa okungamfanele, bamenza isithombe. Bangase baxhome imifanekiso yalosaziwayo odongeni futhi baqale ukugqoka nokuzilungisa njengaye. AmaKristu kumelwe akhumbule ukuthi udumo olukaNkulunkulu kuphela.”

16. Yini ebonisa ukuthi izingelosi ezilungileyo ziyakulahla ukukhonza izithombe?

¹⁶ Yebo, uNkulunkulu kuphela ofanelwe ukudunyiswa noma ukukhulekelwa. Lapho uJohane ‘ewa phansi ukuba akhuleke phambi kwezinyawo zengelosi’ eyayimbonise izinto ezimangalisayo, lesosidalwa somoya senqaba ukuba sikhonzwe nganoma iyiphi indlela kodwa sathi: “Musa; ngiyinceku kanye nawe nabazalwane bakho abaprofethi nabagcina amazwi alencwadi; khuleka kuNkulunkulu.” (IsAmbulo 22:8, 9) Ukwesaba uJehova, noma ukuba nenhlonipho ejulile ngaye, kusenza sikhulekele yena yedwa. (IsAmbulo 14:7) Ngakho, ukuzinikela kweqiniso kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kuyasilonda ekukhonzeni izithombe.—1 Thimothewu 4:8.

17. Singakuxwaya kanjani ukuziphatha okubi kobulili kokukhonza izithombe?

¹⁷ Ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili kungolunye uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe olwenqatshwa izinceku zikaJehova. Ziyazi ukuthi “akukho-sifebe, noma ongcolileyo, noma onesangabe ongokhonza izithombe, onefa embusweni kaKristu noNkulunkulu.” (Efesu 5:5) Ukukhonza izithombe kuhilelekile ngoba ukulangazelela injabulo engavunyelwe ngokomthetho kuba yinto oyikhonzayo. Izimfanelo zokwesaba uNkulunkulu ziyonakaliswa yizinkanuko zobulili ezingafanele. Ngokugxilisa amehlo nezindlebe zakhe ezincwadini ezingcolile, umuntu ubeka engozini noma yibuphi ubuhlobo angase abe nabo noNkulunkulu ongcwele, uJehova. (Isaya 6:3) Khona-ke, ukuze zixwaye ukukhonza izithombe okunjalo izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zigweme izincwadi ezingcolile nomculo owonakele. Kudingeka zinamathele ezindinganisweni eziqinile ezingokomoya ezisekelwe emiBhalweni, futhi kumelwe ziqhubeke zembethe “umuntu omusha owadalwa ngokukaNkulunkulu ekulungeni nasebungcweleni beqiniso.”—Efesu 4:22-24.

Gwema Ukuhaha Nomhawu

18, 19. (a) Kuyini ukuhaha nomhawu? (b) Singakuxwaya kanjani ukuhaha nomhawu kokukhonza izithombe?

¹⁸ AmaKristu ayakuxwaya futhi ukuhaha nobugovu, okuyizinhlobo ezihlobene kakhulu nokukhonza izithombe. Ukuhaha yisifiso esingenakho ukulinganisela noma sokuphanga, kanti umhawu uwukuhahela noma yini engeyomunye umuntu. UJesu waxwayisa ngomhawu futhi wakhuluma ngendoda ecebile eyayinomhawu eyayingenakuzuza engcebweni yayo lapho ifa futhi yaba sesimweni esidabukisayo sokungabi ‘ngenothile kuNkulunkulu.’ (Luka 12:15-21) UPawulu wabeluleka ngokufanelekile ayekholwa nabo: “Bulalani amalungu enu asemhlabeni,  . . . nesangabe [“ubugovu,” NW], okungukukhonza izithombe.”—Kolose 3:5.

¹⁹ Labo ababuswa uthando lwemali, ukuminza ekudleni nasophuzweni, noma isifiso sokuthola igunya benza izifiso ezinjalo zibe izithombe zabo. Njengoba uPawulu akuveza, umuntu ohahayo ungokhonza izithombe futhi ngeke awuzuze uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 6:9, 10; Efesu 5:5) Ngakho, abantu ababhapathiziwe abanomkhuba wokukhonza izithombe njengabantu abahahayo bangasuswa ekuhlanganyeleni nebandla lobuKristu. Nokho, ngokusebenzisa imiBhalo nokuthandaza ngobuqotho singakugwema ukuhaha. IzAga 30:7-9 zithi: “Yizinto ezimbili engizicela kuwe: unganginqabeli nazo, ngingakafi. Dedisela kude nami okuyize namanga, unganginiki ubumpofu nengcebo, kepha ngiphe isinkwa engisimiselweyo, funa ngisuthe, ngikuphike ngithi: UJehova ungubani na? funa ngibe-mpofu, ngebe, ngilone igama likaNkulunkulu wami.” Umoya onjalo ungasisiza ukuba sixwaye ukuhaha nomhawu owukukhonza izithombe.

Xwaya Ukuzenza Isithixo

20, 21. Abantu bakaJehova bakuxwaya kanjani ukuzenza izithixo?

²⁰ Abantu bakaJehova bayakuxwaya futhi ukuzenza izithixo. Kulelizwe kuvamile ukuba umuntu azenze isithixo yena nentando yakhe. Isifiso sokufuna udumo sibangela abaningi ukuba benze izinto ngezindlela zobuqili. Bafuna ukuba kwenziwe intando yabo, hhayi ekaNkulunkulu. Kodwa sasingeke sibe nabo ubuhlobo noNkulunkulu ukuba sasivumele ukuba sizenze izithixo ngokufuna ngobuqili ukuphoqelela intando yethu futhi sizama ukuzenza amakhosi phezu kwabanye. (IzAga 3:32; Mathewu 20:20-28; 1 Petru 5:2, 3) Njengabalandeli bakaJesu, siye sazilahla izinto zalelizwe zomshoshaphansi.—2 Korinte 4:1, 2.

²¹ Esikhundleni sokufuna udumo, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bavumelana nesiyalo sikaPawulu: “Noma nidla, noma niphuza, noma nenzani, konke kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 10:31) Njengoba siyizinceku zikaJehova, asiphoqeleli intando yethu ngendlela yokuzenza izithixo kodwa ngenjabulo senza intando yaphezulu, samukela isiqondiso esivela ‘encekwini ethembekileyo neqondayo’ futhi sibambisana ngokugcwele nenhlangano kaJehova.—Mathewu 24:45-47.

Hlala Uqaphile!

22, 23. Kungayiphi indlela singaqhubeka sixwaya lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe?

²² Njengabantu bakaJehova, asikhothami phambi kwezithombe ezibonakalayo. Futhi siyazixwaya izinhlobo ezisithekile zokukhonza izithombe. Eqinisweni, kumelwe siqhubeke sigwema lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe. Ngaleyondlela sivumelana neseluleko sikaJohane: “Zilindeni ezithombeni.”—1 Johane 5:21.

²³ Uma ungomunye wezinceku zikaJehova, njalo sebenzisa unembeza wakho oqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli namandla akho okuqonda. (Heberu 5:14) Khona-ke ngeke ungcoliswe umoya wezwe wokukhonza izithombe kodwa uyoba njengamaHeberu amathathu athembekile kanye namaKristu akuqala aqotho. Uyonikeza uJehova ukuzinikela okuphelele, futhi uyokusiza ukuba uqhubeke uxwaya lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe.

Iyini Imibono Yakho?

□ OFakazi BakaJehova bazigwema kanjani izinhlobo zokukhonza izithombe ezabonakala embonweni kaHezekeli?

□ Siyini “isilo” sesAmbulo 13:1, futhi yikuphi ukuma okuthathwa yizinceku zikaJehova ngokuqondene naso?

□ Kungani kumelwe uxwaye ukukhonza osaziwayo bezokuzijabulisa nabezemidlalo?

□ Singakuxwaya kanjani ukuzenza izithixo?

□ Kungani kumelwe uqhubeke uxwaya lonke uhlobo lokukhonza izithombe?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Izithombe ekhasini 26]

Ingabe uyazi ukuthi izinto ezinengekayo ezabonakala embonweni kaHezekeli zakufanekisela kanjani ukukhonza izithombe kweLobukholwa?

[Umthombo]

Artwork (upper left) based on photo by Ralph Crane/Bardo Museum