1. Ingilosi ithini njalo thina kumele senzeni?

 NXA ingilosi ibingafika ikhulume lawe ubungakulalela yini ekutshoyo? Lamuhla ingilosi ikhuluma lazo “zonke izizwe, lezizwana, lezindimi kanye labantu.” Ithini? Ithi: ‘Mesabeni uNkulunkulu limnike inkazimulo. Khonzani lowo owenza izulu, lomhlaba.’ (Isam. 14:​6, 7) UJehova nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso njalo kumele akhonzwe ngabantu bonke. Siyambonga kakhulu ngoba usinike ithuba eliligugu lokumkhonza ethempelini lakhe elikhulu.

2. Liyini ithempeli likaJehova? (Khangela lebhokisi elithi “ Lokho Elingayisikho Khona.”)

² Liyini ithempeli likaJehova njalo kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sizwisise konke okuphathelane lalo? Ithempeli likaJehova ayisiso sakhiwo, luhlelo lukaJehova lokukhonza kweqiniso olusekelwe enhlawulweni kaJesu. Umphostoli uPhawuli wachasisa okunengi ngohlelo lolu encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru ayehlala eJudiya. b

3-4. Kuyini okwakukhathaza uPhawuli mayelana lamaKhristu angamaHebheru ayehlala eJudiya njalo wawancedisa njani?

³ Kungani uPhawuli wabhala incwadi eyayisiya kumaKhristu angamaHebheru ayeseJudiya? Mhlawumbe ngenxa yezizatho ezimbili eziqakathekileyo. Esokuqala, wayefuna ukuwakhuthaza. Phela abanengi babo babelandela ukholo lwesiJuda bengakabi ngamaKhristu. Kumele ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo yesiJuda babebachothoza sebengamaKhristu. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi amaKhristu ayengela thempeli lapho ayengakhonzela khona, ayengela alithare lapho ayenganikela khona imihlatshelo kuNkulunkulu  njalo ayengela baphristi ayebafundisa. Okwakusenziwa ngabakhokheli besiJuda kwakungabadanisa abafundi bakaKhristu futhi kuxegise lokholo lwabo. (Heb. 2:1; 3:​12, 14) Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye babeke bacabange ukuthi babuyele okholweni lwesiJuda.

⁴ Okwesibili, uPhawuli wathi amaKhristu lawo angamaHebheru ayengazimiselanga ukusebenza nzima ukuze azwisise izinto ezintsha kumbe ezijulileyo, okutsho “ukudla okuqinileyo” okutholakala eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. (Heb. 5:​11-14) Kanti njalo kukhanya abanye babo babelokhu besabambelele eMthethweni kaMosi. Kodwa uPhawuli wabachasisela ukuthi imihlatshelo ababeyenza ngaphansi koMthetho yayingeke isuse izono ngokugcweleyo. Ngenxa yalesosizatho uMthetho ‘wawusubekwe eceleni.’ Yikho uPhawuli waqalisa ukubafundisa izinto ezijulileyo. Wakhumbuza amaKhristu la ‘ngethemba elingcono’ elalisekelwe emhlatshelweni kaJesu futhi elalizabanceda ukuthi ‘basondele kuNkulunkulu.’—Heb. 7:​18, 19.

5. Kuyini okusencwadini yamaHebheru okumele sikuzwisise njalo kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sikuzwisise?

⁵ UPhawuli wachasisela abafowabo abangamaHebheru ukuthi kungani indlela abasebekhonza ngayo sebengamaKhristu yayingcono kakhulu ukwedlula indlela ababekhonza ngayo kudala. Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo elandela uMthetho ‘yayiyisithunzi sezinto ezizayo kodwa okoqobo ngokukaKhristu.’ (Kol. 2:17) Nxa umuntu ebona isithunzi uyabe engaboni into yoqobo kodwa uyabe ebona umfanekiso nje kuphela. Yikho indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala yayiyisithunzi nje ngoba kwakuzakuba lendlela engcono yokukhonza. Kumele sizwisise uhlelo olubekwe nguJehova olusinceda ukuthi sithethelelwe izono zethu ukuze simkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. Ake sixoxe ngomehluko okhona phakathi ‘kwesithunzi,’ okutsho indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala, kanye ‘lokoqobo’ okutsho indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo njengoba kuchasiswe kumaHebheru. Nxa singenza njalo sizazwisisa ngcono ithempeli likaJehova siphinde sibone ukuthi liqakatheke ngani kithi.

6. Ithabanikeli lalisebenzani?

⁶ Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala. UPhawuli wakhuluma ngethabanikeli elelakhiwe nguMosi ngo-1512 B.C.E. (Khangela itshathi elithi “Indlela AmaJuda Ayekhonza Ngayo—Indlela AmaKhristu Akhonza Ngayo.”) Ithabanikeli lalinjengetende njalo ekuqaliseni ama-Israyeli ayelithwala nxa ayesuka kweyinye indawo esiya kwenye. Basebenzisa ithabanikeli lelo  okweminyaka engaba ngu-500 kwaze kwafika isikhathi lapho okwasekwakhiwe khona ithempeli eJerusalema. (Eks. 25:​8, 9; Nani. 9:22) “Itende lokuhlangana” kumbe ithabanikeli yindawo lapho ama-Israyeli ayehlangana khona ukuze akhonze uNkulunkulu futhi anikele lemihlatshelo yawo. (Eks. 29:​43-46) Lanxa kunjalo ithabanikeli lalimela okungcono kakhulu kumaKhristu.

7. Ithempeli likaJehova laba khona nini?

⁷ Indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo. Ithabanikeli ‘laliyisithunzi sezinto ezisezulwini’ njalo lalimela ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu. UPhawuli wathi “itende leli [kumbe ithabanikeli] liyisifanekiso sezinto zakhathesi.” (Heb. 8:5; 9:9) Yikho ngesikhathi ebhala incwadi eyayisiya kumaHebheru, amaKhristu ayevele esekhonza ethempelini likaJehova. Ithempeli leli laba khona ngo-29 C.E. Ngalowomnyaka uJesu wabhabhathizwa, wagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele njalo waqalisa ukuba ‘ngumphristi omkhulu kakhulu’ ethempelini likaJehova. c—Heb. 4:14; Imiseb. 10:​37, 38.

8-9. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHebheru 7:​23-27 yiwuphi umahluko okhona phakathi kwabaphristi abakhulu bako-Israyeli kanye loMphristi Omkhulu kakhulu uJesu Khristu?

⁸ Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala. Umphristi omkhulu wayemela abantu phambi kukaNkulunkulu. U-Aroni nguye owaba ngumphristi omkhulu wakuqala ko-Israyeli njalo wabekwa nguJehova ngesikhathi ithabanikeli linikelwa. Lanxa kunjalo uPhawuli wathi “abanengi kwakumele babe ngabaphristi belandelana ngoba ukufa kwakubavimbela ukuthi baqhubeke bengabaphristi.” d (Bala uHebheru 7:​23-27.) Kanti njalo labobaphristi abakhulu kwakumele banikele imihlatshelo yezono zabo ngoba labo babezelwe belesono. Lo ngumahluko omkhulu okhona phakathi kwabaphristi abakhulu bako-Israyeli loJesu Khristu uMphristi Omkhulu kakhulu.

⁹ Indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo. Njengoba uJesu enguMphristi Omkhulu ‘uyisikhonzi setende leqiniso elingamiswanga ngabantu kodwa elamiswa nguJehova.’ (Heb. 8:​1, 2) UPhawuli wathi ngoJesu: “Obakhe ubuphristi abutshiyelwana ngenxa yokuthi uzaqhubeka ephila kuze kube phakade.” Waphinda wathi uJesu nguMphristi Omkhulu “ongangcoliswanga, owehlukaniswe lezoni.” Kanti njalo uJesu utshiyene labanye abaphristi abakhulu ngoba “akudingakali ukuthi anikele imihlatshelo nsuku zonke” njengoba engelasono. Khathesi ake sixoxe ngomehluko okhona phakathi kwama-alithare kanye lemihlatshelo eyayisenziwa ngamaJuda kudala laleyo eyenziwa ngamaKhristu.

10. Imihlatshelo eyayisenziwa e-alithareni lekhopha yayimelani?

¹⁰ Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala. Phandle komnyango wethabanikeli kwakule-alithare lekhopha lapho okwakusenziwa khona imihlatshelo yezinyamazana eyayinikelwa kuJehova. (Eks. 27:​1, 2; 40:29) Lanxa kunjalo imihlatshelo leyo yayingenzi ukuthi abantu bathethelelwe izono zabo ngokupheleleyo. (Heb. 10:​1-4) Imihlatshelo yezinyamazana eyayihlala isenziwa ethabanikeli yayimela umhlatshelo owodwa owawuzakwenza ukuthi izono zabantu zithethelelwe ngokupheleleyo.

11. Yiliphi i-alithare uJesu azinikela kulo? (UHebheru 10:​5-7, 10)

¹¹ Indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayemthume emhlabeni ukuthi azonikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze kube ngumhlatshelo wenhlawulo yabantu. (Mat. 20:28) Yikho ngesikhathi  ebhabhathizwa, wazinikela ukuthi enze intando kaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 6:38; Gal. 1:4) Ngokwenza lokhu kwakungathi uJesu usezinikele e-alithareni elimela “intando” kaNkulunkulu, hatshi elenziwe ngabantu. Intando kaNkulunkulu kwakuyikuthi indodana yakhe inikele ngokuphila kwayo ukuthi kube ngumhlatshelo. Impilo kaJesu yanikelwa “kanye kuphela” ukuze kuhlawulelwe izono zabantu bonke abalokholo kuye. (Bala uHebheru 10:​5-7, 10.) Khathesi ake sibone ukuthi ezinye izinto ezaziphakathi kwethabanikeli zazimelani.

12. Ngobani ababevunyelwa ukungena eNdaweni Engcwele futhi ngubani owayevunyelwa ukungena eNgcwelengcwele?

¹² Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala. Ngemva kwesikhathi kwakhiwa amathempeli eJerusalema njalo indlela ayeyenziwe ngayo phakathi yayifanana lendlela ithabanikeli elalenziwe ngayo. Phakathi kwakulendawo yokuqala eyayibizwa ngokuthi “yiNdawo Engcwele” kuphinde kube lendawo yesibili eyayibizwa ngokuthi “yiNgcwelengcwele.” Indawo lezi ezimbili zazehlukaniswe ngekhetheni elalilemiceciso. (Heb. 9:​2-5; Eks. 26:​31-33) Phakathi kweNdawo Engcwele kwakuloluthi lwesibane olwenziwe ngegolide, le-alithare lokutshisela impepha kanye letafula yesinkwa sokubukiswa. ‘Abaphristi ababegcotshiwe’ yibo kuphela ababevunyelwa ukungena eNdaweni Engcwele ukuze benze imisebenzi yabo yobuphristi. (Nani. 3:​3, 7, 10) ENgcwelengcwele kwakulebhokisi lesivumelwano elenziwe ngegolide njalo ibhokisi leli lalimela ukuba khona kukaJehova. (Eks. 25:​21, 22) Umphristi omkhulu nguye kuphela owayevunyelwa ukudlula aye ngale kwekhetheni  angene eNgcwelengcwele. Lokhu wayekwenza kanye ngomnyaka ngeLanga Lokuhlawulelwa. (Levi. 16:​2, 17) Minyaka yonke wayengena legazi lezinyamazana ukuze ahlawulele izono zakhe lezesizwe sonke. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze acacise ukuthi izinto lezi ezaziphakathi kwethabanikeli zazimelani.—Heb. 9:​6-8. e

13. INdawo Engcwele leNgcwelengcwele yethabanikeli kumelani?

¹³ Indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo. Abafundi bakaKhristu abalutshwana bagcotshwa ngomoya besebethola isibusiso esiqakathekileyo sokuba ngabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. Abafundi laba abangu-144 000 bazakuba ngabaphristi ndawonye loJesu ezulwini. (Isam. 1:6; 14:1) INdawo Engcwele yethabanikeli imela isibusiso abagcotshiweyo abalaso esokuba ngamadodana kaNkulunkulu besesemhlabeni. (Rom. 8:​15-17) INgcwelengcwele yethabanikeli imela izulu lapho uJehova ahlala khona. ‘Ikhetheni’ elalisehlukanisa iNdawo Engcwele leNgcwelengcwele limela umzimba kaJesu wenyama ngoba wawumvimbela ukuthi angene ezulwini enguMphristi Omkhulu kakhulu ethempelini likaJehova. UJesu wathi esenikele ngomzimba wakhe wenyama ukuthi ube ngumhlatshelo wabantu, wavula indlela yokuthi wonke amaKhristu agcotshiweyo athole ithuba lokuyaphila ezulwini. Lawo kumele atshiye imizimba yawo yenyama ukuze athole umvuzo wokuyaphila ezulwini. (Heb. 10:​19, 20; 1 Khor. 15:50) UJesu wathi esevusiwe wangena eNgcwelengcwele yethempeli likaJehova njalo bonke abagcotshiweyo bazangena kuyo.

14. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHebheru 9:​12, 24-26 kuyini okwenza uhlelo lukaJehova lwethempeli lube ngcono kakhulu?

¹⁴ Khathesi sekucaca ukuthi uhlelo lukaJehova lokukhonza kweqiniso olusekelwe emhlatshelweni wenhlawulo futhi olukhokhelwa nguMphristi Omkhulu uJesu Khristu lungcono kakhulu. Umphristi omkhulu wako-Israyeli wayengena eNgcwelengcwele eyayenziwe ngabantu ephethe igazi lemihlatshelo yezinyamazana kodwa uJesu wangena “ezulwini ngokwalo,” indawo engcwele kulazo zonke ukuze ame phambi kukaJehova. Esesezulwini wethula umhlatshelo wakhe ayewenze ngempilo yakhe yasemhlabeni “ukuze asuse isono ngomhlatshelo wakhe.” (Bala uHebheru 9:​12, 24-26.) Umhlatshelo kaJesu yiwo wodwa owenelisa ukususa isono kuze kube nini lanini. Njengoba sizabona, sonke singenelisa ukukhonza uJehova ethempelini lakhe kungelani lokuthi ithemba lethu ngelasezulwini kumbe ngelasemhlabeni.

15. Ngobani ababesebenzela egumeni lethabanikeli?

¹⁵ Indlela amaJuda ayekhonza ngayo kudala. Ithabanikeli lalileguma elilodwa. Le kwakuyindawo enkulu eyayigonjolozelwe, futhi kulapho abaphristi ababesenzela khona imisebenzi yabo. Egumeni leli kwakule-alithare lekhopha lapho okwakusenzelwa khona iminikelo yokutshiswa. Kwakuphinda kube lenditshi yekhopha eyayilamanzi lapho abaphristi ababegezela khona bengakaqalisi ukwenza imisebenzi yabo. (Eks. 30:​17-20; 40:​6-8) Amathempeli ayesakhiwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ayeleguma elingaphandle lapho abantu abangayisibo baphristi ababesima khona bakhonze uNkulunkulu.

16. Ngobani abakhonza besegumeni elingaphakathi njalo ngobani abakhonza besegumeni elingaphandle?

¹⁶ Indlela amaKhristu akhonza ngayo. Abafowabo bakaKhristu abagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni bakhonza bethembekile egumeni elingaphakathi lethempeli likaJehova besalindele ukuyakuba ngabaphristi loJesu ezulwini. Inditshi yamanzi enkulu eyayisethabanikeli lasemathempelini ikhumbuza abagcotshiweyo lawo  wonke amaKhristu ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi bahlale behlanzekile endleleni abaziphatha ngayo lasendleleni abakhonza ngayo. Manje “ixuku elikhulu” elisekela abafowabo bakaKhristu abagcotshiweyo zikhathi zonke lona likhonza lingaphi? Umphostoli uJohane wabona ixuku leli ‘limi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi.’ Indawo elimi kuyo imela iguma elingaphandle elisemhlabeni lapho ixuku leli ‘elenzela khona [uNkulunkulu] inkonzo engcwele ethempelini lakhe emini lebusuku.’ (Isam. 7:​9, 13-15) Siyasibonga kakhulu isibusiso uJehova asinike sona sokuthi simkhonze ethempelini lakhe.

17. Kuyini esinganikela ngakho kuJehova?

¹⁷ AmaKhristu wonke lamuhla alesibusiso esiligugu esokwenza iminikelo kuJehova. Asebenzisa isikhathi sawo, lamandla awo kanye lempahla yawo ukuze umsebenzi woMbuso kaNkulunkulu uqhubekele phambili. Njengoba umphostoli uPhawuli watshela amaKhristu angamaHebheru, lathi ‘singaqhubeka sinikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okutsho amazwi aphuma emilonyeni yethu simemezela ibizo lakhe obala.’ (Heb. 13:15) Singatshengisa ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isibusiso esilaso sokukhonza uJehova ngokumupha okungcono kakhulu esilakho.

18. Kuyini okukhulunywa ngakho kuHebheru 10:​22-25 okumele siqhubeke sikwenza njalo kuyini okungamelanga sikukhohlwe?

¹⁸ Bala uHebheru 10:​22-25. UPhawuli wathi esesiyaphetha incwadi yakhe eyayisiya kumaHebheru wakhuluma ngalokho amaKhristu akhonza uJehova okumele ahlale ekwenza. Lokhu kugoqela ukuthandaza kuJehova, ukutshumayeza abanye, ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla kanye lokukhuthazana ‘ikakhulu njengoba sibona usuku [lukaJehova] lusondela.’ Ibhuku leSambulo selisiyaphela kulamazwi engilosi kaJehova athi: “Khonza uNkulunkulu!” njalo amazwi la iwakhuluma kabili ukuze igcizelele ukuthi lokho kuqakathekile. (Isam. 19:10; 22:9) Kasingakhohlwa iqiniso elijulileyo elimayelana lethempeli likaJehova elikhulu kanye lesipho esiligugu esilaso sokukhonza uNkulunkulu wethu omkhulu!