1, 2. Kungani kwakumele inzalo yowesifazana ivikelwe?

 ISIPHROFETHO sokuqala esilotshwe eBhayibhilini siqakatheke kakhulu ngoba sitshengisa ukuthi injongo kaJehova izagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. UNkulunkulu weqiniso wathi esungula isithembiso sase-Edeni wathi: “Ngizavusa inzondano phakathi kwakho [Sathane] lowesifazana, laphakathi kwenzalo yakho lenzalo yakhe.” Yayizabe injani inzondano le? UJehova wathi: “Yona [inzalo yowesifazana] izachoboza ikhanda lakho [Sathane], wena uzalimaza isithende sayo.” (Gen. 3:15, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Inyoka lowesifazana babezakuba yingwe lenja okokuthi uSathane wayezakwenza konke angakwenza ukuze ayithanyele ayiqede inzalo yowesifazana.

² Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi umhubi wathandaza ekhuluma ngabantu ababekhethwe nguNkulunkulu wathi: “Akubone ukuthi ziphithizela kanjani izitha zakho, ukuthi ziwaqaphisa njani amakhanda azo. Ngobuqili zakhela abantu bakho amacebo; zisongela labo obathembileyo. Bathi, ‘Wozani kasibabhuqe du njengesizwe.’ ” (Hubo. 83:2-4) Usendo okwakuzavela kulo inzalo yowesifazana kwakumele luvikelwe ukuze lungatshabalaliswa njalo lungangcoliswa. Yikho ukuze aluvikele, uJehova wenza ezinye izivumelwano ezazizakwenza ukuthi lokho ayekuhlosile kugcwaliseke.

3, 4. (a) Isivumelwano soMthetho saqala nini ukusebenza, njalo isizwe sako-Israyeli savuma ukwenzani? (b) Isivumelwano soMthetho sasinceda ngani?

³ Izizukulwana zika-Abhrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe zanda kakhulu zaba ngamamiliyoni. Kuthe sekunjalo uJehova wasezihlanganisa wabumba isizwe sako-Israyeli wasendulo. UJehova wasebenzisa uMosi ukuthi enze isivumelwano esiqakathekileyo lesizwe lesi. Esivumelwaneni lesi, isizwe saphiwa uMthetho njalo savumelana lakho konke okwakutshiwo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ngakho [uMosi] wathatha incwadi yesivumelwano wayifundela abantu. Bona bavuma besithi, ‘Sizakwenza konke okutshiwo nguJehova; sizamlalela.’ Ngemva kwalokho uMosi wathatha igazi wachela abantu esithi kubo, ‘Leli ligazi lesivumelwano sikaJehova asenze lani maqondana lawo wonke lamazwi.’ ”—Eks. 24:3-8.

⁴ Isivumelwano soMthetho saqala ukusebenza eNtabeni yeSinayi ngo-1513 B.C.E. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa isivumelwano lesi ukuze isizwe sako-Israyeli wasendulo sibe ngabantu bakhe abakhethiweyo. UJehova ‘wayesengumahluleli wabo, esebanika imithetho’ njalo eseyiNkosi yabo. (Isaya. 33:22) Lamuhla nxa sibala izindaba ezimayelana lo-Israyeli wasendulo siyabona ukuthi kuyini okwenzakalayo nxa abantu belalela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu lokuthi kwenzakalani nxa bengazilaleli. UMthetho wawusithi abako-Israyeli bangathathi abahedeni njalo bangendiselani labo, kanye lokuthi bangalandeli inkolo yamanga. Yikho-ke wawunceda ngokuthi wawuvikela usendo luka-Abhrahama ukuthi lungangcoliswa.—Eks. 20:4-6; 34:12-16.

5. (a) Isivumelwano soMthetho sanika ama-Israyeli liphi ithuba? (b) UNkulunkulu wabalahlelani abako-Israyeli?

⁵ Esivumelwaneni soMthetho kwakubekwa abaphristi njalo lokhu kwakuyisithunzi sokuthile okuqakathekileyo okwakuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. (Heb. 7:11; 10:1) Kuyakhanya ukuthi abako-Israyeli basebethole ithuba elihle lokuba “ngumbuso wabaphristi” ngenxa yesivumelwano lesi. Kodwa kwakumele balalele imithetho kaJehova ukuze bathole isibusiso lesi. (Bala u-Eksodusi 19:5, 6.) Okudanisayo yikuthi abako-Israyeli kabazange balalele. Lapho uMesiya, oyingxenye enkulu yenzalo ka-Abhrahama efika, bamlahla kulokuthi bamamukele ngezandla zombili. Yikho-ke uNkulunkulu laye wabalahla.

6. Lokho okwakuhlosiwe lapho kusenziwa uMthetho kwaphumelela yini? Chaza.

⁶ Abako-Israyeli behluleka ukuba ngumbuso wabaphristi ngoba kabazange bahlale bethembekile kuJehova. Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi uMthetho wawungaqondanga. Wawufakelwe ukuthi uvikele inzalo yowesifazana lokuthi uncede abantu bamazi lowo owayenguMesiya. Okwakuhlosiwe lapho kusenziwa isivumelwano soMthetho kwaphumelela ngenxa yokuthi uKhristu wafika njalo abantu bamazi. IBhayibhili lithi, “UKhristu ungumkhawulo womthetho.” (Rom. 10:4)  Lanxa kunjalo umbuzo osalayo nanku: Ngobani pho abasebezathola ithuba lokuba ngumbuso wabaphristi? UJehova uNkulunkulu wenza esinye isivumelwano ukuze abumbe esinye isizwe esitsha.

7. UJehova wavezani esebenzisa uJeremiya?

⁷ Kusasele isikhathi eside ukuthi isivumelwano soMthetho sikhitshwe, uJehova wasebenzisa umphrofethi uJeremiya ukuze aveze ukuthi wayezakwenza “isivumelwano esitsha” lesizwe sako-Israyeli. (Bala uJeremiya 31:31-33.) Isivumelwano esitsha sasingasoze sifanane lesoMthetho ngoba sona sasizakwenza ukuthi abantu bathethelelwe izono kungenziwanga imihlatshelo yezinyamazana. Sasizakwenza njani lokhu?

8, 9. (a) Igazi likaJesu elachithekayo linceda ngani? (b) Yiliphi ithuba elitholwa ngabasesivumelwaneni esitsha? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁸ Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka, uJesu wasungula iSidlo seNkosi Sakusihlwa ngoNisani 14, 33 C.E. Ekhuluma ngenkomitshi yewayini watshela abaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo abangu-11 wathi: “Inkomitshi le iyisivumelwano esitsha egazini lami elichithelwa lina.” (Luk. 22:20) Kanti njalo kuMathewu kulamazwi kaJesu aphathelane lewayini athi: “Leli ligazi lami lesivumelwano elichithelwe abanengi ukuthethelelwa kwezono.”—Mat. 26:27, 28.

⁹ Igazi likaJesu elachithekayo yilo elenza isivumelwano esitsha sisebenze njalo lisinika ithuba lokuthi sithethelelwe izono ngokupheleleyo. UJesu kadingi ukuthethelelwa ngoba kalasono. Yikho-ke, kakho esivumelwaneni esitsha. Kodwa uNkulunkulu angasebenzisa umhlatshelo wegazi likaJesu elachithekayo ukuze ancede izizukulwana zika-Adamu. Kanti njalo umhlatshelo lo wenza lokuthi enelise ukugcoba abantu abathile abathembekileyo esebenzisa umoya ongcwele ukuze babe ‘ngamadodana’ akhe. (Bala uRoma 8:14-17.) Ngamanye amazwi bayabe sebenjengoJesu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu engelasono ngoba kuNkulunkulu kuyabe sekufanana lokuthi abalasono. Abagcotshiweyo laba baba ‘yizindlalifa kanye loKhristu’ njalo lokhu kubenza bathole ithuba lokuba “ngumbuso wabaphristi.” Isibusiso lesi sasizatholwa yisizwe sako-Israyeli esasingaphansi koMthetho. Umphostoli uPhetro wakhuluma ‘ngezindlalifa kanye loKhristu’ wathi: “Lingabantu abakhethiweyo, ubuphristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abangaba-kaNkulunkulu, ukuba limemezele izindumiso zakhe yena owalibiza lisemnyameni ukuze lize ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.” (1 Phet. 2:9) Uyakubona yini ukuthi isivumelwano esitsha siqakatheke kakhulu? Senza ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu labo babe yingxenye yenzalo ka-Abhrahama.

10. Isivumelwano esitsha saqalisa nini ukusebenza, njalo kungani singaqalisanga ukusebenza ngesikhathi uJesu ekhuluma ngaso ngobusuku ayezakufa ngabo?

¹⁰ Isivumelwano esitsha saqalisa nini ukusebenza? Asiqalisanga ngesikhathi uJesu ekhuluma ngaso ngobusuku ayezakufa ngabo. Kwakumele siqalise ukusebenza nxa igazi lakhe selichithekile njalo umhlatshelo walo usunikelwe kuJehova ezulwini. Kanti njalo umoya ongcwele kwakumele uthululelwe kulabo ababezakuba ‘yizindlalifa kanye loKhristu.’ Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi isivumelwano esitsha saqalisa ukusebenza ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., lapho abafundi bakaJesu ababethembekile begcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele.

11. Isivumelwano esitsha sasizakwenza njani ukuthi amaJuda labeZizweni babe ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, njalo bangaki ababezakuba sesivumelwaneni esitsha?

¹¹ Lapho uJehova esebenzisa uJeremiya ukuthi amemezele ukuthi wayezakwenza isivumelwano esitsha labako-Israyeli, singathi isivumelwano soMthetho senziwa saba  “ngesingasasebenziyo.” Kodwa asizange sihle silahlwe, saqhubeka sisebenza sasesikhitshwa ngesikhathi isivumelwano esitsha siqalisa ukusebenza. (Heb. 8:13) Isivumelwano esitsha sesisebenza, uNkulunkulu wayesebona kungelamahluko phakathi komJuda kanye loweZizweni ongasokwanga ngoba ukusoka kwabo ‘yikusoka kwenhliziyo ngomoya, hatshi ngomlayo.’ (Rom. 2:29) Yikho-ke uNkulunkulu esenze labo isivumelwano esitsha, wayezafaka imithetho yakhe ‘ezingqondweni zabo, ayilobe ezinhliziyweni zabo.’ (Heb. 8:10) Ababezakuba sesivumelwaneni esitsha bangu-144 000 njalo yibo ababumba isizwe esitsha. Isizwe lesi sibizwa ngokuthi ‘ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’—Gal. 6:16; Isam. 14:1, 4.

12. Qamba umahluko okhona phakathi kwesivumelwano soMthetho lesivumelwano esitsha.

¹² Yiwuphi umahluko okhona phakathi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kanye lesivumelwano esitsha? Isivumelwano soMthetho sasiphakathi kukaJehova lesizwe sako-Israyeli, kodwa isivumelwano esitsha siphakathi kukaJehova lo-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, okutsho amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. UMosi wayengummeli wesivumelwano soMthetho, kodwa uMmeli wesivumelwano esitsha nguJesu. Isivumelwano soMthetho senziwa sasebenza ngenxa yegazi lenyamazana, kodwa isivumelwano esitsha senziwa sasebenza ngenxa yegazi likaJesu. Isizwe sako-Israyeli sasiphansi koMthetho sikhokhelwa nguMosi, kodwa abasesivumelwaneni esitsha bakhokhelwa nguJesu oyiNhloko yebandla.—Efe. 1:22.

13, 14. (a) Isivumelwano esitsha singenelana njani loMbuso? (b) Kuyini okufunekayo ukuze u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu enelise ukuyabusa loKhristu ezulwini?

¹³ Isivumelwano esitsha singenelana loMbuso ngoba yiso esenza kube lesizwe esingcwele esiphiwe isibusiso sokuba ngamakhosi labaphristi eMbusweni wezulu. Isizwe lesi yiso esibumba enye ingxenye yenzalo ka-Abhrahama. (Gal. 3:29) Yikho-ke isivumelwano esitsha sitshengisa ukuthi isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu lo-Abhrahama sizagcwaliseka loba sekutheni.

¹⁴ Lanxa kunjalo, kulokunye okuyabe sekusele. Isivumelwano esitsha yiso esenza kube lo-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu njalo yiso esiqinisa ukuthi abasesivumelwaneni lesi babe ‘yizindlalifa kanye loKhristu.’ Kodwa ukuze babuse loJesu eMbusweni wakhe bengamakhosi labaphristi ezulwini, kulesinye futhi isivumelwano esifunekayo.

15. Yisiphi isivumelwano esenziwa nguJesu labaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo?

¹⁵ UJesu wathi eseqalise iSidlo seNkosi Sakusihlwa, wenza isivumelwano labaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo. Isivumelwano lesi sijayele ukubizwa ngokuthi yisivumelwano soMbuso. (Luk. 22:28-30) Sibonile ukuthi kwezinye izivumelwano zonke, uJehova wayekhona phakathi. Kodwa kulesi kuloJesu labalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo kuphela. Kuyacaca ukuthi lapho uJesu esithi: “Njengoba uBaba wenza isivumelwano lami, NW” engabe wayesitsho isivumelwano uJehova ayesenze laye esokuthi abe ‘ngumphristi nini lanini emkhondweni kaMelikhizedekhi.’—Heb. 5:5, 6.

16. Isivumelwano soMbuso senza ukuthi amaKhristu agcotshiweyo enelise ukwenzani?

¹⁶ Abaphostoli bakaJesu abangu-11 ababethembekile ‘bama laye ebunzimeni bakhe.’ Isivumelwano soMbuso sabenza baba leqiniso lokuthi babezakuba laye ezulwini bahlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi bengamakhosi labaphristi. Kodwa laba abangu-11 kayisibo bodwa ababezathola isibusiso lesi. UJesu esekhazinyulisiwe wabonakala kumphostoli uJohane embonweni wasesithi: “Lowo onqobayo, ngizamnika ilungelo lokuhlala lami esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, njengoba lami nganqoba ngasengihlala loBaba esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.” (Isam. 3:21) Yikho-ke isivumelwano soMbuso sibunjwa ngamaKhristu agcotshiweyo angu-144 000.  (Isam. 5:9, 10; 7:4) Kanti njalo isivumelwano lesi yiso esenza amaKhristu la ayebusa loJesu ezulwini. Lokhu kufanana lomlobokazi otshada lenkosi, laye abesephiwa isikhundla embusweni womkakhe. IMibhalo layo ithi amaKhristu agcotshiweyo ‘ngumlobokazi’ kaKhristu, ‘intombi epheleleyo’ eyathenjiswa umtshado nguKhristu.—Isam. 19:7, 8; 21:9; 2 Khor. 11:2.

17, 18. (a) Chaza ngamafitshane ukuthi isivumelwano sinye ngasinye esixoxe ngaso sinceda njani ukuthi injongo yoMbuso iphumelele. (b) Kuyini okungasenza sibe lokholo oluqinileyo lokuthi uMbuso uzagcwalisa injongo yawo?

¹⁷ Sesibonile ukuthi zonke izivumelwano esixoxe ngazo ezihlokweni lezi ezimbili ziveza izinto eziqakathekileyo eziphathelane lokugcwaliseka kwenjongo yoMbuso. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “UNkulunkulu Uzayigcwalisa Njani Injongo Yakhe?”) Lokhu kwenza kusicacele ukuthi okuzakwenziwa nguMbuso kuqiniswa yizivumelwano ezingeke zephulwe. Yikho-ke akulasizatho sokuthi sithandabuze ukuthi uMbuso obuswa nguMesiya yiwo osetshenziswa nguNkulunkulu ukuze injongo yakhe yasekuqaliseni mayelana lomhlaba kanye labantu igcwaliseke.—Isam. 11:15.

18 Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi okuzakwenziwa nguMbuso kuzakwenza ukuthi abantu bathole izibusiso ezingapheliyo. Singakutsho sikhululekile njalo silesibindi ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo wodwa ozasusa izinhlupho zabantu. Yikho-ke kasambeni siyetshela abanye iqiniso leli.—Mat. 24:14.