1, 2. Kungani abantu abaningi bengawunaki umthetho, kodwa singase sizizwe kanjani ngemithetho kaNkulunkulu?

 “UMTHETHO uwumgodi ongagcwali, . . . ushwabadela yonke into.” Lawo mazwi ayesencwadini eyakhishwa kudala ngo-1712. Umbhali wayo wayekhala ngesimiso somthetho lapho amacala ayequlwa khona kuphele iminyaka, baze baphelelwe izimali labo ababefuna ukwenzelwa ubulungisa. Emazweni amaningi, ezomthetho nezokwahlulela ziyinkimbinkimbi, zigcwele ukungathembeki, ukukhetha, nokushintshashintsha, kangangokuthi abantu abaningi bayawudelela umthetho.

² Kodwa cabanga ngala mazwi abhalwa eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 700 edlule: “Yeka indlela engiwuthanda ngayo umthetho wakho!” (IHubo 119:97) Kungani umhubi ayezizwa ngale ndlela? Kungoba umthetho ayewutusa wawungaveli kunoma yimuphi uhulumeni wezwe, kodwa kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Lapho utadisha imithetho kaJehova, nawe ungase uye ngokuya uzizwa njengomhubi. Ukutadisha okunjalo kuyokwenza uwuqonde kangcono umqondo weSazi-mthetho esiphakeme kunazo zonke endaweni yonke.

3, 4. UJehova uzibonakalise ngaziphi izindlela enguMniki-mthetho?

³ IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi “munye kuphela onguMniki-mthetho noMahluleli.” (Jakobe 4:12) Ngempela, uJehova nguye yedwa onguMniki-mthetho wangempela. Ngisho nokuhamba kwezindikimba zasezulwini kubuswa “imithetho yamazulu” ayimisile. (Jobe 38:33, The New Jerusalem Bible) Izigidigidi zezingelosi ezingcwele zikaJehova nazo zibuswa umthetho wasezulwini, ngoba zihlelwe zaba izigaba ezicacile futhi zikhonza ngaphansi komyalo kaJehova njengezikhonzi zakhe.​—IHubo 104:4; Hebheru 1:7, 14.

⁴ Isintu naso uJehova usinikeze imithetho. Ngamunye wethu unonembeza, obonakalisa umuzwa kaJehova wobulungisa. Njengoba uwuhlobo lomthetho wangaphakathi, unembeza ungasisiza  sihlukanise phakathi kokulungile nokungalungile. (Roma 2:14) Abazali bethu bokuqala babebusiswe ngonembeza ophelele, ngakho imbalwa kuphela imithetho ababeyidinga. (Genesise 2:15-17) Kodwa umuntu onesono udinga imithetho eyengeziwe ukuba imqondise ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. Izinhloko zemindeni ezinjengoNowa, u-Abrahama, noJakobe zamukela imithetho kuJehova uNkulunkulu zayidlulisela emindenini yazo. (Genesise 6:22; 9:3-6; 18:19; 26:4, 5) UJehova waba uMniki-mthetho ngendlela ayengakaze enze ngayo ngaphambili lapho enikeza isizwe sakwa-Israyeli uMthetho esebenzisa uMose. Lo mthetho usinikeza umbono obanzi ngomuzwa kaJehova wobulungisa.

5. Ingabe uMthetho KaMose wawuyiqoqo lemithetho enzima neyinkimbinkimbi, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?

⁵ Abaningi bacabanga ukuthi uMthetho KaMose wawuyiqoqo lemithetho enzima neyinkimbinkimbi. Lowo mbono awulona neze iqiniso. Lo mthetho uqukethe imithetho ehlukahlukene engu-600. Kungase kuzwakale sengathi miningi, kodwa cabanga ngalokhu: Ekupheleni kwekhulu lika-20 leminyaka, imithetho yase-United States yayisigcwele amakhasi angu-150 000 ezincwadi zomthetho. Njalo ngemva kweminyaka emibili kunezelwa eminye imithetho engu-600! Ngakho uma sicabangela ubuningi kuphela, uMthetho KaMose awulutho uma uqhathaniswa nemithetho yabantu. Noma kunjalo, uMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawulawula ama-Israyeli ezicini zokuphila imithetho yanamuhla engazithinti nokuzithinta. Ake siwubheke kafushane.

6, 7. (a) Yini eyenza uMthetho KaMose wehluke kweminye imithetho, futhi imuphi umyalo wawo omkhulu kunayo yonke? (b) Ama-Israyeli ayengakubonisa kanjani ukwamukela kwawo ubukhosi bukaJehova?

⁶ UMthetho wawuphakamisa ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ngaleso sizathu uMthetho KaMose awunakuqhathaniswa nanoma imuphi omunye umthetho. Umthetho omkhulu kunayo yonke kuwo yilo: “O Israyeli, lalela: UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu unguJehova oyedwa. Kumele uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke  umphefumulo wakho nangawo wonke amandla akho.” Abantu bakaNkulunkulu babezobonisa kanjani ukuthi bayamthanda? Kwakumele bamkhonze, bazithobe ebukhosini bakhe.​—Duteronomi 6:4, 5; 11:13.

⁷ UmIsrayeli ngamunye wayebonisa ukwamukela kwakhe ubukhosi bukaJehova ngokuthobela labo abamiswe ukuba babe negunya phezu kwakhe. Abazali, izikhulu, abahluleli, abapristi nenkosi, bonke babemelela igunya likaNkulunkulu. Noma ikuphi ukuvukela abasegunyeni uJehova wayekubheka njengokuvukela yena. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo abasegunyeni babezibeka engozini yokuvuthelwa ulaka lukaJehova uma bebaphatha ngokungenabulungisa noma ngonya abantu bakhe. (Eksodusi 20:12; 22:28; Duteronomi 1:16, 17; 17:8-20; 19:16, 17) Ngakho kokubili abanegunya nababengaphansi kwalo babenesibopho sokuphakamisa ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu.

8. UMthetho wawuwafundisa kanjani ama-Israyeli ngobungcwele bukaJehova?

⁸ UMthetho wawufundisa ama-Israyeli ngobungcwele bukaJehova. Igama elithi “-ngcwele” nelithi “ubungcwele” avela izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-280 eMthethweni KaMose. UMthetho wasiza abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bahlukanise phakathi kokuhlanzekile nokungcolile, okumsulwa nokungemsulwa, njengoba wawuveza izinto ezingaba ngu-70 ezazingenza umIsrayeli abe ongcolile. Le mithetho yayithinta ukuhlanzeka komzimba, ukudla, ngisho nokulahlwa kukadoti. Imithetho enjalo yaba yinzuzo kakhulu kwezempilo. a Kodwa yayinenjongo ephakeme kunalokho​—ewukugcina isizwe sisemseni kaJehova, sihlukanisiwe nemikhuba eyisono nehlazisayo yezizwe ezazisizungezile. Cabanga ngalesi sibonelo.

9, 10. Isivumelwano soMthetho sasinaziphi izimiso mayelana nokuya ocansini nokuzala abantwana, futhi yayinaziphi izinzuzo imithetho enjalo?

⁹ Izimiso zesivumelwano soMthetho zazithi ucansi​—ngisho  naphakathi kwabantu abashadile—​nokubeletha kubangela umuntu abe ongcolile isikhathi esithile. (Levitikusi 12:2-4; 15:16-18) Imithetho enjalo yayingeve isho ukuthi zingcolile lezi zipho zikaNkulunkulu ezihlanzekile. (Genesise 1:28; 2:18-25) Kunalokho, le mithetho yayiphakamisa ubungcwele bukaJehova, igcina abakhulekeli bakhe bengenakho ukungcola. Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi izizwe ezazizungeze u-Israyeli zazivame ukuxubanisa imikhuba yocansi nokuzala kanye nokukhulekela. Inkolo yamaKhanani yayihlanganisa ubufebe babesilisa nabesifazane. Umphumela waba ukwanda kokonakala okubi kakhulu. Ngokuphambene, uMthetho wenza ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kwahlukana ngokuphelele nezindaba zocansi. b Kwakukhona nezinye izinzuzo futhi.

¹⁰ Leyo mithetho yafundisa iqiniso elibalulekile. c Kanti isono sika-Adamu sidluliselwa kanjani sisuka kwesinye isizukulwane siya kwesinye? Asidluliselwa yini ngocansi nokuzalwa kwabantwana? (Roma 5:12) Yebo, uMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi isono sikhona njalo. Eqinisweni sonke sizalelwa esonweni. (IHubo 51:5) Sidinga ukuthethelelwa nokuhlengwa ukuze sisondele kuNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele.

11, 12. (a) Isiphi isimiso esibalulekile sobulungisa esasisekelwa uMthetho? (b) UMthetho wawunaziphi izici ezivimbela ukuhlanekezelwa kobulungisa?

¹¹ UMthetho wawuphakamisa ubulungisa bukaJehova obuphelele. UMthetho KaMose wawusekela isimiso sokulingana ezindabeni zobulungisa. Ngaleso sizathu uMthetho wawuthi: “Kuyoba ukuphila ngokuphila, iso ngeso, izinyo ngezinyo, isandla  ngesandla, unyawo ngonyawo.” (Duteronomi 19:21) Ngakho emacaleni obugebengu, isijeziso kwakufanele silingane necala. Lesi sici sobulungisa baphezulu sasikuwo wonke uMthetho, futhi kuze kube namuhla, sibalulekile ekuqondeni umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaKristu Jesu, njengoba iSahluko 14 sizobonisa.​—1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6.

¹² UMthetho wawuhlanganisa nezici ezivimbela ukuhlanekezelwa kobulungisa. Ngokwesibonelo, kwakudingeka okungenani ofakazi ababili ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthi umuntu unecala. Isijeziso sokufakaza amanga sasiqinile. (Duteronomi 19:15, 18, 19) Ukonakala nokufumbathisa nakho kwakwenqatshelwe. (Eksodusi 23:8; Duteronomi 27:25) Ngisho nakwezamabhizinisi, abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele balondoloze imithetho kaJehova ephakeme yobulungisa. (Levitikusi 19:35, 36; Duteronomi 23:19, 20) Leso simiso somthetho esiphakeme nesinobulungisa sasiyisibusiso esikhulu ku-Israyeli!

13, 14. UMthetho wawukukhuthaza kanjani ukuphathwa ngokungakhethi nangobulungisa kwesela nalowo elalimntshontshele?

¹³ Ingabe uMthetho KaMose wawuyimithetho elukhuni, engenasihe? Lutho! INkosi uDavide yaphefumulelwa ukuba ibhale: “Umthetho kaJehova uphelele.” (IHubo 19:7) UMthetho wawukhuthaza isihe nokungakhethi, njengoba naye ayazi kahle. Wawukwenza kanjani lokho?

¹⁴ Kwamanye amazwe namuhla, umthetho ubonakala uvuna kakhulu izigebengu kunokuba uvikele izisulu. Ngokwesibonelo, amasela angase adonse ejele. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, izisulu zawo zona kungenzeka zisalokhu zingenazo lezo zinto ezantshontshwa, kodwa kudingeke zibuye zikhokhe izintela zokondla nokugcina lezo zigebengu ejele. Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo ayengekho amajele njengoba siwazi namuhla. Kwakunemithetho engaguquki ngokuphathelene nokuthi isijeziso siqina kangakanani. (Duteronomi 25:1-3) Isela kwakudingeka likhokhele ontshontshelwe ngalokho elikuntshontshile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isela kwakufanele likhokhe nangaphezulu. Kangakanani?  Kwakuhlukahluka. Kubonakala sengathi abahluleli babenikezwe ilungelo lokucabangela izici ezithile, njengokuphenduka kwesoni. Lokho kungase kucacise ukuthi kungani inhlawulo eyayibizwa kowebile kuLevitikusi 6:1-7 incane kakhulu kunaleyo eshiwo ku-Eksodusi 22:7.

15. UMthetho wawuqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi umuntu obulele ngengozi wayethola isihe nobulungisa?

¹⁵ Ngesihe uMthetho wawukuqaphela ukuthi akubona bonke ububi obabenziwa ngamabomu. Ngokwesibonelo, uma umuntu ebulele omunye ngengozi, kwakungadingekile akhokhe ukuphila ngokuphila uma ethathe isinyathelo esifanele sokubalekela kwelinye lamadolobha esiphephelo ayekulo lonke elakwa-Israyeli. Ngemva kokuba abahluleli abafanelekayo sebeluhlolile udaba lwakhe, kwakufanele ahlale edolobheni lesiphephelo kuze kufe umpristi ophakeme. Ngemva kwalokho wayekhululeka ukuhlala nomaphi lapho ethanda khona. Ngaleyo ndlela wayezuza esiheni sikaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lo mthetho wawugcizelela ukubaluleka okukhulu kokuphila komuntu.​—Numeri 15:30, 31; 35:12-25.

16. UMthetho wawuwavikela kanjani amalungelo omuntu athile?

¹⁶ UMthetho wawuvikela amalungelo omuntu. Cabanga ngendlela owawuvikela ngayo abanezikweletu. UMthetho wawukwenqabela ukuba umuntu angene endlini yomuntu omkweletayo azithathele impahla njengesibambiso. Kunalokho, okweletwayo kwakufanele ame ngaphandle alinde okweletayo asilethe yena isibambiso kuye. Ngakho umuzi womuntu wawungafohlwa. Uma okweletwayo ethathe ingubo yangaphandle njengesibambiso, kwakufanele ayibuyise kusihlwa, ngoba kwakungenzeka ukuba okweletayo ayidinge ebusuku uma eselala.​—Duteronomi 24:10-14.

17, 18. Ngokuqondene nezimpi, ama-Israyeli ayehluke kanjani kwezinye izizwe, futhi kungani?

¹⁷ UMthetho wawulawula ngisho nezindaba eziphathelene nempi. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakufanele balwe izimpi besebenza njengethuluzi likaNkulunkulu ‘eziMpini zikaJehova,’ hhayi ngoba nje behalela ukugabisa ngamandla abo. (Numeri 21:14) Ezimweni eziningi ama-Israyeli kwakufanele aqale anikeze isitha ithuba lokucela umaluju. Uma idolobha lingafuni, khona-ke  u-Israyeli wayengalivimbezela​—kodwa ngokuvumelana nemithetho kaNkulunkulu. Ngokungafani namanye amabutho emlandweni, amabutho ka-Israyeli ayengavunyelwe ukudlwengula abesifazane noma ukuchitha igazi ngokungadingekile. Kwakufanele ahloniphe ngisho nemvelo, angazigawuli izihlahla zezithelo zezitha. d Amanye amabutho ayengenayo imithetho enjalo evimbelayo.​—Duteronomi 20:10-15, 19, 20; 21:10-13.

¹⁸ Ingabe uyacasuka lapho uzwa ukuthi kwamanye amazwe abantwana baqeqeshelwa ubusosha? Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, akukho muntu oneminyaka engaphansi kuka-20 owayebuthelwa impi. (Numeri 1:2, 3) Ngisho nomuntu wesilisa omdala wayengabuthwa uma esaba. Indoda esanda kushada yayingayi empini unyaka wonke ukuze ikwazi ukubona ukuzalwa kwendlalifa ngaphambi kokwenza inkonzo eyingozi kangako. UMthetho wawuthi, ngale ndlela indoda esanda kushada yayiyokwazi ‘ukuhlala ekhaya ijabulise umkayo.’​—Duteronomi 20:5, 6, 8; 24:5.

19. UMthetho wawunamaphi amalungiselelo okuvikela abesifazane, abantwana, imindeni, abafelokazi nezintandane?

¹⁹ UMthetho futhi wawuvikela abesifazane, abantwana nemindeni futhi ubanakekela. Wawuyala abazali ukuba banakekele futhi bafundise abantwana babo njalo ngezinto ezingokomoya. (Duteronomi 6:6, 7) Wawenqabela zonke izinhlobo zokulala nesihlobo, kwakunesijeziso sokufa. (Levitikusi, isahluko 18) Wawukwenqabela nokuphinga, okuvame kangaka ukubhidliza imindeni futhi kuyiphuce ukulondeka nesithunzi. UMthetho wawubhekela abafelokazi nezintandane futhi ukwenqabela ngamazwi aqinile ukuhlukunyezwa kwabo.​—Eksodusi 20:14; 22:22-24.

20, 21. (a) Kungani uMthetho KaMose wawuvumela isithembu phakathi kwama-Israyeli? (b) Endabeni yedivosi, kungani uMthetho wawuhlukile kulokho uJesu akusho kamuva?

²⁰ Nokho, kuleli phuzu abanye bangase babuze, ‘Pho uMthetho  wawusivumelelani isithembu?’ (Duteronomi 21:15-17) Imithetho enjalo kumele siyicabangele sikhumbula izikhathi eyayisebenza kuzo. Labo abahlulela uMthetho KaMose ngokwezikhathi namasiko anamuhla nakanjani ngeke bawuqonde. (IzAga 18:13) Umthetho kaJehova, awumisa kudala e-Edene, wenza umshado waba isibopho esihlala njalo phakathi kwendoda eyodwa nomfazi oyedwa. (Genesise 2:18, 20-24) Kodwa ngesikhathi uJehova enikeza ama-Israyeli uMthetho, imikhuba enjengokuthatha isithembu yayisinamakhulu eminyaka igxilile. UJehova wayazi ukuthi abantu bakhe “abanenkani” babeyohluleka ukulalela ngisho nemiyalo eyisisekelo, njengaleyo enqabela ukukhonza izithombe. (Eksodusi 32:9) Ngakho-ke, ngokuhlakanipha wakhetha ukungayilungisi ngaleso sikhathi imikhuba yabo ephathelene nemishado. Khumbula-ke kodwa ukuthi akuyena uJehova owamisa isithembu. Noma kunjalo, wasebenzisa uMthetho KaMose ukuze alawule isithembu phakathi kwabantu bakhe futhi avimbele ukusetshenziswa kabi kwalo mkhuba.

²¹ Ngokufanayo, uMthetho KaMose wawuvumela indoda ukuba idivose umkayo ngezizathu eziningana ezizwakalayo. (Duteronomi 24:1-4) Lokhu uJesu wakubiza ngokuthi imvume uNkulunkulu ayinikeza amaJuda “ngenxa yokucabangela izinhliziyo [zawo] ezilukhuni.” Nokho, imvume enjalo yayingeyesikhashana. Kubalandeli bakhe, uJesu wabuyisela umthetho kaJehova wasekuqaleni ngomshado.​—Mathewu 19:8.

22. UMthetho KaMose wawulukhuthaza kanjani uthando, futhi ukhuthaza ukuba luboniswe kobani?

²² Sikhona isimiso somthetho sanamuhla osaziyo esikhuthaza uthando? UMthetho KaMose wawukhuthaza uthando ngaphezu kwakho konke. Phela, encwadini kaDuteronomi iyodwa, igama elithi “uthando” livela ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-20. Umthetho othi “kumele uthande omunye umuntu njengoba uzithanda wena” wawungowesibili omkhulu kuwo wonke uMthetho. (Levitikusi 19:18; Mathewu 22:37-40) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakungamele bagcine ngokuthandana bodwa kodwa kwakumele bathande nezifiki ezaziphakathi  kwabo, bekhumbula ukuthi nama-Israyeli ayeke aba izifiki. Kwakumele bathande abampofu nabahluphekile, babasize ngezinto ababezidinga futhi bakugweme ukusizakala ngokuswela kwabo. Babeyalwa ngisho nokuba baziphathe kahle izilwane ezifuyiwe futhi bazicabangele.​—Eksodusi 23:6; Levitikusi 19:14, 33, 34; Duteronomi 22:4, 10; 24:17, 18.

23. Umbhali weHubo 119 washukunyiselwa ukuba enzeni, futhi yini esingase sizimisele ukuyenza?

²³ Isiphi esinye isizwe esibusiswe ngesimiso somthetho esinjalo? Akumangalisi ukuthi umhubi wabhala: “Yeka indlela engiwuthanda ngayo umthetho wakho!” Nokho, uthando lwakhe lwalungewona umuzwa nje kuphela. Lwamenza wathatha isinyathelo, ngoba walwela ukuwulalela lowo mthetho nokuphila ngawo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, waqhubeka: “Ngizindla ngawo usuku lonke.” (IHubo 119:11, 97) Yebo wayevame ukuba nesikhathi sokutadisha imithetho kaJehova. Akungabazeki ukuthi lapho eyitadisha, uthando lwakhe ngayo lwalukhula. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uthando lwakhe ngoMniki-mthetho, uJehova uNkulunkulu, nalo lwakhula. Njengoba uqhubeka utadisha umthetho kaNkulunkulu, kwangathi nawe ungalokhu usondela kuJehova, uMniki-mthetho Omkhulu noNkulunkulu wobulungisa.