1, 2. (a) Imuphi umyalo uJesu athi umyalo wesibili omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo manje?

UMFARISI othile wake wabuza uJesu emlinga: “Mfundisi, yimuphi umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni?” Njengoba kuphawuliwe esihlokweni esandulele, uJesu waphendula ngokuthi “umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke futhi ongowokuqala” yilo: “Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.” Wanezela: “Owesibili, onjengawo, yilo, ‘Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.’ ”—Math. 22:34-39.

² UJesu wathi kumelwe sithande umakhelwane wethu njengoba sizithanda thina. Ngakho, senza kahle ngokubuza: Ubani ngempela umakhelwane wethu? Singalubonisa kanjani uthando ngomakhelwane?

3, 4. (a) UJesu wawuphendula ngamuphi umfanekiso umbuzo othi: “Ubani ngempela umakhelwane wami”? (b) UmSamariya wayisiza kanjani indoda eyayiphangiwe, yashaywa futhi yashiywa umndondo? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

³ Singase sicabange ukuthi umakhelwane umuntu ohlala eduze  nathi futhi ongumngane owusizo. (IzAga 27:10) Kodwa ake ucabangele lokho uJesu akusho lapho indoda ethile eyayizibona ilungile imbuza: “Ubani ngempela umakhelwane wami?” UJesu waphendula ngokunikeza umfanekiso womSamariya olungileyo. (Funda uLuka 10:29-37.) Sasingase silindele ukuthi umpristi ongumIsrayeli nomLevi babeyozibonakalisa bengomakhelwane abahle lapho bebona indoda eyayiphangiwe, yashaywa futhi yashiywa umndondo. Kunalokho, bayidlula ngaphandle kokuyisiza. Le ndoda yasizwa umSamariya—umuntu wesizwe esasihlonipha uMthetho KaMose kodwa esasibukelwa phansi amaJuda.—Joh. 4:9.

⁴ UmSamariya olungileyo wayisiza le ndoda ngokugcoba amanxeba ayo ngamafutha newayini ukuze asheshe aphole. Ekhokhela izindleko zokunakekela le ndoda, wanikeza umgcini wendlu yezihambi odenariyu ababili empeleni ababelingana nomholo wezinsuku ezimbili. (Math. 20:2) Ngakho kulula ukubona ukuthi ubani owaba ngumakhelwane wangempela wale ndoda eyayilimele. Ngokuqinisekile, umfanekiso kaJesu usifundisa ukuba sibonise uzwela nothando kumakhelwane wethu.

5. Izinceku zikaJehova zilubonise kanjani uthando ngomakhelwane phakathi nenhlekelele yemvelo yamuva?

⁵ Ngokuvamile kunzima ukuthola abantu abanozwela njengomSamariya olungileyo. Lokhu kunjalo ikakhulukazi kulezi ‘zinsuku zokugcina’ lapho abantu abaningi bengenalo uthando, benolaka futhi bengenalo uthando lokuhle. (2 Thim. 3:1-3) Ngokwesibonelo, izimo ezinzima zingaphakama lapho kuba nenhlekelele yemvelo. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka lapho isiphepho esinamandla okuthiwa i-Hurricane Sandy sihlasela iDolobha LaseNew York ngo-October 2012. Kwenye indawo eyaba nomonakalo omkhulu, abaphangi baphanga abantu abahlala kuleyo ndawo ababevele behlukumezekile ngenxa yokungabikho kukagesi nezinye izidingo. Endaweni efanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova bahlela umkhankaso ukuze basizane futhi basize nabanye. AmaKristu enza lezi zinto ngoba ayabathanda omakhelwane bawo. Iziphi ezinye izindlela esingabonisa ngazo uthando ngomakhelwane?

6. Umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela uhlobana kanjani nokuthanda umakhelwane?

⁶ Nika abantu usizo olungokomoya. Lokhu sikwenza ngokuzama ukubaqondisa ‘enduduzweni’ eqinisayo “evela emiBhalweni.” (Roma 15:4) Ngokuqinisekile, sisuke sibonisa uthando ngomakhelwane lapho sihlanganyela iqiniso leBhayibheli nabanye emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela. (Math. 24:14) Yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo elikhulu kangakanani ukumemezela isigijimi soMbuso esivela ‘kuNkulunkulu onika ithemba’!—Roma 15:13.

7. Uyini uMthetho Wegolide, futhi sibusiswa kanjani ngokuwusebenzisa?

⁷ Sebenzisa uMthetho Wegolide. Lo mthetho utholakala kula mazwi akhulunywa uJesu eNtshumayelweni yakhe Yasentabeni: “Zonke izinto enifuna abantu bazenze kini, nani kumelwe nizenze ngokufanayo kubo; lokhu, eqinisweni, yilokho okushiwo nguMthetho nabaProfethi.” (Math. 7:12) Lapho siphatha abantu ngendlela uJesu aseluleka ukuba sibaphathe ngayo, senza ngokuvumelana nenjongo ‘yoMthetho’ (uGenesise kuya kuDuteronomi) “nabaProfethi” (izincwadi eziyisiprofetho zemiBhalo yesiHebheru). Lezi zincwadi zenza kucace ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyababusisa labo ababonisa uthando kwabanye. Ngokwesibonelo, esebenzisa u-Isaya, uJehova wathi: “Gcinani ubulungisa, nenze okulungile . . . Uyajabula umuntu ofayo okwenzayo lokhu.” (Isaya 56:1, 2) Siyabusiswa ngempela ngenxa yokuthi siphatha omakhelwane bethu ngothando nangokulunga.

8. Kungani kufanele sithande izitha zethu, futhi yini engenzeka uma senza kanjalo?

⁸ Thanda izitha zakho. UJesu wathi: “Nizwile ukuthi kwathiwa, ‘Kumelwe uthande  umakhelwane wakho futhi uzonde isitha sakho.’ Nokho, mina ngithi kini: Qhubekani nithanda izitha zenu, nithandazela nalabo abanishushisayo; ukuze nizibonakalise ningamadodana kaYihlo osemazulwini.” (Math. 5:43-45) Umphostoli uPawulu waveza iphuzu elifanayo lapho eloba: “Uma isitha sakho silambile, siphe ukudla; uma somile, sinike okokuphuza.” (Roma 12:20; IzAga 25:21) NgokoMthetho KaMose, umuntu kwakufanele asize isitha sakhe lapho isilwane saso siwile futhi sicindezelwe umthwalo. (Eks. 23:5) Lokho kulekelelana kungenza abantu ababekade beyizitha babe abangane. Ngenxa yokuthi amaKristu abonisa uthando, izinhliziyo zezitha zethu eziningi ziye zathamba. Uma sibonisa izitha zethu uthando—ngisho nabasishushisa ngobudlova—yeka ukuthi siyojabula kanjani uma ezinye zazo zamukela ubuKristu beqiniso!

9. Yini eyashiwo uJesu ngokwenza ukuthula nomfowethu?

⁹ “Phishekelani ukuthula nabantu bonke.” (Heb. 12:14) Lokhu kuhlanganisa nabazalwane bethu, ngoba uJesu wathi: “Uma uletha isipho sakho e-altare bese ukhumbula lapho ukuthi umfowenu unokuthile ngawe, shiya isipho sakho lapho phambi kwe-altare, uhambe; okokuqala yenza ukuthula nomfowenu, khona-ke, lapho usubuyile, unikele isipho sakho.” (Math. 5:23, 24) UNkulunkulu uyosibusisa lapho sibonisa uthando ngomfowethu futhi sithatha isinyathelo ngokushesha sokwenza ukuthula naye.

10. Kungani kungafanele sibe abantu abahlale befuna ukuthola amaphutha kwabanye?

¹⁰ Ungabi umuntu ohlale efuna ukuthola amaphutha kwabanye. UJesu wathi: “Yekani ukwahlulela ukuze ningahlulelwa; ngoba noma isiphi isahlulelo enahlulela ngaso, nani niyokwahlulelwa ngaso; nesilinganiso enilinganisa ngaso, bayonilinganisela ngaso nani. Khona-ke, kungani ubheka umucwana osesweni lomfowenu, kodwa ungacabangi ngogongolo olukwelakho iso? Noma, ungasho kanjani kumfowenu ukuthi, ‘Ngivumele ngikhiphe umucwana esweni lakho’; kuyilapho, bheka! kwelakho iso kukhona ugongolo na? Mzenzisi! Khipha kuqala ugongolo kwelakho iso, khona-ke uyobona ngokucacile ukuthi ungawukhipha kanjani umucwana esweni lomfowenu.” (Math. 7:1-5) Yeka indlela enamandla yokusitshela ukuba singagxeki amaphutha amancane abanye kanti mhlawumbe thina sinamaphutha amakhulu kakhulu!

11, 12. Iyiphi indlela ekhethekile esibonisa ngayo uthando ngomakhelwane?

¹¹ Sifuna ukubonisa uthando ngomakhelwane ngendlela ekhethekile. NjengoJesu, sishumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Luka 8:1) UJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘benze abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi.’ (Math. 28:19, 20) Ngokwenza ingxenye yethu ekufezeni lowo myalo, siyazama ukusiza omakhelwane bethu ukuba bashiye indlela ebanzi eya ekubhujisweni bangene kwenyinyekile eholela ekuphileni. (Math. 7:13, 14) Akungabazeki ukuthi uJehova uyayibusisa imizamo enjalo.

¹² NjengoJesu, sisiza abantu ukuba baqaphele isidingo sabo esingokomoya. (Math. 5:3) Kulabo abasabela kahle, siba nendima ekwaneliseni leso sidingo ngokuhlanganyela nabo “izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 1:1) Abasamukelayo isigijimi soMbuso bayabuyisana noNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu. (2 Kor. 5:18, 19) Khona-ke, lapho sishumayela izindaba ezinhle, empeleni sisuke sibonisa uthando ngomakhelwane ngendlela ebaluleke kakhulu.

13. Uzizwa kanjani ngokuhlanganyela emsebenzini wethu njengabamemezeli boMbuso?

¹³ Ngokwenza izimpindelo nokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziphumelelayo, sithola ukwaneliseka ngokusiza abantu ukuba bavumelanise ukuphila kwabo nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. Lokhu kungabangela ushintsho endleleni yokuphila yomfundi weBhayibheli. (1 Kor. 6:9-11) Kuyajabulisa ngempela ukubona indlela uNkulunkulu asiza ngayo abantu ‘abathambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okuphakade’ ukuba benze ushintsho oludingekayo futhi babe nobuhlobo obuseduze naye. (IzE. 13:48) Kwabaningi, ukuphelelwa yithemba kube sekuthathelwa indawo injabulo, futhi ukukhathazeka ngokungadingekile kuthathelwe indawo ukwethemba uBaba wethu osezulwini. Yeka ukuthi kuhle kanjani ukubona abasanda kuthola iqiniso bethuthuka ngokomoya! Awuvumi yini ukuthi kuyilungelo ukubonisa uthando ngomakhelwane wethu ngale ndlela ekhethekile njengabamemezeli boMbuso?

14. Ngamazwi akho, yisho izici ezithile zothando ezikweyoku-1 Korinte 13:4-8.

¹⁴ Lapho sisebenzelana nomakhelwane wethu, ukusebenzisa lokho uPawulu akuloba ngokuphathelene nothando kungavimbela izinkinga eziningi, kusilethele injabulo nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 13:4-8.) Ake sihlole kafushane lokho uPawulu akusho ngothando bese sibona ukuthi singawasebenzisa kanjani amazwi akhe ebuhlotsheni bethu nomakhelwane.

15. (a) Kungani kufanele sibekezele futhi sibe nomusa? (b) Kungenxa yaziphi izizathu kufanele sigweme umhawu nokugabisa?

¹⁵ “Uthando luyabekezela futhi lunomusa.” Njengoba nje uNkulunkulu ebonise ukubekezela nomusa endleleni asebenzelana ngayo nabantu abangaphelele, nathi kudingeka sibekezele futhi sibe nomusa lapho abanye benza amaphutha futhi bengacabangeli noma nje bedelela. “Uthando alunamhawu,” ngakho uthando lweqiniso ngeke lusivumele ukuba sifise izinto noma amalungelo omunye umuntu ebandleni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma sinothando, ngeke sigabise noma sizikhukhumeze. Phela, “amehlo azidlayo nenhliziyo ezikhukhumezayo, isibani sababi, kuyisono.”—IzAga 21:4.

16, 17. Singenza kanjani ngokuvumelana neyoku-1 Korinte 13:5, 6?

¹⁶ Uthando luyosenza ukuba siziphathe ngendlela efanele komakhelwane bethu. Ngeke siqambe amanga kubo, sebe izinto zabo noma senze noma yini enye eyophula imithetho nezimiso zikaJehova. Uthando luyosivimbela nokuba singanaki izindaba zethu kuphela kodwa sikhathalele nabanye.—Fil. 2:4.

¹⁷ Uthando lweqiniso alucasuki kalula futhi “alunamagqubu,” njengokungathi sigcina umlando wezinto ezingabonisi uthando  abantu abazenza kithi. (1 Thes. 5:15) Uma besingabamba amagqubu, besingeke simthokozise uNkulunkulu futhi empeleni besiyobe sivuthela umlilo olothayo ongagqamuka amalangabi usilimaze thina nabanye. (Lev. 19:18) Uthando lusenza sijabulele iqiniso, kodwa ngeke lusivumele ukuba ‘sijabule ngokungalungi,’ ngisho noma umuntu osizondayo ephathwa kabi noma noma ebhekana nokungabi nabulungisa okuthile.—Funda izAga 24:17, 18.

18. Sifundani ngothando kweyoku-1 Korinte 13:7, 8?

¹⁸ Cabanga ngendlela uPawulu aqhubeka eluchaza ngayo uthando. Wathi uthando “lubekezelela zonke izinto.” Uma umuntu esona kodwa ecela ukuba simthethelele, uthando lusishukumisela ukuba simthethelele. Uthando “lukholelwa yizo zonke izinto” eziseZwini likaNkulunkulu futhi lusenza sikwazise ukudla okungokomoya esikutholayo. Uthando “luthemba zonke izinto” ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini futhi lusishukumisela ukuba sitshele abanye izizathu zethemba lethu. (1 Pet. 3:15) Sithandazela futhi sethembe ukuthi izinto ziyoba ngcono lapho sibhekene nezimo ezivivinyayo. Uthando “lukhuthazelela zonke izinto,” kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukoniwa, ukushushiswa noma olunye uvivinyo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “uthando alusoze lwaphela nanini.” Abantu abalalelayo bayolubonisa phakathi nalo lonke iphakade.

19, 20. Isiphi iseluleko esingokomBhalo okufanele sisishukumisele ukuba siqhubeke sibonisa uthando kumakhelwane wethu?

¹⁹ Ngokusebenzisa iseluleko seBhayibheli, singaqhubeka sibonisa uthando kumakhelwane wethu. Uthando olunjalo lwemukela bonke abantu, hhayi abanesizinda esifana nesethu kuphela. Kudingeka sikhumbule nokuthi uJesu wathi: “Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.” (Math. 22:39) UNkulunkulu noKristu balindele ukuba sibonise uthando kumakhelwane wethu. Uma singaqiniseki ngalokho okumelwe sikwenze esimweni esithile esihilela umakhelwane, masithandaze sicele uNkulunkulu ukuba asiqondise ngomoya ongcwele. Ukwenza kanjalo kuyoholela esibusisweni sikaJehova futhi kuyosisiza ukuba senze ngendlela enothando.—Roma 8:26, 27.

²⁰ Umyalo wokuthanda umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena ubizwa ngokuthi “umthetho wobukhosi.” (Jak. 2:8) Ngemva kokukhuluma ngemiyalo ethile eseMthethweni KaMose, uPawulu wathi: “Noma yimuphi omunye umyalo okhona, [uhlanganiswe] kuleli zwi, elithi, ‘Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.’ Uthando alwenzi okubi kumakhelwane womuntu; ngakho-ke uthando luwukugcwaliswa komthetho.” (Roma 13:8-10) Ngakho kudingeka siqhubeke sibonisa uthando komakhelwane.

21, 22. Kungani kufanele sithande uNkulunkulu nomakhelwane?

²¹ Njengoba sizindla ngokuthi kungani kufanele sibonise uthando kumakhelwane wethu, kuhle ukucabanga ngamazwi kaJesu athi uYise “[wenza] ilanga lakhe liphumele abantu ababi nabahle futhi [wenza] imvula ine phezu kwabantu abalungile nabangalungile.” (Math. 5:43-45) Kudingeka sibonise uthando kumakhelwane, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ulungile noma akalungile. Njengoba kushiwo ngaphambili, indlela ebalulekile yokumbonisa uthando olunjalo ukuhlanganyela naye isigijimi soMbuso. Yeka izibusiso ayozithola uma ezamukela izindaba ezinhle ngokwazisa okuqotho!

²² Sinezizathu eziningi zokungazigodli othandweni lwethu ngoJehova. Kunanezindlela eziningi esingabonisa ngazo uthando ngomakhelwane. Ngokubonisa uthando ngoNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane, sibonisa ukuthi siyakuhlonipha lokho uJesu akusho ngalezi zindaba ezibalulekile. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, sijabulisa uBaba wethu onothando osezulwini, uJehova.