28—ULevi-Mateyu

[Esi sakhluko sisekwe kuMat. 9:9-17; Marko 2:14-22; Luka 5:27-39.]

Kuwo wonke amagosa amaRoma asePalestina, awakho awayethiywe ukudlula ababuthi berhafu. Le nto yokuba irhafu yayibizwa ligunya lasemzini, yayiwacaphukisa ngalo lonke ixesha amaYuda, ikwa sisikhumbuzo sokuba alahlekene nenkululeko yawo. Eyona nto, ababuthi berhafu babenganelanga nje ukuba babe zizixhobo zengcinezelo yamaRoma, nabo babe nobuqhetseba babo ngokwabo, bezityebisa ngokuqhatha abantu. UmYuda owayethe wavuma ukwenza lo msebenzi awufumana kumaRoma, wayethatyathwa ngokomngcatshi wesidima sesizwe sakhe. Wayejongelwa phantsi njengehenyu, abandakanywe nabona bantu babi phakathi kwabantu.ULw 272.1

Waye ekolu didi uLevi-Mateyu, nowathi, emva kwabafundi abane baseGenesarete, wangolandelayo ukubizelwa emsebenzini kaKristu. abaFarisi bamjonga uMateyu ngokomsebenzi wakhe, kodwa uYesu wabona kule ndoda intliziyo evulekele ukuyamkela inyaniso. UMateyu wayeyivile imfundiso yoMsindisi. Njengoko uMoya kaThixo othimbayo wayebutyhila ubomi bakhe besono, waya walangazelela ukuzuza uncedo kuKristu; kodwa wayeqhelene nokusoloko ebucala noorabhi, akaze acinge ukuba le Titshala iNkulu ingamqaphela. ULw 272.2

Wathi ngenye imini ehleli kwindawo yokuqokelela imali, lo mbuthi werhafu wabona uYesu esiza kuye. Waba nokothuka okukhulu akuva amazwi athi kuye, “Ndilandele.” ULw 273.1

UMateyu “washiya konke, wesuka wamlandela.” Akazange azizilize, akazange abe namibuzo, akazange abe ecinga ngeshishini elinemali awayeza kuthabatha endaweni yalo ubuhlwempu nokutsala nzima. Kwanela kuye ukuba wayeza kuba noYesu, ukuze aphulaphule amazwi waKhe, azimanye naYe emsebenzini waKhe.ULw 273.2

Kwakunjalo nakubafundi ababebizwe ngaphambili. Wathi uYesu akuthi kuPetros namaqabane wakhe mabamlandele, kwangoko bawashiya amaphenyane wabo neminatha yabo. Abanye baba bafundi babe nabahlobo abaxhomekeke kubo ngenkxaso; kodwa bathi bakufumana isimemo soMsindisi, abathingaza, ababuza nto, ngokuthi, Ndiya kuphila njani, ndiluxhase njani usapho lwam? Bathobela ubizo; kwathi kamva xa uYesu ebabuza, “Okuya ndanithuma ningenangxowa yamali, nangxowa yamphako, nazimbadada, ke naswela nto na?” bakwazi ukuphendula, bathi, “Nento le.” Luka 22:35. ULw 273.3

KuMateyu, esebutyebini bakhe, nakuAndreya noPetros bekubuhlwempu babo, kwaziswa uvavanyo olunye; ukuzinikela okunye kwenziwe ngabo ngabanye. Ngexesha lempumelelo uYesu wabacela abafundi elwandle ukuba bashiye konke ngenxa yomsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo. Ngokunjalo, wonke umphefumlo uyavavanywa ukuba, ingaba loluphi olunamandla amakhulu, phakathi kolangazelelo lokuhle kwexesha nolwalamano noKristu.ULw 273.4

Umthetho-siseko usoloko ufuna okukhulu. Akakho umntu onokuphumelela emsebenzini kaThixo ingathanga yonke intliziyo yakhe ibe semsebenzini aze azibalele ukuthi zonke ezinye izinto ziyilahleko ngenxa yokongama kokumazi uKristu. Akakho umntu ozibekela umphako onako ukuba ngumfundi kaKristu, kude kuthi chatha ukuba ngumsebenzi kunye naYe. Xa abantu beluxabisile usindiso olukhulu, ubomi bokuzincama obubonwe kuKristu buya kubonwa nakobabo. Naphina apho ayikhokelela khona indlela, baya kukonwabela ukulandela.ULw 273.5

Ukubizwa kukaMateyu ukuba abe ngomnye wabafundi bakaKristu kwavusa ukucaphuka okukhulu. Into yokuba inkokeli yenkolo ikhethe umbuthi werhafu ukuba abe ngomnye wabona bantu basondele kakhulu abasebenza naye yayisisikhubekiso kwinkolo, ekuhlaleni nakumasiko obuzwe. Ngokubhenela kwintiyo yabantu, abaFarisi bathemba ukuba baya kuwujika umsinga wokuthandwa kukaYesu. Phakathi kwababuthi berhafu kwabakho umdla omkhulu owathi saa kuyo yonke indawo. Iintliziyo zabo zatsaleleka ukuba zisondele kwiTitshala yezulu. Ekuvuyeleni kwakhe ubufundi obutsha, uMateyu wanga angazisaabanye ababeqhelenenayekuYesu. Ngenxa yoko, wenza isidlo ekhayeni lakhe, wabizela ndawonye izihlobo zakhe kunye nabahlobo bakhe. Kwakunganelanga kuhlangana kuphela ababuthi berhafu, kodwa nabanye abazimilo zabo zaziyingxaki, kangangokuba babengazanga bavunyelwa ngabamelwane babo abanobucukubhede. ULw 273.6

Ulungiselelo lokubungeza lwalusenzelwa ukunika imbeko uYesu, waza uYesu akathandabuza ukuyamkela imbeko leyo. Wayesazi kakuhle ukuba oku kwakuza kuba sisikhubekiso kwibutho labaFarisi nokuba kwakuya kumkhangelisa kakubi emehlweni abantu. Phofu ke, kwakungekho nto eyayisenziwa nje ngomthetho eyayinokumjika kwiihambo zaKhe. KuYe, ucalucalulo lwembonakalo yangaphandle lwalungenalo ixabiso. Into eyayinomtsalane kwintlizyo yaKhe yayingumphefumlo onxanelwe amanzi obomi.ULw 274.1

UYesu wahlala engummenywa wembeko etafileni yababuthi berhafu, ngemfesane yaKhe nokuthanda ukuhlala nabantu ebonisa ukuxabisa kwaKhe isidima soluntu; baza abantu bathanda ukunga bangakufanela ukuthenjwa nguYe. Phezu kweentliziyo zabo ezinxaniweyio, awa amazwi waKhe ngamandla ayintsikelelo edlisa ubomi. Iimvakalelo ezintsha zavuka, nethuba lobomi obutsha lavuleka kwabo babengabalahlelwa ngaphandle ekuhlaleni.ULw 274.2

Kwimihlangano enje ngalo, babengekho mbalwa abathabathekayo yimfundiso yoMsindisi kodwa abamvuma kwada kwasemva kokunyuka kwaKhe. Xa uMoya Oyingcwele wayethululwa, kwaza kwaguquka amawaka amathathu ngemini enye, kwakukho phakathi kwabo abaninzi abayiva inyaniso okokuqala xa babesetafileni yababuthi berhafu, baza abanye babo baba ngabathunywa beendaba ezilungileyo. KuMateyu ngokwakhe, umzekelo kaYesu esidlweni wahlala usisifundo. Umbuthi werhafu owayejongelwe phantsi waba ngomnye wabona bavangeli bazinikelayo, wathi kulungiselelo lwakhe walandela kakhulu emanyathelweni weNkosi yakhe.ULw 275.1

Bathi oorabhi bakuva ngobukho bukaYesu esidlweni sakwaMateyu, balifumana ithuba lokummangalela. Baya bakhetha ukusebenza ngabafundi. Ngokuvusa intiyo kubo bathemba ukufaka ubutshaba phakathi kwabo neNkosi yabo. Yayisisiqhelo sabo ukummangalela uKristu kubafundi, nabafundi kuKristu, bazijolise iintolo zabo apho zinokosela khona. Yindlela le awasebenza ngayo uSathana kususela ekuqhekekeni ezulwini; nabo bonke abazama ukuhlwayela ukungasebenzisani nokungavani baqhutywa ngumoya wakhe, uSathana. ULw 275.2

“Kungani na ukuba umfundisi wenu adle nababuthi berhafu naboni?” babuza oorabhi abanomona. ULw 275.3

UYesu akazange alindele ukuba abafundi baKhe basiphendule isimangalo, koko wasuka waphendula ngokwaKhe: “Akufuneki gqirha kwabaphilileyo lifuneka kwabafayo. Khaniye nifunde ukuba kukuthini na ukuthi, Ndithanda inceba, andithandi mbingelelo. Andize kubiza malungisa, ndize kubiza aboni, ukuba baguquke.” abaFarisi babebanga ukusetyenziswa ngumoya ngokupheleleyo, ngokokude bangamdingi ugqirha, lo gama babebathabatha ababuthi berhafu nabeeNtlanga njengabatshabalala zizifo zomphefumlo. Ingaba yayingenguwo umsebenzi waKhe na ke ngoko, njengogqirha, ukuya kolu didi kanye olwaluludinga uncedo lwaKhe?ULw 275.4

Nangona abaFarisi babezicingela phezulu kakhulu, ngokwenene babe kweyona meko ilusizi kakhulu kunabo babebajongele phantsi. Ababuthi berhafu babengenazo iinkani nokwaneliseka yinto abayiyo njengabaFarisi, baza ngaloo ndlela bakulungela ukuyamkela impembelelo yenyaniso. UYesu wathi koorabhi, “Khaniye nifunde ukuba kukuthini na ukuthi, Ndithanda inceba, andithandi mbingelelo.” Ngaloo ndlela wabonisa ukuba, nangona babezibabaza ngokulichaza ilizwi likaThixo, babengazi nto kwaphela ngentsingiselo yalo yasemoyeni. ULw 275.5

AbaFarisi bathi cwaka okwangoko, kodwa basuka bazimisela ngokungaphezulu kubutshaba babo. Baphinda bafuna abafundi bakaYohane umBhaptizi, bazama ukuthiyisela ngabo uMsindisi. Aba baFarisi babengawamkelanga umsebenzi owawuthunywe umBhaptizi. Babukhangela ngokugxeka ubomi bakhe bokuzithiba, imikhwa yakhe yokuphila lula, iingubo zakhe zodidi oluphantsi, baza bathi ungozibaxayo izinto. Kuba wayesingela phantsi uhanahaniso lwabo, abazange bawavume amazwiakhe,baza bazamaukuxhokonxa abantu ukuba bamvukele. UMoya kaThixo wasebenza ezintliziyweni zabo babe ngabagxeki, ebabonisa isono; kodwa babekwalile ukucebisa kukaThixo, babalela uYohane ekuthini unedemon.ULw 275.6

Ngoku, xa uYesu efike ezixuba nabantu, esitya esela ezitafileni zabo, bammangalela ngokuthi ulidla-kudla nomseli-wayini. Kwabona aba babesenza esi sityholo bona ngokwabo babenetyala. Njengoko uThixo etyhilwa ngendlela engeyiyo, embathiswe nguSathana ngezizezakhe iimpawu, ngokunjalo nakubathunywa beNkosi, kwaxokwa ngabo ngala madoda akhohlakeleyo.ULw 276.1

AbaFarisi babengafuni nokuyiqonda into yokuba uYesu wayesitya nababuthi berhafu kunye naboni khon’ ukuze azise ukukhanya kwasezulwini kwabo babehleli ebumnyameni. Babengaboni nokuba izwi ngalinye eliphuma kwiTitshala engcwele laliyimbewu ephilileyo eyayiya kuntshula ithwale isiqhamo aze uThixo azukiswe. Bazimisele ukuba bangakwamkeli ukukhanya; kwathi, nangona babewuchasile umsebenzi othunywe umBhaptizi, ngoku bakulungela ukwenza ubuhlobo nabafundi bakhe, bethembe ukuzuza intsebenziswano nabo ukuchasa uYesu. Babeka into ethi, uYesu uzenza izinto ezingento izithethe zakudala; bathelekisa ubungqongqo bobungcwele bomBhaptizi nendlela kaYesu yokudla nababuthi berhafu kunye naboni.ULw 276.2

Abafundi bakaYohane ngeli xesha babekwintlungu enkulu. Kwakuphambi kokuba bahambele uYesu bephethe isigidimi sikaYohane. Ititshala yabo ethandekayo yayisentolongweni, baza bayichitha imihla yabo besezinyembezini. Eyona nto uYesu wayengenzi malinge okumkhulula uYohane, kangangokuba wada wabonakala engathi uyisingela phantsi imfundiso yakhe. Ukuba uYohane wayethunywe nguThixo, kwakutheni ukuba uYesu nabafundi baKhe balandele ikhondo elahluke kakhulu kangako? ULw 276.3

Abafundi bakaYohane babengawuqondi kakuhle umsebenzi kaKristu; babecinga ukuba kunokuba ukho unobangela wezimangalo zabaFarisi. Babeyigcina emininzi kwimiqathango eyayimiswe ngoorabhi, bada banalo nethemba lokugwetyelwa ngemisebenzi yomthetho. Ukuzila kwakusenziwa ngamaYuda njengesenzo sokuzuza okuhle, kwaye abona babenobungqongqo obunzima kubo bezila iintsuku ezimbini ngeveki. AbaFarisi nabafundi bakaYohane babezila, baza abafundi bakaYohane bambuza, besithi, “Kungani na ukuba sizile ukudla kaninzi, thina nabaFarisi, kanti bona abafundi bakho abakuzili?” ULw 276.4

UYesu wabaphendula ngobubele obukhulu. Akazange azame ukulungisa ingqondo enemposiso ngokuzila, kodwa wababeka endleleni ngowaKhe umsebenzi awuzeleyo. Wakwenza oku ngokusebenzisa kwaumfanekiso owawusetyenziswe ngumBhaptizi ngokwakhe xa wayengqina ngoYesu. UYohane wayethe, “Lowo unomtshakazingumyeni;isihlobokesomyeni,esimiyosimve,sivuyakunene ngenxa yezwi lomyeni; ngoko olu luvuyo lwam luzalisekile.” Yohane 3:29. Abafundi bakaYohane abazange bangakwazi ukuwakhumbula amazwi etitshala yabo, waza, ewususa apho umzekeliso, uYesu wathi, “Ninako yini na ukubazilisa ukudla abegumbi lomtshakazi, xa asenabo umyeni?” ULw 276.5

UMthetheli wezulu wayephakathi kwabantu baKhe. Esona sipho sikhulu sikaThixo sasinikwe ihlabathi. Uvuyo kwabangamahlwempu; kuba uKristu weza ukuze abenze iindlalifa zobukumkani baKhe. Uvuyo kwabazizityebi; kuba weza ukuze abafundise indlela yokuzuza ubutyebi obungunaphakade. Uvuyo kwabangazi nto; weza ukuze abenze babe nobulumko obusa elusindisweni. Uvuyo kwabafundileyo; weza ukuze abavulele iimfihlakalo ezinzulu kunezo bakha bazama ukuzifikelela; iinyaniso ezazikade zifihlakele kwasekusekweni kwehlabathi zaziza kuvulelwa abantu ngumsebenzi othunywe uMsindisi. ULw 277.1

UYohane umBhaptizi wabanovuyo akumbona uMsindisi. Ubuhle besiganeko sovuyo ababenalo abafundi ababa nelungelo lokuhamba, bathethe neNgangalala yezulu! Eli yayingelilo ixesha lokuba bakhale, bazile. Kufuneka bazivule iintliziyo zabo baze bamkele ukukhanya kobuqaqawuli baKhe, ukuze bakwazi ukugqithisela ukukhanya kwabo babehleli ebumnyameni nakwithunzi lokufa. ULw 277.2

Yayingumfanekiso oqaqambileyo owenziwa ngamazwi kaKristu, kodwa, kuwo kwakunqumle phakathi kulo ithunzi elingqingqwa, elaqondwa kuphela liliso laKhe. “Ke kofika mihla,” watsho, “awoza asuswe kubo umyeni; baya kwandula ke ukuzila ngaloo mihla.” Xa bethe bayibona iNkosi yabo ingcatshwa ibethelelwa, abafundi baya kuhlahlamba bazile. Kumazwi waKhe wokugqibela bekwigumbi eliphezulu, wathi, “Selilixesha elifutshane, nize ningandiboni; kubuye kube lixesha elifutshane, nibuye nindibone. Inene, inene, ndithi kuni, niya kulila nihlahlambe, ke lona ihlabathi liya kuvuya; niya kuxhalaba nina, ke ukuxhalaba kwenu kuya kuba luvuyo.” Yohane” 16:19, 20.ULw 277.3

Xa athe waphuma engcwabeni, usizi lwabo lwaluya kujika lube luvuyo. Emva kokunyuka kwaKhe, wayeza kungabikho ubuqu; kodwa ngoMthuthuzeli, wayeza kuba ese nabo, kwaye babengayi kuchitha xesha bekhala. Yeyona nto wayeyifuna le uSathana. Wayelangazelela ukuba banike ihlabathi ingqondo ethi balahlekiswa badaniswa; kodwa, ngokholo, babeza kukhangela kwingcwele yangasentla, apho uYesu wayelungiselela khona ngenxa yabo; babeza kuzivula iintliziyo zabo kuMoya Oyingcwele, ummeli waKhe, baze bavuye ekukhanyeni kobukho baKhe. Kanti ke, imihla yokuhendwa nokulingwa yayizakufika, xa babeza kungqubana nabaphathi beli hlabathi, neenkokheli zobukumkani bobumnyama; sele uKristu engasenabo ngesiqu, baze basilele ukumqonda uMthuthuzeli, ngelo xesha kuya kubalungela kakhulu ukuba bazile.ULw 277.4

AbaFarisi babezama ukuziphakamisa ngokukhuthalela ukugcina iinkonzo, lo gama iintliziyo zabo zazizele ngumona nembambano. “Yabonani,” sitsho isiBhalo, “nizilela ukubambana, niphikisane, nibethane ngenqindi lokungendawo; namhla anizileli ukuze nivakalise ilizwi lenu phezulu. Into enjalo ingaba kukuzila endikunyulileyo na? Ingaba ngumhla wokuba umntu awuthobe umphefumlo wakhe na? Ukuthokombisa intloko yakhe njengomzi andlale ezirhwexayo nothuthu, oko ukubiza ngokuthi kukuzila na? Ngumhla okholekileyo na kuYehova?” Isa. 58:4, 5.ULw 278.1

Ukuzila kwenene akuyiyo inkonzo nje eqhelekileyo. IsiBhalo sikuchaza ukuzila akunyulileyo uThixo, ngokuthi, “ukucombulula iziqamangelo zokungendawo, ukukhulula izitropu zeedyokhwe, ukundulula abavikivekileyo bekhululekile, naphule zonke iidyokhwe;” kunye “[noku]mvukelisa olambileyo ngento oyidlayo, wawuhluthisa umphefumlo wocinezelweyo.” Isa. 58:6, 10. Apha kubekwe owona moya neempawu zomsebenzi kaKristu. Ubomi baKhe bonke babukukuzincama khon’ ukuze kusindiswe ihlabathi. Nokuba yayikukuzila kwintlango yezihendo okanye ukutya nababuthi berhafu esidlweni kwaMateyu, wayinikela ubomi baKhe ekuhlanguleni abalahlekileyo. Kwakungekho ekulileni ngelize, nokungcungcuthekisa nje umzimba, nenyambalala yemibingelelo, apho umoya wokuzinikela ngokwenene ubonakalaliswa khona, kodwa uboniswa ekunikelweni kuka-mna kwintumekelelo yokusebenzela uThixo nabantu. ULw 278.2

Eqhubeka nempendulo yakhe kubafundi bakaYohane, wathetha umzekeliso, esithi, “Akukho ubeka isiziba sengubo entsha engutyeni endala; okanye woba ukrazula leyo intsha, sithi nesiziba eso sentsha singavumani nendala.” Isigidimi sikaYohane umBhaptizi kwakungafunekanga siphothene nesithethe kunye nenkolo. Ukuzama ukuhlanganisa ukuhanahanisa kwabaFarisi nokuzinikela kukaYohane kwakuya kuwucacisa ngakumbi umahluko phakathi kwako kokubini.ULw 278.3

Yayingenako imithetho-siseko yemfundiso kaKristu ukumanywa neendlela zobuFarisi. UKristu wayengazi kuvala ithuba elenziwa ziimfundiso zikaYohane. Wayeza kwenza umahluko ocace kakhulu phakathi kwewayini endala nentsha. Le nyaniso uYesu wayenza yabonakala ngakumbi xa esithi, “Akukho utha iwayini entsha ezintsubeni ezindala; okanye yozigqabhuza iintsuba iwayini entsha, iphalale yona, zitshabalale neentsuba.” Iintsuba zesikhumba ezazisetyenziswa njengezitya zokuthwala iwayini entsha, emva kwexesha zaziqina zibe qothololo, zize zingabi nakufaneleka ukuba ziyisebenze injongo yazo kwakhona. Kulo mzekeliso uqhelekileyo,uYesu wandlala imeko yeenkokeli zamaYuda. Ababingeleli nababhali nabaphathi babesengxingweni yeenkonzo nesithethe. Iintliziyo zabo zaziye zacutheka, ngokweentsuba ezomileyo uYesu awayebafanekisa nazo. Lo gama babanelisiwe yinkolo yomthetho, babengenako ukuba ngoovimba benyaniso yezulu. Babecinga ukuba obabo ubulungisa babanele, baza abanqwenela ukuba kongezwe kwinkolo yabo isolotya elitsha. Bayihlanganisa nokwabo okuhle ngenxa yemisebenzi yabo emihle. Intando kaThixo ngakubantu abazange bayamkele njengento enxamnye kunye nabo. Ukholo olusebenza ngothando noluwenza nyulu umphefumlo aluzange luyifumane indlela yokumanyana nenkolo yabaFarisi, eyayibandakanya iinkonzo nemiyalelo yabantu. Umzamo wokuhlanganisa iimfundiso zikaKristu nenkolo emiselweyo kwakuya kuba lilize. Inyaniso ephilisayo kaThixo, njengewayini evutyelweyo, yayiza kuzigqabhuza iintsuba ezindala zesithethe sabaFarisi ezazise zisonakala. ULw 278.4

AbaFarisi babezicingela ukuba balumke kakhulu ukuba bangadinga ukufundiswa, balunge kakhulu ukuba badinge usindiso, baphakame kakhulu ukuba bangafuna intlonipho evela kuKristu. UMsindisi wabashiya waya kufuna abanye ababeza kusamkela isigidimi sezulu. Kubalobi beentlanzi abangafundisekanga, kumbuthi werhafu emalikeni, kwintokazi yaseSamariya, kwindawo yembutho yabantu abamphulaphula ngovuyo, wazifumana iintsuba zaKhe ezintsha zokugalela iwayini entsha. Izixhobo ezingabantu zokusetyenziswa emsebenzini weendaba ezilungileyo yiloo miphefumlo ekwamkela ngovuyo ukukhanya uThixo abathumela kona. Ezi zizenzeleli zokugqithisela ukwaziwa kwenyaniso ezweni lonke. Ukuba ngobabalo lukaKristu abantu baKhe bangaba ziintsuba ezintsha, uya kubazalisa ngewayini entsha. ULw 279.1

Imfundiso kaKristu naxa zazimelwe yiwayini entsha, yayingeyiyo imfundiso entsha, kodwa yayisisityhilelo saleyo yayifundiswe kwasekuqalekeni. Kubo abaFarisi, inyaniso kaThixo yayilahlekiwe kukubaluleka nobuhle bayo bemveli. Kubo, imfundiso kaKristu yayintsha nakweliphi icandelo, kwaye yayingaqondwa, ingamkelwa. ULw 279.2

UYesu wathetha ngamandla emfundiso yobuxoki ethi itshabalalise ukuxatyiswa nolangazelelo lwenyaniso. “Akukho uthi,” watsho, “ebesele endala, athande entsha kwaoko; ngokuba uthi, Endala yeyona inencasa.” Yonke inyaniso eyayinikwe ihlabathi ngamanyange nabaprofeti yakhanya ngobuhle obutsha emazwini kaKristu. Ababhali nabaFarisi bona babengenalo ulangazelelo lwewayini entsha enexabiso. Bengadanga baqongqothwa izithethe ezidala, amasiko, nezenzo, babengenayo indawo engqondweni okanye entliziyweni yeemfundiso zikaKristu. Babambelela kwiindlela ezifileyo basuka bemka kwinyaniso ephilileyo namandla kaThixo. ULw 279.3

Yaba yile nto eyabonakalalisa intshabalalo yamaYuda, kwaye iya kubonakalalisa intshabalalo yemiphefumlo emininzi ngale yethu imihla. Amawaka enza impazamo enye eyenziwa ngabaFarisi awabangxolisayo uKristu esidlweni sikaMateyu. Endaweni yokwahlukana nezinye iingcinga azithandayo, okanye alahle ezinye izithixo zembono, abaninzi balandula inyaniso eza ivela kuBawo wezikhanyiso. Bathemba u-mna, baxhomekeke kobabo ubulumko, bangabuqondi ubuhlwempu babo basemoyeni. Bazimisela ekusindisweni ngendlela ethile abanokuthi ngayo benze umsebenzi obalulekileyo. Bathi bakubona ukuba ayikho indlela yokuthungela umna emsebenzini, basuke balwale usindiso olulungisiweyo. ULw 280.1

Inkolo yomthetho ayisokuze ikhokelele umphefumlo kuKristu; kuba iyinkolo engenalo uthando nengenaYe uKristu. Ukuzila okanye ukuthandaza okuqhutywa ngumoya wokuzithethelela kulisikizi emehlweni kaThixo. Intlanganiso endilisekileyo yokunqula, inkqubo yeenkonzo zonqulo, ukuzithoba obubonakala ngaphandle, umnikelo obonakala umkhulu, konke kuvakalisa ukuba umenzi wezi zinto uzibona elilungisa, nokuba unalo igunya lezulu; kodwa kukonke kuyinkohliso. Eyethu imisebenzi ayisokuze iluthenge usindiso.ULw 280.2

“Njengoko kwakunjalo ngemihla kaKristu, kunjalo nangoku; abaFarisi abakwazi ukungabi namoya kwabo. Kuza kubo isigidimi, esithi, Ngokuba uthi, Ndisisityebi, ndizityebisile, andiswele nto; ube ungazi ukuba uludwayinge, ulusizana, ulihlwempu, uyimfama, uhamba ze; ndiya kucebisa, ukuba uthenge kum igolide evuthiswe emlilweni, ukuze ube nobutyebi; neengubo ezimhlophe, ukuze wambeswe, lingabonakali ihlazo lobuze bakho; nentambiso yamehlo, uthambise amehlo akho, ukuze ubone.” IsiTy. 3:17, 18. Ukholo nothando luyigolide evuthiswe emlilweni. Kwabaninzi igolide ithe yagqola, yaza indyebo ebubutyebi yalahlwa. Ubulungisa bukaKristu kubo bufana nengubo engazanga yanxitywa, umthombo ongachukunyiswanga. Kuthiwa kubo, “Noko ke ndinale nto ngakuwe, yokuba uthando lwako lokuqala walushiyayo. Khumbula ngoko apho uwe usuka khona, uguquke, wenze imisebenzi yokuqala; okanye ndoza kuwe kamsinya, ndisishenxise isiphatho sesibane sakho endaweni yaso, ukuba akuthanga uguquke.” IsiTyilelo 2:4, 5.ULw 280.3

“Imibingelelo kaThixo ngumoya owaphukileyo, intliziyo eyaphukileyo, etyumkileyo, Thixo, akuyi kuyidela.” Nd. 51:17. Kufuneka umntu akhutshwe kuphele u-mna ngaphambi abe ulikholwa likaYesu ngokupheleleyo. Akuba elahliwe u-mna, iNkosi iya kwazi ukumenza umntu isidalwa esitsha. Iintsuba ezintsha zinganayo iwayini entsha. Uthando lukaKristu lulivuselela ikholwa ngobomi obutsha. Kulowo ukhangele kwiMbangi noMgqibelelisi wokholo lwethu, isimilo sikaKristu siya kubonakalaliswa. ULw 280.4