67—OoYeha! KubaFarisi

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuMat. 23; Marko 12:41-44; Luka 20:45-47; 21:1-4.]

Yayingumhla wokugqibela wokufundisa kukaKristu etempileni. Kwisihlwele esikhulu esasihlangene eYerusalem, amehlo abo bonke ayekhangele kuYe; abantu babebuthelene ezintendelezweni zetempile, bebukele ukhuphiswano olwaluqhubeka, baza bathi ngenzondelelo, babamba lonke ilizwi elaliphuma emilebeni yaKhe. Awuzanga wabonwa ngaphambili umbono onjalo. Kwakumi apho indodana yaseGalili, ingenako ukuhlonipheka kwasemhlabeni okanye imbasa yobukhosi. Yayirhangqwe ngababingeleli bevathe iingubo zexabiso, abaphathi betsho ngeengubo neembasa ezihambelana nezikhundla zabo eziphezulu, nababhali beneencwadi ezisongwayo ezandleni. Njengowayewongwe ngegunya lezulu, wakhangela kubachasi baKhe engenadyudyu, abazalayo bazidela iimfundiso zaKhe, nababenxanelwe ubomi baKhe. Babemhlasele bengabantu abaninzi kakhulu, kodwa ukuceba kwabo ukumbambisa nokumgweba kwabo kwaba lilize. Waqubisana nomngeni emva komngeni, ebeka inyaniso enyulu neqaqambileyo xa kuthelekiswa nobumnyama neempazamo zababingeleli nabaFarisi. Wayebeke phambi kwezi nkokeli ezona meko zazo, kunye nembuyekezo eqinisekileyo ukulandela ukuqhubeka kwazo nezenzoezibi.Isilumkiso sasinikwe ngokuthembekileyo. Kanti ke, omnye umsebenzi wawusasele ukuba uKristu awenze. Enye injongo kwakusafuneka ifeziwe.ULw 610.1

Umdla wabantu kuKristu nasemsebenzini waKhe wawukhule ngokucondobezayo. Babethabathekile yimfundiso yaKhe, kodwa babekwadideke kakhulu. Babebabekile ababingeleli nabafundisi ngenxa yobuchopho nokubonakala kobungcwele babo. Kuyo yonke imicimbi yenkolo, babesoloko bezinikele ekulithobeleni ngokupheleleyo igunya labo. Baya babona kodwa ngoku ukuba la madoda ezama ukwenza ukuba athandabuzwe uYesu, ititshala eyenza okuhle kwakunye nolwazi lwaYo lwakukhanya ngokugqithisileyo kuko konke ukuhlaselwa. Bakukhangela ukuthotywa kwembonakalo yababingeleli nabaphathi, babona ukudideka nesiphithiphithi. Bamangaliswa kukuba abaphathi bangakholelwa kuYesu, kanti iimfundiso zaKhe zazicace zilula kangako. Ngexhala elinenzondelelo, bazigqala iintshukumo zabo, icebo labo lalisoloko lilandelwa. ULw 611.1

Kwimizekeliso awayithethayo uKristu, yaye iyinjongo yaKhe ukulumkisa nokubafundisa abantu ababekufuna ukufundiswa. Sasikho isidingo sokuba kuthethwe ngokucacileyo ngakumbi. Ngokuhlonelakwabo isithethe kwakunye nokukholelwa kwabo ngobudenge Kububingeleli obukhohlakeleyo, abantu baba ngamakhoboka. Kufuneka uKristu ewaqhawule la matyathanga. Into abayiyo ababingeleli, nabaphathi, kunye nabaFarisi kufuneka ivezwe ngokupheleleyo.ULw 611.2

“Ababhali nabaFarisi,” wathi, “bahleli esihlalweni sikaMoses. Konke ngoko abasukuba besithi kuni kugcineni, ze nikugcine nikwenze; kodwa ze ningenzi ngokwemisebenzi yabo; kuba bathetha baze bangenzi.” Ababhali nabaFarisi babebanga ukuba banikwa igunya lasezulwini elifana nelikaMoses. Bathabathela kubo indawo yokuba ngabachazi bomthetho nokuba ngabagwebi babantu. Ngenxa yoko, bafuna ukuba abantu babanike intlonipho nentobelo enkulu. UYesu wabayalela abaphulaphuli baKhe ukuba bakwenze oko kufundiswa ngabafundisi ngokubhekiselele emthethweni, kodwa bangawulandeli umzekelo wabo. Bona ngokwabo babengayenzi into abayifundisayo.ULw 612.1

Kuninzi ababekufundisa okwakuchasene neziBhalo. UYesu wathi, “Babopha imithwalo enzima, esindayo, bayibeke emagxeni abantu, babe ke bona bengathandi kuyishukumisa nangomnwe lo wabo.” Ababingeleli bafakela intlaninge yemigaqo, esiseko sayo sasikwisithethe, beyithintela ngokungekho zingcingeni zilungileyo inkululeko yabantu. Ezinye iindawo zomthetho babezichaza khon’ ukuze babeke phezu kwabantu ukugcinwa kwezinto bona ngokwabo ababezityeshela emfihlakalweni, nekwakusithi, xa kubalungela bona, bathi bakhululekile kuzo. ULw 612.2

Ukwenza umboniso ngobungcwele babo yayiyeyona njongo izingileyo yabo. Akukho nto yayithatyathwa ngokuba ingcwele kakhulu ukufeza le njongo. UThixo wayethethe wenjenje kuMoses, ngokubhekiselele kwimithetho yaKhe, “Uwabophe esandleni sakho abe ngumqondiso, abe zizikhumbuzo phakathi kwamehlo akho.” Dut. 6:8. La mazwi anentsingiselo enzulu. Xa kucamngcwa ngelizwi likaThixo, lisenziwa, umntu ewonke uyaphakanyiswa. Ekwenzeni ngokulunga nemfesane, izandla ziya kutyhila, njengomsesane, imithetho-siseko yomthetho kaThixo. Ziya kugcinwa zihlambulukile ekunyotyweni, nakuko konke okukhohlakeleyo nokukhohlisayo. Ziya kukhuthala emisebenzini yothando nemfesane. Amehlo, akhangeliswe kwinjongo enendili, aya kukhazimla, enenyaniso. Imbonakalo ethethayo, iliso elithethayo, liya kungqina kwisimilo esingenabala salowo ulithandayo nolizukisayo ilizwi likaThixo. Konke oku kwakungabonwa ngamaYuda emihla kaYesu. Umyalelo owawunikwe uMoses wawujikwe wayindlela ekufuneka imithetho yesiBhalo igangxwe phezu komntu. Ngenxa yoko, yayibhalwe kwimicwe yofele, ibotshelelwa ngendlela ebonakala ngokucacileyo entloko nasezihlahleni. Phofu oku akuzange kwenze ukuba umthetho kaThixo uzinze engqondweni nasentliziyweni. Ezi mfele zazinxitywa njengembasa, ukutsala amehlo. Kwakucingwa ukuba abazinxibileyo zibanika umoya wokuzinikela nowawuya kukhweba ukuhlonitshwa ngabantu. UYesu wakubetha kwawa phantsi oku kuzenzisa: “Yonke imisebenzi yabo ke bayenza ngokunga bangabonwa ngabantu; bawenze banzi amaqhaga abo ezikhumbuzo, bayandise imiqukumbelo yeengubo zabo. Kananjalo bathanda izilili zobukhulu ezidlweni zesikhungu, nemibuliso ezindaweni zembutho, nokubizwa ngabantu kuthiwe, Rabhi, Rabhi. Ke nina maningabizwa kuthiwe Rabhi; kuba mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu; nina ke nonke ningabazalwana. Ningabizi mntu ngokuba nguyihlo emhlabeni apha; kuba mnye uYihlo wenu, lowo usemazulwini. Kananjalo maningabizwa ngokuba ningabakhokeli; kuba mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu.” Ngamazwi acace ngolo hlobo, uMsindisi watyhila ibhongo elingasekeleze nzuzo elalihlala lifikelela kwindawo negunya, elibonisa ukuzithoba kokuzenzisa, lo gama intliziyo izaliswe kukubawa nomnqweno. Xa abantu babemenyelwa esidlweni, iindwendwe zazihlaliswa ngokwezikhundla zazo, zize zithi ezo zazinikwe ezona ndawo zihloniphekileyo, zizuze ukuhoywa kuqala kwanezibonelelo ezizodwa. AbaFarisi babehlala beceba ukuzuza la mawonga. Sesi senzo awasikhalimelayo uYesu. ULw 612.3

Waya wabonisa nokungabi nto kokubawela isihlonipho sikaRabhi, okanye sikaNkosi. Isihlonipho esinjalo, wathi, asisiso esabantu, kodwa sesikaKristu. Ababingeleli, ababhali, nabaphathi, abachazi nabalawuli bomthetho, bonke babe ngabazalwana, abantwana boYise omnye. UYesu wakufaka ebantwini ukuba banganiki mntu isihlonipho sembeko esibonisa ulawulo lwakhe kwizazela okanye ukholo lwabo. ULw 613.1

Ukuba uKristu wayelapha emhlabeni namhla, engqongwe ngabo bathwele isihlonipho sika“Mhlonipheki” okanye “Mhlonipheki ulungileyo,” ebengayi kuyiphinda na intetho yaKhe, ethi, “Kananjalo maningabizwa ngokuba ningabakhokeli; kuba mnye uMkhokeli wenu, uKristu.”? IsiBhalo sithi uThixo “lingcwele, liyoyikeka, igama lakhe.” Nd. 111:9. Sifaneleke kuwuphi umntu eso sihlonipho? Indlela ekukuncinane ngayo ukuba umntu aveze kubulumko nobulungisa esibubonisayo! Kukangakanani athi amabhongo ehlabathi, ukuphatha ngqwabalala, nezona zono ziphantsi ezithi ezi zinto zifihlwe phantsi kweengubo ezisontiweyo zesikhundla esiphezulu nesingcwele! UMsindisi waqhubeka, wathi, ULw 613.2

“Omkhulu ke kuni makabe ngumlungiseleli wenu. Osukuba ke eziphakamisa uya kuthotywa; nosukuba ezithoba uya kuphakanyiswa.” Waphinda-phinda uKristu efundisa ukuba ubukhulu benene bulinganiswa ngokwexabiso lokuziphatha okuhle. Kuqikelelo lwezulu, ubukhulubesimilobunokwenzanendlela yokuphilela ukulungelwa kwabanye abantu bethu, ekwenzeni imisebenzi yothando nenceba. UKristu, uKumkani wozuko, wayengumkhonzi womntu owileyo. ULw 613.3

“Yeha, nina babhali, baFarisi, bahanahanisindini! Ngokuba nibuvala ubukumkani bamazulu phambi kwabantu; kuba aningeni nina, nabangenayo anibavumeli ukuba bangene.” Ngokuzikruna iziBhalo ababingeleli nabaqondisimthetho, bazimfamekisa iingqondo zabo babeya kuthi bazuze ulwazi ngobukumkani bukaKristu, kunye nobo bomi bobuThixo bangaphakathi, obufunekayo kubungcwele benene. ULw 614.1

“Yeha, nina babhali, baFarisi, bahanahanisindini! Ngokuba nisidla izindlu zabahlolokazi, nize ngokunyhwalaza nithandaze uzungu; ngenxa yoko niya kwamkela ugwebo olugqithisileyo.” AbaFarisi babenempembelelo enkulu ebantwini, baza bakwenza oku ixhoba lokwaneza okwabo ukuthanda. Bakuzuza ukuthenjwa ngabahlolokazi abangcwele, baza bakuveza oku ngokungathi ngumthwalo wabo [abahlolokazi] ukunikela oko banako ukuba kusetyenziselwe iinjongo zenkolo. Bakuba bekuzuzile ukuyilawula imali yabo, lamachule anobuqhinga, ayeyisebenzisela okwawo ukulungelwa. Ukugquma ukunganyaniseki kwabo, babesenza imithandazo emide esidlangalaleni, benze umboniso omkhulu wobungcwele. Oku kuhanahanisa, uKristu wathi kuya kubazisela ukugwetywa okukhulu. Kwakona oko kukhalima, kuwa phezu kwabaninzi ngale mihla yethu ababubabaza kakhulu ubungcwele [babo]. Ubomi babo budyojiwe kukufuna inzuzo nokubawa, ukanti konke bakwambathise ngengubo yobunyulu bokuzenzisa, baze bathi, ixesha elide, babakhohlise abazalwana babo. Phofu abasokuze bamkhohlise uThixo. Uyayifunda yonke injongo yentliziyo, kwaye uya kumgweba wonke umntu ngokwemisebenzi yakhe. ULw 614.2

UKristu wayengakubandezi ukubugxeka ubugwenxa, kodwa ekunonophela nokungakucuthi ukubopheleleka. Wayekukhalimela ukubawela inzuzo nokusetyenziswa ngendlela engeyiyo kwezipho zabahlolokazi. Kwangelo xesha linye, wamncoma umhlolokazi owazisa umnikelo wakhe kuvimba kaThixo. Ukusebenzisa gwenxa komntu isipho kwakungakwazi ukuyijika intsikelelo kaThixo kulowo unikelayo.ULw 614.3

UYesu wayekwinkundla apho iityesi zemali zazigcinwa khona, waza wabukela abo babesiza ukuba bafake izipho zabo. Abaninzi kwabazizityebi beza neemali ezinkulu, abazinikela ngesigqezu esikhulu. UYesu wabakhangela ngosizi, kodwa akaze athethe ngezipho zabo eziyintabalala. Eselapho, inkangeleko yaKhe yathi phaka xa wayebona kusiza, buthandabuza, umhlolokazi olihlwempu, engathi uyakoyika ukondelwa. Bathi xa abazizityebi nabaziphakamisileyo bekhawuleza bedlula, besiya kufaka iminikelo yabo, wahlehla wabuya umva ngokungathi uyoyika ukubheka phambili. Kanti kunjalo, wayefuna ukuba nento ayenzayo, nangona incinane, ngenxa yomsebenzi awayewuthanda. Wakhangela kwisipho asiphetheyo. Saye sisincinane kakhulu xasithelekiswaneziphozabobebemngqongile, kanti ke, sasikuko konke awayenako. Elindele elakhe ithuba, wakhawuleza waphosa iimali zakhe ezimbini, wajika wemka ngokungxama. Wathi ngokwenza oku, watsala iliso likaYesu, elamila ngenzondelelo kuye.ULw 614.4

UMsindisi wabizela kuYe abafundi baKhe, wabayalela ukuba bakuqaphele ukuhlupheka komhlolokazi. Amazwi aKhe okuncoma aya afikelela endlebeni yakhe: “Inyaniso ndithi kuni, Lo mhlolokazi usweleyo uphose ngaphezu kwabo bonke.” Iinyembezi zovuyo zathi gwantyi emehlweni akhe, akuva ukuba isenzo sakhe sasiqondwa kwaye sithandwa. Abaninzi ngebamcebisa ukuba aligcine icuntswana lakhe ukuze azisebenzisele; xa linikelwe ezandleni zababingeleli ababesele bondlekile kakade, laliza kunyamalala phakathi kwemfumba yezipho zexabiso ezaziziswe kuvimba. Yena UYesu wayiqonda injongo yakhe. Wayekholwa ukuba inkonzo yetempile yayimiselwe nguThixo, kwaye wayenxanelwe ukwenza konke ukuyixhasa kangangoko. Wenza oko wayenako, saye isenzo sakhe siya kuba sisikhumbuzo sokukhunjulwa kwakhe kulo lonke ixesha, novuyo lwakhe kunaphakade. Intliziyo yakhe yahamba nesipho sakhe; ixabiso laso laqikelelwa, hayi ngexabiso lengqekembe, kodwa ngokuthanda uThixo kunye nomdla emsebenzini waKhe owakhuthaza isenzo eso. ULw 615.1

UYesu wathi ngomhlolokazi olihlwempu, “Uphose ngaphezu kwabo bonke.” Izityebi zakhupha zithabatha kwintabalala ezinayo, abaninzi kuzo besenzela ukuba babonwe, bazukiswe ngabantu. Izipho zabo ezikhulu azizange zibahluthe lonwabo, okanye ubunewunewu; abazange bafuna kuncama nto, ngoko bengenakuthelekiswa ngexabiso nedenariyo yomhlolokazi. ULw 615.2

Yinjongo enika ubume kwizenzo zethu, iziphawule ngokudelekileyo okanye ngexabiso lokuhle okuphezulu. Ayizizo izinto ezinkulu ezibonwa liliso lonke, nolwimi luzincome, uThixo azibala ngokuthi zixabiseke kakhulu. Imisetyenzana emincinane eyenziwa ngochulumanco; izipho ezincinane ezingezizo ezomboniso, nezibukeka zingenaxabiso kwiliso lomntu, ezikholisa ukuba kweyona ndawo iphezulu emehlweni aKhe. Intliziyo yokholo nothando ithandeka kakhulu kuThixo kunesipho selona xabiso liphezulu. UMhlolokazi olihlwempu wanikela impilo yakhe ukuba enze okuncinane awakwenzayo. Wazibandezela ukutya ukuze anikele ezo malana zimbini kumsebenzi awayewuthanda. Wakwenza oko ngokholo, ekholwa ukuba uBawo osemazulwini wayengasayi kungasiboni isidingo sakhe esikhulu. Yayingulo moya ungajonge nto kunye nokholo olunje ngolomntwana olwazuza ukunconywa nguMsindisi.ULw 615.3

Phakathi kwamahlwempu, baninzi abanga bangabonisa umbulelo kuThixo ngobabalo lwaKhe nenyaniso yaKhe. Banqwenela kakhulu ukwabelana nabazalwana babo abanempumelelo kakhulu ekuxhaseni umsebenzi waKhe. Le miphefumlo akufuneki igxothwe. Mayizibeke iimalana zayo kuvimba wasezulwini. Ukuba zinikelwa ziphuma kwintliziyo ezaliswe kukuthanda uThixo, ezi ntwana zikhangeleka zincinace ziba zizipho ezingcwalisiweyo, iminikelo engaphaya kokuba ingabekwa ixabiso, athi uThixo ancume ngayo, ayisikelele.ULw 615.4

Xa uYesu wayesithi ngomhlolokazi “Uphose ngaphezu kwabo bonke,” amazwi aKhe ayeyinyaniso, kungekuphela nje ngenjongo, kodwa ngeziphumo zesipho sakhe. Iimalana ezimbini ezenza isenti zingenise kuvimba kaThixo imali enkulu kakhulu ukudlula iminikelo yaloo maYuda azizityebi. Impembelelo yeso sipho sincinane iye yafana nomsinga, omncinane ekuqaleni kwawo, kodwa uye uba banzi nanzulu njengokuba usihla eminyakeni. Ngeendlela ezingamawaka, siye sanegalelo ekuncedeni amahlwempu nokusasazwa kweendaba ezilungileyo. Umzekelo wakhe wokuzincama usebenze ngokuphinda-phindiweyo kumawaka-waka eentliziyo kuzo zonke iindawo, nakuzo zonke izizukulwana. Siye sakhuthaza bonke, abatyebileyo nabangamahlwempu, yaza iminikelo yabo yalikhulisa ixabiso lesipho sakhe. Intsikelelo kaThixo kule malana yomhlolokazi iyenze yayintsusa yeziphumo ezikhulu. Kukwanjalo nakuso sonke isipho esinikelweyo, naso sonke isenzo esithe senziwa ngomnqweno onyanisekileyo wokuzukisa uThixo. Sihlanganiswa neenjongo zikaSomandla. Iziphumo zaso zokulungileyo akukho bani unako ukuzilinganisa.ULw 616.1

UMsindisi waqhubeka nokusingela phantsi ababhali nabaFarisi: “Yeha, nina bakhokelindini baziimfama! Nina nithi, Othe wafunga igolide yetempile, unetyala. Ziyatha, zimfama, kanene yiyiphi na enkulu? Yigolide, yitempile eyingcwalisayo igolide, kusini na? Kanjalo nina nithi, Othe wafunga isibingelelo, akunto oko; ke othe wafunga umnikelo ophezu kwaso, unetyala. Ziyatha, zimfama, kanene yiyiphi na enkulu? Ngumnikelo, sisibingelelo esiwungcwalisayo umnikelo, kusini na?” Ababingeleli babekuchaza okufunwa nguThixo ngokweyabo imigangatho engeyiyo nemincinane. Babenobuganga bokwenza umahluko omhle phakathi kwezono ngokuthelekisa izono ezahlukeneyo, bazidlule ngokulula ezinye, kuze kuthi ezinye, ngoku zibonakala zingenaziphumo zibi kangako, bathi azinako ukuxoleleka. Ngenxa yokujonga ngakwimeko yemali, babebaxolela abanye abantu kwizibhambathiso zabo. Kanti ke kwakusithi ngenxa yemali ezinkulu, ngamanye amaxesha badlule nje kulwaphulo lomthetho okukhulu. Kwangelo xesha linye, aba babingeleli nabaphathi, kwezinye iimeko, babewisa isigwebo ngeemposiso ezincinane. ULw 616.2

“Yeha, babhali, baFarisi, bahanahanisindini! Ngokuba ninikela izishumi zetyeleba nedile nekumin, kanti nizishiyile ezona ndawo zinzima zomthetho, umgwebo nenceba nokholo; ezi benimelwe kukuba nizenze, nithi neziya ningazishiyi.” Kula mazwi uKristu uphinde wakugxeka ukusetyenziswa gwenxa kweemfanelo ezingcwele. Imfanelo yona akayisusi. Uhlelo lokubuyiswa kwezishumi kwakumiselwe nguThixo, kwaye lwalusenziwa kwamhla mnene. UAbraham, uyise wamakholwa, wahlawula izishumi zako konke awayenako. Abaphathi bamaYuda babeyivuma imfanelo yokubuyiswa kwezishumi, kwaye oku kwakulungile;kodwa abazangebabayekeabantuukuba bawenze umthwalo wabo ngokokukholwa kwabo. Imigaqo enomkhethe yabekwa kwimeko nganye. Okufunwayo kwasuka kwabanzima kwada akwaba nako ukwenzeka. Kwakungekho nowaziyo ukuba okufanele ukuba akwenze kuyenzeka na. Njengoko uThixo wakuyalelayo, uhlelo lwalulungile luvakala; kodwa ababingeleli nabafundisi balwenza lwangumthwalo onzima kakhulu. ULw 616.3

Konke uThixo akuyalelayo kubalulekile. UKristu wakuthabatha ukubuyisa izishumi njengesenzo esibalulekileyo; kodwa wabonisa ukuba oku akunako ukunikwa njengesizathu sokutyeshela eminye imisebenzi. AbaFarisi babengqongqo ekubuyiseni isishumi sezityalo ezilinywe ezigadini, njengetyeleba, nedile, nekumin; konke oku kwakubadla kancinane, kwaza kwabanika igama njengabantu abangqongqo nabangcwele. Kwangelo xesha linye, imiqathango yabo engenamsebenzi yayibacinezela abantu ichithe nentlonipho kuhlelo olungcwele olwamiselwa nguThixo ngokwaKhe. Bazalisa iingqondo zabantu ngokucalucalula okungenamsebenzi, bazisusa iingqondo zabo kwiinyaniso ezifunekayo. Ezona ndawo zinzima zomtheto, umgwebo nenceba, nenyaniso zazityeshelwe. “Neziya,” uKristu wathi, “benimelwe kukuba nizenze, nithi neziya ningazishiyi.”ULw 617.1

Eminye imithetho yayigqwethiwe ngabafundisi ngokufanayo. Kwimiyalelo eyayinikwe ngoMoses, kwakwalelwe ukutya nayiphi into eyinqambi. Ukusebenzisa inyama yehagu, neyezinye izilwanyana ezithile, kwakungavumelekanga, njengoko zazinokuzalisa igazi ngokungcola, kwanokubenza bufutshane ubomi. AbaFarisi bayiyeke le miqathango iluhlobo uThixo awayeyinike ngalo. Basuka badlulela kwelinye icala. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, bathi abantu mabawahluze wonke amanzi asetyenziswayo, hleze kuthi kanti anaso nesona sincinane isinambuzane, esasinokubalwa njengesilwanyana esiyinqambi. UYesu, ethelekisa oku kunyanzelisa kwizinto ezincinane nobukhulu bezona zono zabo, wathi kubaFarisi, “Bakhokelindini, baziimfama, abahluza imbuzane, ke baginye inkamela.” ULw 617.2

“Yeha, nina babhali, baFarisi, bahanahanisindini! Ngokuba nifana namangcwaba aqatywe ifutha, athi abonakale emahle okunene ngaphandle, kanti ngaphakathi azele ngamathambo abafileyo nokungcola konke.” Njengokuba amangcwaba eqatywa mhlophe, ahonjiswe kakuhle, efihle izidumbu ezibolileyo ngaphakathi, bunjalo ubungcwele bababingeleli nabaphathi ukufihla ubugwenxa. UYesu waqhubeka, wathi: ULw 617.3

“Yeha, babhali, baFarisi, bahanahanisindini! Ngokuba niwakha amangcwaba abaprofeti, nivathise amangcwaba amalungisa, nithi, Ukuba sasikho thina ngemihla yoobawo, singe singabanga nabudlelane nabo ngegazi labprofeti. Ngoko niyangqina kwanina,ukuba ningoonyana babo babulala abaprofeti.” Ukubonisa indlela awayexabise kakhulu ngayo abaprofeti abafayo, amaYuda awahombisa amangcwaba abo; kodwa awazanga akuthobela ukukhalima kwabo.ULw 617.4

Ngemihla kaKristu, yayikho inkolo yokuziphatha ngentlonipho iindawo zabafileyo, kwaye kuchithwa iimali ezinkulu ekuzihombiseni. Emehlweni kaThixo, oku yayikukunqula izithixo. Ngokukhathalela kwabo ngendlela engafanelekanga abafileyo, abantu babonisa ukuba uThixo abamthandi ngaphezu kwako konke, nabamelwane bengabathandi njengoko bezithanda. Olu nqulo lwezithixo lusenziwa kakhulu nanamhla. Abaninzi banobutyala bokutyeshela umhlolokazi nenkedama, abagulayo namahlwempu, ukuze bakhele abafileyo izikhumbuzo zexabiso. Ixesha, imali, nomsebenzi zizinto ezichithwa ngokukhululekileyo ukufeza le njongo, lo gama umthwalo ngakwabaphilileyo—umthwalo uKristu awuyalele ngokucacileyo—uyekwa ungenziwanga. ULw 618.1

AbaFarisi bakha amangcwaba abaprofeti, bahombisa amatye awo, bathi omnye komnye, Ukuba sasiphila ngemihla yoobawo, sasingayi kuhlangana nabo ekuphalazeni igazi lezicaka zikaThixo. Ngelo xesha linye babeceba ukubulala uNyana waKhe. Oku kumele ukuba sisifundo kuthi. Sifanele ukuba siyawabona amandla kaSathana okuyilahlekisa ingqondo esukayo ekukhanyeni kwenyaniso. Abaninzi balandela ekhondweni labaFarisi. Banika imbeko abo bathe bafela ukholo lwabo. Bayakhwankqiswa bubumfama bamaYuda ngokwala uKristu. Bathi, ukuba sasiphile ngemihla yaKhe, ngesayamkela ngovuyo imfundiso yaKhe; ngesasingazanga sanenxaxheba kwityala labo bamalayo uMsindisi. Kuthi kodwa xa ukuthobela uThixo kufuna ukuzincama nokuthotyelwa phantsi, kwabona aba bantu baziqinise iingqondo zabo, bale ukuthobela. Ngaloo ndlela babonakalalisa umoya omnye nalowo wabaFarisi awabagxekayo uKristu.ULw 618.2

Aluqonda kancinane amaYuda uxanduva olwalubandakanya ukwala uKristu. Kususela kwixesha igazi elimsulwa lokuqala lathi laphalala, xa ilungisa uAbheli wawa ezandleni zikaKayin, kwayona loo mbali inye iphindaphindiwe, ngetyala eliya likhula. Kuzo zonke izizukulwana, abaprofeti baliphakamisa izwi labo ngakwizono zookumkani, abaphathi, kunye nabantu, bethetha amazwi abawathunywe nguThixo, bethobela intando yaKhe, bebeka ubomi babo esichengeni. Ukusuka kwisizukulwana ukuya kwesinye, kwakukho ukufunjwa kwesohlwayo kwabo bala ukukhanya nenyaniso. Konke oku, iintshaba zikaKristu zazikuzisa phezu kweentloko zazo. Isono sababingeleli nabaphathi sasisikhulu kunaso nasiphi kwisizukulwana esasingaphambi kwesabo. Ngokwala kwabo uMsindisi, bazenza banobutyala ngegazi labo bonke abantu ababengamalungisa ababulawayo ukususela kuAbheli ukuza kuKristu. Babesele beza kuyizalisa iphuphume indebe yabo yobugwenxa. Kungekudala yayiza kuthululwa phezu kweentloko zabo kwimbuyekezo yobulungisa. UYesu wabalumkisa ngale nto, esithi: ULw 618.3

“Ukuze linifikele lonke igazi elinobulungisa, elaphalazwayo emhlabeni apha, lithabathela egazini lika-Abheli ilungisa, lizise egazini likaZekariya, unyana kaBherekiya, enambulalela phakathi kwendawo engcwele nesibingelelo. Inene, ndithi kuni, Zonke ezo zinto ziya kusihlela esi sizukulwana.” ULw 619.1

Ababhali nabaFarisi ababemphulaphule uYesu, bawazi amazwi aKhe ukuba ayinyaniso. Babeyazi indlela umprofeti uZekariya awabulawa ngayo. Athi esesemilebeni yakhe amazwi okulumkisa avela kuThixo, ingqumbo yenkohlakalo yamfikela ukumkani ogwilikileyo, kwathi, ngomyalelo wakhe, umprofeti wabulawa. Igazi lakhe latshizeka ematyeni entendelezo yetempile, alaze likwazi ukusuka; lahlala apho ukuba libe bubungqina ngakuIsrayeli okreqileyo. Lonke ixesha itempile yayimile, laliya kubakho ibala lelo gazi lilungileyo, likhala kuThixo ukuba aliphindezele. Wathi xa uYesu ethetha ngezi zono zoyikekayo, kwathi tshitshilili ukoyika kuso sonke isihlwele.ULw 619.2

Ekhangele phambili, uYesu wavakalisa ukuba, ukungabikho kokuzohlwaya kumaYuda, nokungabanyamezeli kwawo abakhonzi bakaThixo, kwakuza kubanjalo nakwixesha elizayo, njengoko kwakunjalo nakweladlulayo: ULw 619.3

“Ngenxa yoko, niyabona, mna ndinithumela abaprofeti nezilumko nababhali; niya kuthi inxenye kubo niyibulale, niyibethelele eminqamlezweni, nithi inxenye kubo niyityakatye ezindlwini zenu zesikhungu, niyitshutshise kwimizi ngemizi.” Abaprofeti namadoda alumkileyo, bezele lukholo nanguMoya Oyingcwele,--uStefano, uYakobi, namanye amaninzi,--ayeza kugwetywa abulawe. Isandla esiphakamisele ezulwini, ukukhanya okungcwele kwamgquma, uKristu wawisa isigwebo kwabo babe phambi kwaKhe. Ilizwi laKhe, elaliye liviwe linobubele licenga, ngoku laviwa likhalima ligweba. Abamameleyo bangcangcazela. Imvakalo yamazwi aKhe nenkangeleko yaKhe yayingasokuze icime.ULw 619.4

Ingqumbo kaKristu yayibhekiswe kuhanahaniso, kwizono ezibi, abantu ababetshabalalisa imiphefumlo yabo ngazo, bekhohlisa abantu bemhlazisa uThixo. Ekucingeni okuyinkohliso elahlekisayo yababingeleli nabaphathi, wabona ukusebenza kwezenzeleli zenkohlakalo. Kwaye kunenzondelelo kuphengulula ukusingela kwaKhe isono; kodwa akazanga wathetha izwi lempindezelo. Wayenengqumo engcwele ngakumthetheli wobumnyama; kodwa akabonakalalisa ukuphazamiseka komoya.Ngokunjalo,umKristuophilangokuhambelananoThixo, eneempawu ezilungileyo zothando nenceba, uya kuyiva ingqumbo elungileyo ngakwisono; kodwa akayi kuba nemvakalelo yokugculela abo bamgculelayo. Naxa ehlangana nabo baqhutywa ligunya langaphantsi ukuba enze ubugwenxa, ekuKristu, uya kugcina ukuzola nokuzibamba. ULw 619.5

Usizi olungcwele lwabonakala ebusweni boNyana kaThixo xa wayephosa amehlo etempileni ajike awaphose kwabo bamphulaphuleyo. Ngelizwi elibindekileyo yintlungu esentliziyweni, neenyembezi ezikrakra, wathi, “Yerusalem, Yerusalem, wena ubabulalayo abaprofeti, ubagibisele ngamatye abo bathunywe kuwe, kufuthi kangakanani na ndithande ukubabuthela ndawonye abantwana bakho, ngohlobo esithi isikhukukazi siwabuthele ndawonye amathole aso ngaphantsi kwamaphiko, anavuma!” Yayilidabi lokwahlukana eli. Ukulila kukaKristu, kukuthululwa kwentliziyo kaThixo ngokwayo. Kukumka okufihlakeleyo kothando olunyamezelayo lukaThixo. AbaFarisi nabaSadusi bathi cwaka.UYesu wababiza abafundi baKhe, walungiselela ukuyishiya itempile, engengowoyisiweyo nonyanzelwe ukuba emke kubachasi baKhe, kodwa njengaLowo wayewufezile umsebenzi waKhe. Waphela engowoyisileyo edabini.ULw 620.1

Amagugu enyaniso awawa emilebeni kaKristu ngaloo mini yesiganeko, agcinwa ezintliziyweni ngabaninzi. Kubo, kwaqala iingcinga ezintsha ngobomi, kwavuka imvuselelo, kwaqala imbali entsha. Emva kokubethelelwa emnqamlezweni nokuvuka kukaKristu, aba bantu baba phambili, bawuzalisa umyalelo ongcwele benobulumko nenzondelelo ehambelana nobukhulu bomsebenzi. Basithwala isigidimi esasichukumisa iintliziyo zabantu, siqoba iinkolo ezindala ekwakukudala zidodobalisa ubomi bamawaka. Phambi kobungqina babo, iimfundiso zabantu zafana neentsomi. Zaba zikhulu iziphumo ezabakho ngenxa yamazwi oMsindisi kweso sihlwele sasikhwankqisiwe, sisoyika etempileni yaseYerusalem. ULw 620.2

Yena uIsrayeli njengesizwe, wayezahlule kuThixo. Amasebe omnquma wemvelo ayeqhawukile. Ekhangele okokugqibela etempileni ngaphakathi, uYesu, ngemvakalelo yokulila, wathi, “Yabonani, indlu yenu ishiywa nani ize. Kuba ndithi kuni, Aniyi kuba sandibona emveni koku, nide nithi, Makabongwe lowo uzayo egameni leNkosi.” Ukuza kufikelela apha, wayesithi, itempile yindlu kaYise; kodwa ngoku, njengokuba uNyana kaThixo kufuneka ephumile kwezo ndonga, ubukho bukaThixo babuza kusuka ngonaphakade kuloo tempile yakhelwe uzuko lwaKhe. Ukususela ngoko, amadini ayengasayi kuba nantsingiselo, iinkonzo zawo zaziza kuba sisinyeliso. ULw 620.3