32—Umthetho Neminqophiso

UAdam noEva, ekudalweni kwabo, babenalo ulwazi ngomthetho kaThixo; babeqhelene namabango awo kubo; imiyalelo yayibhalwe ezintliziyweni zabo. Ukuwa komntu ngokreqo, akuzange kuwuguqule umthetho, kodwa kwamiselwa uhlelo lokulungisa ukuze abuyiselwe ekuthobeleni. Isithembiso soMsindisi sanikwa, kwamiselwa iminikelo yemibingelelo eyalatha ekufeni kukaKristu njengomnikelo wesono omkhulu. Ukuba umthetho kaThixo wawungazange waphulwe, ngekwakungazange kwakho ukufa, kungazange kubekho nasidingo soMsindisi; ngokunjalo kwakungayi kubakho sidingo semibingelelo.ANa 363.1

UAdam wayifundisa inzala yakhe umthetho kaThixo, wanikelwa ukusuka kuyise kuye kunyana kuse kuzo zonke izizukulwana ezilandelayo. Nangona wawukho umsindleko wobabalo wokuhlangulwa komntu, bambalwa abawamkelayo bawuthobela. Ngokwaphula umthetho ihlabathi lakhohlakala kwada kwafuneka ukuba lihlanjululwe kwinkohlakalo yalo ngoNogumbe. Umthetho wagcinwa nguNowa nentsapho yakhe, waza uNowa wayifundisa inzala yakhe imiThetho eliShumi. Kwathi ngokuya abantu besimka kuThixo, uYehova wanyula uAbraham, awathi ngaye, “UAbraham waliphulaphulayo izwi lam, wasigcina isigxina sam, nemithetho yam, nemimiselo yam nemiyalelo yam.” Genesis 26:5. Kuye kwanikelwa inkonzo yolwaluko, eyayiza kuba ngumqondiso wokuba abo bawamkeleyo babezinikele ekukhonzeni uThixo--isibhambathiso sokuba baya kuhlala bezahlule ekunquleni izithixo, baze bathobele umthetho kaThixo. Ukusilela kwenzala ka-Abraham ukugcina esi sibhambathiso, njengoko kwabonakala ekuzayamaniseni kwabo nabahedeni baze bamkele izinto abazenzayo, kwaba ngunobangela wokuphambukela nasebukhobokeni baseYiputa. Kunjalo, ekuhambisaneni kwabo nabakhonzi bezithixo, nasekunyanzelweni kwabo ukuba baziyekele kumaYiputa, imiyalelo engcwele kwabakukonaisonakaliswaziimfundisoezimbi nezikhohlakeleyo zobuhedeni. Kungoko wathi uYehova xa ebakhupha eYiputa, wehla phezu kweSinayi, egutyungelwe bubuqaqawuli engqongwe ziingelosi zaKhe ezingcwele, wathi, ekubungangamsha oboyikekayo, wawuvakalisa umthetho waKhe ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu.ANa 363.2

Akazange ayinikele imithetho yaKhe ezingqondweni zabantu ababenokukulibala oko akufunayo, kodwa wayibhala emacwecweni amatye. Wayenako ukususa kuIsrayeli konke ukuxubana kwezithethe zabahedeni nemiyalelo yaKhe engcwele, okanye ukuphazamisa oko akufunayo nemimiselo okanye nezithethe zomntu. Ngenxa yoko, akazange aphelele ekubanikeni imiyalelo yemiThetho eliShumi. Abantu babonakalisa ukuba banokulahlekiswa lula, waza akalishiya isango lokulingwa lingaqatshelwanga. UMoses wanikwa umyalelo wokuba abhale, njengoko uThixo wayemxelela, izigwebo nemithetho enika iinkcukacha zako konke okufunekayo. Le miyalelo yokumelwe kukwenziwa ngabantu ngakuThixo, nakomnye umntu, nakowasemzini, yayiyimithetho-siseko yemiThetho eliShumi eyandisiweyo yanikwa ngendlela eqinisekileyo, ukuze kungabikho bani uphazamayo. Yayilungiselwe ukwalusa ubungcwele bemithetho elishumi eyayibhalwe emacwecweni amatye.ANa 364.1

Ukuba umntu wayewugcinile umthetho kaThixo, njengoko wanikelwa kuAdam emva kokuwa kwakhe, wagcinwa nguNowa, wagcinwa nguAbraham, ngekungazange kubekho sidingo senkonzo yolwaluko. Ukuba inzala ka-Abraham yayiwugcinile umnqophiso, ukwaluka okwakungumqondiso wawo, ngebabengazange bawexulelwa ekukhonzeni izithixo, kungazange kufuneke ukuba baphile nzima ubomi bobukhoboka eYiputa; ngebabewugcine engqondweni umthetho kaThixo, kungabikho mfuneko yokuba uvakaliswe eSinayi okanye ukrolwe emacwecweni amatye. Ngokunjalo, ukuba abantu babeyenzile imithetho-siseko yemiThetho eliShumi, ngekungazange kubekho isidingo semiyalelo eyongeziweyo eyanikwa uMoses.ANa 364.2

Uhlelo lwemibingelelo olwanikwa uAdam, nalo lwagqwethwa yinzala yakhe. Inkolo, unqulo lwezithixo, inkohlakalo, nokuziyekela ebubini, konke kwayonakalisa inkonzo eyayilula, ibalulekile, uThixo awayeyimisile. Ngokuhambelana ixesha elide nabakhonzi bezithixo, abantu bakaIsrayeli baxuba amasiko amaninzi obuhedeni nonqulo lwabo; ngenxa yaloo nto, uYehova wabanika eSinayi imfundiso eqinisekileyo ngenkonzo yemibingelelo. Wakuba ugqityiwe umnquba, wathetha (uYehova) noMoses esefini lobuqaqawuli phezu kwesihlalo senceba, wamnika imiyalelo epheleleyongohlelolweminikelo neendlela zokukhonza ekufuneka zenziwe engcweleni. Umthetho wamadini wawunikelwe kuMoses, yaza yabhalwa nguye encwadini. Yona imiThetho eliShumi eyathethwa eSinayi yayibhalwe nguThixo ngokwaKhe emacwecweni amatye, yagcinwa ngcwele etyeyeni.ANa 364.3

Baninzi abazama ukuwamisa kunye la mahlelo, besebenzisa iindima ezithetha ngomthetho wamadini ukubonisa ukuba umthetho wokuziphatha wacinywa; kodwa oku kukuzigqwetha iziBhalo. Umahluko phakathi kwala mahlelo ubanzi kwaye ucacile. Uhlelo lwamadini lwalwenziwe ngemifuziselo eyalatha kuKristu, kumbingelelo waKhe nakububingeleli baKhe. Lo mthetho wenkonzo, nemibingelelo nemiyalelo yawo, wawuza kwenziwa ngamaHebhere ude umfuziselo uhlangane noqobo ekufeni kukaKristu, iMvana kaThixo esusa isono sehlabathi. Emva koko ibiya kuphela yonke iminikelo yemibingelelo. Ngumthetho lo, [athi umpostile uPawulos], uKristu “uwususile ke kanye, ngokuwubethelela emnqamlezweni.” Kolose 2:14. Ngomthetho wemiThetho eliShumi, uthi umdumisi, “Lingunaphakade, Yehova, limi emazulwini ilizwi lakho.” Ndumiso 119:89. UKristu Yena ngokwaKhe uthi, “Ningabi ndize kuchitha umthetho. . . . inene ndithi kuni,” esitsho egxininisa akuthethayo kangangoko anako, “Koda kudlule izulu nehlabathi, kungakhanga kudlule nalinye iganyana nokuba lisuntswana emthethweni, kude kwenzeke konke.” Mateyu 5:17, 18. Apha ufundisa, kungekuphela nje oko bekuhleli kungamabango omthetho kaThixo, nawayengawo ngoko, kodwa nokuba la mabango kufuneka abambelele lonke ixesha kusekho amazulu nomhlaba. Umthetho kaThixo awunakuguqulwa njengokuba injalo netrone yaKhe. Uya kuwagcina amabango awo eluntwini kuzo zonke izizukulwana.ANa 365.1

Ngokubhekisele kumthetho owavakaliswa eSinayi, uNehemiya uthi, “Wehla phezu kwentaba yeSinayi, wathetha nabo uvela emazulwini, wabanika amasiko athe tye, nemiyalelo eyinyaniso, nemimiselo, nemithetho elungileyo.” Nehemiya 9:13. UPawulos, “umpostile weentlanga,” uthi, “Umyalelo okunene ungcwele; nomthetho ungcwele, unobulungisa, ulungile.” Roma 7:12. Ayinako ukuba ngomnye umthetho lo ngaphandle kwemiThetho eliShumi; kuba nguwo umthetho othi, “Uze ungakhanuki.” Indima 7.ANa 365.2

Nangona ukufa koMsindisi kwazisa ekupheleni umthetho wemifuziselo nezithunzi, akuzange nakancinane kukususe ukubophelela komthetho wokuzithanda ngokusesikweni. Ngokuchaseneyo noko, kwaukuba kufuneke ukuba uKristu afe ukuze kucanyagushelwe ukwaphulwa kwawo loo mthetho, kubonisa ukuba awunako ukuguqulwa. Abo bathi uKristu weza kuwucima umthetho kaThixo, nokususa iTestamente eNdala, baye bathethe ngexesha lamaYuda njengelobumnyama, bayibeke inkolo yamaHebhere njengezithethe neenkonzo nje zamasiko. Yimposiso le. Kuyo yonke imbali engcwele, apho kubhalwe khona ngendlela uThixo awayephethe ngayo abantu baKhe abanyuliweyo, kukho imizila etshisayo kaNdinguye omkhulu. Akazange wanika oonyana babantu ukubonakalaliswa ngokukhulu kwamandla nobuqaqawuli baKhe ngaphezu kwaxa Yena kuphela wayesamkelwa njengoMlawuli kaIsrayeli, waza wanikela umthetho kubantu baKhe. Apha, intonga yolawulo yayingaphethwe sisandla somntu; neehambo ezinendili zikaKumkani ongabonwayo kaIsrayeli zazibukeka, zisoyikeka.ANa 366.1

Kuzo zonke ezi zityhilelo zobukho obungcwele, ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo babonakalaliswa ngoKristu. Kungekuphela ekufikeni koMsindisi, kodwa nakuzo zonke izizukulwana emva kokuWa kunye nedinga lokuhlangulwa, “uThixo waye ekuKristu, elixolelanisa naye ngokwakhe ihlabathi.” 2 Korinte 5:19. UKristu wayesisiseko, engumbindi wohlelo lwemibingelelo ngexesha lamanyange nelamaYuda. Kususela kwisono sabazali bethu bokuqala, aluzange lubekho uqhagamshelwano oluthe ngqo phakathi kukaThixo nomntu. UBawo ulinikele ihlabathi ezandleni zikaKristu, ukuze kuthi ngomsebenzi waKhe wokuthethelela akwazi ukumhlangula umntu angqinele (ngokulibuyisela) igunya nobungcwele bomthetho kaThixo. Lonke unxulumano phakathi kwezulu nohlanga oluwileyo lubekho ngoKristu. NguNyana kaThixo owanika abazali bethu bokuqala idinga lokuhlangulwa. YayinguYe owazityhila kumanyange. UAdam, uNoah, uAbraham, uIsake, uYakobi, noMoses, baziqonda iindaba ezilungileyo. Babelindele ukusindiswa ngoMmeli nesiBambiso esingumntu. La madoda angcwele akudala aye nonxulumano noMsindisi owayeza kuza emhlabeni esenyameni; amanye awo athetha noKristu nezithunywa zezulu ubuso ngobuso.ANa 366.2

UKristu wayengengumkhokeli kuphela wamaHebhere entlango --iNgelosi ekwakuhleli kuyo igama likaYehova, neyathi, igqunywe kwintsika yelifu, yahamba phambi komkhosi—kodwa yayinguYe owanika uIsrayeli umthetho. [*Bona: ISIHLOMELO, Inqaku 7.] Phakathi kobuqaqawuli oboyikekayo beSinayi, uKristu wavakalisa ezindlebeni zabantu bonke imiyalelo elishumi yomthetho kaYise. NguYe owanika uMoses umthetho okrolwe emacwecweni amatye.ANa 366.3

NguKristu owathethanabantubaKhengabaprofeti.Umpostile uPetros, ebhalela ibandla lamaKristu, uthi, abaprofeti baprofeta “ngalo ubabalo olwamiselwa nina; bephengulula ukuba wayesalatha xesha lini na, linjani na, uMoya kaKristu, awayezingqinela kubo ngenxa engaphambili iintlungu ezamiselwa uKristu, nozuko oluya kuzilandela.” 1 Petros 1:10, 11. Lilizwi likaKristu elithetha kuthi ngeTestamente eNdala. “Ubungqina bukaYesu bungumoya wesiprofeto.” IsiTyhilelo 19:10.ANa 367.1

Kwiimfundiso zaKhe, esekho ngokwaKhe phakathi kwabantu, uYesu wazikhokelela iingqondo zabantu kwiTestamente eNdala. Wathi kumaYuda, “Niyaziphengulula izibhalo, ngokuba nina niba ninobomi obungunaphakade kuzo; zaye zona zingqina ngam.” Yohane 5:39. Ngeli xesha iincwadi zeTestamente eNdala yayikuphela kwazo ezikhoyo eziyinxalenye yeBhayibhile. Kwakhona uNyana kaThixo wathi, “BanoMoses nabaprofeti, mabeve bona.” Wongeza wathi, “Ukuba uMoses nabaprofeti ababeva, abayi koyiseka, nokuba kuthe kwavuka bani kwabafileyo.” Luka 16:29, 31.ANa 367.2

Umthetho wamadini wawuvela kuKristu. Nasemva kokuba kufuneka ungenziwanga, uPawulos wawubeka phambi kwamaYuda kwindawo yawo efanelekileyo nexabiso lawo, ebonisa indawo yawo kwicebo lokuhlangulwa, nokwalamana kwawo nomsebenzi kaKristu; ade umpostile omkhulu axele ukuba lo mthetho unozuko, ngokufanelene neMbangi yawo engcwele. Inkonzo ezukileyo yasengcweleni yayifuzisela iinyaniso ezinkulu ezaziya kutyhilwa kwizizukulwana ngokulandelelana kwazo. Ilifu lesiqhumiso elinyuka nemithandazo kaIsrayeli limele ubulungisa baKhe obububo kuphela obunokwenza ukuba umthandazo womoni wamkeleke kuThixo; ixhoba elophayo esibingelelweni sedini, lingqina ngoMhlanguli oza kuza; kuze kwingcwele kangcwele kubonakale kuphuma, kubengezela umqondiso woBukho obungcwele. Ngoko ke, kwiinkulungwane ngeenkulungwane zobumnyama nokreqo, ukholo lwagcinwa luphilile ezintliziyweni zabantu lada lafika ixesha lokufika kukaMesiya owayedingiwe.ANa 367.3

UYesu wayekukukhanya kubantu baKhe, ukuKhanya kwehlabathi, engekezi emhlabeni ekwisimo somntu. Ukuthi chapha kokuqala kokukhanya okwahlaba kubumnyama apho isono sasigubungele ihlabathi, kwavela kuKristu. KuYe, kuphume yonke imitha yokubengezela kwezulu eyathi yawela kubemi bomhlaba. Kwicebo lokuhlangulwa, uKristu unguAlfa no-Omega, isiQalo nesiPhelo.ANa 367.4

Kususela ukuba uMsindisi waphalaza igazi laKhe ukuze kuxolelwe izono, wenyukela ezulwini“ukuba abonakale ngoku ebusweni bukaThixo ngenxa yethu” (Hebhere 9:24), ukukhanya kube ngumsinga osuka emnqamlezweni waseKhalvari nakwiindawo ezingcwele kwingcwele yaphezulu. Sekunjalo, akufuneki ukuba ukukhanya okuqaqambe kakhulu kusenze ukuba sikujongele phantsi oko kwathi, ngamaxesha angaphambili, kwafunyanwa ngemifuziselo eyayisalatha kuMsindisi ozayo. Iindaba ezilungileyo zikaKristu zinika ukukhanya kwinkonzo yamaYuda, zinike ukubaluleka kumthetho wamadini. Ngokutyhilwa kweenyaniso ezintsha, naleyo yayisaziwa kwasekuqaleni iziswa ekukhanyeni okucace ngakumbi, isimilo neenjongo zikaThixo ziyabonakalaliswa kwindlela aphethe ngayo abantu baKhe abanyuliweyo. Wonke umtha wokukhanya owongeziweyo esithi siwufumane, usinika ukuqonda okucace ngakumbi icebo lokuhlangulwa, elisebenza ngokwentando yezulu ekusindisweni komntu. Sibona ubuhle obutsha, namandla, elizwini eliphefumlelweyo, siwafunde amaphepha alo ngokunzulu ngakumbi nangomdla ozinze kakhulu.ANa 368.1

Kukho ingcamango ebanjwe ngabaninzi ethi, uThixo wamisa udonga lokwahlula phakathi kwamaHebhere nelizwe langaphandle; nethi, ukukhathalela nothando lwaKhe, ubukhulu becala, lwasuswa kwabanye abantu lwabekwa kuIsrayeli. UThixo akazange enze ukuba abantu baKhe bamise udonga olwahlulayo phakathi kwabo nabanye abantu. Intlizyo yoThando Olungapheliyo yafikelela kubo bonke abemi bomhlaba. Nangona babemalile, wathi rhoqo ezama ukuzityhila kubo ukuze abenze baxhamle uthando nobabalo lwaKhe. Intsikelelo yanikwa abanyuliweyo ukuze basikelele abanye.ANa 368.2

UThixo wabiza uAbraham, wamphumelelisa, wamzukisa; kwaza ukunyaniseka kwenyange kwakukukhanya kuwo onke amazwe elaphambukela kuwo. UAbraham akazange azivalele kude kubantu abamngqongileyo. Walugcina ulwalamano lobuhlobo nezikumkani zezizwe ezimrhangqileyo, awaya waphathwa ngentlonipho enkulu zezinye zazo; saza isidima nokungatsaleli kuye, ubugorha nobubele bakhe, basibonakalisa isimilo sikaThixo. EMesopotami, eKanan, eYiputa, nakubemi baseSodom, uThixo wasezulwini watyhilwa ngummeli waKhe.ANa 368.3

Ngoko, kubantu baseYiputa, nakuzo zonke izizwe ezihlangene nobo bukumkani bunamandla, uThixo wazibonakalalisa ngoYosefu. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova anyule ukuphakamisa uYosefu kakhulu phakathi kwamaYiputa? Wayenako ukumisa enye indlela ukuze azifeze iinjongozaKhengakubantwanabakaYakobi;kodwawalangazelela ukumenza ukukhanya uYosefu, wambeka kwibhotwe likakumkani, ukuze ukukhanya kwezulu kuhambe kufike kude nakufuphi. Ngobulumko nobulungisa bakhe, ngobunyulu nobubele bobomi bakhe bemihla ngemihla, ngokuzinikela kokuthandwa ngabantu—nabo bantu besisizwe sabanquli bezithixo—uYosefu waba ngummeli kaKristu. Kulowo babezuza okuhle kuye, eyakhangela kuye yonke iYiputa inombulelo nendumiso, abantu abangabahedeni babeza kubona uthando loMdali noMhlanguli wabo. Ngokunjalo nakuMoses, uThixo wabeka ukukhanya ngakwitrone yobona bukumkani bukhulu, ukuze bonke abanako, bafunde ngoThixo oyinyaniso nophilayo. Konke oku kukhanya akunikwa amaYiputa phambi kokuba solulwe isandla sikaThixo phezu kwawo ngezibetho.ANa 369.1

Ekukhululweni kukaIsrayeli eYiputa, ukwaziwa kwamandla kaThixo kwasasazeka kuyo yonke indawo. Amatsha-ntliziyo abantu bengingqi yaseYeriko bangcangcazela. “Sivile ke,” watsho uRhahabhi, “zanyibilika iintliziyo zethu, akwaba sabakho kuqina kwamxhelo mntwini ngenxa yenu; ngokuba uYehova uThixo wenu nguye uThixo emazulwini phezulu, nasehlabathini phantsi apha.” Yoshuwa 2:11. Kwakude kwazinkulungwane emva kweMfuduko, ababingeleli bamaFilisti bebakhumbuza abantu ngezibetho zaseYiputa, bebalumkisa ukuba bangamelani noThixo kaIsrayeli.ANa 369.2

UThixo wambiza uIsrayeli, wabasikelela, wabazukisa, kungengakuba ngokuthobela umthetho waKhe ngabo bodwa abafumana uthando lwaKhe ukuze kube kuphela kwabo abazuza iintsikelelo zaKhe, kodwa ukuze azityhile ngabo kubo bonke abemi bomhlaba. Kwakujongwe ekufezekisweni kwale njongo kanye ukuze abayalele ukuba bazigcine bahlukile kwizizwe ezibangqongileyo ezikhonza izithixo.ANa 369.3

Ukukhonzwa kwezithixo nazo zonke izono okuzirholayo, kwakuthiyekile kuThixo, waza wabayalela abantu baKhe ukuba bangazihlanganisi nabantu bezinye izizwe, khon’ ukuze “[ba]ngezi ngokwemisebenzi yabo,” baze bamlibale uThixo. Wabalela ukuba bendiselane nabakhonzi bezithixo, hleze iintliziyo zabo zikhokelelwe kude kuYe. Kwakunyanzelekile ngoko, kwanje ngokuba nangoku kunjalo, ukuba abantu bakaThixo babe nyulu “[be]ngenabala kulo ihlabathi.” Kufuneka bazigcine bemsulwa kumoya walo, kuba uchasene nenyaniso nobulungisa. Yayingeyiyo kodwa, injongo kaThixo ukuba abantu baKhe, bazivalele kude nehlabathi, benobulungisa babo obuchwethela kude abanye, ukuze bangabi nampembelelo kulo.ANa 369.4

NjengoMsindisi wabo, abalandeli bakaKristu kuzo zonke izizukulwana kwakufuneka babe kukukhanya kwehlabathi. Wathi uMsindisi: “Umzi omi phezu kwentaba awunakufihlakala; kananjalo abasibaneki isibane basibeke phantsi kwesitya; basibeka esiphathweni saso, sikhanyisele bonke abasendlwini” — ngoko, ehlabathini. Aphinde ongeze athi, “Malukhanye ngokunjalo ukhanyiselo lwenu phambi kwabantu; ukuze bayibone imisebenzi yenu emihle, bamzukise uYihlo osemazulwini.” Mateyu 5:14-16. Yile nto kanye eyenziwa nguEnoki, uNowa, uAbraham, uYosefu, noMoses. Yinto kanye uThixo ayilungisele ukuba abantu baKhe, uIsrayeli, bayenze.ANa 370.1

Yayibububi obusentliziyweni yabo yokungakholwa, eyayilawulwa nguSathana, obabakhokelela ekubeni bakufihle ukukhanya kwabo, endaweni yokukukhanyisa kubantu ababangqongileyo; yayikwa nguloo moya mnye weenkani owabenza ukuba balandele izenzo zenkohlakalo zobuhedeni okanye bazivalele kude ngokuzikhetha okuzaliswe likratshi, ngokungathi uthando nenkathalo kaThixo ziphezu kwabo bodwa.ANa 370.2

Njengoko iBhayibhile inika imithetho emibini, ongaguqukiyo ongunaphakade, nosisibambiso wethutyana, kwangolo hlobo, mibini neminqophiso. Umnqophiso wobabalo wenziwa kuqala nomntu e-Eden, xa kwathi emva kokuwa kwanikwa idinga lezulu lokuba imbewu yomfazi iya kutyumza intloko yenyoka. Kubo bonke abantu, lo mnqophiso wanika uxolelo nobabalo oluncedayo lukaThixo lokuthobela kwexesha elizayo ngokukholwa kuKristu. Yayikwabathembise ubomi obungunaphakade ngokuxhomekeke ekunyanisekeni kwabo emthethweni kaThixo. Ngoko ke, amanyange alizuza ithemba losindiso.ANa 370.3

Lo mnqophiso mnye wahlaziywa kuAbraham kwidinga elithi, “Zisikelelwe ngembewu yakho zonke iintlanga zehlabathi.” Genesis 22:18. Eli dinga lalijonge kuKristu. Waliqonda ngolo hlobo uAbraham (bona: Galati 3:8, 16), waza wamthemba uKristu ngoxolelo lwezono. Lolu kholo olwabalelwa kuye ebulungiseni. Umnqophiso noAbraham wakwaligcina igunya lomthetho kaThixo. UYehova wavela kuAbraham, wathi, “NdinguThixo uSomandla; hamba phambi kwam ube ngogqibeleleyo.” Genesis 17:1. Ubungqina bukaThixo ngomkhonzi waKhe othembekileyo bathi, “UAbraham waliphulaphulayo izwi lam, wasigcina isigxina sam, nemithetho yam.” Genesis 26:5. UYehova wathi kuye, “Ndiwumise umnqophiso wam phakathi kwam nawe, naphakathi kwembewu yakho emva kwakho kwizizukulwana zayo, ube ngumnqophiso ongunaphakade wokuba ndibe nguThixo kuwe, nakwimbewu yakho emva kwakho.” Genesis 17:7.ANa 370.4

Nangona lo mnqophiso wawenziwe noAdam wahlaziywa noAbraham, wawungenakho ukulungiswa kude kufe uKristu. Wabakho ngedinga likaThixo kususela ekwaziseni kokuhlangulwa; wamkelwa ngokholo; kodwa uthe wakulungiswa nguKristu, wabizwa ngokuba ungumnqophiso omtsha. Umthetho kaThixo wawusisiseko salo mnqophiso, owawukukulungiselela ukuzisa abantu kwakhona ekuhambelaneni nentando yezulu, ubabeka apho baya kukwazi ukuthobela umthetho kaThixo.ANa 371.1

Esinye isivumelwano, esibizwa esiBhalweni ngokuthi ngumnqophiso “omdala,” senziwa phakathi kukaThixo noIsrayeli eSinayi, kwaza ngelo xesha salungiswa ngegazi lombingelelo. Umnqophiso ka-Abraham walungiswa ngegazi likaKristu, kwaye ubizwa ngokuba ngumnqophiso “wesibini,” okanye “omdala,” kuba igazi owatywinwa ngalo laphalala emva kwegazi lomnqophiso wokuqala. Into yokuba umnqophiso omtsha wawusebenza ngemihla ka-Abraham ibonakala kwinto yokuba, kwakungelo xesha ekwathi kwaqinisekiswa ngendlela ezimbini, ngedinga nangesifungo sikaThixo, izinto “ezimbini ezingenakuguquleka angenako ukuxoka ngazo uThixo.” Hebhere 6:18.ANa 371.2

Ukuba ke ngoko umnqophiso ka-Abraham wawunesithembiso sokuhlangulwa, wenzelwa ntoni omnye umnqophiso eSinayi? Ebukhobokeni babo, kakhulukazi abantu balahlekwa kukumazi uThixo kunye nemithetho-siseko yomnqophiso ka-Abraham. Ekubakhululeni kwabo eYiputa, uThixo wafuna ukubatyhilela amandla aKhe nenceba yaKhe, ukuze bakhokelelwe ekubeni bamthande bamthembe. Wabazisa kuLwandle oluBomvu, apho bathi besukelwa ngamaYiputa, kwabonakala ukuba abanako ukusinda, ukuze bakuqonde ukungabi nakuzinceda kwabo, nendlela abadinga ngayo uncedo lwezulu; ngelo xesha wabazisela ukuhlangulwa kwabo. Ngenxa yoko, bazaliswa luthando nombulelo kuThixo nakukuthembela kumandla aKhe ukuba abancede. Wabaqamangela kuYe njengomhlanguli kubukhoboka basemhlabeni.ANa 371.3

Noko kunjalo, yayisekho inyaniso enkulu ekwakufuneka ibethelelekile ezingqondweni zabo. Njengoko babephila phakathi konqulo lwezithixo nenkohlakalo, babengenalo ulwazi olululo lobungcwele bukaThixo - ukuzaliswa sisono ngokugqithisileyo kweentliziyo zabo, ukungabi nako, bona ngokwabo, ukuthobela umthetho kaThixo ngokupheleleyo, kunye nokudinga kwabo uMsindisi. Konke oku, kufuneka bekufundisiwe.ANa 371.4

UThixo wabazisa eSinayi; wabonakalisa ubuqaqawuli baKhe; wabanika umthetho waKhe, nesithembiso seentsikelelo ezinkulu xa bathe bathobela: “Ukuba nithe naliphulaphula okunene izwi lam, nawugcina umnqophiso wam, noba . . . bubukumkani bababingeleli kum, nohlanga olungcwele.” Eksodus 19:5, 6. Abantu abazange bakuqonde ukuba nesono kwentliziyo zabo, nokuba, ngaphandle kukaKristu, babenganako ukuwugcina umthetho kaThixo; bakhawuleza bangena emnqophisweni noThixo. Ngokuziva benokungathi bangakwazi ukumisa obabo ubulungisa, bathi, “Yonke into ayithethileyo uYehova soyenza siyive.” Eksodus 24:7. Babekuvile ukuvakaliswa komthetho ngobungangamsha oboyikekayo, bangcangcazela kukoyika phambi kwentaba; kodwa kwathi emva kweeveki nje ezimbalwa, bawaphula umnqophiso wabo noThixo, bathoba phantsi banqula umfanekiso oqingqiweyo. Babengenakulindela ukuthandwa nguThixo ngomnqophiso abawaphuleyo; ngoku, xa bezibona ukubanesono kwabo nokudinga kwabo uxolelo, bafikelela ekubeni bazive ukudinga kwabo uMsindisi owayetyhilwa emnqophisweni ka-Abraham nosithunzi saKhe sasibonakala kwiminikelo yemibingelelo. Ngoku, ngokholo nothando, babopheleleka kuThixo njengomhlanguli wabo ebukhobokeni besono. Ngoku, babekulungele ukuxabisa iintsikelelo zomnqophiso omtsha.ANa 372.1

Izigqibo zo“mnqophiso omdala” zazikukuthobela nokuphila: “awothi umntu ewenzile, aphile ngawo.” (Hezekile 20:11; Levitikus 18:5); kodwa “uqalekisiwe ongawamisiyo amazwi alo myalelo ukuba awenze.” Duteronomi 27:26. “Umnqophiso omtsha” wamiselwa phezu “kwawona madinga alungileyo” —idinga lokuxolelwa kwezono nelobabalo lukaThixo lokwenza ntsha intliziyo kuyizise kuvumelwano nemithetho-siseko yomthetho kaThixo. “Nguwo ke lo umnqophiso, endiya kuwenza nendlu kaIsrayeli emva kwaloo mihla, utsho uYehova, Ndiya kuwubeka umyalelo wam emibilinini yabo . . . ndiwubhale ezintliziyweni zabo. Ndiya kubuxolela ubugwenxa babo, ndingabi sasikhumbula isono sabo.” Yeremiya 31:33, 34.ANa 372.2

Kwalo mthetho wawukrolwe emacwecweni amatye, ubhalwe ngoMoya Oyingcwele emacwecweni entliziyo. Endaweni yokuhamba sizimisela obethu ubulungisa, samkela ubulungisa bukaKristu. Igazi laKhe liyazicamagushela izono zethu. Ukuthobela kwaKhe kwamkelelwa thina. Ithi, ke ngoko, intliziyo eyenziwe yabantsha ngoMoya Oyingcwele, ithwale “iziqhamo zikaMoya.” Ngobabalo lukaKristu, siya kuphila sithobela umthetho kaThixo obhalwe ezintliziyweni zethu. Sithi sinoMoya kaKristu, sihambe njengoko naYe wahambayo. Ngomprofeti, uthi xa ethetha ngaYe, “Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, Thixo wam, ndikunanzile; nomyalelo wakho esezibilinini zam ngaphakathi.” Ndumiso 40:8. Ngexesha wayephakathi kwabantu wathi, “UBawo akandishiyanga ndedwa; ngokuba mna ndihleli ndizenza izinto ezikholekileyo kuye.” Yohane 8:29.ANa 372.3

Umpostile uPawulos ububeka ngokucacileyo ubudlelwane phakathi kokholo nomthetho phantsi komnqophiso omtsha. Uthi: “Sigwetyelwe nje ngokwaselukholweni, sinoxolo kuThixo ngayo iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.” “Umthetho siyawuphuthisa na ngalo ukholo? Nakanye! Siyawumisa wona umthetho.” “Kuba ekukhohlweni komthetho, ekubeni uswele amandla ngayo inyama”-—awunakho ukumgwebela umntu, kuba, kwindalo yakhe yesono akakwazi ukuwugcina umthetho—“uThixo ethume owakhe uNyana, efana nenyama elawulwa sisono, emthume ngenxa yesono, wasigweba isono esenyameni leyo; ukuze ubulungisa bomthetho (KJV) buzaliseke kuthi, thina singahambiyo ngokwenyama; sihambayo ngokoMoya.” Roma 5:1, 3:31, 8:3, 4.ANa 373.1

Umsebenzi kaThixo mnye ngamaxesha onke, nangona kukho amanqanaba okukhula nokubonakaliswa okwahlukeneyo kwamandla aKhe, ukuhlangabezana neemfuno zabantu kwizizukulwana ezahlukeneyo. Kuqalela kwidinga leendaba ezilungileyo zokuqala, kuhle kwizizukulwana zomawokhulu nobuYuda, kude kube leli xesha langoku, kube kukho ukutyhileka okuthe chu kwenjongo kaThixo kwicebo lokuhlangula. UMsindisi owafuziselwa kwiinkonzo namadini omthetho wobuYuda, ikwanguYe lo otyhilwa kwiindaba ezilungileyo. Amafu asithe imo yobuThixo baKhe abuyiswe umva; iinkungu nezithunzi zithe shwaka; uYesu, uMhlanguli womhlaba, umi etyhilekile. Lowo wavakalisa umthetho eSinayi, wanika uMoses imiyalelo yenkonzo yamadini, ikwanguYe owanika iNtshumayelo eNtabeni. Imithetho-siseko yothando lukaThixo, awayimisa njengesiseko somthetho nabaprofeti, ikukuphindwa koko wayekuthethile ngoMoses kubantu bamaHebhere: “Yiva, Israyeli, uYehova uThixo wethu nguYehova mnye. Uze umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho yonke, nangomphefumlo wakho wonke, nangamandla akho onke.” Duteronomi 6:4, 5. “Uze umthande ummelwane wakho ngoko uzithanda ngako.” Levitikus 19:18. Ititshala inye kuwo omabini la maxesha. Amabango kaThixo manye. Imithetho-siseko yolawulo lwaKhe minye. Kungokuba konke kuphuma kuLowo “ongenabuyambo nasithunzi sakujika.” Yakobi 1:17.ANa 373.2