Ngokwefundiso kaThixo, ixesha alilinganiswa ngokwenkqubo yamaxesha yabantu. IBhayibhile Engcwele, umgaqo wenkolo kwabakholwayo, ifundisa oko kufunekayo ukuze sihamba ekulungeni size siphile engcwelweni. Kuba ngaphandle kobungcwele akukho mntu uya kumbon' uThixo.
UThixo wathi, 'Makubekho izibane esibhakabhakeni, ukwahlula usuku ebusuku; zibe ziimpawu zamaxesha amisiweyo, neenyanga neminyaka; zibe zizibane esibhakabhakeni, ukukhanyisa emhlabeni.' Kwaba njalo. Wenza ke uThixo izibane ezibini ezikhulu: isibane esikhulu sokulawula imini, nesibane esincinci sokulawula ubusuku; wenza neenkwenkwezi. Wabeka zona uThixo emajukujukwini asezulwini ukuba zikhanyise emhlabeni, zibe ngamabala okwahlula imini nobusuku, zibe ngamabala okwahlula ukukhanya ebumnyameni. Wabona uThixo ukuba kulungile. Gen. 1:14–18.
Ngokunjalo, xa Wadala indalo yonke nayo yonke into ekuyo, Waphawula amaxesha ngolu hlobo: 'Kwaye kwaba ngokuhlwa, kwaba ngentsasa—usuku lokuqala'; 'Kwaye kwaba ngokuhlwa, kwaba ngentsasa—usuku lwesibini', njalo njalo, kude kube lusuku lwesithandathu. Gen. 1.
Ngokuhlwa: Ixesha elandela intsasa. Idla ngokuthatha iiyure ezili-12 kwaye yaziwa njengokutshona kwelanga, emva kwemini, umthunzi nobumnyama bobusuku. Imiz. 7:9. Iqala ekutshoneni kwelanga ngosuku olunye ide iphele ekuphumeni kwelanga ngentsasa elandelayo.
Usuku: Ixesha elithatha ukutshona kwelanga okubini, eliqhele ukuba ziiyure ezingama-24. Lev. 23:32.Ixesha lasemini: Ixesha leeyure ezili-12 eliphakathi kobusuku obubini, emva kwemini emibini, okanye ukusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kude kube sekutshoneni kwalo. Liyabizwa ngokuba lusuku. Yohane 11:9.
Phambi kokuba kubekho ukukhanya, kwakukho ubumnyama. Ngaloo ndlela, ubusuku buza phambi kosuku kumjikelo weeyure ezingama-24.
Indlela usuku olubalwa ngayo namhlanje, ukusuka phakathi kobusuku ukuya phakathi kobusuku, ayichanekanga. Kwaye oku kwaprofetwa nguDaniyeli. Wathi: 'Uya kuthetha okubi ngoSomandla, atyhafise abangcwele boSomandla, aze afune ukutshintsha amaxesha nomthetho.' Dan. 7:25, iinxalenye yokuqala neyesibini.
Ukuba usuku lwalungena ezinzulwini zobusuku, ubusuku beluya kuthatha iiyure ezintandathu kuphela, nosuku luthathe ezilishumi elinesibhozo, kanti uYesu wathi luthatha ezilishumi elinambini. Yohane 11:9.
Usuku lungangena njani ezinzulwini zobusuku? Nabani na ongayiqondiyo inkqubo yexesha ngokuchanekileyo akanakusigcina ngokufanelekileyo uSuku lweNkosi luyingcwele.
Ngokomyalelo owanikwa abantu bakaThixo, iSabatha kufuneka igcinwe ukususela ekutshoneni kwelanga ukuya ekutshoneni kwelanga. Usuku, icandelo elikhanyayo lemijikelo yeeyure ezingama-24 ngokwexesha labantu lanamhlanje, luqala ngo-6.00 kusasa luye ku-6.00 ngokuhlwa. Kodwa eyona ndlela ichanekileyo kukubala ukususela ekuphumeni kwelanga ukuya ekutshoneni kwalo.
Xa uNehemiya wafuna ukulungisa isiphoso abantu ababenza ngexesha lakhe, kwakamsinya nje njengoko iithunzi zangokuhlwa ziwela kwiigede zaseYerusalem, wayalela ukuba iigede zesixeko zivalwe. Masicaphule isicatshulwa ukuze siqonde ngcono ukuba nathi kufuneka siqhubeke njani.
Ngezo ntsuku ndabona abantu baseYuda bexova iidiliya zewayini ngeSabatha, bephehla izidoda zezityalo ababezithwele ngamahashe; kunye newayini, iidiliya neefigi, nazo zonke iintlobo zemithwalo, ababezingenisa eYerusalem ngeSabatha; ndaza ndababanga ngaloo mini babethengisa ukutya. Kwakukho nabakwaTire ababehlala esixekweni, ababezisa iintlanzi nazo zonke iintlobo zempahla yorhwebo, ababezithengisa ngoMgqibelo kubantu bakaYuda naseYerusalem. Ndatsho ndabhekana nezindlovukazi zakwaYuda ndathi kuzo, 'Kutheni nisenza le nto imbi, nityhila uSuku lweSabatha? Akazange na ootata benu benze okufanayo, waza uThixo wethu akazange na asizisela le ntlekele yonke phezu kwethu nephezu kwale dolophu? Kwaye ngoku nina nifaka isandla kwumsindo wengqumbo yakhe echasene noSirayeli ngokutyhila iSabatha.' Kwathi ke, xa umthunzi wawusele usithi shwaka kwiisango zaseYerusalem phambi kweSabatha, ngomyalelo wam lavalwa amasango; ndaza ndayalela ukuba angavulwa de kuphele iSabatha; ndabeka abanye bamakhwenkwe am emamasangweni, ukuze kungangeni mthwalo ngosuku lweSabatha. Kwathi ke, xa iimbonakalo zazisele zisithi shwaka ezangweni zaseYerusalem phambi kweSabatha, ndanika umyalelo, laza zavalwa iingcango; ndaza ndayalela ukuba mazingavulwa de kuphele iSabatha; ndaza ndabeka abam abasebenzi ezangweni, ukuze kungangeni mthwalo ngeSabatha. Izinto ezabhalwa kwixesha eladlulayo zabhalelwa ukusifundisa. Ukuba uMkrestu akalazi ixesha nendlela—kuba kukho ixesha nendlela yezinto zonke—akakwazi ukufikelela ekugqibeleleni eluthandweni, kwaye akayi kuba ngumntu ogqibeleleyo.
Izinto ezibhalwe ngasentla zabhalelwa isifundo sethu.
Ukuba uMkrestu akalazi ixesha nendlela—kuba kukho ixesha nendlela yazo zonke izinto—akakwazi ukufikelela ekugqibeleleni eluthandweni, kwaye akayi kuba ngumntu ogqibeleleyo njengoko uThixo efuna. Matt. 5:48, 2 Tim. 3:17 kunye neCol. 3:14. Kwaye uya kufumana isohlwayo eSenyekelweni, esithi: 'Andizifumananga izenzo zenu zigqibelele phambi koThixo.' ISity. 3:2. Kwaye ezi zenzo ngemisebenzi yokulunga nothando ekuthethwe ngayo nguYohane. 1 Yohane 3:18.
Kumazwe aseYurophu, anjengeNgilani, kukho iintsuku, ngexesha elithile lonyaka, apho ukukhanya kwemini kuhlala kude kube yintsimbi yesithoba ngokuhlwa ngokwekhalenda yangoku.
Ngokwenyatyelelo yoMoya kuIsaya, akufuneki sizikhathaze ngayo nayiphi na into yempahla ngeSabatha yeNkosi; bona:
Ukuba uyayigcina unyawo lwakho lungawaphuli uMbeko, ungazenzeli uzithando lwakho ngosuku lwam olungcwele, kwaye ukuba uyiwubiza uMbeko njengovuyo, nosuku olungcwele lweNkosi, usuku olufanele ukuhlonitshwa, uze uluhloniphe ngokungalandeli iindlela zakho, ungazifuni izinto ozithandayo, ungathethi namazwi akho, ngoko uya konwaba eNkosini, ndize ndikwenze ukhwele ezindulini zomhlaba, ndikondlise ilifa likayihlo uYakobe; ngokuba umlomo weNkosi uthethe. Isa. 58:13–14.
Kwaye njengakwixesha eladlulayo, akufuneki sipheke ngaloo mini. Kuba iSibhalo lithi:
'Iintsuku ezintandathu makwenziwe umsebenzi, kodwa usuku lwesixhenxe lusuku olungcwele kuni, iSabatha yokuphumla ngokungcwele eNkosini; nabani na owenzayo nawuphi na umsebenzi ngalo uya kubulawa. Akuyi kuvuthela ndlwana yakho umlilo ngosuku lweSabatha.' Eks. 35:2 no 3.Bakho abathi oku kwakusebenza kumaSirayeli amandulo, ngexesha apho umsebenzi woklirha umlilo wawufuna umzamo womzimba. Noko ke, uThixo akatshintshi. Naphambi kokuba umthetho wakhe uqinisekiswe eSinayi, uThixo wathetha ngolu hlobo:
'Niya kube nifuna ukude nini ukugcina imiyalelo yam nemithetho yam?' Eke 16:28. Kwaye phambi koko, uMoses wayeyalele abantu ngolu hlobo:
'Nantsi into ethethwe nguYehova: Ngomso lusuku lokuphumla, iSabatha engcwele kuYehova; nantoni na enifuna ukuyibhaka e-oveni, yibhake, nantoni na enifuna ukuyibilisa emanzini, yibiliseni emanzini; kwaye konke okuseleyo, nizibekele kona, niyigcinele ngomso.' Exo. 16:23.
Qaphela ukuba kwakufuneka babhake okanye baphise ukutya kwabo, kwaye nantoni na eyayisele yayifanele ibekelwe iSabatha. Ngoko ke, ukutya kwakufuneka kugcinwe sele kulungisiwe.
Namhlanje sixhotyiswe ngcono kakhulu ukugcina iSabatha. Sinezigcino-kudya zephepha, iifriji, izibane nombane, amanzi aphumayo, njalo njalo. Kwaye nakwezo ndawo zingenazo ezi zinto, ngentliziyo elungeleyo kunokwenzeka ukuyigcina, kuba oku kuya kuba bubungqina bethu bothando lukaYesu. Yohane 14:15.
Singenza nantoni na efunekayo ngaphandle kweSabatha, oko kukuthi, phambi kokutshona kwelanga ngoLwesihlanu okanye emva kokutshona kwelanga ngoMgqibelo. Kuba siyakholelwa ukuba zonke izinto zisebenzisana ukwenza okulungileyo kwabo bathanda uThixo. Roma 8:28.
Yaye yintoni eya kusahlula eluthandweni lukaThixo? Indlala, ukuhlubana, njl.? Akukho nto inokusahlula eluthandweni lukaThixo—nokuba kukugcina iMiyalelo yaKhe. Roma 8:35.
Njengoko sibonileyo ekuvezweni kwentando yeNkosi ngoIsaya, akufuneki sizifunele iintando zethu, kwaye singathethi amazwi ethu ngosuku lwaKhe olungcwele. Isaya 58:13.
Kodwa kukho abo baphikisanayo noku, besithi iSabatha yeNkosi ayingoSuku lweNkosi. Kwaye banikela ngezizathu ezingeyonyani. Abemi ngokuqinileyo kwinyaniso, kuba akukho nyaniso kubo. Bathi uSuku lweNkosi ngoku yiCawa, becinga, ngokusekelwe kubalinganiselo babo noqikelelo, ukuba uYesu wavuka ngaloo mini. Nabani na ocinga kwaye akholelwe oku akafundiswanga kakuhle kwiLizwi likaThixo.
Ngenxa yokuba ukwamkela iMiyalelo kaThixo kungumqathango wokufumana ubulumko, ukufikelela kuloyiko lweNkosi, nokufumana 'ulwazi lukaThixo', abo bangayamkeliyo iMiyalelo abafumani bulumko, nokoyiko lweNkosi, nokwazi uThixo. Imizek. 2:1–6, 28:7–9 kunye ne-10:8.
Iimpazamo zemfundiso ziyaxhaphaka kwiicawa ezingenazo iMiyalelo kaThixo, kanye njengokuba abo bangayigcini iMiyalelo yaKhe bengayiqondi ilizwi likaThixo, kuba oku kuyimfuneko yokuqala ukuze ube nalo olo qiqo. Ezinye iicawa, nangona zineMiyalelo, aziyigcini, kwaye ke ngoko azimthandi uThixo. Yohane 14:21 kunye ne-15:9–10.
UYesu wawuthanda umhlaba waza wayingqina loo mthando: Wasifela. Kwaye ngoku ufuna ubungqina bethu bomthando, esithi: 'Ukuba niyandithanda, nizagcina imithetho yam.' Yohane 14:15. Kwaye uthanda kuphela abo bamthandayo.
IMiz. 8:17. Kwaye uMoya oyiNgcwele ubonakalisa ukuba singabaphukuphuku ngenxa kaKristu. 1 Kor. 4:10. Kwaye: 'Makuze kubakho mntu ozixokisayo. Ukuba kukho nabani na kuni ocinga ukuba ulumkile kweli hlabathi, makangumphukuphuku ukuze abe ngulumkileyo.' 1 Kor. 3:18.
Usuku lwesixhenxe lweveki, okanye olunye kwiintsuku ezisixhenxe zeveki?Xa iNkosi yadala izulu nomhlaba, yaseka amacandelo exesha: iveki, iinyanga, kunye neminyaka. Iveki yeentsuku ezisixhenxe, inyanga yeentsuku ezingamashumi amathathu, kunye nonyaka weenyanga ezilishumi elinambini.
Xa yakhupha abantu bakaSirayeli eYiputa, yaseka inyanga ka-Abib njengeyokuqala yeenyanga zabantu bayo. Namhlanje, le nyanga ingqamana nexesha elisusela kuMatshi ukuya ku-Epreli, ibandakanya inxalenye enye nenxalenye yenye.INkosi yabiza iintsuku zeveki ngokuthi: yokuqala, eyesibini, eyesithathu, eyesine, eyesihlanu, eyesithandathu neyesixhenxe. Kwaye uThixo wayibiza le ntsuku yeveki ngokuba yiSabatha, kuba ngaloo mini waphumla, ngenxa yoko wayingcwalisile waza wayisikelela.
Ukungcwaliswa kuthetha ukwahlulwa. Ngaloo ndlela, wayibeka ecaleni loo ntsuku ukuze kuphumlwe kwaye wayisikelela ngenxa yeso sizathu.
ISabatha yakhe imisiwe: lusuku lwesixhenxe lweveki. IiSabatha zamaSirayeli, nangona kunjalo, zaziguquguquka; oko kukuthi, zazitshintsha. Kuba iintsuku zokuqala nezokugqibela zezithethe ezingcwele ezayalelwa nguYehova zaziphelo ngeentsuku ezahlukeneyo zeveki, zibe 'ziiSabatha ezingcwele' okanye iintsuku zemibhiyozo. Lev. 23:32 kunye neereferensi.
ISabatha yosuku lwesixhenxe lulungelelwaniso, ngelixa iSabatha rhoqo kwiintsuku ezisixhenxe ingalungelelwaniso. Khawufan' ucinge wonke umntu eya kwindibano ngosuku olwahlukileyo, ngamnye efuna ukugcina usuku lwakhe lokuphumla.
Nkqu nakwiSabatha ezamiselwa nguThixo, nezawubiza ngokuba 'ziSabatha zenu', kwakukho ucwangco. Umntu kufuneka afunde nje imibhalo ngononophelo. Kwakukho amaxesha athile abekelwe bucala ngaphakathi konyaka. Izinto ezamiselwa nguThixo zenziwa ngobulumko. Ugunyazi.
Bakho abo bakhomba koko kwathiwa nguYesu: 'uYihlo usasebenza, nam ndiyasebenza' (Yohane 5:17), kunye noko kwathiwa nguMpostile uPawulos: 'Sebenzani ebusuku nasemini ukuze ningabi mthwalo kubantakwenu' (2 AbaseTesalonika 2:9). Kodwa bayalibala oko kwakhona kwathiwa nguNkosi: 'Musani ukusebenzela isonka esonakalayo, kodwa isonka esihlala sihleli' (Yohane 6:27).
Yohane 6:27.
Umsebenzi kaYesu yayiyinkonzo yakhe, ekufuneka ibe ngowabo nabo babizekileyo. Ngale ndlela, banokusebenza ebusuku nasemini njengoko uYise esebenza.
Ulwimi olwalusetyenziswa ziiprofeti nezihlozi lwaluhambelana nolwimi olwalusetyenziswa nguThixo kwiZibhalo eziNgcwele, kuba babephefumlelwe nguYe kwaye babengabavulindlela baKhe.
Ngoko ke, xa iSibhalo sithi uPetros noYohane benyuka baye etempileni koya kuthandaza, sithi liyure yesithoba. Kwaye le yure yile bantu bayibiza ngokuba liyure yeshumi elinesihlanu okanye ngentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini. Kodwa njengoko ilanga liphuma ekuseni, kwaye imini ineekhawa ezilishumi elinambini, ke iyeyure yesithoba yile bantu abaqhele ukuyibiza ngentsimbi yesithathu emva kwemini okanye iyure yeshumi elinesihlanu, kulungelelwaniso lwexesha langoku.
Xa uYohane wayesesiqithini sasePatmos waza wabhala iNcwadi yeSityhilelo, wathi: 'Ndaye ndathathwa ngumoya ngemini yeNkosi…' ISityh. 1:10. Olu lwimi oluphefumlelweyo alulunye ngaphandle kolu uThixo waluphefumlela kuIsaya, owabhala wathi: 'Ukuba iSabatha uyibiza ngokuba yinto eyonwabisayo, nangeyeSuku eliNgcwele leNkosi, uze uyihloniphe—ungalandeli iindlela zakho, ungazifuni izinto ozithandayo, ungathethi amazwi akho—ngoko uya konwaba eNkosini, ndize ndikwenze ukhwele phezu kwezithaba zomhlaba, ndikondlise ilifa likayihlo uYakobe; kuba umlomo weNkosi uthethe.'
Isa. 58:13–14. Le yinto eyayenziwa ngumpostile: wayibiza iSabatha ngokuba yiSuku leNkosi.
Kuba kuThixo, 'ixesha' linokuba ziiyure ezilishumi elinambini, usuku, unyaka, iwaka leminyaka, okanye ixesha elithile, okanye ithuba. Ngaloo ndlela, 'usuku' lwakhe lunokuba yiSabatha yakhe, okanye usuku lokuza kwakhe, okanye ixesha elithile. Kodwa injongo yaKhe iyaziwa ngokwimeko-meko. Kuba uMoya waKhe ongaphakathi kuthi usenza le nto isaziwe, kuba uhlola zonke izinto, nkqu nobunzulu bukaThixo. 1 Kor. 2:10.
Abanye bacinga ukuba ngenxa yokuba iNkosi ithetha ngoYakobi uyise, ithetha noSirayeli wobuni, lowa wasePalestina. Kodwa qaphela into ethethwa ngumprofeti uPawulos:
'Kodwa iYerusalem engasentla ikhululekile, kwaye ingumama wethu. Kuba kubhalwe ukuthi: "Vuyani, nina bafazi abangazalanga; phuphumani nize nikhwaze, nina bafazi abangazalanga; kuba abantwana bomfazi ohlalelweyo baninzi ngaphezu kwabantwana bomfazi otshatileyo."'
Kodwa thina, bazalwana noodade, singabantwana besithembiso, njengoIsaka. Ngoko ke, bazalwana noodade, asilobantwana bomfazi okwilizonyo, kodwa singobomfazi okhululekileyo. Galati 5:26–28 no 31.
Ngoko ke, thina esikholwayo sisizukulwana esathembiswa kuAbraham, esivela kuye ooyisekhohlo, kunye noIsaka, uyise kaYakobi, unyana wethemba, kanye njengoko thina sithembiswe kuAbraham, kwaye sininzi njengenkwenkwezi zasezulwini nengcwaka yolwandle.
Gen. 15:5, 22:17 kunye no-32:12.
Kodwa kukho abo bathi akukho mntu unokugcina iMiyalelo, nokuba akukho namnye umntu olungileyo. Noko ke, phambi kokuba imithetho inikwe eSinayi, iZibhalo zithi uAbraham wayigcina iMiyalelo yeNkosi. Kwaye uThixo ngokwakhe wathi uAbraham uya kuyalela abantwana bakhe ukuba bagcine indlela yoYehova ngobulungisa nangokuthe tye; bona:
Wathi ke iNkosi: 'Ndingayifihla kuAbraham le nto ndiyilungiselelayo, ngokuba uAbraham ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuba sisizwe esikhulu nesinamandla, kwaye kuzo zonke iintlanga zomhlaba ziya kusikelelwa ngaye?'
Kuba ndibone ukuba uya kuyalela abantwana bakhe nendlu yakhe emva kwakhe ukuba bagcine indlela yeNkosi, benze okusemthethweni nokulungileyo; ukuze iNkosi izalisekise kuAbraham oko ithethileyo ngaye.' Gen. 18:17–19.
Kwaye njengoko kubonisiwe kwiphepha lemibuzo, iindlela zeNkosi nobulungisa beNkosi ngimiyalelo yaKhe. Mal. 2:8–9 neNdumiso 119:172. Kwaye ubulungisa bukaThixo bungunaphakade. INdumiso 119:142. Kwaye nabani na owenza ubulungisa ulungile, njengoko Naye elungile. 1 Yohane 3:7.
UThixo wangqina ngoAbraham ngoIsaka, esithi:
'Ngokuba uAbraham waliphulaphula ilizwi lam, wagcina imithetho yam, imigaqo yam, imimiselo yam nemithetho yam.' Gen. 26:5.
Ngaphezu koko, iZibhalo zithi uZakariya nomfazi wakhe uElizabethi babengabantu abalungileyo. Kwaye babengabantu abalungileyo kuba bayigcina inkululeko kaThixo yaye bayigcina iMiyalelo yaKhe; bona:
Ngeentsuku zikaHerode, ukumkani waseYuda, kwakukho umbingeleli ogama linguZakariya, wasesigabeni sikaAbhiya, umfazi wakhe engomnye wabantombi bakaAron, egama linguElizabetha. Kwaye bobabini babengabantu abalungileyo phambi koThixo, behamba ngokungenasiphako kuzo zonke iimiyalelo nemithetho yeNkosi. Luka 1:5–6. UJosefu naye, umyeni kaMariya, unina kaYesu, wayelungile. Mattheyu 1:19.
Ngenxa yoko, bonke abenza ubulungisa bukaThixo—oko kukuthi, abagcina imithetho yaKhe—babulungisa kanye njengoko uThixo elilungisa; bona:
Bantwana abancinci, makungabikho namnye uninqosayo: lowo wenza ubulungisa, ulungile, kanye njengokuba Yena elungile. 1 Yohane 3:7.
Lowo ungakholelwayo kwiiMiyalelo zikaThixo akanakuzigcina, kuba Yena uyiMthetho woKukholwa. Roma 3:27 no 31. Kwaye aziyomthwalo, njengoko uYohane watshoyo enyuliswe nguMoya. 1 Yohane 5:3. Kwaye lowo ungasigcini asinakuhlala kuThixo.
1 Yohane 3:24. Ngenxa yoko, uthando lukaBawo alunakuhlala kubo. Yohane 14:9 no-10.
Kodwa kukho abo basebenzisa iindinyana zeBhayibhile njengeengxoxo ezingathethi ncam oko bathi zithetha kona. Enye yezi ndinyana yile apho umpostile athi: 'Nina nigcina iintsuku, iinyanga neminyaka.' Okanye kwakhona: 'Makuze kungekho mntu unigwebe ngokutya okanye isiselo senu, okanye ngokuphathelele iSabatha.' Nangona sesikhe sathetha ngale nto, masigxile kuyo kwakhona ukuze sivule imfihlakalo egquma ubuso babo bantu bafumana ukulungiswa ngobabalo.
Njengoko sibonileyo xa sasicaphula imithetho emiselweyo 'yamaSabatha angcwele', kwakukho iintsuku ezingcwele, iinyanga ezingcwele kunye neminyaka engcwele. Kwaye ezi zinto zazigcinwa ngamaYuda nakwixesha likaPawulos.
Kwaye abaYuda bafuna ukunyanzela amaHentile awayengena 'kuNdlela' ukuba agcine laa mini, besithi ukuba abayenzi loo nto, abayigcini uMthetho. Bakwayigxininisa into yokuba mabolukwe ukuze bazuze uMthetho kaMoses. Oku kwakhokelela ekubeni uPawulos abhale iNcwadi 'yamaGalati', esithi ingene kanye kulo mba.
Kuzo zonke iimeko, njengoko umbhali weNcwadi eya kumaHebhere esitsho, uThixo ubeka ecaleni isivumelwano sokuqala ukuze aseke esesibini. Esokuqala sasiquka ukugcinwa kwemithetho engcwele, eyayiquka ukunikela ngokutya, isiselo nezibingelelo. Heb. 9. Sasiquka kwakhona imiyalelo efana nathi 'ungachukumisi' kunye no 'lungaphathi', njalo njalo, ezichazwa ngumbhali njengemithetho. KwabaseKolose 2:20–21. Kodwa uKristu uzibeke ecaleni ezi zinto—ezazingazisi nto—ngokurhoxisa isatifikethi samatyala esasichasene nathi kwimithetho yaso, nangokukisusa endleleni ngokukusibhabhathisa emnqamlezweni. KwabaseKolose 2:14.
Kungoko, njengoko zaziyimithetho yaye zazijolise ekubeni zigcinwe ixesha elithile, xa uYesu, uMbingeleli oMkhulu wezinto ezilungileyo ezizayo, wafika, wasusayo eyokuqala waza wamisela eyesibini; wasusayo oko kwenziwa eHoreb waza wangqina oko kwenziwa kwilizwe laseMoab.
Yiyo loo nto uIsaya wathi: 'Owambulalayo inkomo unjengaye owabulala umntu; lowo unikezela ngembuzi unjengaye oqhekeza umqala wenja; lowo unikezela ngomnikelo weengqolowa unjengaye onikezela ngegazi lengwe; lowo etshisa umnqamlezo unjengaye osikelela umfanekiso oqingqiweyo; aba bakhetha iindlela zabo, kwaye iiphefumlo zabo zithokozela izinto zabo ezinyanyekayo.'
Isa. 66:3.
Ngoko ke, xa iiprofeti zafumana ezi zinto, zafuna ukwazi ukuba zazenzelwe ixesha lazo na, zaza zaxelelwa ukuba zazingezolazo, koko zazizolungiselela iZizwe ababezincedisa zona. 1 Pet. 1:11 no-12.
Isaya wabhala oko iNkosi yakuthethayo ngaye:
'Xa niza kuvela phambi kwam, ngubani owakucelayo oku ezandleni zenu, ukuba nize kunyathela iinkundla zam? Ningaphindi nizise iminikelo yezinto ezingento: umsi wokunuka kamnandi yinto endiyicaphukelayo, njengoko kunjalo ngeenyanga ezintsha, neeSabatha nemihlangano; andikwazi ukunyamezela ububi, kwanomhlangano ongcwele.' Iinyanga zenu ezintsha neendibano zenu ezingcwele—umphefumlo wam uyazicaphukela; zibe ngumthwalo; ndidiniwe ukuwuthwala. Isa. 1:12–14.
Noko ke, jonga ngenyameko umxholo, kwaye ujonge incwadi yeLevitiki 23, uze ubone ukuba iNkosi ithetha ngantoni: indibano yebandla, iindibano zenu ezingcwele (jonga Lev. 23:1, 8, 9, 17, 21, 28 no 29). Ngoko ke ezo Sabatha zaziziSabatha zenu.
Kwaye ngabo iNkosi ikwathi ngoHoseya: 'Ndiza kuphelisa lonke ulonwabo lwakhe, imibhiyozo yakhe, iinyanga zakhe ezintsha, iSabatha zakhe nemibhiyozo yakhe yonke emisiweyo'. Hos. 2:11. Kwaye uYehova uthi ngokuqhubekayo: 'Ndiza kukubeka esibopheni nam ngonaphakade; ndiza kukubeka esibopheni nam ekulungisweni, nasembonweni, nasethandweni elinyamezelayo, nasemisindweni.
Kwaye ndiza kunyanzelisa isivumelwano nani ngokuthembeka, nize niyazi iNkosi'. imihlathi 19 no 20. Kwaye iNkosi ilumkisa ngoYeremiya:
'Litsho ngelitshoyo iNkosi: Lumkeleni ngemiphefumlo yenu, ningathwali mthwalo ngosuku lweSabatha, ningawangenisi ngegeyithi zaseYerusalem.
Kwaye anizukukhupha mithwalo ezindlwini zenu ngosuku lweSabatha, ningenzi nalo naluphi na umsebenzi; kodwa nimele ulungcwele usuku lweSabatha, njengoko ndayeyalela ootata benu. Ukuba nindiva ngenyameko, utsho uYehova, ngokungazisi mithwalo ngeenqobo zesi sixeko ngosuku lweSabatha, nangokugcina ulungcwele usuku lweSabatha, ningenzi nalo naluphi na umsebenzi;
kwaye iinkosi namakhosi ziya kungena ngeenqobo zesi sixeko, zihleli esihlalweni sobukhosi bukaDavide, zikhwele ezingweleni namahasheni—zizo kunye namakhosi azo, amadoda akwaYuda, nabaninzi baseYerusalem; kwaye esi sixeko siya kuhlala sinabantu ngonaphakade. Kodwa ukuba anivami, ningayigcini iSabatha ingcwele, ningangenisi mithwalo ngeenqobo zesi sixeko ngeSabatha, ndiya kulayita umlilo kwiinqobo zaso, uze utshise iindlu zokumkani zaseYerusalem, kwaye awusoze wucinywa.' Yer. 17:21 no 22, 24–25 no 27.
ISabatha, ngaphandle kokuba sisikhumbuzo sokudaliswa kwezinto, ikwasisibonakaliso phakathi kukaThixo nabantu baKhe; bona:
'Nami ndabanika iSabatha zam, ukuze ibe sisibonakaliso phakathi kwam nabo; ukuze bazi ukuba ndinguYehova oyiNgcwalisa. Niyawugcina umthendeleko wam ube ngcwele, ube sisibonakaliso phakathi kwam nani, ukuze nazi ukuba ndinguYehova uThixo wenu.
Kodwa nabantwana bam baphikisa nam; abahambanga kwimithetho yam, kwaye abazigcinanga imimiselo yam—eyokuba, ukuba umntu uyayigcina, aphile ngayo—kodwa baye bayingcolisa iSabatha zam; ngoko ke ndathi ndiza kugalela umonde wam kubo, ndiphumeze umsindo wam kubo entlango. Kanti ke ndabamba isandla sam, ndenza oko ngenxa yegama lam, ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kweentlanga, endazikhupha phambi kwazo. Nam ndaphakamisa isandla sam kubo entlango, ndaza ndabahlakaza phakathi kweentlanga ndabagxotha emazweni; ngenxa yokuba abazange benze imithetho yam, kodwa balikhanyele ilungiselelo lam, bamanyatha iSabatha zam, yaye amehlo abo ayejonge kwizithixo zakho otata babo.' Hezekile 20:12, 20–24.
Xa iNkosi yabhengeza uMthetho wayo phambi kwabantu kwintlango yaseSinayi, Yona ngokwayo yathetha ivela emafini, yaza yathi malunga neSabatha: 'Khumbula usuku lweSabatha, ulugcine lungcwele. Kwiintsuku ezintandathu yenza yonke imisebenzi yakho. Kodwa usuku lwesixhenxe lusuku lweSabatha lweNkosi uThixo wakho; akukho msebenzi uza kuwenza—nawe, nonyana wakho, nentombi yakho, nenceba yakho, nencebazana yakho, nezilwanyana zakho, nomntu wasemzini okwiirhamncwa zakho. Kuba ngeentsuku ezintandathu iNkosi yenza izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nayo yonke into ekuyo, yaza ngosuku lwesixhenxe yaphumla; ngoko ke iNkosi yasikelela usuku lweSabatha yazingcwalisela lona.' Egesi. 20:8–11.
Masizithathele ingqalelo iinkcukacha: Ekuqaleni kwesahluko sama-20 kuthini: 'Wathi ke uThixo wawathetha la mazwi onke, esithi: "NdinguYehova uThixo wakho."' Kwaye uqala ukuyalela imithetho yaKhe ngqo ebantwini. Kwaye oku kubhalwe ngokucacileyo kwiDuteronomi, apho kuthethwa khona: 'Ngosuku enimi phambi kweNkosi uThixo wenu eHorebe, xa iNkosi yandithu: "Hlanganisela ndibabone abantu, ndibavumele bamamele amazwi am, ukuze bafunde, bandoyike yonke imihla abaphila ngayo emhlabeni, bafundise nabantwana babo"; naza nisondela, nimisa emazantsi entaba; yaba intaba ivutha ngomlilo uye esibhakabhakeni, yaba yimfuzo, namafu, nomthunzi omnyama. Waza uYehova wathetha nani esezantsi komlilo; nawuva ilizwi, kodwa anabona mfanekiso ngaphandle kwelizwi. Waza wabeka phambi kwenu isivumelwano sakhe, awasinika sona—iMiyalelo eliShumi—waza wazibhala kwiitafile ezimbini zamatye'. Duteronomi 4:10–13.
Ngaphezu koko, kwizahluko apho imiyalelo ikhankanyiweyo, sinokubona nezinye iinkcukacha ezibalulekileyo, ezifana nale: 'Kodwa usuku lwesixhenxe lusuku lweSabatha lweNkosi uThixo wakho.' Kwaye yayingengabantu bakwaSirayeli kuphela ababengafanelanga basebenze ngaloo mini, kodwa kunye nezilwanyana zabo, ezazibasebenzela, nabakhonzi babo, nomntu wasemzini owayehlala phakathi kwabo. Oku kwakungenxa yokuba kwakukho abakhonzi babantu, kunye nabo babejoyine abantu bakaSirayeli, mhlawumbi ngokusetyenziswa kwezivumelwano okanye ngokutshata. Ngaloo ndlela uThixo wathetha noMoses waza wamyalela ukuba afundise abantu: 'Niyakuba nomthetho omnye; umhlali wangaphandle makabe njengomzalwa welizwe.' Lev. 24:22.
Wongeza wathi: 'Kodwa ukuba kukho umntu wasemzini ohlala nani aze afune ukubhiyozela iPasika yeNkosi, wonke umntu oyindoda phakathi kwabo makangcungcuthekiswe; kuphela ngoko ke anako ukuza ayibhiyozele, aze abe njengomntu wemveli welizwe; kodwa akukho mntu ungalingcungcuthekanga uya kutya kuyo. Kuya kubakho umthetho omnye kumntu wemveli nakumhlali ongumhlobo ophakathi kwenu'. Eks. 12:49; Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:16, 29.
Kubalulekile ukugxininisa ukuba xa uThixo wayethetha imithetho yaKhe ebantwini, uMoses wayengekanyukeli entabeni kwaye, ngenxa yoko, wayengakayifumani amatye amabhodwe awayebhalwe kuwo iYiphakamisa eliShumi. Kodwa isivumelwano sokuqala sasisele senziwe, esathi ke saba nemithetho yesimiso.
Kwaye kanye ngelo xesha uThixo wanika uMoses uMthetho waKhe, wamnika nemimiselo, imigaqo kunye nezigwebo; bona:
'Le yimimiselo, nezigwebo, nemithetho iNkosi eyayenza phakathi kwayo nebandla lakwaSirayeli eNtabeni iSinayi, ngesandla sikaMoses.' Lev. 26:46.
Kubalulekile ukuqonda ukuba, nangona imithetho yeminqulo yanyhashwa emva kokufa kukaYesu—owazibethela emnqamlezweni—iimigaqo neengxelo ezamiswa nguThixo zaza zanikezelwa kuMoses azikanyhashwanga.
Yiyo loo nto uThixo wathetha ngomprofeti uMalaki: 'Khumbulani umthetho kaMoses umkhonzi wam, endamyalela ngako eHoreb kuwo wonke uSirayeli—imisitho nemithetho.' Mal. 4:4 kunye neLev. 12:48.

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