Ngokwefundiso kaNkulunkulu, isikhathi asilinganiswa ngokwehlelwa kwesikhathi kwabantu. IBhayibheli Elingcwele, umthetho wokholo kwabakholwayo, lifundisa okudingekayo ukuze sihamba ngobulungisa futhi siphile ngokungcwele. Ngoba ngaphandle kokungcwele akekho ozombona uNkulunkulu.
Lapho uNkulunkulu edala izidalwa zasezulwini, wathi: 'Kube nezibani esibhakabhakeni sezulu, ukuhlukanisa usuku ebusuku; zibe izimpawu zezikhathi ezibekiwe, nezinyanga neminyaka; zibe nezibani esibhakabhakeni sezulu, ukukhanyisa emhlabeni.' Kwaba njalo. UNkulunkulu wenza izibani ezimbili ezinkulu: isibani esikhulu sokubusa emini, nesibani esincane sokubusa ebusuku; wenza nezinkanyezi. UNkulunkulu wazibeka esibhakabhakeni ukuze zikhanyise emhlabeni, zibuse imini nobusuku, zihlukanise ukukhanya nobumnyama. UNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi kulungile. Gen. 1:14–18.
Ngokufanayo, lapho edala umkhathi nazo zonke izinto ezikuyo, waphawula izikhathi ngokulandelayo: 'Kwaba kusihlwa, kwaba ekuseni—usuku lokuqala'; 'Kwaba kusihlwa, kwaba ekuseni—usuku lwesibili', njalo njalo, kwaze kwaba usuku lwesithupha. Gen. 1.
Ubusuku: Isikhathi esiholela ekuseni. Ngokuvamile ihlala amahora angu-12 futhi yaziwa ngokuthi ukushona kwelanga, kusihlwa, ubumnyama nobumnyama bobusuku. IzAga 7:9. Iqala ekushoneni kwelanga kosuku olulodwa kuze kube ukuphuma kwelanga ngolunye usuku ekuseni.
Usuku: Isikhathi phakathi kokushona kwelanga okubili, ngokuvamile esilingana namahora angu-24. Levitikus 23:32.Ekuseni: Isikhathi samahora angu-12 phakathi kwamabili, emva kwemini emibili, noma kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekushoneni kwalo. Kubizwa nangokuthi usuku. Johane 11:9.
Ngaphambi kokuba kukhanye, kwakukhona ubumnyama. Ngakho-ke, ubusuku buza ngaphambi kosuku emjikelezweni wamahora angu-24.
Indlela usuku olubalwa ngayo namuhla, kusukela phakathi kwamabili kuya phakathi kwamabili, ayilungile. Futhi lokhu kwakubikezelwe nguDaniyeli. Wathi: 'Uyolwisa uMphakeme Kakhulu, acindezele abangcwele bakhe, futhi afune ukuguqula izikhathi nomthetho.' Dan. 7:25, izingxenye yokuqala neyesibili.
Uma usuku lwaqala phakathi kobusuku, ubusuku babuzohlala amahora ayisithupha kuphela, nosuku lube amahora ayishumi nesishiyagalolunye, kanti uJesu wathi luhlala amashumi amabili nambili. Johane 11:9.
Usuku lungaqala kanjani phakathi kobusuku? Noma ubani ongakuqondi kahle isikhathi akanakugcina uSuku LweNkosi luyingcwele ngendlela efanele.
Ngokomyalelo onikezwe abantu bakaNkulunkulu, iSabatha kumele igcinwe kusukela ekushoneni kwelanga kuya ekushoneni kwelanga. Usuku, ingxenye ekhanyayo yomjikelezo wamahora angu-24 ngokwehlelo lesikhathi lanamuhla labantu, luqala ngo-6 ekuseni luze luphele ngo-6 ntambama. Kodwa indlela efanele ukubala kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuya ekushoneni kwelanga.
Lapho uNehemia efuna ukulungisa isiphambeko abantu ababenza ngesikhathi sakhe, ngokushesha lapho ithunzi lokushona kwelanga liwela emnyango weJerusalema, wayalela ukuthi iminyango yedolobha ivalwe. Masicaphune umbhalo ukuze siqonde kangcono ukuthi nathi kufanele siqhubeke kanjani.
Ngaleso sikhathi ngabona eJuda abanye abacindezela amapresha wewayini ngeSabatha futhi bethwala izigaxa, abazithwala ngamahashe; kanye newayini, amagilebhisi namafigi, kanye nazo zonke izinhlobo zemithwalo ababewangenisa eJerusalema ngeSabatha; ngabaxwayisa ngalolo suku ababethengisa izimpahla zokudla. Kwabe sekukhona amaTire ababehlala edolobheni, abebeletha izinhlanzi nazo zonke izinhlobo zempahla, abazidayisela amaJuda naseJerusalema ngoSabatha. Ngabhekana nezikhulu zakwaJuda ngathi kubo, 'Ngabe nenzani lokhu kubi, ukungcolisa uSonto? Ingabe abokhokho benu abazange benze kanjalo, ingabe uNkulunkulu wethu akazange aletha yonke le nhlekelele kithi nakuleli dolobha? Kodwa nina niyengeza ekushiseni kwentukuthelo yakhe ku-Israyeli ngokungcolisa uSonto.' Kwathi lapho izithunzi sezinde eminyango yaseJerusalema ngaphambi kweSabatha, ngomyalelo wami iminyango yavalwa; ngalela ukuthi ingavulwa kuze kube sekupheleni kweSabatha; ngabeka abanye bentsha yami eminyango, ukuze kungangeniswa mthwalo ngesonto leSabatha. Ngakho-ke abathengisi nabadayisi bazo zonke izinhlobo zezimpahla bachitha ubusuku ngaphandle kweJerusalema, kanye noma kabili. Ngakho-ke ngabaxwayisa ngathi kubo: 'Ningani nichitha ubusuku phambi kodonga? Uma niphinda nenza lokhu, ngizobabamba.' Kusukela ngalolo suku abasazange beze ngesonto. Neh. 13:15–21.
Izinto ezibhalwe ngenhla zabhalelwa ukusifundisa.
Uma umKristu engazi isikhathi nendlela—ngokuba kunesikhathi nendlela yazo zonke izinto—akakwazi ukufinyelela ekupheleleni ekuthobekeni, futhi ngeke abe umuntu ophelele njengoba uNkulunkulu efuna. Math. 5:48, 2 Tim. 3:17 kanye noKol. 3:14. Futhi uzothola isigwegwe seNkosi, ethi: 'Angikutholanga ukuba izenzo zakho ziphelele phambi kukaNkulunkulu.' IsAmb. 3:2. Futhi lezi zenzo yizenzo zokulunga, zothando olukhulunywe ngalo nguJohane. 1 Johane 3:18.
Emazweni aseYurophu, afana neNgilandi, kunamazinsuku, ngesikhathi esithile sonyaka, lapho ukukhanya kwelanga kuhlala kuze kube yihora lesishiyagalolunye kusihlwa ngokwe-kalenda yamanje.
Ngokwalokho uMoya owambikela u-Isaya, akufanele sizikhathaze nganoma yini enyameni ngoSabatha lweNkosi; bheka:
Uma ugcina unyawo lwakho ekwephuleni uSabatha, ekungenzeni intando yakho ngosuku lwami olungcwele, futhi uma ubiza uSabatha injabulo, nosuku olungcwele lweNkosi, usuku olufanele ukuhlonishwa, futhi uluhloniphe ngokungalandeli izindlela zakho, noma ukufuna ukwenza intando yakho, noma ukukhuluma amazwi akho, ngaleso sikhathi uzothokozela eNkosini, ngakho-ke ngizokwenza ugibele ezindaweni eziphakeme zomhlaba, ngikondle ifa likayihlo uJakobe; ngoba umlomo weNkosi ukhulume. Isa. 58:13 no-14.
Futhi njengasemanduleni, akufanele upheke ngalolo suku. Ngokuba kanje kusho iZibhalo:
'Nizosebenza izinsuku eziyisithupha, kodwa usuku lwesikhombisa luyoba lungcwele kini, iSabatha yokuphumula ngokuphelele eNkosini; noma ubani owenza noma yiluphi umsebenzi ngalo uyobulawa. Ningavusi mlilo ezindlini zenu zonke ngosuku lweSabatha.' Eks. 35:2 no 3.Kukhona abathi lokhu kwakusebenza ku-Israyeli yakudala, lapho umsebenzi wokuvusa umlilo wawudinga umzamo womzimba. Nokho, uNkulunkulu akashintshi. Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba umthetho wakhe uqinisekiswe eSinayi, uNkulunkulu wathi kanje:
'Nizolala kangakanani ningagcini imiyalo yami nemithetho yami?' Eks. 16:28. Futhi ngaphambi kwalokho, uMose wayehlela abantu kanje:
'Nansi into iNkosi esiyithethile: Kusasa usuku lokuphumula, iSabatha engcwele yeNkosi; noma yini enifuna ukuyibhaka e-oveni, yibhake, noma yini enifuna ukuyibilisa emanzini, yibiliseni emanzini; futhi konke okusele, nizibekele kona, nikugcine kuze kube kusasa.' Eks. 16:23.
Qaphela ukuthi kwakufanele bakhunge noma baphise ukudla kwabo, futhi konke okwakusele kwakufanele kubekwe eceleni ukuze kube yiSabatha. Ngakho-ke, ukudla kwakufanele kugcinwe sekulungisiwe.
Namuhla sesinamathuluzi angcono kakhulu okugcina iSabatha. Sinezitofu zegesi, iziqandisi, izibani kagesi, amanzi ageleza, nokunye okuningi. Futhi noma ngabe lezi zinto azikhona, ngenhliziyo ezimisele kungenzeka ukuyigcina, ngoba lokhu kuzoba ubufakazi bethu bothando lukaJesu. Johane 14:15.
Singakwenza konke okudingekayo ngaphandle kweSabatha—okungukuthi, ngaphambi kokushona kwelanga ngoLwesihlanu noma ngemva kokushona kwelanga ngoMgqibelo. Ngokuba sikholwa ukuthi zonke izinto zisebenza ndawonye okuhle kwabo abathanda uNkulunkulu. Roma 8:28.
Kanti yini ezosisihlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu? Indlala, ubunqunu, njll.? Akukho okungasisihlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu—ngisho nokugcina Imiyalo yaKhe. Roma 8:35.
Njengoba sibonile ekubonakalisweni kwentando yeNkosi ngo-Isaya, akufanele sifune ukwenza intando yethu, noma ukukhuluma amazwi ethu ngosuku lwaKhe olungcwele. Isa. 58:13.
Kodwa kukhona abaphikisana nalokhu, besho ukuthi uSabatha weNkosi akuyona iSuku leNkosi. Futhi baveza izizathu ezingamanga. Abemi eqinisweni ngokuzimisela, ngoba akukho qiniso kubo. Bathi iSuku leNkosi manje yiSonto, becabanga, ngokubala kwabo nokuqagela kwabo, ukuthi uJesu wavuka ngalolo suku. Noma ubani ocabanga futhi ekholelwa kulokhu akanqondiswanga kahle eZwini likaNkulunkulu.
Njengoba ukwamukela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu kuyisidingo sokuthola ukuhlakanipha, ukufinyelela ekwesabeni iNkosi, nokuthola 'ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu', labo abangawamukeli imiyalo abakayitholi ukuhlakanipha, noma ukwesaba iNkosi, noma ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu. IzAga 2:1–6, 28:7–9 no 10:8.
Amaphutha okufundisa ayanda ezinkolweni ezinganazo iMiyalo kaNkulunkulu, njengalabo abangagcini iMiyalo yakhe abangakuqondi amazwi kaNkulunkulu, ngoba lokhu kuyisidingo sokuqala sokuyaqonda. Ezinye izinkolo, nakuba zineMiyalo, azigcini, ngakho-ke azithandi uNkulunkulu. Johane 14:21 no 15:9 no 10.
UJesu wathanda umhlaba futhi wafakazela lolo thando: wasifa ngenxa yethu. Manje ufuna ubufakazi bothando lwethu, ethi: 'Uma ningithanda, nizogcina imiyalo yami.' Johane 14:15. Futhi uthanda kuphela labo abamthandayo.
IzAga 8:17. Futhi uMoya oNgcwele uveza ukuthi siyiziphukuphuku ngenxa kaKristu. 1 KwabaseKorinte 4:10. Futhi: 'Makangazikhohlisi muntu. Uma kukhona phakathi kwenu ocabanga ukuthi uhlakaniphile kulo mhlaba, makaba yiphukuphuku ukuze abe ngumhlakaniphile.' 1 KwabaseKorinte 3:18.
Usuku lwesikhombisa lwesonto, noma olulodwa kweziyisikhombisa esontweni?Lapho iNkosi idala izulu nomhlaba, yasungula izigaba zesikhathi: isonto, izinyanga, neminyaka. Isonto lezinsuku eziyisikhombisa, inyanga yezinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu, nonyaka wezinyanga eziyishumi nambili.
Lapho ikhipha abantu baka-Israyeli eGibithe, yabeka inyanga ka-Abib njengokuqala kwezinyanga zabantu bayo. Namuhla, le nyanga ihambelana nesikhathi esisukela ngoMashi kuya ku-Ephreli, ifaka ingxenye kaMashi nengxenye ka-Ephreli.INkosi yabiza izinsuku zeviki ngokuthi: yokuqala, eyesibili, eyesithathu, eyesine, eyesihlanu, eyesithupha neyesikhombisa. Futhi uNkulunkulu wabiza lolu suku lweviki ngokuthi uSabatha, ngoba ngalolo suku waphumula, ngakho-ke walungcwalisela wawabusisa.
Ukulungcwaliswa kusho ukuhlukanisa. Ngakho-ke, wabeka lolo suku eceleni ukuze kuphumulwe futhi walibusisa ngenxa yalokho.
ISabatha lakhe limisiwe: liyinsuku yesikhombisa yeviki. IzSabatha zamaSirayeli, nokho, zazihambayo; okusho ukuthi zazishintsha. Ngoba izinsuku zokuqala nezokugcina zemikhosi eyayibekwe nguJehova zawo zazawa ezinsukwini ezahlukene zeviki, njenge 'IzSabatha ezingcwele' noma izinsuku zemikhosi. Levitikus 23:32 nezinkomba.
ISabatha losuku lwesikhombisa luhleleke, kanti iSabatha njalo ezinsukwini eziyisikhombisa akulungile. Cabanga ukuthi wonke umuntu uya emhlanganweni ngosuku oluhlukile, ngamunye efuna ukugcina usuku lwakhe lokuphumula.
Ngisho naseSabathini ezamiswa nguNkulunkulu, ayebizwa ngokuthi 'izSabatha zenu', kwakukhona ukuhleleka. Kudingeka nje ukufunda imibhalo ngokucophelela. Kwakukhona izikhathi ezithile ezazibekelwe unyaka. Izinto ezamiswa nguNkulunkulu zenziwa ngobuhlakani. Unamandla ngokuphelele.
Kukhona abakhomba kulokho uJesu akushilo: 'uBaba wami usasebenza, nami ngisebenza' (Johane 5:17), kanye nalokho uPhostoli uPhawuli akushilo: 'Sebenzani ebusuku nasemini ukuze ningabi umthwalo kubafowenu nodadewenu' (2 AbaseThesalonika 2:9). Kodwa bayakhohlwa nalokho iNkosi nayo eyakushilo: 'Ungasebenzi isinkwa esonakalayo, kodwa isinkwa esihlala unomphela'
Johane 6:27.
Umsebenzi kaJesu wawuyowobufundisi, futhi lo msebenzi kumele ube ngowalabo ababizekile. Ngale ndlela, bangase basebenze ebusuku nasemini njengoba uBaba enza.
Ulimi olwalusetshenziswa ngabaprofethi nabaphostoli lwaluhambisana nololwasetshenziswa nguNkulunkulu eMibhalweni Engcwele, ngoba babephefumulelwe yena futhi babesebenza njengokhulumela kwakhe.
Ngakho-ke, lapho iSibhalo sithi uPetru noJohane baya ethempelini ukuzokhuleka, sithi ihora lalingelesi-9. Futhi leli hora yilokho abakubiza ngokuthi ihora lesi-15 noma ngo-3 ntambama. Kodwa njengoba ilanga livuka ekuseni, futhi usuku lunehora eziyishumi nambili, ihora lesi-9 yilokho abakujwayele ukukubiza ngo-3 ntambama noma ihora lesi-15, kulandelaniso lwesikhathi lwanamuhla.
Lapho uJohane wayeseqhingini lasePatmos futhi ebhala Incwadi Yezaga, wathi: 'Futhi ngabanjwa ngumoya ngosuku lweNkosi…' (IsAmbulo 1:10). Lolu limi oluphefumulelwe akuyona enye ngaphandle kwalokho uNkulunkulu akuphefumulelayo ku-Isaya, owabhala: 'Uma ubiza uSabatha injabulo, nosuku olungcwele lweNkosi, futhi uluhlonipha—ungahambi ngezindlela zakho, ungazifuni izifiso zakho, ungakhulumi amazwi akho—ngaleso sikhathi uzothokozela eNkosini, ngizokwenza ugibele ezindaweni eziphakeme zomhlaba, ngikondle ngifa likayihlo uJakobe; ngoba umlomo weNkosi ukhulume.'
Isaya 58:13–14. Lokhu yilokho umphostoli akwenzile: wabiza uSabatha iSuku leNkosi.
Ngoba kuNkulunkulu, isikhathi singaba amahora ayishumi nambili, usuku, unyaka, inkulungwane yeminyaka, noma isikhathi esithile, noma ithuba. Ngakho-ke, usuku lwakhe lungaba futhi uSabatha wakhe, noma usuku lokufika kwakhe, noma isikhathi esithile. Kodwa inhloso Yakhe iyaziwa ngokwengeziwe. Ngoba uMoya Wakhe ongaphakathi kithi usazisa ngalokhu, ngoba uphenya zonke izinto, ngisho nobunzulu bukaNkulunkulu. 1 Kor. 2:10.
Abanye bacabanga ukuthi ngoba iNkosi ikhuluma ngoJakobe uyise, ikhuluma no-Israyeli ogama kuphela, lowo wasePalestina. Kodwa qaphela lokho uPhostola uPhawuli akushoyo:
'Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, futhi liyunina. Ngokuba kubhalwe: "Jabulani nina ongenabantwana, ningazali; niyakhala nijabule nina eningazalanga; ngokuba izingane zalowo ongenamkhwenyana ziningi kunezalowo onomkhwenyana."'
Kodwa thina, bafowethu nodadewethu, singabantwana besithembiso, njengo-Isaka. Ngakho-ke, bafowethu nodadewethu, asisi bantwana bomfazi wesigqila, kodwa bomfazi okhululekile. Gal. 5:26–28 no 31.
Ngakho-ke, thina esikholwayo singizizukulwane ezithembisiwe ku-Abrahama, lapho abakhokho baphuma khona, kanye no-Isaka, uyise kaJakobe, indodana yesithembiso, njengathi thina esithembisiwe ku-Abrahama, futhi siningi njengenkanyezi zasezulwini nesihlabathi solwandle.
Gen. 15:5, 22:17 kanye no 32:12.
Kodwa kukhona abathi akekho ongakwazi ukugcina Imiyalo, nokuthi akekho umuntu olungileyo noyedwa. Nokho, ngaphambi kokunikezwa kwemithetho eSinayi, Izibhalo zithi u-Abrahama wagcina Imiyalo yeNkosi. Futhi uNkulunkulu uqobo wathi u-Abrahama wayeza kuyalela izingane zakhe ukuba zigcine indlela yeNkosi ngokulunga nangobulungisa; bheka:
INkosi yathi: 'Ngabe ngizofihla ku-Abrahama engizokwenzayo, njengoba u-Abrahama ngempela ezoba isizwe esikhulu nesinamandla, futhi kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba kuzobusiswa ngaye?'
Ngoba ngibonile ukuthi uyoyala izingane zakhe nomuzi wakhe ngemva kwakhe ukuba bagcine indlela yeNkosi, benze okulungile nokulungisa; ukuze iNkosi ilethe ku-Abrahama lokho eyikhulume ngaye.' Gen. 18:17–19.
Futhi njengoba kubonisiwe kumibuzo yokuphendula, izindlela zikaJehova nobulungisa bukaJehova yimiyalo yakhe. Mal. 2:8–9 kanye neHubo 119:172. Futhi ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu bungunaphakade. Hubo 119:142. Futhi noma ubani owenza ubulungisa ulungile, njengalokhu yena alungile. 1 Johane 3:7.
UNkulunkulu wafakazela u-Abrahama ngo-Isaka, wathi:
'Ngoba u-Abrahama walalela izwi lami, wagcina imiyalo yami, imithetho yami, iziqondiso zami nemithetho yami.' Gen. 26:5.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, iZibhalo zithi uZakariya nomkakhe u-Elizabethi babalungile. Futhi babe abalungile ngoba bagcina ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu futhi bagcina Imiyalo Yakhe; bheka:
Ezinsukwini zikaHerode, inkosi yaseJudiya, kwakukhona umpristi ogama lakhe linguZakariya, owesigaba sikaAbhiya, umkakhe wayengomunye wezindodakazi zika-Aroni, futhi igama lakhe kwakunguElizabhethi. Futhi bobabili babe abalungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngokungenasono kuyo yonke imiyalo nemithetho yeNkosi. Luka 1:5–6. UJosefu naye, umyeni kaMariya, umama kaJesu, wayelungile. Mathewu 1:19.
Ngakho-ke, bonke abenza ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu—okungukuthi, abagcina imiyalo yaKhe—balingile, njengalokhu uNkulunkulu elungile, njengoba kubhalwe:
Bantwana abancane, ningavunyelwa muntu ukunilahla: lowo enza ubulungisa ulungile, njengalokhu yena elungile. 1 Johane 3:7.
Lowo ongakholwa emiyalweni kaNkulunkulu akanakuyigcina, ngoba Yena ungumthetho wokholo. Roma 3:27 no 31. Futhi azinzima, njengoba uJohane wathi ngokuphefumulelwa. 1 Johane 5:3. Futhi lowo ongakagcini emiyalweni akanakuhlala kuNkulunkulu.
1 Johane 3:24. Ngalokho-ke, uthando lukaBaba alukho kuye. Johane 14:9 no-10.
Kodwa kukhona labo abasebenzisa izahluko zeBhayibheli njengempikiswano ezingasho abakufunayo. Esinye salezi zihloko yilapho umphostoli ethi: 'Nina nigcina izinsuku, nezinyanga, neminyaka.' Noma futhi: 'Makungabi khona ophethe isigwebo kini ngokuphathelene nokudla nokuphuza, noma ngokuphathelene neSabatha.' Nakuba sesixoxe ngalokhu, ake sigxile kukho futhi ukuze sivule ubuvebhu obumboza ubuso babo abalungiswa ngomusa.
Njengoba sabona lapho sicaphuna imithetho ememezela 'amaSabatha angcwele', kwakukhona izinsuku ezingcwele, izinyanga ezingcwele neminyaka engcwele. Futhi lezi zazigcinwa ngamaJuda ngisho nangesikhathi sikaPhawuli.
Futhi laba maJuda babefuna ukuphoqa amaGentayili ababejoyina 'Indlela' ukuba bagcine lezi zinsuku, bethi uma bengakwenzi lokho, abagcini uMthetho. Baphinde bagcizelela ukuthi kumele basikezwe ukuze bagcwalise uMthetho kaMose. Lokhu kwaholela uPhawuli ukuba abhale Incwadi 'kumaGalathiya', ebhekana nalolu daba ngqo.
Kuzo zonke izimo, njengoba umbhali weNcwadi eya kwabaseHeberu esho, uNkulunkulu ususa isivumelwano sokuqala ukuze asungule eyesibili. Esokuqala sahlanganisa ukugcinwa kwemithetho engcwele, eyayihlanganisa ukunikela ngokudla, iziphuzo nezihlatshelo. Heb. 9. Saphinde sahlanganisa imiyalelo efana nokuthi 'ungathinti' no 'ungabambi', njll., umbhali ochaza lezi njengemithetho. KwabaseKholosiya 2:20–21. Kodwa uKristu ususe lezi zinto—ezingazange ziletha ukuphelela—ngokukhansela isitifiketi semalimboleko esasimelene nathi ngemithetho yaso, wasisusa endleleni wawubethela emnqamulajuleni. KwabaseKholosiya 2:14.
Ngakho-ke, njengoba zaziyimithetho ezazizokugcinwa isikhashana, lapho uJesu, uMpristi Omkhulu wezinto ezinhle ezizayo, efika, wabeka eceleni okokuqala wasungula okwesibili; wakhansela okwenzeka eHoreb wavumela okwenzeka ezweni laseMoab.
Yingakho u-Isaya wathi: 'Ombulala inkomo uyafana nalowo obulala umuntu; lowo okhonzela isimbuzi uyafana nalowo oqhekeza intamo yenja; lowo onikela ngesipho sommbewu uyafana nalowo onikela ngegazi lengulube; lowo okhanyisa imphepho uyafana nalowo obusisa isithombe; laba bakhetha izindlela zabo, futhi imiphefumulo yabo ijabulela izinto zabo ezinyanyekayo.'
Isaya 66:3.
Ngakho-ke, lapho abaprofethi bethola lezi zinto, bafisa ukwazi ukuthi ngabe zazihloselwe isikhathi sabo, kwathiwa kubo ukuthi azizange zibe zabo, kodwa zazibhekiswe kumaGentayili ababezinkhonza. 1 Petru 1:11–12.
Isaya wabhala lokho iNkosi eyakusho ngaye:
'Nina nifike nizovela phambi kwami, ubani owabela izandla zenu lokhu, ukuthi ningangcolisi izigodi zami? Ningaphindi nilethe iminikelo engenamsebenzi; umusi wukuthukuthela kimi, kanye nezinyanga ezintsha, neSabatha nemihlangano emikhulu; angikwazi ukubekezelela ububi, noma umhlangano omkhulu.' Izinyanga zakho ezintsha nemihlangano yakho engcwele—umphefumulo wami uyazizonda; zibe umthwalo kimi; sengikhathele ukuzithwala. Isa. 1:12–14.
Nokho, bheka kahle umongo, ubheke iLevitikus 23, uzobona ukuthi iNkosi ikhuluma ngani: umhlangano womphakathi, imihlangano yenu engcwele (bona Lev. 23:1, 8, 9, 17, 21, 28 no-29). Ngakho-ke lezo Sabatha kwakuyizSabatha zenu.
Futhi ngabo iNkosi iphinde ithi ngoHoseya: 'Ngizophothula yonke injabulo yakhe, imikhosi yakhe, izinyanga zakhe ezintsha, amaSabatha akhe nemikhosi yakhe yonke.' Hos. 2:11. Futhi uJehova uthi: 'Ngizokuzibopha kimi unomphela; ngizokuzibopha kimi ngobulungisa nangobuqotho, nangothando oluqinile, nangomusa.
Futhi ngizokuzibopha kimi ngokwethembeka, nize niyazi iNkosi.' izi. 19 no 20. Futhi iNkosi iwisa isixwayiso ngoJeremiya:
'Izenzo zithi kanje iNkosi: Qaphelani ngemiphefumulo yenu, ningaphathi mithwalo ngosuku lweSabatha, ningayingenisi eminyango yaseJerusalema.
Futhi ningaphumi nezimpahla ezindlini zenu ngosuku lweSabatha, ningasebenzi lutho; kodwa ningcwele ngosuku lweSabatha, njengalokhu engiyalele ngakho abobekho kini. Uma ningangilalela ngempela, kusho iNkosi, ngokungangenisi izimpahla ngamasango alo dolobha ngosuku lweSabatha, nokugcina usuku lweSabatha lungcwele, ningasebenzi lutho ngalo;
bese amakhosi namakhosi abantu bengena eminyango yaleli dolobha, behlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi bukaDavide, behamba ngamathangi begibela amahhashi, bona namakhosi abo, amadoda akwaJuda nabaseJerusalema; futhi leli dolobha lizohlala linabantu phakade. Kodwa uma ningangilaleli, ningagcini iSabatha ingcwele, ningangenisi mithwalo ngezango zedolobha laseJerusalema ngesonto leSabatha, ngizovutha umlilo emangangeni alo ozodla izindlu zobukhosi zaseJerusalema, futhi awusoze wacishiwa'. Jer. 17:21 no 22, 24–25 no 27.
ISabatha, ngaphezu kokuba isikhumbuzo sokudala, siyisibonakaliso phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe; bheka:
'Ngabaphakela amaSabatha ami njengesibonakaliso phakathi kwami nabo, ukuze bazi ukuthi mina, iNkosi, ngingcwele. Futhi nina ningagcina amaSabatha ami engcwele, futhi azosebenza njengesibonakaliso phakathi kwami kini, ukuze nazi ukuthi mina, iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
Kepha nezingane zami zaphikisa nami; azizange zihambe ngemithetho yami, futhi azizange zigcine imiyalo yami—eyingokuthi, uma umuntu eyenza, uzophila ngayo—kodwa zangcolisa amaSabatha ami; ngakho ngathi ngizothulula intukuthelo yami phezu kwazo, ukuze ngigcwalise ulaka lwami kuzo ehlane. Kodwa ngabamba isandla sami, ngakwenza ngenxa yegama lami, ukuze lingahlambaleki emehlweni ezizwe engizikhuphule phambi kwazo. Ngaphinde ngaphakamisa isandla sami kubo ehlane, ukuze ngibahlakaze phakathi kwezizwe futhi ngibaphambanise emazweni; ngoba abazange bagcine imithetho yami, baphika imigomo yami, bahlambalaza amaSabatha ami, futhi amehlo abo abebheke ezithixweni zabokhokho babo.' Ezek. 20:12, 20–24.
Lapho iNkosi imemezela uMthetho wayo phambi kwabantu ehlane laseSinayi, yena uqobo yakhuluma emafini yathi mayelana neSabatha: 'Khumbula usuku lweSabatha, ulugcine luyingcwele.' Izinsuku eziyisithupha niyosebenza, nenze yonke imisebenzi yenu; kodwa usuku lwesikhombisa luyisiSabatha leNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu; ngeke wenze msebenzi—nawe, nendodana yakho, nendodakazi yakho, nenceku yakho yindoda, nenceku yakho yowesifazane, nezinkomo zakho, nomuntu ongumhlali ophakathi kwezango lakho. Ngokuba ezinsukwini eziyisithupha iNkosi yenza izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nazo zonke izinto ezikuzo, kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa yaphumula; ngakho-ke iNkosi yasibusisa usuku lwesabatha yayingcwalisile.' Kuma-Exoda 20:8–11.
Ake sicubungule imininingwane: Ekuqaleni kwesahluko sama-20 kuthiwa: 'Kwathi-ke uNkulunkulu wakhuluma la mazwi onke, wathi, "NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho."' Futhi waqala ukuyala imithetho yakhe ngqo kubantu. Futhi lokhu kubhalwe ngokusobala kuDuteronomi, lapho kuthiwa khona: 'Ngalolo suku nawumi phambi kweNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu eHoreb, lapho iNkosi yathi kimi: "Hlanganisa abantu laba kimi, ukuze bezwe amazwi ami, ukuze bafunde ukungisaba yonke imihla abaphila ngayo emhlabeni, futhi babafundise abantwana babo"; nizisondela nime ngasezinyaweni zentaba; intaba yayivutha umlilo kuze kube phakathi ezulwini, kwaba nobumnyama namafu nomthunzi omnyama.' Kwathi-ke iNkosi yakhuluma kini isuka phakathi komlilo; nezwa izwi lazo, kodwa anibonanga siqu ngaphandle kwezwi. Wabeka phambi kwenu isivumelwano sakhe, ayiniyalela sona—Imiyalo eyishumi—wayibhala emathebeleni amabili amatshe'. Duteronomi 4:10–13.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, ezindimeni lapho imiyalo ikhona, singabona nezinye izinto ezibalulekile, njengokuthi: 'kodwa usuku lwesikhombisa luyisiSabatha leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho'. Futhi kwakungeyona kuphela abantu baka-Israyeli ababengafanele basebenze ngalolo suku, kodwa nezilwane zabo ezazibasebenzela, nezinceku zabo, nomuntu wesizwe owayehlala phakathi kwabo. Lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi kwakukhona izinceku phakathi kwabantu, kanye nalabo ababezijoyine abantu baka-Israyeli, noma ngokuvumelana noma ngokushada. Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu wakhuluma noMose wamyalela ukuba afundise abantu: 'Niyoba nomthetho munye; umfokazi makabe njengozalelwe.' Levitikus 24:22.
Wengeza wathi: 'Kepha uma umuntu ongumhlali phakathi kwenu efuna ukubhiyozela iPasika leNkosi, wonke amadoda phakathi kwabo kumele asikwe; khona-ke angafika ayibhiyozele, futhi azoba njengomdabu wezwe; kodwa akekho ongazange asikwe odlayo kuyo.' Kuzoba nomthetho owodwa kumuntu owazalwa ezweni nomfokazi ohlala phakathi kwenu.' EkuPhumeni 12:49; Levitikus 24:22; Inombolo 15:16, 29.
Kubalulekile ukugcizelela ukuthi lapho uNkulunkulu ekhuluma imithetho yakhe nabantu, uMose wayengakakhuphuki entabeni, ngakho-ke wayengakayitholi amaphilisi amatshe abhalwe kuwo iZimiso Eziyishumi. Kodwa isivumelwano sokuqala sasivele senziwe, esabe sequkethe imithetho yomthetho.
Futhi ngaleso sikhathi uNkulunkulu enika uMose uMthetho wakhe, wamnika futhi imithetho, izimiso nezigwebo; bheka:
'Le yimithetho, nezigwebo, nemithetho iNkosi eyenza phakathi kwayo nezingane zika-Israyeli eNtabeni iSinayi ngesandla sikaMose.' Lev. 26:46.
Kubalulekile ukuqaphela ukuthi, nakuba imithetho yokuziphatha yasuswa ngemva kokufa kukaJesu—owazibamba esiphambanweni—imigomo nezigwebo ezamiswa nguNkulunkulu futhi zanikezwa uMose azizange zisuswe.
Yingakho uNkulunkulu ekhulume ngoMalakiya: 'Khumbulani umthetho kaMose isicakami sami, engamyalela wona eHorebe kuwo wonke u-Israyeli—imigomo nemigomo yokwahlulela.' Malakiya 4:4 kanye noLevitikus 12:48.

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