1. Ibhuku elithiwa nguLevi lingasinceda ngani?

 IBHUKU elithiwa nguLevi eliseBhayibhilini likhuluma ngobungcwele izikhathi ezinengi ukwedlula wonke amanye. Zonke izinceku zikaJehova kumele zibengcwele. Yikho-ke ukuzwisisa okumunyethwe kuLevi kanye lokubona ukuthi kusinceda ngani kuzasisiza ukuthi sibengcwele.

2. Qamba ezinye izinto ezitholakala kuLevi.

² ULevi wabhalwa ngumphrofethi uMosi njalo ngomunye ‘weMibhalo yonke’ elosizo ekufundiseni. (2 Tim. 3:16) Esahlukweni sinye ngasinye sebhuku leli, ibizo likaJehova litholakala okwezikhathi ezingaba litshumi. Nxa singazwisisa okumunyethwe kuLevi sizakuba lesibindi sokubalekela loba yini engenza ukuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu lingahlonitshwa. (Levi. 22:32) Kanti njalo kulamazwi atholakala kanengi ebhukwini lelo athi, “NginguJehova.” Amazwi la asikhumbuza ukuthi kumele simlalele. Esihlokweni lesi lakwesilandelayo kasikholiseni ukuhlolisisa imicijo eligugu ekuLevi, ibhuku eliyisipho esivela kuNkulunkulu elisinceda ukuthi sibengcwele nxa simkhonza.

3, 4. Ukugeziswa kuka-Aroni kanye lokwamadodana akhe kwakumelani? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

³ Bala uLevi 8:5, 6. UJehova wakhetha u-Aroni ukuthi abe ngumphristi omkhulu wako-Israyeli njalo amadodana akhe kwakumele  abe ngabaphristi besizwe. U-Aroni umela uJesu Khristu njalo amadodana ka-Aroni amela abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiweyo. Kodwa ukugeziswa kuka-Aroni kwakumele ukuhlanjululwa kukaJesu yini? Hatshi, ngoba uJesu wayengelasono njalo ‘wayengelasici.’ Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi kwakungelasizatho sokuthi ahlanjululwe. (Heb. 7:26; 9:14) Kodwa-ke nxa u-Aroni wayesegezisiwe wayemela uJesu owayevele ehlanzekile njalo elungile. Umbuzo osalayo nanku: Ukugeziswa kwamadodana akhe khona kwakumelani?

⁴ Ukugeziswa kwamadodana ka-Aroni kwakuyisifanekiso sokuhlanjululwa kwalabo ababezakhethwa ukuthi bayekuba ngabaphristi ezulwini. Pho ukuhlanjululwa kwamadodana ka-Aroni kwakumela ukubhaphathizwa kwabagcotshiweyo yini? Hatshi ngoba ukubhaphathizwa akuzigezisi izono; kodwa kutshengisa ukuthi umuntu usezinikele ngenhliziyo yonke kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Abagcotshiweyo bageziswa “ngokusebenzisa ilizwi” njalo lokhu kutsho ukuthi kuyabe sekumele bazisebenzise ngenhliziyo yonke izimfundiso zikaKhristu ezimpilweni zabo. (Efe. 5:25-27) Nxa sebegezisiwe bayabe sebengcwelisiwe bahlanjululwa. “Ezinye izimvu” zona-ke?—Joh. 10:16.

5. Ezinye izimvu zihlanjululwa njani kusetshenziswa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu?

⁵ Ezinye izimvu zikaJesu ezibumba ‘ixuku elikhulukazi’ zona kazibalwa kulabo ababemelwa ngamadodana ka-Aroni. (Isam. 7:9) Kodwa ukuhlanjululwa kwazo kuyafanana lokwabagcotshiweyo ngoba zenziwa zibengcwele njalo zihlanjululwa kusetshenziswa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Nxa abalethemba lokuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni bebala okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lokuqakatheka kwegazi likaJesu elachithekayo lokuthi lisebenza njani, basuka bakukholwe lokho ‘besebemkhonza emini lebusuku’ uJehova. (Isam. 7:13-15) Abagcotshiweyo lezinye izimvu baqhubeka ‘bephila impilo elungileyo’ okutshengisa ukuthi balokhu behlanjululwa. (1 Phet. 2:12) Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza kakhulukazi nxa ebona ukuhlanzeka kanye lokumanyana kwabagcotshiweyo kanye labexuku elikhulu abaqhubeka belalela uMalusi wabo, uJesu, njalo bemlandela zikhathi zonke.

6. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sihlale singcwele? Nika isibonelo.

⁶ Umcijo wokuthi abaphristi bako-Israyeli kwakumele bahlanzeke uqakatheke kakhulu ebantwini bakaJehova lamuhla. Abantu esifunda labo iBhayibhili bajayele ukubona ukuthi lapho esikhonzela khona kuhlala kuhlanzekile lokuthi lathi sihlala sihlanzekile futhi sigqoke kuhle. Kanti njalo ukuthi abaphristi kwakumele bahlanzeke kwenza sinanzelele ukuthi wonke umuntu oqansa intaba kaJehova ephakemeyo, okutsho ukuthi wonke umuntu ofuna ukumkhonza, kumele abe “lenhliziyo emhlophe.” (Bala iHubo 24:3, 4; Isaya. 2:2, 3.) Izingqondo zethu, lezinhliziyo kanye lemizimba yethu, konke kumele kube ngokuhlanzekileyo nxa sisenzela uNkulunkulu inkonzo engcwele. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi ukuze sibengcwele, kumele sihlale sizihlola, besesilungisisa nxa kuyikuthi kulokuthile esikuphambanisayo. (2 Khor. 13:5) Ngokwesibonelo, umuntu obhaphathiziweyo olomkhuba wokubukela iphonogirafi kumele azibuze umbuzo othi, ‘Ngiyabe ngingcwele yini nxa ngisenza lokhu?’ Ngemva kwalokho, kuyabe sekumele acele usizo ukuze atshiyane lomkhuba lo omubi.—Jak. 5:14.

7. Yisiphi isibonelo esasitshiyelwa nguJesu esihambelana lalokho okukhulunywa kuLevi 8:22-24?

⁷ UMphristi oMkhulu u-Aroni kanye lamadodana akhe bathi begcotshwa ukuthi babe ngabaphristi kwathathwa igazi lenqama basebenindwa ngalo munye ngamunye endlebeni yokunene, esithupheni sesandla sokudla lasezwaneni elikhulu lonyawo lwesokudla. (Bala uLevi 8:22-24.) Ukunindwa  igazi kwakutshengisa ukuthi abaphristi babezakwenza okusemandleni abo ukuze bakulandele njengoba kunjalo konke ababekutshelwa. UMphristi oMkhulu uJesu laye waba yisibonelo esipheleleyo okumele silandelwe ngabagcotshiweyo kanye lezinye izimvu. Wayehlala ethiye indlebe ukuze azwe imilayo kaNkulunkulu. Izandla zakhe wayezisebenzisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu njalo izinyawo zakhe zaqhubeka zihamba endleleni yobungcwele.—Joh. 4:31-34.

8. Bonke abakhonza uJehova kumele benzeni?

⁸ Bonke abakhonza uJehova, okutsho amaKhristu agcotshiweyo kanye lezinye izimvu zikaJesu, kumele balingisele uMphristi wabo oMkhulu owahlala eqotho. Kumele bayilalele yonke imilayo etholakala eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Nxa bangenza njalo ngeke badabukise umoya wakhe ongcwele. (Efe. 4:30) Kumele ‘benzele izinyawo zabo izindlela ezibekekileyo.’—Heb. 12:13.

9. Abafowethu abathathu asebesebenze lamalunga eQula Elibusayo bathini, njalo abakutshoyo kungakunceda njani ukuthi uhlale ungcwele?

⁹ Ake sikhangele okwatshiwo ngabanye abafowethu abathathu abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni njalo asebeleminyaka eminengi besebenza lamalunga eQula Elibusayo. Omunye wabo wathi: “Kuyisibusiso esihle kakhulu ukusebenza labo, kodwa kwenze ngananzelela ukuthi lanxa abafowethu laba begcotshwe ngomoya, labo bangabantu abazalwa belesono. Lanxa kunjalo, isifiso sami eminyakeni yonke le bekuyikuthi ngihlale ngibalalela abakhokhelayo.” Kanti njalo owesibili wathi: “IMibhalo eminengi, njengo-2 Khorinte 10:5 okhuluma ‘ngokulalela uKhristu,’ ingincede ukuthi ngilalele njalo ngibambisane labakhokhelayo. Lokhu ngikwenza ngenhliziyo yami yonke.” Umfowethu wesithathu wathi: “Ukuthanda izinto uJehova azithandayo lokuzonda izinto azizondayo, lokuhlala sicela ukuthi asiqondise kanye lokwenza izinto ezimthokozisayo kukhanya ngokulalela lokho okutshiwo yinhlanganiso yakhe kanye lokulalela abantu abasebenzisayo ukuze lokho ahlose ukukwenza emhlabeni kuphumelele.” Umfowethu lo wayezwe ukuthi uNathan Knorr owacina eselilunga leQula Elibusayo kazange athikaze ukwamukela imicijo eyaphuma ku-Watch Tower ka-1925 esihlokweni esithi “Birth of the Nation,” (“Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe”) lanxa abanye babeyisola. Ukulalela okunje kwammangalisa kakhulu umfowethu lo. Lawe nxa ungacabangisisa ngamazwi akhulunywa ngamadoda la amathathu uzazimisela ukulalela ukwenzela ukuthi uhlale ungcwele.

10. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi silalele umlayo kaNkulunkulu ophathelane legazi?

¹⁰ Bala uLevi 17:10. UJehova walaya abako-Israyeli ukuthi bangadli “loba yiliphi igazi.” AmaKhristu lawo kumele alalele umlayo wokuxwaya igazi, kungaba ngelenyamazana loba elabantu. (ImiSeb. 15:28, 29) Asifuni lakancane ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘amelane lathi’ abesesisusa ebandleni lakhe. Siyamthanda futhi sifuna ukumlalela. Lanxa kuyikuthi sesikukhangele sibili ukufa, sizimisele ukuthi singalandeli okutshiwo ngabantu abangamaziyo uJehova njalo abangelandaba lemilayo yakhe. Siyakwazi sibili ukuthi singasolwa kakhulu ngokuxwaya kwethu igazi kodwa sikhetha ukulalela uNkulunkulu. (Jud. 17, 18) Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sizimisele ‘ukunanzelela’ ukuthi singalidli igazi lokuthi singavumi ukulifakwa emzimbeni?—Dute. 12:23.

11. Kungani singathi iLanga Lokubuyisana elalisenziwa minyaka yonke kwakungayisilo siko nje elalingelamsebenzi?

¹¹ Umphristi omkhulu wayesebenzisa igazi lenyamazana mhla weLanga Lokubuyisana okwakusenziwa minyaka yonke ko-Israyeli. Lokhu yikho okungasinceda ukuthi sizwisise ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthini ngegazi. Igazi laliqakatheke kakhulu njalo lalisetshenziswa  kuphela nxa kusenziwa ukubuyisana ukuze uJehova athethelele izono. Igazi lenkunzi lelembuzi kwakumele lichelwe eduze kwebhokisi lesivumelwano laphambi kwalo. (Levi. 16:14, 15, 19)Lokhu yikho okwakusenza ukuthi uJehova athethelele izono zabako-Israyeli. Kanti njalo uJehova walaya ukuthi nxa umuntu angabulala inyamazana ukuze adle, kwakumele achithe igazi layo aligqibele emhlabathini “ngoba impilo yesidalwa isegazini laso.” (Levi. 17:11-14) Ayisikho ukuthi lokhu kwakulisiko elalingelamsebenzi nje. Kodwa ukusetshenziswa kwegazi ngeLanga Lokubuyisana kanye lomlayo wokulichithela emhlabathini kwakuhambelana lomlayo owawuphathelane legazi uJehova ayewunike uNowa kanye lezizukulwana zakhe. (Gen. 9:3-6) UJehova uNkulunkulu wayengafuni ukuthi abantu balondoloze impilo ngokudla igazi. Kutshoni kumaKhristu lokhu?

12. UPhawuli wathini ngegazi kanye lokuthethelelwa?

¹² Lapho umphostoli uPhawuli ebhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru mayelana lokuthi igazi lilamandla okuhlambulula wathi: “Umthetho uphose ufune ukuba izinto zonke zihlanjululwe ngegazi, njalo kungekho kuchithwa kwegazi akukho ukuthethelela.” (Heb. 9:22) UPhawuli waphinda wachaza ukuthi lanxa imihlatshelo yezinyamazana yayiqakathekile sibili, eyayikwenza kuphela yikukhumbuza abako-Israyeli ukuthi babeyizoni lokuthi kwakumele kube lomunye umhlatshelo omkhulu ukuze izono zisuswe ngokupheleleyo. UMthetho ‘wawuyisithunzi nje sezinto ezinhle ezizayo—hatshi lokho okuyikho uqobo.’ (Heb. 10:1-4) Kodwa izono zazizathethelelwa njani?

13. Ukwethula kukaJesu ukuphila kwakhe phambi kukaJehova kuqakatheke ngani kuwe?

¹³ Bala u-Efesu 1:7. UJesu Khristu wafa, ‘wazinikela ngenxa yethu.’ Lokhu kuqakatheke kakhulu kubo bonke abathanda yena loYise. (Gal. 2:20) Kodwa okuyikho okwasikhululayo njalo okwenza sithole ithuba lokuthethelelwa izono yilokho uJesu akwenza ngemva kokufa kwakhe kanye lokuvuswa kwakhe. Lokho okwakusenziwa ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi ngeLanga Lokubuyisana kwagcwaliswa nguJesu njengoba kwakuyisithunzi sokuzayo. Ngelanga lelo, umphristi omkhulu  wayethatha elinye igazi lemihlatshelo yezinyamazana angene lalo eNgcwele Ngcwele yethabanikeli, okwakufanana lokuthi ulisa kuNkulunkulu uqobo abeselethula phambi kwakhe. (Levi. 16:11-15) UJesu laye wangena khona kanye ezulwini wethula kuJehova igazi lakhe, okutsho ukuphila kwakhe ayenikele ngakho. (Heb. 9:6, 7, 11-14, 24-28) Ukuba lokholo egazini likaJesu kwenza sithethelelwe izono lokuthi sibe lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu futhi lokhu siyakubonga kakhulu.

14, 15. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sizwisise umthetho kaJehova ophathelane legazi lokuthi siwulalele?

¹⁴ Khathesi usukuzwisisa yini ukuthi kungani uJehova esithi akumelanga sidle loba yiliphi igazi? (Levi. 17:10) Uyakuzwisisa yini ukuthi kungani igazi lingcwele kuNkulunkulu? Kungenxa yokuthi kuye igazi lifanana lokuphila. (Gen. 9:4, NW) Uthini ngokuthi kumele sivumelane lalokho uNkulunkulu akutshoyo mayelana legazi lokuthi kumele silalele umlayo wakhe wokuthi silixwaye? Ukuba lokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wenhlawulo kanye lokwazi ukuthi igazi liqakatheke kakhulu kuMdali wethu yikho kuphela okungenza sibe lokuthula loNkulunkulu.—Kol. 1:19, 20.

¹⁵ Sonke nje, kugoqela izihlobo labangane, singathi silibele sizithole sekumele sikhethe ukuthi sizavuma yini ukufakwa igazi loba hatshi. Nxa sekunjalo, kuyabe sekumele sikhethe lokuthi sizavuma yini ukwelatshwa kusetshenziswa ezinye izindlela zokwelapha kumbe izingxenyana zegazi. Yikho-ke kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sichwayisise ukuze sihlale silolwazi ngezinto lezi besesihlala silungiselele loba yini engasijuma. Ukuthandaza lakho kuzasinceda kakhulu ukuthi sibambelele kulokho esiyabe sikukhethile. Asifuni ukudanisa uJehova ngokuvuma ukwenza lokho iLizwi lakhe elithi singakwenzi. Odokotela abanengi kanye labanye abakhuthaza abantu ukuthi bafakwe igazi bahamba becela abantu ukuthi baphathise ngegazi elizagcinwa ukuze lisetshenziswe ukusindisa izimpilo zabantu. Kodwa abantu bakaJehova abangcwele bayakwazi ukuthi uMdali nguye olelungelo lokutsho ukuthi igazi lisetshenziswe njani. Kuye “loba yiliphi igazi” lingcwele. Kumele sizimisele ukulalela umthetho wakhe ophathelane legazi. Kanti njalo ukuziphatha kwethu okungcwele kuyabe kutshengisa ukuthi siyaliqakathekisa kakhulu igazi likaJesu elilamandla okusindisa izimpilo zethu. Yilo kuphela igazi elenza sibe lethuba lokuthethelelwa izono njalo sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo.—Joh. 3:16.

16. Kungani kumele abantu bakaJehova babengcwele?

¹⁶ UNkulunkulu wathi ekhulula abako-Israyeli ebugqilini elizweni laseGibhithe wathi kubo: “NginguJehova owalikhupha eGibhithe ukuze ngibe nguNkulunkulu wenu; kungakho yibani ngcwele, ngoba mina ngingcwele.” (Levi. 11:45) UJehova wayefuna abantu bako-Israyeli babengcwele ngoba laye ungcwele. Ngakho-ke lathi kumele sibe ngcwele ngoba singoFakazi bakaJehova. Konke lokhu kuyacaciswa kuLevi.

17. Khathesi uthini ngebhuku okuthiwa nguLevi eliseBhayibhilini?

¹⁷ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukukhangela amanye amavesi akuLevi kusincede kakhulu. Kumele ukuthi isihloko lesi senze wakuzwisisa ngcono okumunyethwe ebhukwini leli elaphefumulelwayo eliseBhayibhilini. Sithemba sekukucacele ukuthi kungani kumele sibengcwele, njengoba besicabangisisa ngolwazi oluqakathekileyo esiluthole kuLevi. Lanxa kunjalo, kuleminye futhi imicijo eligugu okumele sixoxe ngayo etholakala ebhukwini leli. Kuyini okunye esingakufunda kulo mayelana lenkonzo engcwele esiyenzela uJehova? Lokhu yikho esizaxoxa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.