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Ukuhlola Incazelo KaJohane 14

Po Ray and Star Silverman (Strojno prevedeno u isiZulu)

walking in woods, light

Isahluko Seshumi Nane


“Inhliziyo Yenu Mayingakhathazeki”


1. Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki; kholwani kuNkulunkulu, nikholwe nayiMi.

2. Endlini kaBaba kukhona izindawo zokuhlala eziningi; uma kungenjalo, bengiyakunitshela; ngiya ukunilungisela indawo.

3 Futhi uma ngiya nginilungisela indawo, ngobuye ngize, nginithathele kimi, ukuze lapho ngikhona, nibe khona nani.


Esahlukweni esandulele, uJesu wembula ukuthi uJuda wayezomkhaphela. Wabuye watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi uyahamba, nokuthi lapho eya khona, babengenakufika. Khona-ke, ekupheleni kwesahluko, uJesu wabikezela ukuthi uPetru wayezomphika kathathu ngaphambi kokuba ubusuku buphele. Kwakuyisikhathi esididayo nesididayo kubafundi.

Kuleli qophelo ekulandiseni kukaNkulunkulu lapho uJesu ekhuluma isikhathi eside nabafundi Bakhe, ebanikeza lokho osekwaziwa ngokuthi “Inkulumo yokuvalelisa.” Iqala ngala mazwi, “Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki. Uyakholelwa kuNkulunkulu. kholwani nakimi” (Johane 14:1).

Kubalulekile ukuqaphela ukuthi uJesu uqala inkulumo Yakhe yokuvalelisa ngeqiniso elibaluleke kakhulu lenkolo: ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Leli qiniso, lokuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, litshalwe kuwo wonke umuntu kusukela esemncane. Kuwumqondo ongokomfanekiso ongokomoya. UJesu umane ubiza leli qiniso ezingqondweni zabafundi bakhe, ebaqinisekisa ngokuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu ongabaduduza ngezikhathi zobunzima.

Nakuba lo mqondo wemvelo wendawo yonke ungacindezelwa noma uvalwe ukukhathazeka kwezwe, imibhalo engcwele ifakaza ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu ohlala ekhona, olungele ukusisekela, ukusivikela, nokusiqinisa. Njengoba kulotshiwe emiBhalweni yesiHeberu, “UNkulunkulu uyisiphephelo sethu namandla ethu;AmaHubo 46:1). 1

Futhi kuwumqondo wemvelo wendawo yonke ukuthi kungaba khona uNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, futhi akekho omunye. Leli qiniso ngoNkulunkulu oyedwa, noNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, liyisisekelo kangangokuthi laba imfundiso eyodwa, ebaluleke kakhulu phakathi kwama-Israyeli. Ukuze bagcine lokhu kuseqhulwini ezingqondweni zabo, ikakhulukazi enkathini yokukhonza izithombe, baphindaphinda umthandazo wasendulo owawubizwa ngokuthi Shema. Lo mthandazo babewusho lapho bevuka ekuseni nalapho beyolala kusihlwa. Baxoxa ngayo emini. Balinamathisela ezinsikeni zeminyango yendlu yabo, futhi bafundisa izingane zabo. Iqala ngala mazwi: “Yizwa, Israyeli: uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, iNkosi eyodwa” (Dutheronomi 6:4).

La mazwi okuvula agcizelela ubunye bukaNkulunkulu oyedwa, ongapheli, umninimandla onke. UnguMuntu Ophakeme ongahlukaniseki ongenakulinganiswa nalutho. Ekhuluma ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uNkulunkulu uthi, “NginguJehova, akakho omunye; ngaphandle kwami akekho uNkulunkulu” (Isaya 45:5).

Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu ethi kubafundi Bakhe, “Niyakholwa kuNkulunkulu,” ubabizela enkolweni yabo eyinhloko kuNkulunkulu oyedwa. Kodwa Uyanezela, “Kholwani nayiMi.” Ngala mazwi, uJesu uziveza njengowukubonakaliswa okubonakalayo koyedwa, uNkulunkulu wezulu nomhlaba. KuJesu, uNkulunkulu akayona nje into engaqondakali, kodwa “usizo olukhona esikhathini sokuhlupheka.” Uyisidalwa esiphilayo esilungiselela ngamunye wethu ukuphila okuphakade embusweni Wakhe wasezulwini.


Izithabathaba eziningi


Njengoba uJesu eqhubeka nenkulumo yakhe yokuvalelisa, uthi: “Ekhaya likaBaba kukhona izindlu eziningi zokuhlala. ukube bekungenjalo, bengiyakunitshela; ngiya ukunilungisela indawo” (Johane 14:2). Uma uthi nhlá, kungase kubonakale kudida ukucabanga “ngezithabathaba eziningi” endlini eyodwa. Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, abahumushi ngokuvamile baye bakhetha igama elithi “amagumbi” noma “izindawo zokuhlala” kunelithi “amadolobha amakhulu.” Kodwa igama elithi “izindlu,” lapho liqondwa ngokujule ngokwengeziwe, lisebenza ngendlela ebalulekile.

Ukuze siqonde ukubaluleka okungokomoya kwegama elithi “indlu,” okokuqala kudingeka sandise ukuqonda kwethu lokho okushiwo igama elithi “indlu.” Kuyo yonke imibhalo, igama elithi “indlu” lisetshenziswa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Kwesinye isikhathi imane isho ikhaya lomuntu noma indawo ahlala kuyo. Noma kunjalo, lingabhekisela emndenini owandisiwe noma iqembu elikhulu lezihlobo eziyinzalo yomuntu othile. Ngokwesibonelo, imibhalo ikhuluma ‘ngendlu ka-Abrahama,’ “indlu ka-Isaka,” ‘nasendlini kaJakobe. Kukhulunywa kaningi ‘ngendlu ka-Israyeli,’ futhi ithempeli elingcwele livame ukubizwa ngokuthi “indlu kaNkulunkulu.”

Ngokujule ngokwengeziwe, inkulumo ethi “indlu kaNkulunkulu” ibhekisela kuwo wonke umkhathi wombuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. INkosi uDavide ithi: “Kunye engikufisayo . . .AmaHubo 27:1), akabhekiseli ethempelini, kodwa ukhuluma ngombuso wezulu. Futhi lapho ephetha ihubo lamashumi amabili nantathu ngala mazwi, “Futhi ngiyakuhlala endlini kaJehova kuze kube phakade” (AmaHubo 23:6), UDavide uzwakalisa isifiso sakhe sokuhlala ebukhoneni beNkosi, ejabulela ubuhle nomusa weNkosi, zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe.

Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, “indlu kaNkulunkulu” ibhekisela esimweni sengqondo sasezulwini. Kuyisimo somqondo esamukela njalo uthando nokuhlakanipha okuvela eNkosini. Embhalweni ongcwele, lokhu kubizwa ngokuthi “indlu yeNkosi,” “indlu kaNkulunkulu,” kanye “nendlu kaBaba.” Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu ethi, “Ekhaya likaBaba kukhona izindawo zokuhlala eziningi; Ngiya ukunilungisela indawo,” ukhuluma ngezibusiso ezigeleza lapho sikholelwa kuNkulunkulu futhi senza intando yaKhe. 2

Khona-ke, ikhaya lethu elingokomoya lingafaniswa nesithabathaba somuzi esihle, esinemizwelo yothando nemicabango emihle. Yisakhiwo esiqinile, esinamandla, esakhelwe ukumelana nanoma yisiphi isiphepho. Ngaphakathi kwalezi zindonga, ayikho indawo yokuthi amathonya esihogo ahlasele izingqondo zethu ngokukhononda kwawo, ukugxeka, nokusola. Ngakho-ke, isithabathaba sethu sasezulwini, isimo somqondo womuntu lapho usekelwe ekukholweni kuNkulunkulu nokuphila ngokuvumelana nemithetho Yakhe. Kafushane, iyindawo yokuhlala enhle kakhulu. 3


Ukulungisa indawo


Ngemva kokutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi kunezindlu eziningi ezulwini, uJesu ubaqinisekisa ngokuthi kukhona indawo yabo bonke. Eqinisweni, uJesu uthi, “Ngiya ukunilungisela indawo.” Uma kubhekwa njengoba kunjalo, lokhu kubonakala kusikisela ukuthi uJesu uya ezulwini lapho Eyokwakhela ngamunye wabafundi bakhe ikhaya. Ngokujule nakakhulu, lapho uJesu ethi, “Ngiya ukuyonilungisela indawo,” kusho ukuthi usinikeza uthando olusishukumisayo, ukuhlakanipha kokwenza izinqumo ezifanele, namandla okukufeza. Lezi yizinto zokwakha ikhaya lethu lasezulwini. Kuwumsebenzi wokwakha ngokomoya oqhubeka, ingxenye enkulu, ngaphezu kokuqaphela kwethu.

Nakuba singakuqapheli ukusebenza kweNkosi okuyimfihlo ngaphakathi kwethu, ukubumba nokubumba ubuntu bethu basezulwini, iNkosi ibona esingakwazi ukukubona. Kithina, izinqumo zansuku zonke esizenzayo zingase zibonakale zingenamsebenzi, noma zingahleliwe, kodwa iNkosi ibona into ehluke kakhulu. Ngokombono weNkosi, obona ingunaphakade, iqondisa ukwakhiwa okuqhubekayo kwesimo sethu sasezulwini, esiqhathaniswa nokwakhiwa kwendlu enkulu, ngisho nokwakhiwa kwesigodlo. 4

Ngakho-ke, ngokuphathelene nalokhu kungashiwo ngempela ukuthi uJesu ulungiselela ngamunye wethu indawo. Kodwa kunemfanelo ebalulekile: kumelwe senze ingxenye yethu. Lokhu kusho ukuthi kufanele sifunde futhi senze amaqiniso angeke nje asivikele njengezindonga eziqinile, kodwa futhi ayogcwalisa amakhaya ethu ngokucabangela, ububele, nomusa.

Ukwenza ingxenye yethu kuhlanganisa nokugxila ekusebenziseni okufanele kakhulu ngokwemvelo yethu, uhlobo lwenkonzo esizizwa “sisekhaya” ngempela kulo. Njengoba nje wonke amangqamuzana emizimbeni yethu esetshenziswa nenjongo ethile, ngamunye wethu uklanyelwe ukwenza umsebenzi othile embusweni kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. Lo msebenzi unqunywa uhlobo lwezinto esizithandayo namaqiniso esiwakholelwayo. Kungumsebenzi okhethekile obekelwe thina sodwa, umsebenzi esizalwa nawo futhi esiwulungiselele ngesikhathi sokuphila kwethu emhlabeni.

Nokho, akukho kulokhu okungenziwa ngaphandle kokubambisana kwethu ngokuzithandela neNkosi. Nakuba iNkosi inamandla onke, ayikwazi ukusakhela ikhaya lasezulwini, noma ngaphakathi kwethu, ngaphandle kokubambisana kwethu. Kuwubambiswano. 5

Noma kunjalo, kubalulekile ukukhumbula ukuthi yonke imizamo yokubambisana neNkosi, ngisho noma umzamo omncane, unikezwa ngesihle, futhi awuzenzeli. Njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHebheru ukuthi: “Ngaphandle kokuthi uJehova ayakhe indlu, basebenzela ize abayakhayo.”AmaHubo 127:1). 6


Indaba yombazi


Kunendaba engeyona eyeBhayibheli kodwa ebalulekile ngombazi owayelungele ukuthatha umhlalaphansi. Umqashi wakhe wanika umbazi imali eningi, wathi makathenge izinto zokwakha ezingcono kakhulu, futhi wamcela ukuba akhe enye indlu ngaphambi kokuthatha umhlalaphansi. Wavuma umbazi. Kodwa wayengenaso isithakazelo sangempela endlini ayeyakha. Ephuthuma ukuqeda umsebenzi, umbazi wasebenzisa izinto ezishibhile ayengazithola, wakhanda amapulangwe ngaphandle kokukala ngokucophelela, washaya indiva imithetho yokwakha, futhi wathatha zonke izindlela ezinqamulelayo ukuze enze umsebenzi ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Lapho umbazi eqeda umsebenzi, umqashi wakhe wamnika itayitela lendawo nokhiye womnyango ongaphambili, ethi, “Le ndlu ngeyakho.”

Lena indaba eyisixwayiso. Zonke izinqumo esizenzayo ziya ekwakhiweni kwekhaya lethu laphakade—indawo yethu yokuhlala ingunaphakade. Ngempela uJesu usilungiselela indawo, empeleni, uyisithabathaba. Kodwa lokhu ngeke kwenzeke ngaphandle kokubambisana kwethu ngokucophelela. Ngakho-ke, kudingeka sicabange ngezinqumo esizenzayo kanye nezenzo esizenzayo njengezengezo ezicabangelayo ekhaya lethu lasezulwini. 7


Isicelo esingokoqobo


Njengoba nje inhliziyo, amaphaphu, amehlo, izindlebe, izinso, ubuchopho nesisu kwenza imisebenzi ehlukahlukene emizimbeni yethu, indawo yethu ezulwini ixhomeke endleleni esizoyisebenzisa ngayo noma emsebenzini othile. Nokho, kufanele kukhunjulwe ukuthi umsebenzi wethu noma ukusebenzisa kwethu kungaphezu komsebenzi othile noma umsebenzi othile. Ngokujule kakhulu, indlela esithinta ngayo abanye ngokuhlukile ngobukhona bethu nesimo sethu sengqondo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singabagundi izinwele, uthisha ofundisa abafundi, umzali okhulisa ingane, noma umphathi oqondisa izisebenzi, singaphezu kwemisebenzi yethu. Siphinde sibe yinkundla esixhumana ngayo nabanye. Kungaba indawo edangele, engenanhlonipho ewisa abanye, noma indawo ejabulisayo, enenhlonipho ephakamisa abanye. Nakuba kubalulekile ukuba nekhono nokukhuthala emsebenzini wethu, kubaluleke nakakhulu ukwenza imisebenzi yethu ngezindlela ezivumela umoya weNkosi ukuba ugeleze kithi. U-barista onobungane wake wakubeka ngalendlela: “Angigcini ngokuthela ikhofi. Ngiletha injabulo." Njengesicelo esisebenzayo, ke, bheka imisebenzi yakho yansuku zonke hhayi nje njengamathuba okwenza umsebenzi othile kahle, kodwa futhi njengendlela ongadlulisela ngayo uthando lweNkosi kwabanye. Kungaba lula njengokunikeza igama elinomusa uma ithuba livela, noma ukumomotheka okufudumele kanye nokubonga kumuntu okuphathele igrosa. Lamathuba okubusisa abanye ngenhlonipho, umusa, kanye nokubonga angaba umsebenzi wesikhathi esigcwele kulabo abazimisele ukuba yizinceku zeNkosi. 8


Indlela, Iqiniso, Nokuphila


4. Lapho ngiya khona niyakwazi, nendlela niyayazi.

5. UTomase wathi kuye: “Nkosi, asazi lapho uya khona; singayazi kanjani indlela na?

6. UJesu wathi kuye: Mina ngiyindlela, neQiniso, nokuphila; akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwaMi.

7 Uma beningazile Mina, beniyakumazi noBaba; kusukela manje niyamazi, futhi nimbonile.

8. UFiliphu wathi kuye: Nkosi, sibonise uYihlo, kusanele.

9. UJesu wathi kuye: “Nginawe isikhathi esingaka, awukangazi, Filiphu na? Ongibonile Mina umbonile uBaba; usho kanjani ukuthi sibonise uYihlo na?

10. Awukholwa yini ukuthi mina ngikuBaba, noBaba ukiMi? Amazwi engiwakhuluma kini angiwakhulumi ngokwami, kodwa uBaba ohlezi kimi, nguyena owenza imisebenzi.

11 Kholwani yimi, ukuthi ngikuBaba, noBaba ukimi; uma kungenjalo, kholwani Yimi ngenxa yemisebenzi ngokwayo.


UJesu usanda kutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi usezabalungisela indawo. Kulokhu wengeza ngokuthi uzobuyela kubo futhi abayise lapho ekhona. Njengoba esho, “Uma ngiya nginilungisela indawo, ngobuye ngize, nginibuyisele kimi, ukuze lapho ngikhona nani nibe khona.”Johane 14:3). UJesu ube esebaduduza ngala mazwi esiqinisekiso: “Lapho ngiya khona niyakwazi, nendlela niyayazi” (Johane 14:4).

Edidekile ngalokho uJesu akushoyo, uTomase uthi, “Nkosi asazi lapho uya khona, singayazi kanjani indlela na?” (Johane 14:5). UThomas udidekile ngoba ucabanga ngendawo aya kuyo yezwe nendlela engokwenyama yokufika lapho. Kodwa uJesu ukhuluma ngendlela yokuphila ehlanganisa ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu nokuphila ngokuvumelana nalokho uNkulunkulu akufundisayo. Ngakho-ke, uJesu uthi kuTomase, “Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila.”Johane 14:6).

Phakathi neminyaka emithathu uJesu enabafundi Bakhe, ubelokhu ebabonisa “indlela.” Iqala ngokuphenduka. Njengoba kwaprofethwa emibhalweni yesiHeberu, uJohane uMbhapathizi wayeyofika ‘njengezwi elimemeza ehlane. Wayezofika eshumayela ukuphenduka ukuze kuthethelelwe izono, ethi: “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Lena yindlela “esiyilungisa ngayo indlela yeNkosi” (bheka Isaya 40:3; Mathewu 3:1-3; Marku 1:1-4; Luka 3:3-4).

Ngendlela yakhona elula, ukuphenduka kuqala ngokuqaphela ukuthi isimo esikuso, noma esikushilo, noma indlela esesenze ngayo ayihambisani nalokho esifuna ukuba yikho. Nakuba singase sibe nezizathu zokuthethelela ukucasuka, ukuphelelwa isineke, ukucasuka, noma ukwenza ngentukuthelo, siyaqaphela futhi ukuthi akukhona lokhu esifuna ukuzizwa, ukucabanga, ukukusho, noma ukwenza. Lokhu kungase kuthathe indlela yamazwi anjengokuthi, “Ngifisa sengathi ngabe ngibe nesineke ngokwengeziwe,” noma “Ngifisa sengathi bengingayiyeka le ntukuthelo,” noma “ngifisa sengathi ngabe ngenze ngendlela ehlukile.” Kuwukuvuma ngobuqotho ukuthi sisesimweni esibi noma sesiwele emkhubeni obhubhisayo. Lesi yisikhathi sokuphendukela eNkosini ezosisiza ukuthi siphakamise imicabango yethu emazingeni aphezulu.

Ngamanye amazwi, siyazi ukuthi kudingeka siguqule imicabango yethu, okuyiyona kanye incazelo yegama lesiGreki elisho ukuphenduka. Leli gama lithi metanoia (μετάνοια), okusho ukuthi ngokwezwi nezwi “ukucabanga ngenhla” [meta = ngenhla + noein = ukucabanga]. Nokho, ukuze sicabange ngenhla, noma sicabange imicabango ephakeme, kudingeka sazi okuyiqiniso. Lesi isinyathelo esilandelayo endleleni ekukhuleni kwethu ngokomoya. Kuyinqubo yokufunda iqiniso eZwini leNkosi, futhi ibizwa ngokuthi “inguquko.”

La maqiniso asinika ithuba lokubona izinto ngendlela ehlukile. Izingqondo zethu “ziyabunjwa kabusha.” Ekukhanyeni kweqiniso eliphakeme, siyaqonda ukuthi sinokukhetha ukuthi singasabela kanjani kunoma yisiphi isimo. Lapho amehlo ethu okomoya evuleka, siyabona ukuthi singaba nothando kunokuba sizivikele, sithethelelane kunokuba simcasukele, sithembele kuNkulunkulu kunokwesaba. Nakuba ukuphenduka kumayelana nokulungisa indlela, inguquko imayelana nokufunda iqiniso elingasikhipha ezimweni zethu ezimbi.

Kodwa inqubo ayigcini ngokuphenduka nenguquko. Ngeke nje siphenduke noma siqonde iqiniso. Sidinga okungaphezu kokushintsha ingqondo; sidinga noshintsho lwenhliziyo. Lokhu kusho ukuthi iqiniso kumele lifiswe futhi liphile. Lesi sinyathelo kule nqubo sibizwa ngokuthi "ukuvuselela." Imayelana nokuthuthukiswa kwentando entsha ngokuqala ngokuziphoqa ukuba siphile ngokuvumelana neqiniso, futhi ekugcineni sithande ukuphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso. 9

Kafushane, yonke le nqubo ibizwa ngokuthi, “ukuphenduka, ukuguqulwa, nokuzalwa kabusha.” Ukuphenduka kumayelana nendlela. Inguquko imayelana neqiniso. Futhi ukuzalwa kabusha kumayelana nempilo ezalwa kithi njengoba sihlakulela intando entsha. Kunokuba kube indawo engokoqobo, lezi izigaba ezintathu zokukhula ngokomoya, ezibizwa ngokuthi “indlela, neqiniso, nokuphila.” Isigaba ngasinye sisiholela endaweni uJesu asilungiselela yona futhi esimema ukuba singene kuyo. Njengoba esho, “Lapho ngikhona, nani niyakuba khona.”


“Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwaMi”


Ngemva kokusho ukuthi uyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila, uJesu uthi, “Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami” (Johane 14:6). Kuyiqiniso ukuthi uJesu ufundisa indlela ngamazwi Akhe, futhi ubonisa indlela ngokuphila Kwakhe, kodwa ungaphezu komfundisi omkhulu noma umhlahlandlela ongokomoya okhanyiselwe. Yena uyindlela. Yingakho ekwazi ngempela ukuthi, “Akekho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami.”

Noma nini lapho uJesu ebhekisela “kuBaba,” ubhekisela ebuhleni baphezulu obungaphakathi Kwakhe. Ngumphefumulo waKhe impela. Futhi noma nini lapho ebhekisela “eNdodaneni,” ubhekisela eqinisweni laphezulu elivelayo futhi libonise ubuhle bobunkulunkulu ngendlela ebonakalayo. Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, uJesu uyabonakala futhi uyangeneka. Amazwi nesibonelo Sakhe kungaqondwa, kuthathwe ekuphileni komuntu, alingiswe, futhi aphile.

Ngezinga abantu abenza ngalo lokhu, badlula eNdodaneni ebonakalayo, uJesu, oyiqiniso laphezulu emhlabeni, baya kuBaba ongabonakali ongubuhle baphezulu. Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu ethi, “akekho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami,” ukhuluma ngokufika esimweni lapho iqiniso nobuhle kuhlanganiswe khona. Asikwazi ukusondela esimweni sothando lwangempela ngaphandle kokuba siqale siphile ngokweqiniso laphakade. Khona-ke, ukuya kuBaba ngoJesu kusho, kalula nje ukuzwa izibusiso zobuhle baphezulu (okuthiwa “uBaba”) ngokuphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso laphezulu uJesu alifundisayo (elibizwa ngokuthi “iNdodana”). 10

Kodwa akufanele sithathe lokhu njengokusho ukuthi uYise neNdodana bamane bamane bamane nje bamane nje bangabonakali. UNkulunkulu weza emhlabeni uqobo Lwakhe—enyameni—ngaphansi kwegama likaJesu Kristu. UNkulunkulu ongapheli, ongaziwa wazibonakalisa engumuntu wobuNkulunkulu othanda, ofundisayo, ohluphekayo, futhi ohlala phakathi kwabantu Bakhe njengaLowo okhonzayo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, umphefumulo kaJesu ongaphakathi, umthombo wokuphila ngokwawo, uhlale unguNkulunkulu, ongenasiphelo, futhi akahlukaniseki.


“Ukube ubungazi Mina…”


Ngemva kokutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi akakho ongeza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuthi ngaye, uJesu uthi, “Ukube beningazile Mina, ngabe nimazile noBaba.”Johane 14:7). Ngamanye amazwi, ukube babazi ngempela, baqonda, futhi baphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso uJesu alifundisa, babeyokwazi futhi bezwe ubuhle obungaphakathi eqinisweni. Abafundi, nokho, abakakuqondi lokhu okwamanje. Phela, uJesu akakaze abatshele ngokuqondile ukuthi unguNkulunkulu osenyameni. Ngakho-ke, kuyaqondakala ukuthi abafundi basacabanga ngoJesu noYise njengabantu abahlukene. Ngakho, uFiliphu uthi, “Nkosi, sibonise uYihlo, futhi kusanele” (Johane 14:8).

Okushiwo yisicelo sikaFiliphu ukuthi uJesu ngandlela-thile uzomethula komunye umuntu okuthiwa “uBaba.” Lokhu, impela, akunakwenzeka, ngoba uBaba usevele ekhona kuJesu njengothando olungapheli nozwelo. Ngakho-ke, uJesu uthi, “Sengibe nani isikhathi esingaka, kodwa awukangazi, Filiphu? Ongibonile Mina umbonile uBaba.... Awukholwa yini ukuthi mina ngikuBaba, noBaba ukiMi na? (Johane 14:9-10).

Lapho uJesu ethi ukuBaba futhi uBaba ukuYe, ukhuluma ngobudlelwane obufanayo phakathi kobuhle neqiniso. Lapho behlangene, ubuhle bungaphakathi kweqiniso, futhi iqiniso lingaphakathi kobuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngomzali otshela ingane ukuba ihlale egcekeni, idle ukudla okunempilo, noma ilale ngesikhathi esifanele. Lapho la “maqiniso” enobuhle ngaphakathi kuwo, avela othandweni.

Iqiniso lokuthi ingane kufanele ihlale egcekeni liqukethe uthando lomzali lokuvikela ingane engozini. Iqiniso lokuthi ingane kufanele idle ukudla okunempilo futhi ilale ngesikhathi esifanele liqukethe uthando lomzali ngempilo nenhlalakahle yengane. Lobu ubuhle obungaphakathi kweqiniso, uthando ngaphakathi kwamazwi. Ngokufanayo, uthando nobuhle kuphakathi kwawo wonke amaqiniso akhulunywa uJesu, futhi lonke iqiniso uJesu alikhulumayo livela othandweni. Yilokhu uJesu akushoyo lapho ethi, “NgikuBaba, noBaba ukiMi.”

Lokhu akusebenzi emazwini akhulunywa nguJesu kuphela, kodwa nasemisebenzini ayenzayo. Konke uJesu akushoyo nakwenzayo kuvela othandweni olungcwele ngaphakathi Kwakhe alubiza ngokuthi, “uBaba.” Njengoba uJesu esho, “Amazwi engiwakhuluma kini angiwakhulumi ngokwami; kodwa uBaba ohlezi kimi wenza imisebenzi” (Johane 14:10). UJesu uthi amazwi Akhe nemisebenzi Yakhe kumunye nothando Lwakhe. Uthando, uJesu alubiza ngokuthi “uBaba,” luyisikhuthazo esikhulu, umfutho waphezulu ozala yonke imiqondo emihle nezenzo zomusa.

UJesu wabe esethi, “Kholwani Yimi ukuthi ngikuBaba, noBaba ukimi, noma kholwani Kimi ngenxa yemisebenzi ngokwayo” (Johane 14:11). Ngisho noma uFiliphu engakwazi ukuqonda ngokugcwele ukuthi uJesu noYise bamunye kanjani, kufanele akhumbule imisebenzi emangalisayo eyenziwa uJesu, imisebenzi eyayingenakufezwa ngaphandle kobunkulunkulu obuhlala ngaphakathi Kwakhe. Kungalesi sizathu ukuthi phakathi kwamagama amaningi achaza uJesu, elinye lawokuqala lithi “Omangalisayo.” Njengoba kulotshiwe emibhalweni yesiHeberu, “Igama lakhe liyobizwa ngokuthi ‘oMangalisayo, uMluleki, uNkulunkulu onamandla, uYise ongunaphakade, iNkosi yokuthula’”Isaya 9:6). 11


Isicelo esingokoqobo


UJesu uqala inkulumo yakhe yokuvalelisa ngokuthi kubafundi bakhe: “Niyakholwa kuNkulunkulu. kholwani nayiMi.” Njengoba isiqephu siqhubeka, uJesu wenza konke Angakwenza ukuze asize abafundi Bakhe baqonde ukuthi Yena noBaba bamunye, hhayi njengoba abantu ababili abanohlelo olufanayo bemunye, kodwa ngendlela yokuthi ubuhle neqiniso kumunye. Ukuze sisebenzise isifaniso, uJesu noYise bamunye ngendlela ukushisa nokukhanya kumunye elangabini lekhandlela. Lo mbono, wokuthi uJesu akayena nje umlingane noYise, kodwa empeleni ungomunye noYise, ubalulekile. Kusisiza siqonde ukuthi uJesu akayona nje iqhawe okufanele silincome, noma isibonelo okufanele silingise. Uyinyama kaNkulunkulu ophilayo. Uma singakukholwa lokhu, amazwi Akhe anamandla alinganiselwe ekuphileni kwethu. Kodwa uma sikholwa ukuthi uJesu unguNkulunkulu osesimweni somuntu ekhuluma nathi, kunamandla amangalisayo emazwini Akhe. Njengokusebenza okungokoqobo, thatha isitatimende esisodwa nje esinikezwe kuze kube manje kulesi sahluko futhi usivumele sikhulume nawe ngamandla angcwele. Ngokwesibonelo, “Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki,” noma “Akekho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kokuba eze ngami,” noma “Lapho ngikhona nani niyoba khona.” Njengoba uJesu asho ngaphambili kulelivangeli, “Amazwi engiwakhuluma kini angumoya, angukuphila” (Johane 6:63).


Imisebenzi Emikhulu


12. Amen, amen, ngithi kini: Okholwa yimi, imisebenzi engiyenzayo mina naye uyakuyenza, nemikhulu kunale uyakuyenza, ngokuba mina ngiya kuBaba.

13 Noma yini eniyakukucela egameni lami ngiyakukwenza ukuba uBaba akhazimuliswe eNdodaneni.

14 Uma nicela utho egameni lami, ngolwenza.


Amazwi okuqala enkulumo yokuvalelisa agxile enkolelweni. UJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Niyakholwa kuNkulunkulu. kholwani nakimi” (Johane 14:1). Njengoba inkulumo iqhubeka, uJesu uchaza izinzuzo zokukholelwa. Uthi, “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Okholwa yimi, imisebenzi engiyenzayo mina naye uyakuyenza; nemikhulu kunale uyakuyenza, ngokuba ngiya kuBaba.”Johane 14:12).

UJesu usevele wenza izimangaliso eziningi kuleli vangeli. Uphendule amanzi aba yiwayini, welapha indodana yesikhulu, wabangela ukuba indoda ekhubazekile ihambe, wasuthisa abantu abayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu ngezinkwa ezinhlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili, wahamba phezu kolwandle, wavula amehlo empumputhe, futhi wavusa uLazaru kwabafileyo. Nokho, uJesu uthembisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bayokwenza izimangaliso ezinkulu kunalezi.

Nakuba izimangaliso uJesu azenza zazimelela izimiso ezingokomoya, nokho, zaziyizimangaliso ezingokwenyama. Ngakho-ke, lapho uJesu etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi bayokwenza imisebenzi emikhulu, wayethi bayokwenza izimangaliso kwelinye izinga. Bayovula amehlo ayizimpumputhe ngokomoya ukuze abantu bakwazi ukuzibonela ngokwabo iqiniso. Bazokhuthaza abantu abakhubazekilengokomoya ukuba bahambe endleleni yemithetho. Bazogqugquzela abantu abafile ngokomoya ukuthi bavukele ukuphila okuvusiwe kwenkonzo engenabugovu. Bayosiza abantu ukuba bayeke ukuzikhathaza ngezinto zemvelo ukuze bajabulele izibusiso zokuphila okusha lapho ukuthanda uNkulunkulu nokuthanda abanye kuyoba into eza kuqala kubo. Ngazo zonke lezi zindlela bayokwenza “imisebenzi emikhulu”—imisebenzi engokomoya emikhulu kakhulu kunezimangaliso zasemhlabeni. 12

Kodwa ukuze benze lemisebenzi emikhulu, abafundi kuyodingeka bathandaze egameni likaJesu: “Noma yini eniyakukucela egameni laMi,” ubatshela, “ngiyokwenza.” Futhi, “Uma nicela utho ngegama lami, ngolwenza” (Johane 14:13-14). “Igama leNkosi” limelela zonke izimfanelo zaphezulu esizihlanganisa noNkulunkulu onothando, ohlakaniphile, nesihe, osikhathalela ngokujulile, futhi ongasoze asishiya. Ngakho-ke, ukucela noma yini “egameni leNkosi” kuwukuba sesimweni sengqondo lapho sifisa ngomthandazo ukuba izimfanelo zikaNkulunkulu zibe kithi. Lokhu kuyisidingo sokuqala esibalulekile sokwenza “izinto ezinkulu.” 13


“Ngoba ngiya kuBaba”


UJesu uthembise abafundi bakhe ukuthi bayokwenza izinto ezinkulu ngoba ‘uya kuBaba. Uma uthi nhlá, lokhu kubonakala kuwukuphikisa. Ukuhamba Kwakhe kuzokwenza kanjani ukuthi benze izinto ezinkulu? Uma kukhona, kubonakala sengathi amakhono abo abezoncishiswa ukungabibikho Kwakhe, hhayi ukuthuthukiswa. Kodwa inkulumo ethi, “ukuya kuBaba,” inencazelo ekhethekile. Kusho ukuthi nakuba uJesu engeke esaba nabafundi bakhe ngokwenyama, uzobe ekhona nabo ngokomoya. Ukusho okuhlukile, uJesu ngeke esaba nabo; kunalokho Uyoba ngaphakathi kubo. Uyoba phakathi kwabo njengobukhona obunothando, obuhlakaniphile, obungaphakathi, ugqozi oluthule phakathi kwazo zonke izenzo zenkonzo.

Eminyakeni emithathu edlule, uJesu ubenabafundi bakhe. Ubelokhu ebaqondisa, ebafundisa, ebafanekisa, futhi ebayala ngamazwi nangezenzo Zakhe. Kodwa siyeza isikhathi lapho ezoba nabo ezingeni elijulile, elingaphakathi kakhulu. Nakuba engeke esaba nabo ngokwenyama, uzobe ephakathi kwabo ngokomoya. Konke lokhu kuqukethwe umusho onencazelo, “ngoba ngiya kuBaba.” Ngolimi lwemibhalo engcwele, “uBaba” ungumthombo walo lonke uthando nabo bonke ubuhle. Lowo ohlala othandweni nasebuhleni, evuma uNkulunkulu futhi ethanda umakhelwane, uhlala kuBaba futhi uBaba uhlala kulowo muntu. Lobu ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu bangaphakathi. 14


Isicelo esiwusizo


Sonke siqala ukuphila sincike ngokuphelele kulabo abanathi. Ingane ifunda ukuhamba ngokubamba isandla somzali. Kodwa kufika isikhathi lapho ingane idedela isandla somzali bese iqala ukuhamba. Umculi osemusha uhlezi eduze kukathisha ebhentshini lepiyano. Kodwa ngosuku lokudlalwa kwepiyano, umculi osemusha wenza ngaphandle kosizo lothisha. Umfundi wezokwelapha uchitha unyaka noma ngaphezulu njengomfundi ofundela umsebenzi efunda ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukadokotela ohlinzayo. Ekuqaleni, udokotela ohlinzayo wayekhona ngokoqobo ngesikhathi ehlinzwa, efundisa futhi esiza lowo oqeqeshwayo. Udokotela ohlinzayo kanye nomfundi. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi siyofika isikhathi lapho lowo oqeqeshelwa umsebenzi ezohlinza ngaphandle kosizo olungokwenyama lukadokotela ohlinzayo. Nakuba udokotela ohlinzayo engasekho ekamelweni, amakhono nezimo zengqondo zikadokotela oqondisayo zingase zibe khona ngaphakathi komfundi osephenduke udokotela ohlinzayo. Ngakho-ke, njengesenzo esingokoqobo, yenza imisebenzi yakho yansuku zonke unomcabango engqondweni othi, “UNkulunkulu akanami nje; uNkulunkulu uphakathi kwaMi.” Yilokhu uJesu ayekucabanga lapho etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi babeyokwenza izinto ezinkulu ngoba ‘uya kuBaba. Wayezoba phakathi kwabo njengomthombo wothando nokuhlakanipha kwabo. Noma nini lapho wenza imisebenzi yothando kanye nesisa, uDokotela Omkhulu ungaphakathi kuwe wenza ukuhlinzwa okukhulu kunakho konke—ususa inhliziyo yetshe ngobumnene esikhundleni sayo ngenhliziyo yenyama. Ifa elisha liyathuthukiswa kuwe. Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi uthola ukubamba iqhaza kule nqubo ngenkathi iNkosi iqondisa ukusebenza ngaphakathi. 15


Uma Ningithanda, Gcinani Imiyalo Yami


15. Uma ningithanda, gcinani imiyalo Yami.

16. Ngiyakucela kuBaba, aninike omunye uMduduzi, ukuze ahlale kini kuze kube phakade;

17. Umoya weQiniso, izwe elingewemukeli, ngokuba lingawuboni, lingawazi; kodwa lina liyakwazi, ngoba lihlala kini njalo lizakuba kini.

18. Angiyikunishiya niyizintandane; ngiza kuwe.

19 Kuseyisikhashana izwe lingabe lisangibona, kepha nina niyangibona; ngoba ngiphila mina, lani lizaphila.

20 Ngalolo suku niyakukwazi nina ukuthi ngikuBaba, nani nikiMi, nami ngikini.

21. Lowo onemiyalo Yami, ayigcine, nguyena ongithandayo; futhi ongithandayo uyothandwa nguBaba waMi, nami ngiyomthanda, futhi ngiyozibonakalisa Mina uqobo kuye.

22. Wathi kuye uJudasi Iskariyothe, Nkosi, kwenzekeni ukuba usuzibonakalise kithi, ungazibonakalisi ezweni na?

23. UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Uma umuntu engithanda, uyakugcina izwi lami, noBaba uyakumthanda, futhi siyakuza kuye, sihlale naye.

24 Ongangithandiyo akagcini amazwi aMi; nezwi enilizwayo akusilo elami, kodwa ngoBaba abangithumileyo.

25. Lezi zinto ngizikhulume kini ngihlezi nani.


UJesu wathembisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bazokwenza imisebenzi emikhulu. Kodwa ukuze benze kanjalo, kwakuyodingeka babize Kuye ngomthandazo, bacele zonke izinto “egameni laKhe.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi kuzodingeka bacele izimfanelo ezitholakala futhi ezihlotshaniswa nokholo nothando. Ngokwabo bonke ubufakazi bukaJesu, yayinye kuphela indlela yokubonisa uthando lwabo nokholo lwabo Kuye. Njengoba uJesu esho evesini elilandelayo, “Uma ningithanda, gcinani imiyalo yami” (Johane 14:15). 16

Inkulumo ethi, “Uma ningithanda, gcinani imiyalo Yami” nethi “Uma umuntu engithanda. Uyogcina izwi Lami,” kuphindaphindwa kaningi kuyo yonke inkulumo kaJesu yokuvalelisa (bheka Johane 14:21, 23, 24; futhi Johane 15:10). Lawa magama ahlanganisa okungaphezu nje kokwazi imiyalo, noma ukuyiqonda, noma ukuxoxa ngayo. Okubaluleke kakhulu, zibandakanya ukuzivuma, futhi uma ithuba livela, ukwenze. 17

Yebo, akunakwenzeka ukugcina imiyalo ngokwethu. Kudingeka sicele uNkulunkulu ukuba asiphe amandla okwenza kanjalo. Kungakho uJesu manje ebanikeza isithembiso esilandelayo: “Mina ngiyakucela kuBaba, aninike omunye uMduduzi, ukuze ahlale kini phakade, uMoya weqiniso izwe elingemamukele, ngokuba lingamboni. futhi akamazi; kepha nina niyamazi, ngokuba uhlala nani, uyakuba kini.”Johane 14:16-17).

UJesu utshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi sebemazi kakade uMoya weqiniso, ngoba “uhlala nani” (Johane 14:17). UJesu ukhuluma Ngaye, ngoba ngempela unabo ngaleso sikhathi, ehlala nabo. Kodwa futhi uthembisa ukuthi uma behlala bethembekile, bephila ngokuvumelana nemithetho Yakhe futhi bethembela Kuye, ngeke nje abe nabo, kodwa uyoba kubo. Ngalokhu usho ukuthi ngemva kokuba esesukile ebukhoneni babo benyama, Uyoba nabo ngomoya, njengoMoya weqiniso. “Angiyikunishiya niyizintandane,” usho kanje. "Ngizoza kuwe" (Johane 14:18).

UJesu uthi lapho efika kubo futhi, uyofika njengoMoya weqiniso. Kuyisithembiso sokuthi uzoza kubo uqobo futhi abe nabo ngezindlela ababengakaze bazicabange. Uyoza kubo njengobukhona bangaphakathi, egcwalisa izinhliziyo zabo ngothando, evula izingqondo zabo ekuqondeni okuphakeme, ebakhuthaza ukuba bagcine imiyalo Yakhe, futhi ebanikeza amandla okwenza lokho.

Kuyisithembiso esihle, futhi uJesu uyasenza ngaphambi nje kokusuka Kwakhe. Njengoba ekubeka, “Kuseyisikhashana izwe lingabe lisangibona; kodwa nizongibona” (Johane 14:19). Ngamanye amazwi, lapho uJesu engasabonakali kulabo ababona izinto zalomhlaba kuphela, uyobe esabonakala kulabo ababuka ngale kwezinto zalomhlaba ezintweni zomoya.

Kwelinye izinga, uJesu utshela abafundi Bakhe ukuthi uzovuka ethuneni futhi eze kubo ngemva kokubethelwa esiphambanweni. Nakuba izwe “lalingeke lisambona,” abafundi Bakhe bazombona enkazimulweni Yakhe evusiwe. Kwabaningi, ubufakazi bovuko buyoqinisekisa ukukholelwa—hhayi kuJesu kuphela, kodwa ngokoqobo nokuphila ngemva kwethuna. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Ngokuba ngiphila, nani nizakuphila” (Johane 14:19). Futhi uyanezela, “Ngalolo suku niyakukwazi nina ukuthi ngikuBaba, nani nikiMi, nami ngikini.”Johane 14:20). Isimangaliso sovuko siyoletha isiqinisekiso sobuNkulunkulu bukaJesu kanye nesithembiso sokuphila okuphakade.

Kwelinye izinga, uJesu ukhuluma futhi ngokuzimisela ukugcina imiyalo Yakhe. Ngezinga esenza ngalo kanjalo, siyozwa ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu ezimpilweni zethu. Eqinisweni ngokomoya, lapho sizama ukugcina imiyalelo Yakhe, sivula indlela yokuba uNkulunkulu eze kithi futhi ahlale ngaphakathi kwethu. Yingakho uJesu eqhubeka ethi, “Lowo onemiyalo Yami futhi ayigcine, nguyena ongithandayo. Ongithandayo uyothandwa nguBaba, nami ngiyomthanda futhi ngizibonakalise kuye.”Johane 14:21). 18

Lapho ebuzwa, “Kungenzeka kanjani lokhu?” (Johane 14:22), UJesu uyaqhubeka egcizelela ukubaluleka kokugcina imiyalo. Uthi, “Uma umuntu engithanda, uyakugcina izwi Lami; futhi uBaba wami uyomthanda, futhi siyoza kuye futhi sihlale naye.”Johane 14:23). Ngezinga esiphila ngalo ngokuvumelana nezimfundiso zikaJesu, iqiniso laphezulu nothando lwaphezulu kuyoba nathi futhi kuhlale kithi. Nokho, uma singaphili ngokwemithetho noma singagcini amazwi Akhe, kodwa kunalokho siphila ngobugovu, kuyinkomba yokuthi asimthandi uNkulunkulu. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Lowo ongangithandiyo akawagcini amazwi Ami” (Johane 14:24).

UJesu ube esenxusa okokugcina, etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi amazwi awakhulumayo avela othandweni. Ngolimi lwemibhalo engcwele, Ukubeka kanje: “Izwi enilizwayo akusilo elami, kodwa ngelikaBaba ongithumileyo” (Johane 14:24). Ngamafuphi, uJesu uthi imiyalo, evula indlela eya ezulwini futhi isiqondise enjabulweni yokuphila okuphakade, iphuma kuyo kanye inhliziyo yothando. 19

Kuyamangaza ikakhulukazi ukuthi kuMathewu, uMarku, kanye noLuka uJesu ukhuluma ngokungaguquki ekugcineni imiyalo nokwazi imiyalo (bheka ngokwesibonelo, Mathewu 19:16; Marku 10:19; futhi Luka 18:20). EVangelini NgokukaJohane, nokho, uJesu ukhuluma ngokugcina imiyalo Yami. “Uma ningithanda,” usho, “gcinani imiyalo yaMi.” Futhi, “Uma umuntu eNgithanda, Uyogcina iZwi laMi.” Imiyalo ayikashintshi. KuseyiMithetho Eyishumi. Zisitshela ukuthi singayithanda kanjani iNkosi, nothando umakhelwane. Okushintshile ukuthi lapha, eVangelini NgokukaJohane, uJesu uzichaza njengoMlobi wemiyalo—imithetho efanayo neyalotshwa eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngaphambili “ngomunwe kaNkulunkulu” ( 2 1:1-5 )Eksodusi 31:18).

Nakulokhu futhi, uJesu ubonisa ukuthi Yena noYise baMunye.


Isithembiso sikaMoya oNgcwele


26 UMduduzi, uMoya oNgcwele, uBaba ayakumthumela egameni lami, yena uyakunifundisa konke, anikhumbuze konke enginitshele khona.

27 Ukuthula nginishiyela khona, ukuthula kwami ngininika khona; akunjengokupha kwezwe, ngiyaninika nina. Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki, ingesabi;

28. Nizwile ukuthi ngithe kini: Ngiyamuka, futhi ngiza kini; Uma beningithanda, beniyakujabula, ngokuba ngithe ngiya kuBaba, ngokuba uBaba mkhulu kunami.

29. Manje nginitshelile kungakenzeki, ukuze, nxa sekwenzeka, nikholwe.

30. Angisayikukhuluma izinto eziningi nani, ngokuba uyeza umbusi waleli zwe, kepha akanalutho Kimi.

31 Kodwa ukuze izwe lazi ukuthi ngiyamthanda uBaba, nokuthi njengokuba uBaba engiyalile, ngenza njalo. Vukani, sisuke lapha.


Lesi sahluko saqala ngala mazwi, “Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki” (Johane 14:1). Kwakuwumyalezo wesiqinisekiso esizolile, oza ngemva nje kwenkathi enzima kubafundi. UJesu wayesanda kusho ukuthi uJuda wayezomkhaphela, nokuthi uPetru wayezomphika, nokuthi wayezoshiya abafundi Bakhe isikhashana. Eqaphela ukuthi abafundi bakhe badidekile futhi bethukile, uJesu uthi kubo: “Lezi zinto ngizikhulume kini ngisenani. Kodwa uMduduzi, uMoya oNgcwele, uBaba azowuthumela egameni lami, uzonifundisa zonke izinto, futhi anikhumbuze konke engikushilo kini.”Johane 14:26).

Endabeni yabafundi, uMoya oNgcwele uzobakhumbuza zonke izinto abazifundile phakathi neminyaka emithathu benoJesu. UJesu ngeke esasukuma phambi kwabo, ebatshela lokho okufanele bakucabange nalokho okumelwe bakwenze. Kunalokho, uyoba phakathi kwabo njengoMoya weqiniso—uMoya oNgcwele—ubasiza ukuba basuse enkumbulweni yabo lezo zimfundiso eziyoba usizo kakhulu kunoma yisiphi isimo.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, uMoya oNgcwele uzokwembula ukuqonda ngencazelo yamazwi kaJesu okuyoqhubeka kujula kulo lonke iphakade. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi amazwi kaNkulunkulu aqukethe ukujula kokuhlakanipha okungapheli. Ukwembulwa kwala maqiniso ajule ngokuqhubekayo kuyosiza abafundi ukuba bafunde, futhi bakhule, futhi baqhubeke bebona ukusetshenziswa okwengeziwe kwala maqiniso ekuphileni kwabo. Kuzophinde kubanike amandla okuphila ngokwale mibono eyandayo. Kungakho uJesu ethi, “Ngiyakukhuleka kuBaba, aninike omunye uMduduzi [uMoya oNgcwele] oyakuhlala nani phakade” (Johane 14:16). 20

Empeleni, uMoya oNgcwele yiwo ophuma ekuhlanganisweni kothando olungcwele nokuhlakanipha kobunkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokhu, singathola ubukhona obuseduze nakakhulu bukaNkulunkulu, ukuqonda okujulile kweZwi Lakhe, nomuzwa wokuthula omkhulu. Ukuthula kwangaphakathi okungatholakala kuphela lapho amathonya esihogo enqotshwa futhi enziwa athule, avumele amathonya asezulwini ageleze futhi ahlale nathi. Ngakho-ke, uJesu uthi, “Ukuthula ngikushiya kinina, ukuthula kwami ngininika khona; angininiki njengokupha kwezwe. UJesu ube esephinda amazwi okuqala alesi sahluko: “Inhliziyo yenu mayingakhathazeki.” Futhi Uyanezela, “futhi ningesabi” (Johane 14:27). 21

Abafundi akudingeki besabe ukuthi uJesu useyahamba, ngoba uthembisa ukuthi uzobuya. Njengoba esho, “Ningizwile ngithi kini, Ngiyahamba futhi ngibuyela kini” (Johane 14:28). UJesu ufuna baqonde ukuthi ukuhamba Kwakhe kuyadingeka, nokuthi uma bemthanda ngokweqiniso, ngeke badabuke, kodwa bayojabula. Uthi: “Uma beningithanda, beniyakujabula, ngokuba ngithe, Ngiya kuBaba, ngokuba uBaba mkhulu kunami” (Johane 14:28).

Uma uJesu ethi “uya kuBaba,” kusho ukuthi usemkhankasweni wokuhlanganisa ubuntu Bakhe nobuNkulunkulu Bakhe. Kulowo nalowo kithi, lena inqubo yokuhlanganisa iqiniso esilifundile nothando oluvela kulo. Lokhu kuqala, okokuqala, ngokwazi iqiniso. Lokhu kubaluleke kakhulu, kodwa ukuphila ngokweqiniso kubaluleke nakakhulu. Uthando luwumgomo, inhloso, isiphetho ekubukeni. Futhi iqiniso liyindlela yokufika lapho. Ngezinga esiphila ngalo ngokuvumelana neqiniso, sithola uthando lukaBaba. Ngakho-ke, yilokhu uJesu akushoyo lapho ethi, ‘Ngiya kuBaba,’ ngoba uBaba mkhulu kunami” (Johane 14:28).” 22

Ngokufanayo, noma nini lapho silwela ukufaka iqiniso ekuphileni kwethu, ‘siya kuBaba. Lokhu kusho ukuthi sesingena esimweni sothando. Nakuba lokhu kungaba inqubo enzima, iyadingeka. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuholela enjabulweni ephakeme kakhulu. Uma abafundi bekwazi lokhu, futhi uma bebazi injabulo yokukhula ngokomoya, babengeke bajabule kuphela—babeyokholwa futhi. Njengoba uJesu esho, “Konke lokhu nginitshelile kungakenzeki, ukuze, lapho sekwenzekile, nikholwe.”Johane 14:29).

Kulowo nalowo kithi, ukukhula ngokomoya kuhilela ngempela ubunzima obungokomoya. Ububi obuzuzwayo nobuzuziwe kumele bunqotshwe ukuze kuzalwe imvelo entsha kithi. Kuyafana nakuJesu. Naye, kuye kwadingeka abhekane nezilingo ezinzima ukuze anqobe imvelo yofuzo ayizuza ngokuzalwa komuntu. Nakuba Usevele wabhekana nezimpi eziningi ohlelweni lokunqoba izihogo kanye nokukhazimulisa ubuntu Bakhe, impi yokugcina ewumvuthwandaba isaqhubeka. Ukuboshwa kwakhe, ukuhlushwa, nokubethelwa kwakhe kusasele amahora ambalwa. Njengoba uJesu asho, “umbusi wezwe uyeza” (Johane 14:30). 23

Azi ukuthi ihora Lakhe lokugcina liyasondela, uJesu uyabona ukuthi unesikhathi samazwi ambalwa okugcina kuphela—amazwi ambalwa okugcina ukuze akhumbuze abafundi Bakhe, futhi, ukuthi umsebenzi wabo ophakeme kakhulu uwukugcina imiyalo Yakhe njengesenzo sothando kuNkulunkulu. . Yilokhu kanye uJesu ahlose ukukwenza. Njengoba ekubeka, “Ukuze izwe lazi ukuthi ngiyamthanda uBaba, nokuthi njengoba uBaba engiyale, ngenza kanjalo.” (Johane 14:31). UJesu uzoqhubeka efundisa ngesibonelo. Futhi ngezinga abafundi Bakhe abalandela ngalo isibonelo sikaJesu, bethanda abanye njengoba Yena ebathanda, izinhliziyo zabo ngeke zikhathazeke, futhi bayoba nokuthula.

Kungaleso sikhathi kuphela, ngokugcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu, lapho singashiya khona izimo ezinezinkinga futhi sikhuphukele emazingeni aphezulu. Njengoba uJesu esho emazwini okuphetha alengxenye yenkulumo yokuvalelisa, “Sukumani, sisuke lapha” (Johane 14:31).


Isicelo esingokoqobo


EmaVangelini amathathu okuqala, uJesu uyabuzwa, “Yimuphi umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke na?” Ephendula, uJesu uthi: “Woyithanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho, nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.” Bese uyanezela, “Owesibili ofana nawo: Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena” (bheka Mathewu 22:37-39; Marku 12:28-31; Luka 10:27). Nakuba le mithetho emibili ichaza izigaba ezimbili ezinkulu zothando—ukuthanda uNkulunkulu nokuthanda umakhelwane—ayingeni esikhundleni seMithetho Eyishumi. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi iMithetho Eyishumi iyasikhombisa indlela yokuthanda. Sithanda uNkulunkulu ngokungabi nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle Kwakhe, ngokungaliphathi ngeze igama lakhe, nangokukhumbula isabatha. Sithanda umakhelwane wethu ngokuhlonipha ubaba nomama wethu, singabulali, singafebi, singebi, singaqambi amanga, singafisi. Le mithetho engaphelelwa yisikhathi, eyanikezwa entabeni yaseSinayi, iphindwaphindwa futhi yajula emavangelini. Ngakho-ke, njengendlela engokoqobo, bonisa uthando lwakho ngoNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane wakho ngokugcina imiyalo yaKhe, hhayi nje ngezinga elingokoqobo, kodwa futhi ngezinga elijulile. Ngokwesibonelo, sebenzisa umyalo wokungabulali ngokungasho lutho olugxeka kunoma ubani noma nganoma ubani. Ungabulali isithunzi somuntu ngokuhleba okuyize. Ungabulali injabulo yomuntu. Ungabacekeli phansi abantu. Kunalokho, ake amazwi akho adlule emasangweni amathathu: “Ingabe kunomusa?” "Ingabe kuliqiniso?" “Ingabe iwusizo?” Khona-ke, ngosizo lweNkosi, ube umuntu ophakamisa abanye. Yiba umgcini womyalo. Yiba umnikezeli wempilo. Njengoba uJesu asho, “Uma ningithanda, gcinani imiyalo Yami.”


Bilješke:

1Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 9: “Asikho isizwe emhlabeni wonke, esinenkolo nesizathu esizwakalayo, esingavumi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, nokuthi munye. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi kukhona ukungena okungcwele emiphefumulweni yabo bonke abantu … umyalo wangaphakathi wokuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu nokuthi munye. Noma kunjalo bakhona abaphikayo ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. Kunalokho, bavuma imvelo njengonkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhona labo abakhonza onkulunkulu abambalwa, nalabo abamisa izithombe zonkulunkulu. Isizathu salokhu siwukuthi baye bavala ingaphakathi lokuqonda kwabo ngezinto zezwe nezenyama, futhi ngalokho baye bawuqeda umqondo wakudala kaNkulunkulu owawungowabo besewusana, bekhipha yonke inkolo ezinhliziyweni zabo ngesikhathi esifanayo.”

2Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 2048: Igama elithi, ‘indlu kaNkulunkulu’ ngomqondo wendawo yonke lisho umbuso weNkosi.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 220: “UJesu wathi kwabathengisa ethempelini: ‘Ningayenzi indlu kaBaba ibe yindlu yokuthengisela’ …. Emahubo kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngikhethe ukuma ngasemnyango endlini kaNkulunkulu wami kunokuba ngihlale ematendeni ababi.AmaHubo 84:10)…. Futhi, ‘Abatshalwe endlini kaJehova bayomila emagcekeni kaNkulunkulu wethu.AmaHubo 92:13)…. Futhi kuJohane: UJesu wathi, ‘Endlini kaBaba kukhona izindlu eziningi’ (Johane 14:2). Kusobala ukuthi kulezi zindima, ngokuthi ‘indlu kaJehova’ ‘nendlu kaBaba’ izulu lichazwa.”

3I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 638:13: “‘Indlu’ ifanekisela ingqondo engokomoya.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 240:4: “‘Indlu’ ifanekisela umuntu ewonke, nezinto ezikumuntu, kanjalo lezo zinto eziphathelene nokuqonda nentando yomuntu.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 7353: “Abantu basendulo bafanisa ingqondo yomuntu nendlu, futhi lezo zinto ezingaphakathi kwengqondo yomuntu namakamelo angaphakathi endlini. Impela ingqondo yomuntu inje; ngoba izinto ezikuyo zihlukene, zifaniswa nendlu ehlukene phakathi.” Bhekafuthi I-Arcana Coelestia 8054:3: “Ububi bulokhu buzama ukuhlasela izindawo lapho abalungile bekhona, futhi empeleni buyazihlasela ngokushesha nje lapho zingagcwaliswa ngokuhle.”

4Inhlakanipho Yobungelosi 203: “Umuntu akaboni lutho lokuphatha kukaJehova endaweni yonke. Ukube abantu bebengayibona, emehlweni abo ibingabonakala njengenqwaba ehlakazekile nezinqwaba zezinto zokwakha okuzokwakhiwa ngazo indlu. Nokho, uJehova usibheka njengesigodlo esihle kakhulu esakhiwa njalo futhi sandiswa.”

5Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 3637: “Abantu ezulwini kuthiwa ‘baseNkosini,’ ngempela basemzimbeni waYo; ngoba iNkosi iyizulu lonke, futhi ekubeni Kuyo wonke umuntu wabelwe isifunda nomsebenzi othile.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 3644: “Bonke abantu emhlabeni wonke banendawo ezulwini noma ngaphandle kwayo esihogweni. Nakuba abantu bengakwazi lokhu ngenkathi besaphila emhlabeni, nokho kuyiqiniso…. Ubuhle ababuthandayo neqiniso abalikholelwayo kunquma indawo yabo ezulwini.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 503: “Ukuphila kunikezwa wonke umuntu yiNkosi ngokusetshenziswa, ngokusetshenziswa, nangokusetshenziswa…. Ongenamsebenzi akanakuphila; ngoba konke okuyize kuyalahlwa…. Labo abathanda [iNkosi nomakhelwane babo] abajatshuliswa ukwazi nje kuphela, kodwa bajatshuliswa ukwenza okuhle nokuyiqiniso, okungukuthi, ukusetshenziswa.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 369: “Ukubambisana kwethu noNkulunkulu yikho okusinika insindiso nokuphila okuphakade.”

6I-Arcana Coelestia 1937:3: “Kwakukhona abanye ababeziphoqa futhi bamelana nobubi namanga. Ekuqaleni, babecabanga ukuthi bazenzele ngokwabo, ngamandla abo. Nokho, ngemva kwalokho bakhanyiselwa ukuze babone ukuthi umzamo wabo wawusuka eNkosini, ngisho nokuncane kunawo wonke amathonya alowo mzamo. Empilweni elandelayo, abantu abafana nalaba abakwazi ukuholwa imimoya emibi, kodwa baphakathi kwababusisiwe.”

7I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 911:17: “Nakuba iNkosi isebenza zonke izinto, futhi abantu bengasebenzi lutho ngokwabo, nokho iNkosi ithanda ukuthi abantu basebenze sengathi basuka mathupha kukho konke okufika ekuboneni kwabo. Ngoba ngaphandle kokubambisana komuntu njengokungathi kuvela kuye uqobo angeke kube khona ukwamukela iqiniso nokuhle, ngaleyo ndlela akukho ukutshalwa nokuzalwa kabusha.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 585:3: “Lapho abantu bebambisana neNkosi, okungukuthi, lapho becabanga futhi bekhuluma, bethanda futhi benza, eZwini lobuNkulunkulu, bagcinwa yiNkosi ezintweni zobunkulunkulu, futhi ngaleyo ndlela bagodliwe kubo; futhi lapho lokhu kuqhubeka kwakheka phakathi kwabo yiNkosi kube sengathi umuntu omusha, kokubili intando entsha nokuqonda okusha, okuhlukaniswe ngokuphelele nobuyena bangaphambili. Ngale ndlela, baba njengoba badalwa kabusha, futhi yilokhu okubizwa ngokuthi inguquko nokuzalwa kabusha ngamaqiniso avela eZwini, nangokuphila ngokuvumelana nawo.” Bhekafuthi Nothando Lobunkulunkulu Nenhlakanipho Yobunkulunkulu 431: “Lapho abantu benza imisebenzi yobizo lwabo ngobuqotho, ngobuqotho, ngokulunga, nangokwethembeka, okuhle komphakathi kugcinwa futhi kuqhubeke. Yilokhu okushiwo ‘ukuba seNkosini.’”

8I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 902:2-3: “Kunezinhlayiya ezimbili eziphikisanayo ezizungeza abantu, enye ivela esihogweni, enye ivela ezulwini. Kusuka esihogweni kunomkhakha wobubi nowamanga, futhi ezulwini kukhona umkhakha wokulunga noweqiniso…. Lezi zinhlaka zinomthelela emiqondweni yabantu ngoba ziyizindingana zomoya.” Bhekafuthi I-Arcana Coelestia 4464:3: “Abantu abaqapheli ukuthi bazungezwe yindilinga ethile kamoya ehambisana nempilo yothando lwabo, nokuthi ezingelosini le mbulunga izwakala kakhulu kunezinga lephunga elizwakala kahle kakhulu emhlabeni. Uma abantu bechithe ukuphila kwabo ezintweni zangaphandle nje, okungukuthi, enjabulweni evela enzondweni emelene nomakhelwane, impindiselo, unya, nokuphinga, ekuziphakamiseni nasekudeleleni abanye, nasekuphangeni, ekukhohliseni, nasekudleni ngokweqile [ ukuhaha], kanye nobunye ububi obufanayo, khona-ke indawo kamoya ebazungezile ingcolile njengoba injalo kulo mhlaba indawo yephunga elivela ezidumbu, ubulongwe, udoti onukayo, nokunye okunjalo…. Kodwa uma abantu bebesezintweni zangaphakathi, okusho ukuthi bezwa ukuthokozela umusa kanye nesisa kumakhelwane, futhi ngaphezu kwakho konke bezwe ukubusiseka othandweni eNkosini, bazungezwe indawo enokubonga nejabulisayo eyizwe. indawo yasezulwini uqobo.”

9I-Arcana Coelestia 6717:2: “Labo abavuselelwe bathanda ukuphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 295:12: “Uthando lweNkosi lunabo lapho bethanda ukuphila ngokwemithetho Yakhe. Yilokhu okushiwo ukuthanda uJehova.”

10I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 349:8: “Amazwi athi, ‘Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila,’ ayeshiwo ngomuntu weNkosi; ngoba futhi uthi: ‘Akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwaMi.’ ‘UYise’ ungowaphezulu okuYe, okwakungowakhe uqobo. Bhekafuthi Ambulo sAmbuliwe 170: “‘UBaba’ uvame ukukhulunywa ngaye yiNkosi, okubhekiselwe ngaye kuyo yonke indawo uJehova, ayekuye nawayekuye, futhi owayekuYo, futhi akakaze ahlukanise nanoma yimuphi unkulunkulu ohlukanisiwe Naye…. INkosi yakhuluma ngoBaba, ngoba ngokuthi ‘uBaba’ ngomqondo ongokomoya kufanekiswa okuhle, futhi ‘ngoNkulunkulu uBaba’ kufanekiswa ubuhle baphezulu bothando lwaphezulu.”

11I-Arcana Coelestia 10125:3: “Umphefumulo weNkosi, uvela kuJehova, wawungenasiphelo, futhi wawungeyona enye into ngaphandle kokulunga kwaphezulu kothando lwaphezulu, futhi ngenxa yalokho ngemva kokukhazimuliswa koMuntu Wakhe wayengafani nomuntu womuntu.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 2005: “Ingaphakathi leNkosi lalivela kuYise, ngakho-ke lalinguBaba uqobo Lwakhe, futhi yingakho iNkosi ithi, 'uBaba ukuYe,' 'NgikuBaba, noBaba ukiMi,' futhi, 'Lowo ongibona Mina ubona uBaba; Mina noBaba simunye.” EZwini leTestamente Elidala, uJehova ubizwa ngokuthi ‘uYise,’ njengaku-Isaya: ‘Sizalelwa umntwana, siphiwe iNdodana futhi ukubusa kuyakuba phezu kwakhe. ihlombe; negama lakhe liyakuthiwa oMangalisayo, uMluleki, uNkulunkulu, iQhawe, uYise waphakade, iNkosi yokuthula’ (Isaya 9:6).”

12IJerusalema Elisha Nezimfundiso Zalo ZaseZulwini 7: “Ezulwini, zonke izinto zikhona esimweni sokuphelela okukhulu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi bonke abakhona bangowomoya, futhi izinto zokomoya zedlula kakhulu ezemvelo ngokuphelela.”

13Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 9310: “Lowo ongazi ukuthi ‘igama’ lisho ukuthini ngomqondo ongaphakathi, angase acabange ukuthi lapho ‘igama likaJehova,’ ‘negama leNkosi,’ kukhulunywa ngalo eZwini, igama lodwa elishiwoyo; kanti nokho konke okuhle kothando nalo lonke iqiniso lokukholwa okuvela eNkosini kukhulunywa ngakho.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 300: “Ukuthi igama lanoma ubani alisho igama lakhe lodwa kodwa zonke izimfanelo zakhe, kubonakala ngokusetshenziswa kwamagama emhlabeni kamoya. Akukho muntu lapho ogcina igama elamukelwayo ekubhapathizweni, noma eloyise noma lozalo emhlabeni; kodwa wonke umuntu ubizwa ngesimilo somuntu, futhi izingelosi ziqanjwa ngokwempilo yazo yokuziphatha nengokomoya. Lokhu kuhloswe ngakho kula mazwi eNkosi: UJesu wathi, ‘Mina nginguMalusi Omuhle. Izimvu ziyalizwa izwi laKhe, futhi ubiza ezakhe izimvu ngamagama aziholele ngaphandle.’”

14Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 724: “INkosi ikhona phakathi kothando nothando, kodwa hhayi ngaphakathi kokholo oluhlukanisiwe [othandweni nothando]. Bhekafuthi I-Arcana Coelestia 3263:2: “Mayelana neBandla leNkosi likamoya, kufanele kuqashelwe ukuthi likhona emhlabeni wonke, ngoba alipheleli kulabo abaneZwi futhi abanolwazi lweZwi ngeNkosi namanye amaqiniso okholo. Likhona futhi phakathi kwalabo abangenalo iZwi ngakho-ke abayazi nhlobo iNkosi, futhi ngenxa yalokho abanalo ulwazi lwanoma yimaphi amaqiniso okholo…. Ngokuba phakathi kwalabo bantu baningi abazi ngokubona ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu oyedwa, ukuthi udale futhi ulondoloza zonke izinto; futhi futhi, ukuthi ungumthombo wakho konke okuhle, futhi ngenxa yalokho kwakho konke okuyiqiniso; nokuthi ukuba ngumfanekiso waKhe kwenza umuntu abusiswe. Futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, baphila ngokuvumelana nenkolo yabo, othandweni ngalowo Nkulunkulu nothando ngomakhelwane. Ngothando lokuhle benza imisebenzi yothando, futhi ngokuthanda iqiniso bakhonza uMuntu oPhakeme. Abantu abanjalo phakathi kwabezizwe basonta eBandleni leNkosi likamoya. Futhi nakuba bengayazi iNkosi ngesikhathi besezweni, nokho phakathi kwabo banokukhulekelwa nokuvuma okungokoqobo Ngaye lapho kukhona okuhle phakathi kwabo, ngoba uJehova ukhona phakathi kwakho konke okuhle. Ngalesi sizathu, bayayivuma iNkosi empilweni elandelayo ngaphandle kobunzima.”

15I-Apocalypse Yembulwa 796:2: “Ukuvuma nokukhonza kweNkosi, nokufundwa kweZwi, kubangela ubukhona beNkosi; kodwa laba ababili kanye nempilo ngokwemiyalo yaKhe basebenzelana naye.” Bhekafuthi Nomshado Wasezulwini 72: “Zimbili izinto ezakha ibandla kanjalo nezulu kumuntu: iqiniso lokukholwa kanye nokulunga kwempilo. Iqiniso lokukholwa liletha ubukhona beNkosi, futhi ubuhle bempilo ngokuhambisana namaqiniso okholo buletha ukusebenzelana Naye.”

16I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 433:2: “Ukuthanda iNkosi akukhona nje ukuyithanda njengokungathi ungumuntu, kodwa ukuphila ngokuvumelana nemiyalo yayo.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 981: “Ukuthanda iNkosi kusho uthando noma uthando lokwenza imiyalo Yakhe, ngaleyo ndlela uthando lokugcina imiyalo yeDicalogue. Ngokuba uma abantu bengaluthandi uthando noma uthando bekugcina futhi bakwenze kuze kube manje, bayayithanda iNkosi, ngoba bayaqaphela ukuthi le miyalo iNkosi inabo."

17I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 1099:3: “Ukuthanda iNkosi akusho ukuyithanda Yena njengoMuntu kuphela, ngoba uthando olunjalo, ngokwalo, aluhlanganisi abantu nezulu. Kunalokho, uthando lokulunga kobuNkulunkulu neqiniso laphezulu, okuyiNkosi esezulwini nasebandleni, luhlanganisa abantu nezulu. Laba ababili [ubuhle baphezulu neqiniso laphezulu] abathandi ngokubazi, ukucabanga ngabo, ukuqonda, nokukhuluma ngabo, kodwa ngokuvuma nokubenza ngenxa yesizathu sokuthi bayalwa yiNkosi, futhi kanjalo ngenxa yokuthi bayalwa. sebenzisa.” Bhekafuthi I-Apocalypse Ichazwe 433:2: “Bayayithanda iNkosi eyenza futhi igcine imiyalo Yayo namazwi ngoba imiyalo Yayo namazwi afanekisela amaqiniso angcwele, futhi lonke iqiniso laphezulu liphuma Kuye, futhi lokho okuphuma Kuye kunguYe uqobo.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YamaKristu Yeqiniso 387:6: “Intando noma ukushayela empeleni kuwuhlobo lwesenzo, njengoba kuwukulwela njalo ukwenza okuthile, okuthi ngaphansi kwezimo ezifanele kube isenzo sangaphandle. Ngakho-ke, bonke abantu abahlakaniphile bathatha izenzo zangaphakathi zokushayela noma zizofana ngokuphelele nezenzo zangaphandle (ngoba yileyo ndlela uNkulunkulu azithatha ngayo), inqobo nje uma kungekho ukwehluleka ukwenza okuthile lapho ithuba livela.”

18Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 725: “Amaqiniso ahlobene nokholo aletha ukuba khona kweNkosi, futhi okuhle kothando kanye nokholo kuyasebenzisana ukuze kulethe ukuhlanganyela neNkosi.”

19Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 329: “Lapho umuntu egwema okubi njengokuyalwa eNcwadini YezoMbuso, kugeleza uthando nothando. Lokhu kubonakala emazwini eNkosi kuJohane: 'UJesu wathi, Lowo onemiyalo Yami futhi ayigcine, nguyena ongithandayo futhi ongithandayo. abangithandayo bayakuthandwa nguBaba; futhi ngizomthanda, futhi ngizozibonakalisa kuye: futhi Sizokwenza indawo yethu yokuhlala kuye.Johane 14:21, 23). Ngokuthi 'imiyalo' lapha imiyalo yeDikaloji iqondiswe ikakhulukazi, okungukuthi ububi akumelwe benziwe noma bukhanukelwe, nokuthi uthando lomuntu kuNkulunkulu nothando lukaNkulunkulu kumuntu lulandela njengokuhle okulandelayo lapho okubi. iyasuswa.”

20I-Arcana Coelestia 10738:1-3: “INkosi [uJesu Kristu] ifundisa ukuthi uBaba futhi bamunye, ukuthi uBaba ukuYe futhi Yena ukuYise, ukuthi noma ubani ombonayo ubona uBaba, futhi lowo okholwa nguye ukholwa nguBaba futhi uyamazi, ukuthi uMthetheleli, lowo ambiza ngokuthi uMoya weqiniso kanye noMoya oNgcwele, uphuma kuYe futhi akakhulumi okuphuma Kuye, kodwa uvela kuYe, okuyikhona okuhunyushwa ngakho ukuqhubeka kwaphezulu.”

21Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 1581: “Lapho ububi buqedwa, khona-ke okuhle kuphuma eNkosini.” Bhekafuthi Izimfihlakalo Zezulu 6325: “Impilo egcwele ubuhle igeleza ivela eNkosini, futhi impilo egcwele ububi igeleza ivela esihogweni…. Uma abantu bekukholelwa lokhu, ububi angeke bunamathele kubo noma bamukelwe yibona njengobubo ngoba bayazi ukuthi akuveli kubo ngokwabo kodwa esihogweni. Lapho lokhu kuyisimo sabo, ukuthula banganikwa, ngoba bathembele kuJehova kuphela.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 123[5]: “Ukunqoba kweNkosi isihogo kuhloswe ngokuthulisa kwaYo ulwandle ngokuthi ‘Thula, thula,” ngoba lapha, njengakwezinye izindawo eziningi, ‘ulwandle’ lufanekisela isihogo. Ngendlela efanayo, namuhla uJehova ulwa nesihogo kuwo wonke umuntu ozalwa kabusha.”

22Ambulo sAmbuliwe 17: “Amaqiniso aqala ngesikhathi, kodwa awaqali ekugcineni…. Ngokuba ukuhlala endlini kuqala ekugcineni, futhi okokuqala ngesikhathi isisekelo. Futhi, ukusetshenziswa kuqala ekugcineni, nolwazi kuqala ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Ngokufanayo, owokuqala ekugcineni lapho kutshalwa isihlahla [sezithelo] isithelo, kodwa amagatsha namaqabunga kuqala ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.” Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 336: “Iqiniso lokukholwa liqala ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kepha okuhle kwesisa kuqala ekugcineni." Bhekafuthi Inkolo YeQiniso yobuKhrestu 406: “Okokuqala ekugcineni yilokho okubheka zonke izinto. Kufana nokwakha indlu; kuqala isisekelo kumele sibekwe; kodwa isisekelo kumelwe sibe sendlu, futhi indlu ibe yindawo yokuhlala.”

23I-Arcana Coelestia 8403:2 “Labo abangafundiswanga ngokuzalwa kabusha bacabanga ukuthi abantu bangavuselelwa ngaphandle kwesilingo; futhi abanye bakholelwa ukuthi abantu baye bazalwa kabusha lapho bebhekene nesilingo esisodwa. Kodwa makwazeke ukuthi ngaphandle kwesilingo akekho ozalwa kabusha, futhi izilingo eziningi zilandelana. Isizathu siwukuthi ukuzalwa kabusha kwenzeka kuze kube sekugcineni ukuze impilo endala ife, futhi ukuphila okusha kwasezulwini kucatshangelwe, okubonisa ukuthi kumelwe kuliwe, ngoba ukuphila okudala [okudala] kuyamelana, futhi akuthandi. ukucinywa, nempilo entsha [intando entsha] ayinakungena ngaphandle kwalapho impilo endala [intando endala] icishiwe. Ngakho-ke kusobala ukuthi kunempi nhlangothi zombili, futhi le mpi ishubile, ngoba ingeyokuphila konke.”

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Apocalypse Explained #587

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587. And idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, signifies false doctrinals that are from self-intelligence, that favor the loves of the body and of the world, and principles derived therefrom. This is evident from the signification of "idols," as being the falsities of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, which are from self-intelligence. But what "idols of gold, of silver, of brass, of stone, and of wood," signify in particular can be seen from the signification of "gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood;" "gold" signifies spiritual good, "silver" spiritual truth, "brass" natural good, "stone" natural truth, and "wood" sensual good. All these goods and truths enter into genuine doctrine, because such doctrine is both from the spiritual and from the natural sense of the Word. When a false doctrinal is confirmed by the spiritual things of the Word it becomes an idol of gold and an idol of silver; but when it is confirmed by the natural things of the Word, such as belong to the sense of its letter, it becomes an idol of brass and stone; and when it is confirmed by the mere sense of the letter it becomes an idol of wood; for both the interior or spiritual and the exterior or natural senses of the Word can be applied to confirm falsities, as can be seen from innumerable heresies which are all confirmed thereby.

[2] Falsities become confirmed when the genuine sense of the Word is not understood, and for the reason that self-loves and the principles derived therefrom are dominant, and when these are dominant man sees nothing from the light of heaven, but whatever he sees is from the light of the world separated from the light of heaven; and when the light of the world is separated from the light of heaven there is thick darkness in things spiritual. It is to be known that the sons of Israel took from Egypt and also from the nations round about the foul custom of worshiping idols; and as they were merely external men they also had that worship implanted in them from natural inclination, as can be seen from the idolatries of so many of the kings of Judah and Israel related in the Word, and also from Solomon himself who was the wisest of them; but still these idols which they made for themselves and worshiped, when they are mentioned in the Word, signify in the spiritual sense false doctrinals from self-intelligence, from which and according to which is worship.

[3] This signification of idols, too, has its cause from the spiritual world; there evil spirits who have framed for themselves falsities of doctrine are seen fashioning idols and marking them in various ways until they appear to be in a human form; they also make selections from various representatives and fit them together so as to cohere, and thus counterfeit that form in externals. It has been permitted me to witness the formation of such idols by leaders of the church, who have persuaded themselves that falsities are truths; and as they excelled in ingenuity they knew how to join the particulars together assiduously, and afterwards to clothe them. Such an idol I have seen made by the English, by which they represented that faith alone is the essential of salvation, and that it produces the goods of charity without any cooperation from man. Idols are formed in the spiritual world by those who are in falsities of doctrine that are from self-intelligence, because Divine truths, from which is the genuine doctrine of the church, induce upon angels the human form; for this reason also angels signify in the Word Divine truths; and for this reason falsities of doctrine that are confirmed from the Word are presented as idols in the human form; truths of the Word that are falsified and that are used as confirmations induce that form, but because the truths are falsified an idol is presented that has no life.

[4] That "idols, graven images, and molten images," signify the falsities of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, can be seen from the following passages in the Word. In Isaiah:

The artificer casteth a graven image, and the refiner spreadeth it over with gold and casteth chains of silver. He that is too impoverished for an oblation chooseth wood that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a wise artificer to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved (Isaiah 40:19, 20).

This describes how doctrine is fused and welded together by means of falsities, thus by means of such things as are from self-intelligence, for these are all falsities. The "artificer," the "refiner," and the "wise artificer," whom he seeketh unto him, mean one who fashions and forms such a doctrine. "To spread it over with gold" signifies that it may appear in the external form as good; "to cast chains of silver" signifies that falsities may fit together and appear as truths; "to choose wood that doth not rot, and to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved," signifies that the doctrine may be acknowledged and not seem to be false.

[5] In Jeremiah:

Every man has become foolish by knowledge; every refiner is put to shame by the graven image; for his molten image is a lie, and there is no breath in them; they are vanity, and a work of errors; in the time of their visitation they shall perish (Jeremiah 10:14, 15; 51:17, 18).

Because a "graven image" signifies the falsity of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, therefore it is said, "every man has become foolish by knowledge, and every refiner is put to shame by the graven image;" the "knowledge by which man becomes foolish" signifies self-intelligence, wherefore falsity therefrom is signified by "the graven image;" such falsity is also meant by "the molten image is a lie, vanity, and a work of errors." That there is no spiritual life in falsities, or in the things that are from self-intelligence, is meant by "there is no breath in them;" for life is solely in Divine truths, that is, in truths that are from the Lord, as He teaches:

The words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life (John 6:63).

[6] In Jeremiah:

He hath cut wood out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. He doth deck it with silver and with gold; he doth fasten them with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are rigid like a palm-tree, but they speak not; they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. They are both brutish and foolish; the wood is a teaching of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman and of the hands of the refiner; their garment is hyacinthine and purple; they are all the work of the wise. But Jehovah is the God of truth, He is the living God, and the King of an age (Jeremiah 10:3-5, 8-10).

That the "graven image" here means the falsity of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, fashioned and formed by the ingenious by means of self-intelligence, is evident from the particulars of this description when viewed in the spiritual sense. The self-intelligence by means of which it is cut out and formed is meant by "the work of the hands with the axe," and by "the work of the workman and of the hands of the refiner," and by "the work of the wise." That "the work of the hands of the workman and artificer" signifies what is from self-intelligence has been shown in the preceding article; the falsities that are from it are signified by "they are both brutish and foolish, the wood is a teaching of vanities;" that these have no life is signified by "they are rigid like a palm-tree, they speak not, they cannot go;" "to speak" and "to go" signify to live, and to live means to live spiritually. Confirmations from the Word are signified by "silver spread into plates brought from Tarshish," and by "gold from Uphaz," also by "hyacinthine and purple" which was their garment; "silver from Tarshish" signifies the truth of the Word, and "gold from Uphaz" the good of the Word, both falsified; "hyacinthine and purple" have a similar meaning. That every truth of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, is from Jehovah, that is, from the Lord, is meant by "Jehovah is the God of truth, the living God, the King of an age;" for the Lord is called "God" from Divine truth, and also "living," and "King."

[7] In Isaiah:

They that form a graven image are all of them vanity, and their most desirable things do not profit; and they are witnesses to themselves that they see not, and know not. For all his fellows shall be ashamed, and the workmen themselves. He fashioneth iron with the tongs, and worketh it in the coal, and strengthens 1 it with sharp hammers, so he worketh it by the arm of his strength; yea, he is hungry until he hath no power, neither doth he drink water until he is exhausted. He fashioneth wood, he stretcheth out the line, and describeth it with a rule; he maketh it in its angles, and shapeth it by a circle, that he may make it in the form of a man, according to the beauty of man, to dwell in the house. To cut out for himself cedars, or he hath taken the box-tree or the oak; although it be for a man to burn, and he taketh of them to be warm, and also kindleth it to bake bread, yet he maketh a god and boweth himself down, he maketh of it a graven image and adoreth it. They know not nor discern, for they have forgotten so that their eyes do not see, and their hearts do not understand. And none taketh it into his heart, there is no knowledge or intelligence, neither doth he say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? (Isaiah 44:9-20).

This whole description of a "graven image" means the formation of doctrine from self-intelligence, and the particulars of the description signify the particulars of such formation. Why otherwise should there be in the Divine Word so extended a description of the mere formation of a graven image? That there is nothing but what is false, because it is from self-intelligence, is meant by "They that form a graven image are all of them vanity, and their most desirable things do not profit;" also by "they have no knowledge nor intelligence, neither doth he say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" The self-intelligence out of which the falsity of doctrine is formed is described by "He fashioneth iron with the tongs, and worketh it in the coal by the arm of his power;" "to fashion iron with the tongs, and to work it in the coal," signifies to hammer out falsities that favor self-loves; to join falsities with falsities by means of fallacies that make them seem to be truths, is described by "he stretched out the line, and describeth it with a rule, he maketh it in its angles, he defineth it by a circle, that he may make it in the form of a man, according to the beauty of man, to dwell in the house;" "the form of a man" signifies an appearance of truth, and "the beauty of man," an appearance of intelligence therefrom, and "to dwell in the house" signifies an appearance of spiritual life therefrom. That from this there is no life of intelligence or of the perception of truth and good is signified by "They know not nor understand, their eyes do not see, and their hearts do not understand." It would be too lengthy to explain what each single thing signifies in particular in this description; it is only necessary that everyone shall be able to see that there is something signified more interior and wise than the mere formation of a graven image. Let it be known that in this description heavenly wisdom which is ineffable lies hidden, and that the angels are in this wisdom when these things are read by man, although the man thinks of nothing but a graven image and its formation; for there are here as many correspondences and as many arcana of wisdom therefrom as there are words.

[8] In Habakkuk:

What profiteth the graven image? For the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image and the instructor of a lie? For the former of its lie trustest in it, since he maketh dumb gods. Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the silent stone, Be watchful, it shall instruct! Behold, it is fixed with gold and silver, and there is no breath in the midst of it. But Jehovah is in the temple of His holiness (Habakkuk 2:18-20).

As a "graven image" means the falsity of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, in which there is nothing of spiritual life because it is from self-intelligence, it is said "What profiteth the graven image? For the maker thereof hath given it; the molten image and the instructor of a lie? in which the former of the lie trustest;" a "lie" signifying falsity, and "the instructor and former of a lie" signifying him who frames it; that there is no intelligence or life in it or from it is signified by "he maketh dumb gods, and there is no breath in the midst of it;" that every truth of doctrine, of the church, and of worship, is from the Lord alone is signified by "Jehovah is in the temple of His holiness;" "temple of holiness" meaning heaven, where and from which is Divine truth.

[9] In David:

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of the hands of man. They have a mouth but they speak not, eyes have they but they see not (Psalms 115:4, 5; 135:15, 16).

"Their idols are silver and gold" signifies external worship without internal, confirmed by the sense of the letter of the Word not understood, and also by the fallacies of the senses; "the work of the hands of man" signifies what is from self-intelligence (that "the work of the hands" means what is from self-intelligence, see in the preceding article). "They have a mouth but they speak not, eyes have they but they see not," signifies that from these there is no thought nor any understanding of truth.

[10] From self-intelligence nothing but falsity comes, because man's self [proprium] is nothing but evil, for it favors his own love and his own intelligence; such, therefore, do not seek truths for the sake of truths, but only for the sake of reputation, renown, glory, and gain, and when these are dominant heaven cannot flow in with its light and open the sight and enlighten, consequently they see like owls, moles, and bats, in the dark, according to these words in Isaiah:

In that day a man shall cast away the idols of his silver and the idols of his gold, which they made for themselves to bow down to the moles and to the bats (Isaiah 2:18, 20).

In Jeremiah:

A drought is upon her waters and they have become dry; for this is a land of graven images, and they boast of horrible things. Therefore the tziim and the ijim shall dwell there, and the daughters of the owl shall dwell therein (Jeremiah 50:38, 39).

"A drought upon her waters" signifies that there is no truth; "the tziim and the ijim" signify infernal falsities and evils, and "the daughters of the owl" signify the affections of falsity. This is said of the land of Chaldea, and of Babylon, which signify the profanations of truth and good by falsities that favor evils, which such frame for themselves for the sake of dominion.

[11] In Hosea:

They have made for themselves a molten image of their silver, idols in their intelligence, all of them the work of the artificers; those that sacrifice man kiss the calves (Hosea 13:2).

Because a "molten image" signifies a doctrinal from self-intelligence it is said, "They have made a molten image of their silver, idols in their intelligence, all of them the work of the artificers;" and because by means of it they destroy spiritual life and put on what is merely natural, it is said, "those that sacrifice man kiss the calves," "to sacrifice man" signifying to destroy spiritual life, and "to kiss the calves" signifying to become merely natural.

[12] In Isaiah:

Behold they are all an iniquity, their works are nothing; their molten images are wind and emptiness (Isaiah 41:29).

Evils of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, are signified by "they are all an iniquity, their works are nothing," and falsities by "their molten images are wind and emptiness;" "wind and emptiness" are predicated in the Word of falsities from self. In Jeremiah:

Why have they provoked Me to anger with their graven images and with the vanities of aliens? (Jeremiah 8:19).

"Vanities of aliens" also signify the falsities of religion, like as "graven images," therefore it is said, "with their graven images, with the vanities of aliens."

[13] In Ezekiel:

Every man of the house of Israel who shall make idols to ascend upon his heart, and shall put the stumbling block of iniquity before his faces, shall yet come to the prophet; shall I, Jehovah, answer him who cometh with a multitude of his idols? (Ezekiel 14:4).

Here, too, "idols" stand for the falsities of doctrine which are from self-intelligence; to accept these falsities and to acknowledge them is signified by "making idols to ascend upon his heart;" and to be affected by them and live according to them is signified by "putting the stumbling block of iniquity before his faces;" that to such the Lord cannot reveal the genuine truths of doctrine so long as they are in these falsities is signified by "if he shall come to the prophet, shall I, Jehovah, answer him who cometh with a multitude of his idols?" A "prophet" means one who teaches truths, and in the abstract sense the doctrine of genuine truth which is from the Lord; and "a multitude of idols" signifies falsities in abundance, for from one falsity assumed as a principle, falsities flow forth in abundance, together with falsities in a series from their connection; this is why they are called "idols," in the plural, and "a multitude of idols."

[14] In the same:

I will sprinkle clean waters upon you that ye may be cleansed from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols will I cleanse you (Ezekiel 36:25).

Because "idols" signify falsities of doctrine it is said, "I will sprinkle clean waters upon you;" "clean waters" signifying genuine truths, and "to sprinkle them upon them" signifies to purify from falsities; these falsities are also called "uncleannesses," because they are falsities from evil, and falsities producing evil.

[15] In Micah:

I will make Samaria into a heap of the field, and I will make its stones to flow down into the valley, and I will open its foundations. Then all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hire of her whoredom shall be burned up with fire, and all their idols will I lay waste; for she hath gathered them from the hire of a harlot, therefore to the hire of a harlot shall they return (Micah 1:6, 7).

"Samaria when it became idolatrous" represented the church devastated in respect to the truths of doctrine and the goods of life, or destroyed by the falsities of doctrine and by the evils of life; devastation in respect to all the truths of the church is signified by "it shall be made into a heap of the field, and its stones shall flow down into the valley, and its foundations shall be opened;" "the field" meaning the church; "the heap of the field" its devastation; "the stones" the truths of the church, and "foundations" the natural truths upon which the church is founded; the complete devastation of these is signified by "the stones shall flow down into the valley, and the foundations shall be opened;" the destruction of the church by the falsities of doctrine is signified by "her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and her idols laid waste;" "the hire of whoredom which shall be burned up with the fire," signifies the falsification of truth by applications to favor the loves of self and of the world.

[16] "Graven images," "molten images," and "idols," have a similar signification in the following passages. In Isaiah:

As My hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols and their graven images of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:10, 11).

Ye shall judge unclean the covering of the graven images of thy silver, and the plating of the molten images of thy gold; thou shalt disperse them as a menstruous thing; thou shalt call it dung (Isaiah 30:22).

In that day a man shall cast away the idols of his silver and the idols of his gold, which your hands have made for you a sin (Isaiah 31:7).

Lest thou say, Mine idol hath done these things, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them (Isaiah 48:5).

They shall be turned backward, they shall be ashamed with shame, that trust in a graven image, that say to a molten image, Ye are our gods (Isaiah 42:17).

A lion upon a watchtower said Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the earth (Isaiah 21:8, 9).

In Ezekiel:

Your altars shall be destroyed, and your sun images shall be broken; and I will make your slain to fall before your idols. And I will lay the carcasses of the sons of Israel before their idols (Ezekiel 6:4, 5).

In Micah:

In that day I will cut off thy graven images and thy statues out of the midst of thee; that thou mayest no longer worship the work of thy hands (Micah 5:10, 13).

In Moses:

And I will cast your bodies upon the bodies of your idols, and My soul shall abhor you (Leviticus 26:30).

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn up with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or gold that is on them to take it unto thee, for it is an abomination to thy God (Deuteronomy 7:25).

Cursed be he who shall make a graven and a molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the artificer, and shall put it in a secret place (Deuteronomy 27:15).

[17] "Idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood," have a similar signification as:

The gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone, that king Belshazzar praised when he drank wine with his nobles and wives out of the vessels of gold and silver that were brought from the temple of Jerusalem; on account of which the handwriting appeared on the wall, and the king [Nebuchadnezzar] 2 was himself driven out from man, and became like a beast (Daniel 5:1, et seq.).

"The vessels of gold and silver of the temple of Jerusalem" signified the holy goods and truths of the church; "the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, which the king of Babylon then praised," have a similar meaning as "idols" of the same, and these signify the evils and falsities of doctrine and of worship; "to praise" signifying to worship; "to drink out of the vessels of the temple of Jerusalem and at the same time to praise or worship those gods" signifies the profanation of good and truth by evils and falsities in worship; and because by profanation everything spiritual in man is destroyed, and man without the spiritual is not a man, so Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from man and became like a beast.

[18] Because an external without an internal must not be worshiped, but only an external from an internal, thus the internal in the external, it was forbidden to make any graven image in the likeness of anything living on the earth, in Moses:

Ye shall not make you a graven image, the shape of any similitude, the figure of male or female, the figure of any beast that is on the earth, the figure of any winged bird that flieth under heaven, the figure of anything that creepeth on the ground, the figure of any fish that is in the waters under the earth (Deuteronomy 4:16-18; 5:8).

This was prohibited because the Jewish nation, more than all other nations, was in externals without internals, and thus in the worship of all the external things that the nations called holy; and to worship external things other than those that represented heavenly things, which were the altar, the sacrifice upon it, the Tent of meeting, and the temple, was idolatrous. The Jewish worship of these, indeed, was also an idolatrous worship, but inasmuch as the church with them was a representative church their worship was accepted for the sake of the representation, although it did not affect them in respect to their soul, as can be seen from the various things shown respecting that nation in Arcana Coelestia (See what is collected in the New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine, n. 248). And as the worship of an external anywhere else than where it was commanded, which was beside the tent in the desert and beside the temple and in the temple in Jerusalem, was the worship of the representative itself without any intuition of the thing represented, thus a worship of what is merely earthly apart from anything heavenly, therefore this was forbidden them, even to the extent that they should not make for themselves any graven images of such things; for the nature of that nation was such that as soon as they saw them made they worshiped them.

[19] That the idolatrous nations worshiped the images, not only of men but also of various beasts, birds, and creeping things, came from its having been handed down from the ancients that these objects signified things celestial and spiritual; as that "beasts" signified affections; "birds" the thoughts therefrom; and "creeping things" and "fishes" the same in the sensual-natural man. From this it came that when those who were in external worship without any internal heard that the holy things of heaven and the church were signified by these objects, they began to worship them; as the Egyptians, and from them the sons of Israel in the wilderness and afterwards in Samaria, worshiped calves, because "calves" with the ancients signified the good affections of the natural man.

Bilješke:

1. Latin has "strengthens," the Hebrew "formeth," as also found in Apocalypse Explained 386; Arcana Coelestia 8941, 9424.

2. Latin has "the king," i.e., Belshazzar, the Chaldee has "Nebuchadnezzar.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.