When hope fails us – 8 December 2020

₁₆“Kepha lesi sizukulwane ngiyakusifanisa nani na? Sifana nabantwana abahlezi ezigcawini bememeza abanye bethi:

₁Ngaleso sikhathi uJesu wadabula amasimu ngesabatha; abafundi bakhe babelambile, baqala ukukha izikhwebu, badla. ₂Kepha abaFarisi bebona lokho bathi kuye: “Bheka, abafundi bakho benza okungavunyelwe ukuba kwenziwe ngesabatha.”

₃Wathi kubo: “Anifundanga yini akwenzayo uDavide msukwana elambile kanye nababe naye ₄ukuthi wangena endlini kaNkulunkulu, wadla izinkwa zokubukwa okungavunyelwe ukuba zidliwe nguye nababe naye kodwa ngabapristi kuphela, na? ₅Futhi anifundanga yini emthethweni ukuthi ngesabatha abapristi bayalona isabatha ethempelini, bangabi nacala, na? ₆Kodwa ngithi kini: ‘Kukhona lapha okukhulu kunethempeli.’ ₇Kepha uma benazi ukuba kuyini lokhu ukuthi: ‘Ngifuna isihawu, hhayi umhlatshelo,’ nga ningabalahlanga laba abangenacala. ₈Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyinkosi yesabatha.”

₉Wamuka lapho, wangena esinagogeni* labo. ₁₀Bheka, kwakukhona umuntu onesandla esishwabeneyo; bambuza bathi: “Kuvunyelwe yini ukuphulukisa ngesabatha na?” – ukuze bammangalele.

₁₁Kepha wathi kubo: “Ngumuphi umuntu kini enemvu eyodwa, uma iyele emgodini ngesabatha, ongayikuyibamba, ayikhiphe, na? ₁₂Pho-ke, umuntu udlula imvu kangakanani. Ngakho-ke kuvunyelwe ukwenza okuhle ngesabatha.”

₁₃Khona wathi kulowo muntu: “Yelula isandla sakho.” Wayeseselula, sasinda saba njengesinye. ₁₄Base bephuma abaFarisi, benza isigungu ngaye ukuba bambhubhise.

₁₅Kepha uJesu ekwazi lokho wamuka lapho. Bamlandela abaningi, wabaphulukisa bonke. ₁₆Wabayalisisa ukuba bangamzwakalisi, ₁₇ukuze kugcwaliseke okwakhulunywa ngo-Isaya umprofethi ukuthi:

₂₂Kwase kulethwa kuye okhwelwe yidemoni, eyimpumputhe eyisimungulu; wamphulukisa, kwaze kwathi oyisimungulu wakhuluma, wabona. ₂₃Zase zimangala kakhulu izixuku zonke, zathi: “Lo asiyo indodana kaDavide na?”

₂₄Kepha abaFarisi bekuzwa bathi: “Lo uwakhipha amademoni ngoBelzebule kuphela, umbusi wamademoni.” ₂₅Kepha uJesu ezazi izizindlo zabo wathi kubo: “Yilowo nalowo mbuso owahlukene wodwa uyachitheka, nalowo muzi nokuba indlu eyahlukene yodwa ingeme. ₂₆Uma uSathane emkhipha uSathane, wahlukene yedwa. Pho, umbuso wakhe uyakuma kanjani na? ₂₇Uma mina ngikhipha amademoni ngoBelzebule, amadodana enu awakhipha ngobani na? Ngalokho-ke wona ayakuba ngabahluleli benu. ₂₈Kepha uma mina ngikhipha amademoni ngoMoya kaNkulunkulu, umbuso kaNkulunkulu usufikile phela kini.

₂₉“Futhi umuntu angangena kanjani endlini yesiqhwaga, aphange impahla yaso, uma engabophi kuqala isiqhwaga, andukuba aphange indlu yaso, na?

₃₀“Ongenami umelene nami; ongabuthi nami uyahlakaza. ₃₁Ngalokho ngithi kini: Abantu bayakuthethelelwa zonke izono nokuhlambalaza, kepha ukuhlambalaza uMoya akuyikuthethelelwa. ₃₂Yilowo nalowo okhuluma izwi elimelene neNdodana yomuntu uyakuthethelelwa; kepha lowo okhuluma elimelene noMoya oNgcwele akayikuthethelelwa nakuleli zwe nakwelizayo.

₃₃“Yenzani umuthi ube muhle, nesithelo sawo sibe sihle; noma nenze umuthi ube mubi, nesithelo sawo sibe sibi; ngokuba umuthi waziwa ngesithelo sawo. ₃₄Nzalo yezinyoka, ningakhuluma kanjani okuhle nibabi na? Ngokuba umlomo ukhuluma ngokuchichima kwenhliziyo. ₃₅Umuntu omuhle ukhipha okuhle engcebeni yakhe enhle; nomuntu omubi ukhipha okubi engcebeni yakhe embi. ₃₆Kepha ngithi kini: Amazwi onke ayize abawakhulumayo abantu bayakuzilanda ngawo ngosuku lokwahlulelwa. ₃₇Ngokuba ngamazwi akho uyakuthethwa, nangamazwi akho uyakulahlwa.”

₃₈Kwase kuphendula abathile kubabhali nabaFarisi, bathi: “Mfundisi, sithanda ukubona isibonakaliso esenziwa nguwe.” ₃₉Kepha waphendula, wathi kubo: “Isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo sifuna isibonakaliso; kepha asiyikunikwa sibonakaliso, kuphela isibonakaliso sikaJona umprofethi. ₄₀Ngokuba njengalokho uJona wayesesiswini somkhomo izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu, kanjalo-ke neNdodana yomuntu iyakuba sebuthunjini bomhlaba izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu. ₄₁Amadoda aseNineve ayakusukuma ekwahlulelweni kanye nalesi sizukulwane, asilahle; ngokuba aphenduka ngokushumayela kukaJona; bhekani, kukhona lapha okukhulu kunoJona. ₄₂Inkosikazi yaseningizimu iyakusukuma ekwahlulelweni kanye nalesi sizukulwane, isilahle; ngokuba yavela emikhawulweni yomhlaba izakuzwa ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni; bhekani, lapha kukhona okukhulu kunoSolomoni.

₄₃“Nxa umoya ongcolileyo esephumile kumuntu, uyadabula izindawo ezingenamanzi efuna ukuphumula, angakufumani. ₄₄Khona uthi: ‘Ngizakubuyela endlini yami engaphuma kuyo;’ esefikile, ayifumane ize, ishaneliwe, ihlotshisiwe. ₄₅Abesehamba-ke, abuye nabanye omoya abayisikhombisa ababi kunaye, bangene bahlale khona; kuthi ukugcina kwalowo muntu kuba kubi kunokuqala. Kuyakuba njalo nakulesi sizukulwane esibi.”

₄₆Esashumayela ezixukwini, bheka, unina nabafowabo babemi ngaphandle befuna ukukhuluma naye. ₄₇Omunye wathi kuye: “Bheka, unyoko nabafowenu bemi ngaphandle befuna ukukhuluma nawe.”

₄₈Kepha waphendula, wathi komtshelileyo: “Ngubani umame, nabafowethu ngobani na?” ₄₉Welula isandla sakhe ngakubafundi bakhe, wathi: “Bhekani nangu umame nabafowethu. ₅₀Ngokuba yilowo nalowo owenza intando kaBaba osezulwini nguye ongumfowethu nodadewethu nomame.”

₁Ngalolo suku uJesu waphuma endlini, wahlala phansi ngaselwandle. ₂Kwase kubuthana kuye izixuku eziningi, waze wangena emkhunjini, wahlala phansi, uquqaba lonke lumi ogwini. ₃Wakhuluma kubo okuningi ngemifanekiso, wathi: “Bhekani, kwaphuma umhlwanyeli ukuyohlwanyela. ₄Ekuhlwanyeleni kwakhe enye imbewu yawela ngasendleleni; kwafika izinyoni, zayidla zayiqeda. ₅Kepha enye yawela edwaleni, lapho yayingenamhlabathi omningi khona; yamila masinyane, ngokuba ingenamhlabathi ojulileyo. ₆Kodwa seliphumile ilanga, yahwamuka; nangokuba ingenampande, yabuna. ₇Kepha enye yawela emeveni; ameva akhula, ayiminyanisa. ₈Kepha enye yawela emhlabathini omuhle; yathela isithelo, enye ngekhulu, enye ngamashumi ayisithupha, enye ngamashumi amathathu. ₉Onezindlebe makezwe.”

₁₀Kwase kufika abafundi bakhe, bathi kuye: “Ukhulumelani kubo ngemifanekiso na?”

₁₁Waphendula-ke, wathi kubo: “Nina niphiwe ukwazi izimfihlakalo zombuso wezulu; kodwa bona kabakuphiwanga. ₁₂Ngokuba yilowo nalowo onakho uyakuphiwa, kuvame; kodwa lowo ongenakho uyakwamukwa nalokho anakho. ₁₃Kungalokhu ngikhuluma kubo ngemifanekiso, ngokuba noma bebona, kababoni, noma bezwa, kabezwa, kabaqondi. ₁₄Kugcwaliseka kubo isiprofetho sika-Isaya sokuthi:

₁₈“Yizwani-ke nina umfanekiso womhlwanyeli. ₁₉Yilowo nalowo olizwa izwi lombuso engaliqondi ufikelwa ngomubi ohlwitha okuhlwanyelwe enhliziyweni yakhe. Yilowo ohlwanyelwe ngasendleleni. ₂₀Ohlwanyelwe edwaleni nguye olizwa izwi, alamukele masinyane ngokuthokoza; ₂₁kepha kanampande phakathi kwakhe, kodwa uhlala isikhashana nje, kuthi sekuvele ukuhlupheka nokuzingelwa ngenxa yezwi, akhubeke masinyane. ₂₂Futhi-ke ohlwanyelwe emeveni nguye olizwa izwi, kepha iminako yalesi sikhathi nokukhohlisa kwengcebo kuminyanisa izwi, abe ngongatheliyo. ₂₃Kepha ohlwanyelwe emhlabathini omuhle nguye olizwa izwi, aliqonde, athele impela isithelo, omunye aveze ngekhulu, omunye ngamashumi ayisithupha, omunye ngamashumi amathathu.”

₂₄Omunye umfanekiso wawubeka kubo, wathi: “Umbuso wezulu ufaniswa nomuntu owahlwanyela imbewu enhle ensimini yakhe; ₂₅kepha abantu besalele, kwafika isitha sakhe, sahlwanyela ukhula phakathi kwamabele, samuka. ₂₆Kwathi ukuba likhule ikhaba, kuthele isithelo, khona kwabonakala nokhula.

₂₇“Kwase kufika izisebenzi zomnumzane, zathi kuye: ‘Nkosi, awuhlwanyelanga imbewu enhle ensimini yakho na? Pho, ilutholephi ukhula na?’

₂₈“Wathi kuzo: ‘Lokhu kwenziwe ngumuntu oyisitha.’

“Izisebenzi zathi kuye: ‘Uthanda ukuba siye ukulubutha na?’

₂₉“Kodwa wathi: ‘Qha, funa nithi, nxa nibutha ukhula, nisiphule amabele kanye nalo. ₃₀Yekani kukhule kokubili ndawonye, kuze kuvunwe; ngesikhathi sokuvuna ngiyakuthi kwabavunayo: Buthani kuqala ukhula, nilubophe izinyanda ukuba lushiswe, nibuthele amabele engotsheni yami.’ ”

₃₁Omunye umfanekiso wawubeka kubo, wathi: “Umbuso wezulu ufana nenhlamvu yesinaphi ayithatha umuntu, wayihlwanyela ensimini yakhe; ₃₂yona kambe incinyane kunazo zonke izimbewu, kepha uma isikhulile, inkulu kunezilimo, iba ngumuthi, kuze kufike izinyoni zezulu, zakhele emagatsheni awo.”

₃₃Wabatshela omunye umfanekiso wathi: “Umbuso wezulu ufana nemvubelo ayithatha owesifazane, wayifaka ezilinganisweni ezintathu zempuphu, kwaze kwabila konke.”

₃₄Konke lokho uJesu wakukhuluma ezixukwini ngemifanekiso; ngaphandle komfanekiso kakhulumanga lutho kubo, ₃₅ukuze kugcwaliseke okwakhulunywa ngomprofethi ukuthi:

₃₆Khona wazishiya izixuku, weza endlini. Basondela kuye abafundi bakhe, bathi: “Sichasisele umfanekiso wokhula ensimini.” ₃₇Wayesephendula, ethi kubo: “Ohlwanyela imbewu enhle yiNdodana yomuntu; ₃₈insimu yizwe; imbewu enhle yibo abangabantwana bombuso; kodwa ukhula ngabantwana bomubi; ₃₉kepha isitha esaluhlwanyelayo nguSathane; ukuvuna kungukuphela kwezwe; nabavuni yizingelosi. ₄₀Ngakho-ke njengokuba ukhula luyabuthwa, lushiswe emlilweni, kuyakuba njalo ekupheleni kwezwe. ₄₁INdodana yomuntu iyakuthuma izingelosi zayo, zibuthe, zikhiphe embusweni wayo konke okukhubekisayo nabenza okubi, ₄₂zibaphonse eziko lomlilo; lapho kuyakuba khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo. ₄₃Khona abalungileyo bayakukhanya njengelanga embusweni kaYise wabo. Onezindlebe makezwe.

₄₄“Umbuso wezulu ufana nengcebo efihlwe ensimini, yafunyanwa ngumuntu, wayithukusa; ngokuthokoza kwakhe uyahamba, athengise ngakho konke anakho, athenge leyo nsimu.

₄₅“Futhi umbuso wezulu ufana nomthengi ofuna amaparele* amahle; ₄₆eselifumene iparele linye elinenani elikhulu, waya wathengisa ngakho konke anakho, walithenga.

₄₇“Futhi umbuso wezulu ufana nenetha elaphonswa elwandle, lihlanganisa zonke izinhlobo; ₄₈lithe seligcwele, balidonsela ogwini, bahlala phansi, babuthela ezinhle ezitsheni, kepha ezimbi bazilahla. ₄₉Kuyakuba njalo ekupheleni kwezwe; kuyakuphuma izingelosi, zahlukanise ababi nabalungileyo, ₅₀zibaphonse eziko lomlilo; lapho kuyakuba khona ukukhala nokugedla amazinyo.

₅₁“Nikuqondile konke lokho na?”

Bathi kuye: “Yebo.”

₅₂Wayesethi kubo: “Ngakho-ke yilowo nalowo mbhali ofundiselwe umbuso wezulu ufana nomuntu, umnumzane, okhipha engcebeni yakhe okusha nokudala.”

₅₃Kwathi uJesu eseqedile leyo mifanekiso, wamuka lapho. ₅₄Esefikile emzini wakubo wabafundisa esinagogeni* labo, baze bamangala, bathi: “Lo ukuthathaphi lokhu kuhlakanipha nalawa mandla na? ₅₅Lo akasiyo indodana yombazi na? Unina kathiwa uMariya, nabafowabo asithi oJakobe, noJosefa, noSimoni, noJuda na? ₅₆Nawodadewabo abakho yini bonke lapha kithi na? Pho, lo ukuthathaphi konke lokhu na?” ₅₇Bakhubeka ngaye.

Kepha uJesu wathi kubo: “Umprofethi kadelelwa ngaphandle kwasezweni lakubo nasendlini yakwabo.”

₅₈Akenzanga lapho imisebenzi eminingi yamandla ngenxa yokungakholwa kwabo.

₁Ngaleso sikhathi uHerode umtetrarki* waluzwa udumo lukaJesu, ₂waze wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Lo nguJohane uMbhapathizi; yena uvukile kwabafileyo; kungalokho lawa mandla asebenza kuye.”

₃Ngokuba uHerode wayembambile uJohane, wambopha, wamfaka etilongweni ngenxa kaHerodiya umkaFiliphu umfowabo, ₄lokhu uJohane wayethe kuye: “Awuvunyelwe ube naye.” ₅Kuthe efuna ukumbulala, wesaba abantu, ngokuba bathi ungumprofethi.

₆Kepha ngosuku lokuzalwa kukaHerode indodakazi kaHerodiya yasina phambi kwabo, yamjabulisa uHerode, ₇kwenzeka ukuba ayithembise ngesifungo ukuyipha lokho engakucela. ₈Yona isifundisiwe ngunina yathi: “Ngiphe lapha ngoqwembe ikhanda likaJohane uMbhapathizi.” ₉Inkosi yadabuka, kepha ngenxa yezifungo zayo nangenxa yababehlezi nayo ekudleni yayaleza ukuba inikwe, ₁₀yathuma yamnquma uJohane ikhanda etilongweni. ₁₁Ikhanda lakhe lalethwa ngoqwembe, lanikwa intombazana; yaliyisa kunina. ₁₂Kwafika abafundi bakhe, bathabatha isidumbu, basimbela; baya bambikela uJesu.

₁₃Wathi uJesu esekuzwile lokho, wamuka lapho ngomkhumbi, waya endaweni eyihlane eyedwa. Kepha izixuku zathi sezikuzwile, zamlandela ngezinyawo ziphuma emizini. ₁₄Waphuma, wabona isixuku esikhulu; waba nesihe ngaso, waphulukisa abagulayo babo.

₁₅Selishonile, abafundi bakhe beza kuye, bathi: “Le ndawo iyihlane, isikhathi sesihambile; mukisa izixuku ukuba ziye emizaneni, zizithengele ukudla.”

₁₆Kepha uJesu wathi kubo: “Akuswelekile ukuba bamuke; bapheni nina ukudla.”

₁₇Bathi kuye: “Asinalutho lapha, kuphela izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili.”

₁₈Wayesethi: “Ziletheni lapha kimi.” ₁₉Wayeseyala izixuku ukuba zihlale phansi etshanini, wazithabatha izinkwa eziyisihlanu nezinhlanzi ezimbili, wabheka ngasezulwini, wazibusisa, wazihlephula, wabanika abafundi izinkwa, abafundi baphakela izixuku. ₂₀Badla bonke, basutha, babutha imvuthuluka eseleyo, iziqabetho eziyishumi nambili ezigcwele. ₂₁Kepha abadlayo kwakungathi amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu ngaphandle kwabesifazane nabantwana.

₂₂Wayesecindezela masinyane abafundi ukuba bangene emkhunjini, bamandulele ukuya phesheya, aze amukise izixuku. ₂₃Esezimukisile izixuku wenyukela entabeni eyedwa ukuyokhuleka; sekuhlwile, wayeyedwa lapho. ₂₄Kepha umkhumbi wawususukile amastadiyu* amaningi emhlabathini, ushukunyiswa ngamaza, ngokuba umoya wawuphambene nabo.

₂₅Ngomlindo wesine wobusuku weza kubo ehamba phezu kolwandle. ₂₆Kepha abafundi sebembonile ehamba phezu kolwandle bashaywa luvalo, bethi yisithunzi; bakhala ngokwesaba.

₂₇Kodwa uJesu wakhuluma kubo masinyane, wathi: “Yimani isibindi; yimina, ningesabi.”

₂₈UPetru wayesephendula, wathi kuye: “Nkosi, uma kunguwe, yisho ukuba ngize kuwe phezu kwamanzi.”

₂₉Wayesethi: “Woza.”

Wehla-ke uPetru emkhunjini, wahamba phezu kwamanzi, weza kuJesu. ₃₀Kepha ebona umoya wesaba; eseqala ukushona wakhala wathi: “Nkosi, ngisindise!”

₃₁Masinyane uJesu welula isandla, wambamba, wathi kuye: “Awu, wena onokukholwa okuncinyane, ungabazeleni na?”

₃₂Sebekhwele emkhunjini, umoya wanqamuka. ₃₃Abasemkhunjini bakhuleka kuye, bathi: “Ngempela uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”

₃₄Sebewelile bafika ezweni laseGenesaretha. ₃₅Athi ukumazi amadoda aleyo ndawo, athuma izigijimi kulo lonke izwe langakhona; baletha kuye bonke abagulayo. ₃₆Bamncenga ukuba bathinte nje umphetho wengubo yakhe; bonke abawuthinta basindiswa.

₁Khona abaFarisi nababhali bafika kuJesu bevela eJerusalema, bathi: ₂“Yini ukuba abafundi bakho beqe isiko labadala na? Ngokuba abahlambi izandla nxa bedla isinkwa.”

₃Kepha waphendula, wathi kubo: “Nani, yini ukuba neqe umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yesiko lenu na? ₄Ngokuba uNkulunkulu wathi: ‘Yazisa uyihlo nonyoko,’ nokuthi: ‘Othuka uyise noma unina makafe nokufa.’ ₅Kepha nina nithi: ‘Oshoyo kuyise noma kunina ukuthi: Kungumnikelo lokho ongabe usizwe yimi ngakho,’ ₆akayikwazisa uyise noma unina; kanjalo nilenze laba yize izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesiko lenu. ₇Bazenzisi, waprofetha kahle ngani u-Isaya, ethi: ₈‘Lesi sizwe singidumisa ngezindebe zomlomo, kepha inhliziyo yaso ikude nami; ₉kodwa bangikhonza ngeze befundisa izifundiso eziyimiyalo yabantu.’ ”

₁₀Wayesebabiza abantu, wathi kubo: “Yizwani, niqonde. ₁₁Akusikho okungena emlonyeni okungcolisa umuntu; kepha okuphuma emlonyeni lokhu kungcolisa umuntu.”

₁₂Khona kwasondela abafundi bakhe, bathi kuye: “Uyazi ukuthi abaFarisi bathe bezwa lelo zwi, bakhubeka na?”

₁₃Kepha waphendula wathi: “Yileso naleso sithombo esingatshalwanga nguBaba wasezulwini siyakusishulwa. ₁₄Bayekeni; bangabaholi abayizimpumputhe; kepha nxa impumputhe ihola impumputhe, ziyakuyela emgodini zombili.”

₁₅UPetru waphendula, wathi kuye: “Sichasisele lo mfanekiso.”

₁₆Wayesethi: “Kanti nani nisengabangaqondiyo na? ₁₇Anikaqondi yini ukuthi konke okungena emlonyeni kuya esiswini, kuze kulahlelwe ngaphandle na? ₁₈Kepha okuphuma emlonyeni kuvela enhliziyweni; lokho-ke kuyamngcolisa umuntu. ₁₉Ngokuba enhliziyweni kuvela izizindlo ezimbi, ukubulala, ukuphinga, ubufebe, ukweba, ukufakaza amanga, ukuhlambalaza. ₂₀Yilezo zinto ezimngcolisayo umuntu; kodwa ukudla ngezandla ezingahlanjiwe akumngcolisi umuntu.”

₂₁UJesu ephuma lapho wamuka, waya emaphandleni aseTire naseSidoni. ₂₂Bheka, kwavela emikhawulweni yakhona owesifazane waseKhanani, wakhala wathi: “Ngihawukele, Nkosi, Ndodana kaDavide! Indodakazi yami ikhwelwe kabi yidemoni.”

₂₃Kepha akamphendulanga ngazwi. Base besondela kuye abafundi bakhe, bamncenga, bathi: “Mmukise ngokuba uyakhala emva kwethu.” ₂₄Kodwa waphendula wathi: “Angithunyelwanga kwabanye, kuphela ezimvini ezilahlekileyo zendlu yakwa-Israyeli.” ₂₅Kepha wayeseza, wakhuleka kuye wathi: “Nkosi ngisize.”

₂₆Waphendula wathi: “Akukuhle ukuthatha isinkwa sabantwana, usiphonse ezinjaneni.”

₂₇Yena wathi: “Yebo, Nkosi; kepha nezinjana zidla imvuthuluka ewa etafuleni labaninizo.” ₂₈Khona uJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “O mame, kukhulu ukukholwa kwakho; makube kuwe njengokuthanda kwakho.” Indodakazi yakhe yasinda kusukela kuleso sikhathi.

₂₉Wasuka lapho uJesu, wafika ngaselwandle lwaseGalile, wenyukela entabeni, wahlala phansi khona. ₃₀Kwase kusondela kuye izixuku eziningi zinezinyonga, nezimpumputhe, nezimungulu, nezilima, nabanye abaningi, zababeka ngasezinyaweni zakhe; wabaphulukisa, ₃₁baze bamangala abantu bebona izimungulu zikhuluma, izilima zisindile, izinyonga zihamba, izimpumputhe zibona; bamdumisa uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.

₃₂UJesu wayesebabiza abafundi bakhe, wathi: “Ngiyasihawukela isixuku, ngokuba sekuyizinsuku ezintathu sihlezi kimi, singenanto yokudla; angithandi ukubamukisa belambile, funa mhlawumbe baphele amandla endleleni.”

₃₃Bathi kuye abafundi: “Singazitholaphi ehlane izinkwa ezingaka zokuba kusuthe isixuku esingaka na?”

₃₄Wathi kubo uJesu: “Ninezinkwa ezingaki na?”

Bathi: “Eziyisikhombisa, nezinhlanzana eziyingcosana.”

₃₅Wayala isixuku ukuba sihlale phansi; ₃₆wazithabatha izinkwa eziyisikhombisa nezinhlanzi, wabonga, wazihlephula, wanika abafundi, abafundi baphakela izixuku. ₃₇Badla bonke, basutha, babutha imvuthuluka eseleyo, amaqoma ayisikhombisa agcwele. ₃₈Kepha abadlayo babe yizinkulungwane ezine zamadoda ngaphandle kwabesifazane nabantwana. ₃₉Esezimukisile izixuku wangena emkhunjini, wafika emikhawulweni yaseMagadana.

₁AbaFarisi nabaSadusi beza bemlinga bacela kuye ukuba ababonise isibonakaliso esivela ezulwini.

₂Kepha waphendula, wathi kubo: “Kusihlwa nithi: ‘Loba lisile, lokhu izulu libhejile;’ ₃kuthi kusasa nithi: ‘Namuhla lizakuphendula, ngokuba libhejile, liguqubele.’ Kanti ukuma kwezulu niyakwazi ukukuchaza, kepha izibonakaliso zezikhathi aniziqondi na? ₄Isizukulwane esibi nesiphingayo sifuna isibonakaliso, kepha asiyikunikwa sibonakaliso, kuphela isibonakaliso sikaJona umprofethi.” Wabashiya, wamuka.

₅Sebefike phesheya, abafundi bakhe babekhohliwe ukuphatha izinkwa. ₆UJesu wayesethi kubo: “Anobheka nixwaye imvubelo yabaFarisi nabaSadusi.”

₇Baphendulana bodwa, bathi: “Kungokuba singaphathanga izinkwa.”

₈Kepha ekwazi lokho uJesu wathi: “Nina bokukholwa okuncane, yini ukuba niphendulane nodwa ngokuthi kungokuba ningenazinkwa na? ₉Anikaqondi yini, futhi anizikhumbuli izinkwa eziyisihlanu zezinkulungwane eziyisihlanu nokuthi nabutha iziqabetho ezingaki na? ₁₀Nezinkwa eziyisikhombisa zezinkulungwane ezine nokuthi nabutha amaqoma amangaki na? ₁₁Aniqondi ngani ukuthi bengingakhulumi kini ngesinkwa na? Kepha xwayani imvubelo yabaFarisi nabaSadusi.” ₁₂Khona baqonda ukuthi kashongo ukuba baxwaye imvubelo yezinkwa kepha isifundiso sabaFarisi nabaSadusi.

₁₃UJesu esefikile emaphandleni aseKesariya Filipi wababuza abafundi bakhe, wathi: “Abantu basho ukuthi iNdodana yomuntu ingubani na?”

₁₄Bathi: “Abanye basho uJohane uMbhapathizi; abanye basho u-Eliya; abanye basho uJeremiya noma omunye wabaprofethi.”

₁₅Wathi kubo: “Nina-ke nithi ngingubani na?”

₁₆USimoni Petru waphendula wathi: “Wena unguKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.”

₁₇UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Ubusisiwe wena Simoni kaJona, ngokuba inyama negazi akukwambulelanga lokhu kodwa uBaba osezulwini. ₁₈Nami-ke ngithi kuwe: Wena unguPetru; phezu kwaleli dwala ngiyakulakha ibandla lami; amasango eHayidese* awayikulahlula. ₁₉Ngiyakukunika izihluthulelo zombuso wezulu. Oyakukubopha emhlabeni koba kuboshiwe nasezulwini, nalokho oyakukukhulula emhlabeni koba kukhululiwe nasezulwini.” ₂₀Khona wabayala abafundi ukuba bangatsheli muntu ukuthi nguye onguKristu.

₂₁Kusukela kuleso sikhathi uJesu waqala ukubonisa abafundi bakhe ukuba umelwe ukuya eJerusalema, ahlushwe ngokuningi ngamalunga nangabapristi abakhulu nababhali, abulawe, kepha avuswe ngosuku lwesithathu.

₂₂UPetru wayesemthatha, waqala ukumkhuza, wathi: “Musa, Nkosi, lokho akusoze kwenziwa kuwe.”

₂₃Yena waphenduka, wathi kuPetru: “Buyela emva kwami, Sathane; uyisikhubekiso kimi, ngokuba awuqondi okukaNkulunkulu kepha okwabantu.”

₂₄Khona uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Uma umuntu ethanda ukuza emva kwami, makazidele, athabathe isiphambano sakhe, angilandele. ₂₅Ngokuba yilowo nalowo othanda ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe uyakulahlekelwa yikho; kepha olahlekelwa ngukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yami uyakukufumana. ₂₆Ngokuba kuyakumsizani umuntu, uma ezuza izwe lonke, onakalelwe ukuphila kwakhe, na? Yingabe uyakukhiphani umuntu, kube yisihlengo sokuphila kwakhe, na? ₂₇Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu iyakuza ngenkazimulo kaYise kanye nezingelosi zayo; khona-ke iyakuvuza yilowo nalowo ngesenzo sakhe. ₂₈Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Bakhona abanye kwabemi lapha abangayikuzwa ngempela ukufa, baze bayibone iNdodana yomuntu iza embusweni wayo.”

₁Emva kwezinsuku eziyisithupha uJesu wathatha oPetru, noJakobe, noJohane umfowabo, wakhuphukela nabo entabeni ende bebodwa. ₂Waphenduka esinye isimo phambi kwabo; ubuso bakhe bakhanya njengelanga, izingubo zakhe zaba mhlophe njengokukhanya. ₃Bheka, kwabonakala kubo oMose no-Eliya bekhuluma naye.

₄Wathatha uPetru wathi kuJesu: “Nkosi, kuhle ukuba silapha. Uma uthanda, ngizakwakha lapha amadokodo amathathu, elinye libe ngelakho, elinye libe ngelikaMose, elinye libe ngelika-Eliya.”

₅Esakhuluma, bheka ifu elikhanyayo labasithibeza; bheka, kwavela izwi efwini, lathi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo; yizweni.”

₆Kuthe sebezwa lokho abafundi, bawa ngobuso babo, besaba kakhulu. ₇Kepha uJesu wasondela, wabathinta, wathi: “Sukumani, ningesabi.” ₈Kepha bephakamisa amehlo abo ababonanga muntu, kuphela uJesu yedwa.

₉Besehla entabeni, uJesu wabayala wathi: “Ningatsheli muntu lowo mbono, ize ivuke iNdodana yomuntu kwabafileyo.”

₁₀Bambuza abafundi, bathi: “Pho, basholoni ababhali ukuthi u-Eliya umelwe ukufika kuqala na?”

₁₁Waphendula wathi: “Nempela u-Eliya uyeza, uyakubuyisela konke. ₁₂Kepha ngithi kini: U-Eliya sewafika; abamazanga nokho, kodwa benza kuye abakuthandayo. Kanjalo neNdodana yomuntu iyakuhlushwa yibo.” ₁₃Khona abafundi baqonda ukuba ubekhuluma kubo ngoJohane uMbhapathizi.

₁₄Sebefikile esixukwini, kweza kuye umuntu, waguqa ngamadolo phambi kwakhe, ₁₅wathi: “Nkosi, hawukela indodana yami, ngokuba inesithuthwane, ihlupheka kabi, lokhu iwela kaningi emlilweni, kaningi emanzini. ₁₆Ngiyilethe kubafundi bakho, kepha bahluleka ukuyiphulukisa.”