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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadVernon McGee Thru The Bible: 38 - ZECHARIAH
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WRITER: Zechariah
Zechariah, whose name means whom Jehovah remembers, is identified (Zec_1:1) as the son of Berechiah, which means Jehovah blesses, and his father was the son of Iddo, which means the appointed time. Certainly this cluster of names with such rich meanings is suggestive of the encouragement given to the remnant — God remembers and blesses in the appointed time. The Jewish Targum states that Zechariah was slain in the sanctuary and that this Zechariah was both prophet and priest. In Neh_12:4 Iddo is mentioned as one of the heads of a priestly family. Josephus states that Zechariah, the son of Baruchus, was slain at the temple. There are those who identify Zechariah as the one mentioned by our Lord as having been martyred (Mat_23:35).
DATE: About 520 B.C.
Zechariah was contemporary with Haggai (Ezr_5:1, Ezr_6:14), although he was younger (Zec_2:4).
CHARACTERISTICS:
This book has the characteristics of an apocalypse. The visions resemble those in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Daniel was born in the land of Israel but wrote his apocalypse outside of it. Zechariah was born outside of the land but wrote his within the land. Daniel, Ezekiel, and John all wrote outside the land. Only Zechariah was in Israel when he wrote his apocalypse. In the dark day of discouragement which blanketed the remnant, he saw the glory in all of the rapture and vision of hope. He has more messianic prophecies than any of the other minor prophets.
OUTLINE:
I. APOCALYPTIC VISIONS (messianic and millennial), Chapters 1 — 6
A. Introduction and message of warning, Zec_1:1-6
B. Ten visions (all in one night), Zec_1:7 — Zec_6:15
1. Riders under myrtle trees, Zec_1:7-17
2. Four horns, Zec_1:18-19
3. Four smiths, Zec_1:20-21
4. Man with measuring line, 2
5. Joshua and Satan, Zec_3:1-7
6. The Branch, Zec_3:8-10
7. Lampstand and two olive trees, 4
8. Flying scroll, Zec_5:1-4
9. Woman in the ephah, Zec_5:5-11
10. Four chariots, 6
II. HISTORIC INTERLUDE, Chapters 7, 8
A. Question concerning a religious ritual (fasting), Zec_7:1-3
B. Threefold answer,Zec_7:4 — Zec_8:23
1. When the heart is right, the ritual is right, Zec_7:4-7
2. When the heart is wrong, the ritual is wrong, Zec_7:8-14
3. God’s purpose concerning Jerusalem unchanged by any ritual, 8
III. PROPHETIC BURDENS, Chapters 9 — 14
A. First burden: Prophetic aspects connected with first coming of Christ, Chapters 9 — 11
B. Second burden: Prophetic aspects connected with second coming of Christ, Chapters 12 — 14
COMMENT:
I. APOCALYPTIC VISIONS (messianic and millennial), Chapters 1 — 6
A. Introduction and message of warning, Zec_1:1-6
Zec_1:1 — (See WRITER.) The date was November 520 B.C. He was contemporary with Haggai.
Zec_1:2 — The returned remnant is warned not to follow in the footsteps of the pre-captivity fathers.
Zec_1:3 —“LORD of hosts” occurs 52 times. “Hosts” is the Hebrew tsaba (Sabaoth), meaning service, strength, warfare. “It implies the boundless resources at His command for His people’s good” (Fauset).
Zec_1:4 — Their fathers had not heeded the former prophets.
Zec_1:5 — Where were their fathers? Buried in Babylon.
Zec_1:6 — “Take hold” means overtake. The prophet’s words were accurately fulfilled.
B. Ten visions (all in one night), Zec_1:7 — Zec_6:15
1. Riders under myrtle trees, Zec_1:7-17
Zec_1:7 — Date: February 24, 520 B.C. (the Hebrew year begins in the April of our year). Zec_1:8-11 — In the vision Zechariah sees a man on a red horse with other red horses behind him. They were speckled because they were in the shadow of myrtle trees. The “man riding upon a red horse” is “the angel of the LORD” in Zec_1:9 and Zec_1:11. “A red horse” is a picture of war. These red horses are the gentile nations that have ruled the world by warfare for 2500 years. They were at peace (Zec_1:11) in Zechariah’s day, and it was a right time to build the temple. They had no concern for the desperate plight of God’s people — neither then nor now.
Zec_1:12-17 — God is displeased with the nations who are at peace and ignore Jerusalem’s plight. God is jealous for Jerusalem; the nations are indifferent to her. God had returned to Jerusalem (Zec_1:16) with mercies, and the nations have a responsibility also.
Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the0 Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. (Rom_3:29)
The promise of Zec_1:17 looks forward to the future kingdom age.
2. Four horns, Zec_1:18-19
Zec_1:18 — A horn represents a gentile ruler (cp. Dan_7:24; Rev_17:12).
Zec_1:19 — The 4 gentile world powers: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. 3. Four smiths, Zec_1:20-21
Zec_1:20 — “Artisan” is a craftsman or smith.
Zec_1:21 — These 4 smiths perhaps represent the judgment of Eze_14:21 —
For thus saith the Lord GOD, How much more when I send my four severe judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Compare with the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse of Revelation 6.
4. Man with measuring line, 2
Zec_2:1 — See Jer_31:38-39; Eze_40:3-5; Rev_11:1-2. When God begins to measure the temple and Jerusalem, He is getting ready to move again in behalf of both.
Zec_2:2 — Jerusalem is to be rebuilt in Zechariah’s day.
Zec_2:10 — Jerusalem is to be rebuilt and restored in the kingdom, and the Lord Jesus Christ will reign there in person.
Zec_2:11 — The nations will come there to worship (Zec_14:16; Isa_2:1-5).
5. Joshua and Satan, Zec_3:1-7
Zec_3:1 — Joshua is representative of the nation Israel. Satan seeks to destroy the nation (Rev_12:1-6).
Zec_3:2 — “A brand plucked out of the fire” means they are rescued for future service.
Zec_3:3-7 — Neither Joshua nor Israel were contenders with Satan while clothed in their own righteousness. They must be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Even a new patch on the old garment will not avail.
6. The Branch, Zec_3:8-10
Zec_3:8 — “The Branch” is a familiar figure of Christ in His many offices. Here He is the servant. Israel rejected Him the first time because they trusted their own righteousness (see Rom_10:3-4).
Zec_3:10 — This refers to the kingdom age.
7. Lampstand and two olive trees, 4
Zec_4:2 — The lampstand is identical to the one that was in the tabernacle and has the same meaning. It is a perfect type of Christ, the Light of the world (see author’s book, The Tabernacle, God’s Portrait of Christ).
Zec_4:3 — The 2 olive trees are the “something new has been added.” The olive trees (Zec_4:11-14) are obviously Zerubbabel and Joshua at that time. The final fulfillment is in Rev_11:3-12.
Zec_4:6 — The interpretation for Zechariah’s day, for the future, and also for our day is a great principle — “Not by brawn nor by brain, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord” (my paraphrase). God’s work is done only in the power of the Holy Spirit. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. The 2 olive trees speak of witnessing. Effective witnessing is done only in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Zec_4:7 — “The headstone” is Christ.
Zec_4:8-10 — The present and practical application is that Zerubbabel will be given power to finish the temple. It will be an occasion for joy, for “who hath despised the day of small things?”
8. Flying scroll, Zec_5:1-4
Zec_5:1 — “A scroll” speaks of the Word of God (cp. Eze_2:9, Eze_3:1-4).
Zec_5:3 — The scroll represents the Ten Commandments.
“Curse” — God will judge according to law. There is judgment, not blessing.
On one side are the commandments that have to do with a man’s relationship to God — “every one that sweareth” represents the first 4 commandments. On the other side are the commandments that have to do with a man’s relationship to his fellowman — “for every one that stealeth” represents the last 6 commandments.
9. Woman in the ephah, Zec_5:5-11
Zec_5:5, 6 — The ephah corresponds to our bushel. This means that sin has filled up the measure and must be judged.
Zec_5:7 — A woman in an ephah is a type of that which is evil (Mat_13:33