Zechariah 8:1-14:21

Zechariah was mentioned in Ezra 5:1; 6:14 and possibly also Matthew 23:35.

Zechariah 8:1-15 – God would again bless them.

Zechariah 8:16-17 – God’s blessings would be conditional. Their fast days would become feasts of joy.

Zechariah 9:1-17 – God pronounces judgment on the Gentile nations, but a remnant of even these would return to God – clearly a Messianic prophecy.

Zechariah 10:2 – Idols are false and can never give blessings.

Zechariah 11 – Allegory of the good and foolish shepherds.

• Zechariah 11:7 – The good shepherd made two staffs: Favor and Union.

• Zechariah 11:11 – The staff (covenant) was broken.

• Zechariah 11:13 – Prophecy of Judas Iscariot and his betrayal.

• Zechariah 11:14 – Union was broken, signifying the breaking of the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

• Zechariah 11:15-17 – The foolish shepherd would not care for the flock. Hebrews 13:17

Zechariah 12 – Jerusalem defeats the nations because God fights for her.

• Zechariah 12:7 – Allusion to Judah receiving the gospel first.

Zechariah 13-14 – The Messiah: the kingship and church.

• Zechariah 13:1 – Fountain = Christ’s blood.

• Zechariah 13:2-3 – There would be no more prophets.

• Zechariah 13:7 – The shepherd would be smitten. Matthew 26:31

• Zechariah 14:3 – God is with us in our battles.

• Zechariah 14:8 – This might be implying that Jesus’ blood cleanses those in the Old and New Covenants.

• Zechariah 14:17-18 – All people must come to the new Jerusalem (the church) to serve God.

Lessons for us:

• God’s people must walk in His name to be His people.

• Jesus’ blood is for all in all time.

• Woe to foolish shepherds.

• Jesus is now king.

• Prophets and unclean spirits are gone.

• All preaching must have a “thus sayeth the Lord.”

• All must come to new Jerusalem (the church).

• Good shepherds care for God’s flock.

• God won’t bless those who don’t serve Him.