One of the reasons people should work their way through the whole Bible on a regular basis is to encounter chapters like these, which are seldom included in topical Bible studies. The general theme is a contrast between God’s ongoing love for Judah and Israel (Zechariah 10:6-12, 12:7-8), and God’s distress at the faithlessness of leaders and idolaters (11:17, 13:2-4): a lesson we need to hear often. And scattered amidst these chapters are a number of lines that found their way into the New Testament.

God assigned Zechariah the role of shepherd (11:4), as a symbolic rebuke of the leaders of Jerusalem, the shepherds of God’s flock (11:7-8). It did not go well. In the end, they paid Zechariah thirty shekels of silver for his work – an insultingly low sum (11:13). So God instructed Zechariah to throw the money away – into the treasury, it says in the early Syriac translation, or to the potter, it says in the best Hebrew version (11:13). We probably recollect that the chief priests – the shepherds of God’s flock – paid Judas thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3). Matthew shows us a couple additional hints to help us understand that Judas’ actions were anticipated in scripture. First, just as Zechariah threw the money, so also Judas throws down the money (Matthew 27:5). And second, fascinatingly, there is even an uncertainty as to whether the money should go to the treasury or the potter (Matthew 27:6-7).

The well-known story of the soldier piercing Jesus’ side with a spear (John 19:34-37) reflects this text: “when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born” (Zechariah 12:10). Just before his arrest Jesus warned his disciples, “It is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27); today’s reading is the place where is it written (Zechariah 13:7).

Finally, John’s vision of the New Jerusalem is anticipated by Zechariah’s vision. We recall how John stated that the glory of God gives light to the New Jerusalem, with no need of sun or moon (Revelation 21:23); this is already noted by Zechariah: “ … there shall be continuous day (it is known to the Lord), not day and not night” (Zechariah 14:7). Regarding the River of Life (Revelation 22:1-2) Zechariah says “On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 14:8).

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We give you thanks, O Lord, for the riches of your word, and for lines of prophecy that would be fulfilled hundreds of years later. You have always known what you would do. You have always known how you would fulfill your promises. We trust in you, O God, all down the generations, and forever.

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