BIG IDEA:
THE COMING MESSIAH WILL REIGN AND MINISTER PEACE AS BOTH KING AND PRIEST FROM THE TEMPLE WHICH HE WILL BUILD
INTRODUCTION:
The difficult work of the remnant in the days of Zechariah had tremendous significance. For the rebuilding of the temple prefigured that future eschatological day when the Messiah would return to build His glorious temple and reign as both king and priest – an amazing confluence of these two very exalted anointed offices. (cf. how our system of government maintains its checks and balances between the executive, legislative and judicial branches) The Messiah would come as the prophecied Branch to powerfully extend his reign over all the earth. He would establish peace and righteousness and confirm the prophetic Word of the Lord.
I. (:9-11) THE CROWNING — THE SYMBOLIC CORONATION OF JOSHUA
A. (:9) Divine Authority of the Symbolic Coronation
“The word of the Lord also came to me, saying”
Important section – dealing with the culmination of all of history
B. (:10a) Important Role of the Returning Remnant
“Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah”
MacArthur: Jewish exiles who remained in Babylon, but who had come bearing gifts for the building of the temple are identified.
C. (:10b) Urgency of the Acting Out of the Drama
“and you go the same day”
D. (:10c) Privileged Setting of the House of Josiah
“and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon”
E. (:11a) Value of the Symbolic Crown
“Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown”
Required great sacrifice in terms of the cost of the offering;
Not fashioned like any ordinary crown
MacArthur: Zechariah was to make not a High-Priest’s crown or turban, but an ornate crown, one constructed of many circlets, a majestic crown (like the one on the returning Messiah in Rev 19:12).
Mackay: The word “crown” in the original is a plural noun, but it is improbable that more than one crown is meant. Sometimes plurals are used in Hebrew to indicate a superlative, so that the idea would be of the ultimate or supreme crown. The mention of the two metals, moreover, makes it likely that what is described is a crown consisting of multiple rings of metal.
It is possible that 2 crowns were made: one of gold and one of silver; one for Joshua and one for Zerubbabel; and that the text goes on to just give the details about the prophetic crowning of Joshua …
Merrill: But the text before us makes perfectly good sense with the double personality and double crown perspective it presents. What the narrative is saying is that crowns are made, only one of which is to be worn by Joshua. One could even translate the relevant passage, “Take silver and gold and make crowns, placing one on the head of Joshua the high priest” (v. 11). This admittedly presupposes an elliptical expression of something like “make crowns (and of these one is Joshua’s) and place it,” etc. Such ellipsis is a common feature of biblical Hebrew.
F. (:11b) Surprising Coronation of a Priest
“and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.”
II. (:12-13) THE COMING BRANCH — THE MESSIANIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BRANCH = THE ULTIMATE PRIEST-KING
A. (:12a) Divine Interpretation of the Symbolic Coronation
“Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts’”
B. (:12b) Significance of the Designated Prophetic Name of Branch
“Behold, a man whose name is Branch,
for He will branch out from where He is”
Feinberg: The thought is rather the growth of the Messiah, the King-Priest, from lowliness and obscurity to note and eminence from His own nation and country.
Mackay: It seems to point to the Messiah as a legitimate descendant to David. He will not be a foreigner.
C. (:12c-13a) Repeated Emphasis on His Divine Mission = Building the Temple
“and He will build the temple of the Lord.
Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord”
D. (:13b) The Combined Role of King and Priest
1. Reigning as King
“And He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne”
Feinberg: The first verb speaks of the dignity of the office, and the second speaks of the exercise of its authority. He sits! Priests never sat in their ministry. There was no seat in the tabernacle nor in the temple for the priests. Theirs was an unfinished work; His is a gloriously complete one.
2. Ministering as Priest
“Thus, He will be a priest on His throne”
3. Administration of Peace Via His Combined Role
“and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”
Mackay: “counsel of peace” here is that deliberate policy which procures peace”
Appleby: Never again will the King lead the people astray against the warnings of the priests. Never again will the king need to keep the priests in order. Both roles will be exercised by the one person.
Whitcomb: He is one person, with two distinct functions, yet in total harmony.
III. (:14-15) THE CULMINATION OF PROPHECY — THE MEMORIAL CROWN AND VALIDATION OF DIVINE PROPHECY
A. (:14) The Crown of Remembrance
“Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah.”
B. (:15a) The Certainty of the Fulfillment of the Mission = the Building of the Temple
“Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the Lord.”
Even though the temple will be built by the Messiah; He will use human instruments; Some commentators take this as a reference to the wealth of the Gentiles being used in the building of the temple; but in context it seems to be a reference to the regathering of the Jewish people
C. (:15b) The Confirmation of the Lord’s Word
“Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.”
D. (:15c) The Condition of Obedience for Participation in the Project
“And it will take place if you completely obey the Lord your God.”