The Ultimate King-Priest
February 1, 2020
Commentary
This vision is about the Messiah, the King-Priest. In the days of the kings and after the exile Judah’s government was ruled by two distinct persons; the king ruling the political life and the high priest, ruling its religious life. This section opens with three Hebrews arriving from this place of exile bringing an offering for the temple which was in the process of construction (vv. 9-10). Zechariah was instructed to receive these gifts of silver and gold and to fashion them into crowns and place one upon Joshua’s head (v. 11). However this crown was not to belong to Joshua personally. The next two verses (vv. 12-13) use the symbol of the Branch to speak prophetically of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage contains one of the greatest of all the Old Testament prophecies. The following information is given as to the person, position, and mission of the Messiah to come.
The Person – the Branch calls attention to Christ in His glorious return as He comes back to this earth to rule and to reign (v. 12) He is to arise according to promise, from the seed of Abraham and of David in the land of Israel. The Position – the statement that “he shall be a priest upon his throne” (v. 13) shows that this prophecy looks far beyond Joshua personally to Jesus. The Joshua of Zechariah’s day could never have been a king because he was not from the kingly line of David but from the priestly line of Aaron.The Mission – “He shall build the temple of the Lord” (v. 15). Zerubbabel, not Joshua built the temple referred to earlier in this chapter so this looks beyond Joshua to the Lord Jesus Christ who will one day build the millennial temple described in Ez. 40-48.
Application
If I want God’s blessing in my life I must be obedient to Him? Casual or occasional obedience are the result of a half-hearted commitment. God’s blessings will come to me as a result of consistent obedience. Inconsistent obedience can’t produce consistent blessing.
Zechariah 6:9– 15 (NET)
9 The Lord’s message came to me as follows: 10 “Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all who have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Then take some silver and gold to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua the high priest, the son of Jehozadak. 12 Then say to him, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “Look—here is the man whose name is Branch, who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 Indeed, he will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed in splendor, sitting as king on his throne. Moreover, there will be a priest with him on his throne and they will see eye to eye on everything. 14 The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 Then those who are far away will come and build the temple of the Lord so that you may know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the Lord your God.”’”
Illustration: Son Who Learned What Now Means
A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service. “Dad,” he said. “I learned what ‘now’ means.” (Readers Digest, May, 1996, p. 174).