Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Zechariah Ch.13 / 14 Ch.s
ZEC:13
* The Fountain for the remission of sins, The conviction of the
false prophets. (1-6) The death of Christ, and the saving of a
remnant of the people. (7-9)
#1-6 In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing
chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of
the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. Even the atoning
blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. It has
hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but
when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts,
he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the
pierced side of Christ. We are all as an unclean thing. Behold a
fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us
from that fountain. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning
mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a
fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened
for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of
the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are
inhabitants of Jerusalem. Christ, by the power of his grace,
takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. Those who
are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so
they are sanctified. Souls are brought off from the world and
the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God
only. The thorough reformation which will take place on the
conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. False prophets
shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their
proper employments. When convinced that we are gone out of the
way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by
returning to it again. It is well to acknowledge those to be
friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing
us to a sight of error; for faithful are the wounds of a friend,
#Pr 27:6|. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds
of our Saviour. Often has he been wounded by professed friends,
nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his
word.
#7-9 Here is a prophecy of the sufferings of Christ. God the
Father gave order to the sword of his justice to awake against
his Son, when he freely made his soul an offering for sin. As
God, he is called "my Fellow." Christ and the Father are one. He
is the Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep. If a
Sacrifice, he must be slain, for without shedding of the
life-blood there was no remission. This sword must awake against
him, yet he had no sin of his own to answer for. It may refer to
the whole of Christ's sufferings, especially his agonies in the
garden and on the cross, when he endured unspeakable anguish
till Divine justice was fully satisfied. Smite the Shepherd, and
the sheep shall be scattered. This passage our Lord Jesus
declares was fulfilled, when all his disciples, in the night
wherein he was betrayed, forsook him and fled. It has, and shall
have its accomplishment, in the destruction of the corrupt and
hypocritical part of the professed church. Because of the sin of
the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ, and in opposing his
gospel, the Romans would destroy the greater part. But a remnant
would be saved. And if we are his people, we shall be refined as
gold; he will be God, and the end of all our trials and
sufferings will be praise, and honour, and glory, at the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.