Intro
In our study of Zechariah, we have examined the eight visions God gave this prophet on February 15, 519 BC. That brings us to our text today in Zechariah 6:9-15. Follow with me as we read that passage.
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 10 ‘Receive the gift from the captives — from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon — and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:
‘Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the Lord; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.’
14 Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”i
We are not specifically told when this word came to Zechariah. However, it serves as a capstone and summary of the eight visions. So, it probably followed soon after the visions.
In the eight visions, God is assuring his people that the covenant promises made to them will be fulfilled. In their history, they have fallen short of the standard set by the covenant. But these eight visions are a revelation of God’s grace and faithfulness in spite of their failures. He has chastened and administered correction to the nation, but all that he promised will be fulfilled.
Here is a brief review of the eight visions.
Vision # 1 (Zech. 1:7-17) Horseman among Myrtle Trees--reveals God’s Awareness of Everything that is Going On
Vision # 2 (Zech. 1:18-21) Four Horns & Four Craftsmen--reveals God’s Faithfulness to Judge Righteously
Vision # 3 (Zech. 2) Man with Measuring Line--reveals God Will Fulfill His Promise to Bless
Vision # 4 (Zech. 3) Clean Garment for High Priest --reveals God Graciously Cleansing His People To Qualify Them
for Blessing.
Vision # 5 (Zech. 4) Golden Lampstand & Two Olive Trees--reveals God Empowering His People Through the Holy Spirit.
Vision # 6 (Zech. 5:1-4) Flying Scroll reveals God Purging the Rebels among His People so He can bless the nation
Vision # 7 (Zech. 5:5-11) Woman in a Basket--reveals God's Removal of the Evil Influences from His People
Vision # 8 (Zech. 6:1-8) Four Chariots--reveals God Will Judge the Ungodly Nations
So, the core promise in these eight visions is ultimate blessing of God’s people.
Now we come to the way this will all be fulfilled. It all depends on one person. Zech. 6:12 points him out: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!” Everything depends on this Man.
We have seen him again and again in these visions.
> In vision #1 He is the Angel of the Lord on the red horse directing the surveillance.
> In vision #3 He is the Angel of the Lord who will subdue the enemies of God’s people.
> In vision #4 He is the Angel of the Lord who rebukes Satan and provides clean garments for Joshua who is representative of God’s people. He is the Branch and the chief cornerstone introduced in that vision.
> In vision #5 He supplies the priestly and kingly anointing represented by the two olive trees.
The central figure in the book of Zechariah is Messiah, the Branch, Jesus. He is revealed throughout the eight visions, typically seen as the Angel of the Lord.
Now in today’s text, the focus of all that has been said centers on the Branch, the Messiah. This focus comes through a prophetic act described in verses 9-11, explained in verses 12-13, and memorialized in verses 14-15.ii
I. The Prophetic Act DESCRIBED in verses 9-11:
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 10 ‘Receive the gift from the captives — from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon — and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.”
The word of the Lord came to Zechariah. That initiated this prophetic action. When God initiates something, it is far more significant than when man initiates it.
A key to operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit is to hear the word of the Lord and simply obey. Too often leaders initiate projects and activities in the name of God, which God has not directed. The leaders are typically well-intentioned when doing this. The endeavors may be good things to do. But is it what God wants me (us) to do at this time? The backing of the Holy Spirit comes when we are doing what God sends us to do. That’s when divine enablement kicks in. That does not mean we don’t use our God-given minds. We don’t need a supernatural word telling us to take out the trash and wash the dishes. But we do need to live in humble dependence
on God’s leading. An undue reliance on our own understanding can sabotage our effectiveness. Proverbs 3:5-7a is a good reminder of that: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Notice the promise in that passage, “And He shall direct your paths.” The problem is never God’s unwillingness to speak. The issue we all must attend to is our willingness to hear and obey.
We have another key to success in verse 10 where God tells Zechariah to obey without delay: “and go the same day.” When God tells you to do something, don’t over-analyze it. We want to make sure it is from him. We test the subjective guidance of the Spirit by the principles in God’s word, and sometimes godly counsel is needed. But if we don’t respond in God’s timing, we run the danger of getting distracted by other things or talking ourselves out of it. The promptings for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit usually require a timely response. It is done in consideration of others as taught in 1 Corinthians 14.iii God will honor that. But He expects us to honor His timing as well as His direction. In the text, God not only tells Zechariah what to do, but he also tells him when to do. And there is every indication that Zechariah did exactly what he was told to do. The Hebrew text is more emphatic than the English translations. “It repeats the verb ‘go’ twice and infuses the redundant pronoun and adverbial phrase: ‘Go, yourself, on that day, go.’”iv The urgency of the matter is emphasized in the command.
What was Zechariah to do?
(1) He was to “receive the gift from the captives — from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon” (vs 10). These men had brought an offering for the temple from Babylon—from the Jews who were still residing there.
We are not given much information about these men. They were entrusted with significant wealth by those who sent them. That would say something about their status. Since they are dealing with offerings for the temple, they were probably priests. Their names indicate faith in Jehovah.v In verse 14, Heldai is referred to as Helem. Josiah who is mentioned in verse 10 is referred to as Hen in verse 14. Various suggestions have been proposed for this. One name may have been a nickname and the other the official name. Hen may have been Josiah’s title as the temple steward of the donations.vi It doesn’t matter much as long as we understand they are the same people in verse 14. Most translations bring out the fact that they were staying at Josiah’s house.vii
(2) At Josiah’s house, Zechariah was to “make an elaborate crown.” The Hebrew the word (‘atarah) translated “elaborate crown” is plural, but that is probably because it was two crowns combined in one.viii The crown is made from silver and gold received from the Babylonian Jews.
(3) Then Zechariah was to “set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” That is the most significant aspect of this prophetic. He is placing this crown on the High Priest. But priests did not wear crowns like this. A cloth turban was worn by the High Priests. But this type of coronation with a crown like this was reserved for royalty. Without New Testament revelation, we would expect this crown to be placed on Zerubbabel who was in the Davidic linage. “This is so unexpected that liberal scholars often replace Zerubbabel for Joshua”
assuming a textual error. But that is totally unjustified.ix The revelation in this prophetic act is found precisely in the fact that the priest is crowned with a kingly diadem.
In Old Testament Scripture at this time, the royal authority was reserved for the Davidic line in the tribe of Judah, and the priestly authority was reserved for the tribe of Levi, particularly Aaron’s lineage. There was overlap in the prophetic office. Zechariah was both priest and prophet. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were priests who were also prophets. Although David was king, he was also prophetic. But the offices of priest and king were not to reside in one person. This division of power was so significant that crossing the line carried severe judgment. We see that in 2 Chron. 26:16-20 when King Uzziah, David’s descendant, usurped the office of the priest. God immediately struck him with leprosy.
Why this severe judgment from God? The dual office of priest and king is reserved for only one man: Messiah. God jealously guards that honor for his only begotten Son, Jesus. The proper use of authority requires the right heart condition, and the authority of both king and priest requires a perfect heart. Only one man qualifies. His name is Jesus. He demonstrated his heart of love toward those He leads by laying down His life for them at Calvary. This prophetic act is pointing our attention toward Him.
II. The Prophetic Act is EXPLAINED in verses 12-13:
"Then speak to him [Joshua], saying, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:
‘Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the Lord; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.’”
The focus is turned from Joshua to “the Man whose name is the BRANCH!” We already encountered that terminology back in vision #4, Zech. 3:8: “Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, [the same person as in our present text] You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.”
This title, the BRANCH, was already established for Messiah through Isaiah (11:1 and 53:2) and Jeremiah (23:5 and 33:15). I prefer the translation SPROUT or SHOOT rather than BRANCH because the concept is that David’s royal linage had been cut down to a stump when Christ was born. He was like a little sprout (shoot) growing out of that stump.x And through Him the kingdom will spread out like a giant tree. Thus Zechariah 6:12 adds, “From His place He shall branch out.” From that little baby born in a manger shall issue forth the vast kingdom of God.
This prophetic act is predicting the dual role of Messiah as priest and king. Joshua has already been told in Zechariah 3:8 that he and his companions “are a wondrous sign.” The crowning in our text is a sign of something wonderous in God’s future plan: “the Man whose name is the BRANCH.” There are plenty of indicators that this crowning of Joshua is SYMBOLIC in nature. First, Joshua has already been told that he is a “sign” of things to come. Second, the explanation focuses on “the BRANCH,” not Joshua himself. In fact, Joshua is called upon to turn his attention to the BRANCH. Third, this crown was not given to Joshua to wear. It is to be placed in the temple as a memorial. This whole episode is symbolic and prophetic.
There have been other hints prior to this that Messiah would occupy both offices. Psalm 110 declares the royal authority of Messiah, then says in verse 4, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” That not only identifies Messiah as priest and king, but also predicts a change in the order of priesthood from Levitical to “the order of Melchizedek.” That refers us to a previous prophetic act by Abraham back in Genesis 14:18-20 when Abraham paid tithes to that priest-king.
Hebrews 7 applies this symbolism to Christ’s priestly ministry. The explanation continues in Hebrews 7:11-17:
“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.”
If you accept Jesus as Messiah, you are required to accept this change in the priesthood and “of necessity there is also a change of the law.” There are well-intentioned people today who want to accept Jesus as Messiah, but they don’t want to accept the changes recorded here in Hebrews 7. With the coming of Christ, the priesthood has changed. And the law has changed. A new covenant has been established with its commandments and provisions revealed in the New Testament.
Keep in mind, the word Messiah and Christ mean the same thing. One is the Hebrew term, and the other is the Greek term. They both mean “the anointed one.” Christ alone will have the honor of being both high priest and king.
Zechariah 6:12 tells us the BRANCH (Messiah) is the one who will build the temple. Of course, Joshua and his companions in Jerusalem are occupied with their assignment to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. No doubt, they were able to make application of this message to their own situation.xi But the prophetic act was not primarily directed to what they were doing. What they were doing was symbolic of something far greater.
What temple is it that Messiah would build? It is a temple not made with hands. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit being built today which will last forever as God’s dwelling place. It is the people of God. While comparing the priesthood of Christ with that of Aaron, Hebrews 9:11 says, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 identifies the people of God as “a holy temple.” “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”xii
The temple being built in Zechariah’s day pointed to this. The temple during the Millennium foreshadows it. That temple will be built by Messiah, and the gentiles will give their wealth toward its construction. It will stand during the glory days for the nation of Israel when God’s promises to that nation are fulfilled. The promise in verse 15 of our text has significant application for the nation of Israel during the Millennium. Zechariah 6:15: “Even those from afar [a common reference to gentiles (Deut. 13:7)] shall come and build the temple of the Lord.” They will do their part by turning over vast resources to Messiah.
But the ultimate fulfillment of the temple will be eternal.xiii Gentiles participate in that construction as we speak.xiv As we take the gospel to the ends of the earth, we are contributing to the temple of God.xv We are participating in the construction as God prepares a people for his eternal abode. Although we may participate, all the glory goes to this one referred to as the BRANCH. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Notice how emphatic Zechariah 6:13 is on this. The statement has already been made in verse 12 that Christ/Messiah will build the temple. But then verse 13 says, “Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory.” The glory for it all will be his. He will forever carry the honor as both priest and king of his people.
In this symbolic act, it is the priest who is crowned king, not the other way around. In his first advent, our Lord took the role of priest offering the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. He now lives forever making intercession for us. Hebrews 4:14-16 reminds us of the benefits we enjoy even today through our great High Priest. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” I hope you are taking advantage of that, for it is more valuable than all the gold in Fort Knox.
So, in his first coming Christ established his role as High Priest. In his Second Coming he establishes his role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As revealed in Vision #8, his enemies will be destroyed. Then his double role of priest-king is established throughout the earth.
Zechariah 6:13 declares the harmony of these two offices in the person of Christ. “And shall sit and rule on His throne [functioning as king]; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.’” There shall be no contradiction of the two offices in the one person. It will produce perfect peace and prosperity.
Only one man is worthy of this honor. In Revelation 5 John weeps because no one is worthy to take the scroll which represents the title deed of planet earth. But one of the elders tells him to not weep, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5). This honor did not come to him simply because of his divinity.
He attained it as a MAN. Zechariah 6:12 does not say, “Behold the God whose name is the BRANCH. It says, ‘Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!” He proved his worthiness by laying down his life as a man in obedience to the Father. Follow the path in Philippians 2:5-11. It begins with the incarnation. It proceeds with his obedience even to the death of the cross. It climaxes in verses 9-11 with His coronation: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Your great High Priest is King of All.
When the world sees his exaltation as King, they will know that the Father sent him. Verse 15 says, “Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.” At his First Advent, they did not know. At his Second Advent, all will know. The phrase in Zechariah 6:15 does not refer to Zechariah. It refers to Messiah. We encountered the same phrase in visions #3 (2:9, 11) and #5 (4:9), and those referred to Messiah as well. “Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.”
Before we close, just a few comments about
III. The Prophetic Act MEMORALIZED in verses 14-15.
Verse 14: “Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.”
The sacrifice made by these people will be honored. You will never make a sacrifice for the kingdom of God that the Lord overlooks. He sees it all. Even a cup of water given in his name shall not lose its reward (Mark 9:41). The angel told Cornelius, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). Do not say, "My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God?" as Israel did in Isaiah 40:27. As Hagar learned in Gen.16:13—He is “the God who Sees.” This crown in the temple honored those who sacrificed to provide it.
But the memorial carried a more significant purpose. It was placed in the Temple to remind the people of the promise it represents. There is coming a man whose name is the BRANCH who will build the eternal habitation of God in his people. As priest-king he will fulfill all the will of
the Father. In Him all the promises of God are yea and amen (2 Cor. 1:20). Keep looking for him, for in Him and Him alone are all the promises of God fulfilled. Even now our hearts are toward heaven saying, “Even so. Come Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
The text closes with an exhortation toward obedience. Verse 15: “And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” The contingency is not about God’s ability to bring his plan to pass. It is about my participation in it. The first generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt disqualified themselves from entering the promise land because of their disobedience. Did God’s plan for bringing the nation into the promise land come to pass? Yes, but that generation missed their opportunity. The plan was fulfilled with the next generation. Participation in the works of God depend on consecration and obedience.
I do not know what God will do in the months and years ahead of us. But I know he is always working. I know there is always opportunity to participate in what he is doing. I want to position myself to be in on it. Many stand on the sidelines even now hoping that someday things will change, and God will use them. He will use you now. He wants to use you now. If you will embrace the way he wants to do it. If you consecrate yourself to Him, you will participate in the works of God now. He is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). Don’t live under the mindset of SOMEDAY. Live under the mindset of NOW. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
ENDNOTES:
i All Scripture quotes are from the New King James Version unless indicated otherwise.
ii Prophet acts are legitimate expressions found in Scripture. Ezekiel lay on his left side 369 days and on his right side 40 days as a message to Israel (Ezek. 4). Jeremiah had Baruch bury his property deed in a clay jar as a sign that God would bring His people back to Jerusalem after the captivity (Jer. 32). And in the New Testament, Agabus bound himself with Paul’s belt indicating Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem. Obedient acts like these are legitimate expressions of prophetic messages then and now. They are rare and are often accompanied with a verbal message as well. When they occur, we should not reject them simply because they are rare or seem strange. How would you react to a minister who was lying on his left side for 369 days? Even the action of Agabus in Acts 21:11 would strike most of us as strange.
iii When operating in the gifts of the Spirit, we are responsible to do so in the spirit of love, considering others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3; 1 Cor. 13:4-5). Cf. 1 Cor. 14:26-32).
iv Boda, Haggai and Zachariah, The NIV Application Commentary, 337.
v “Heldai (apparently, ‘the Lord’s world’) Tobijah (‘good is Yah’), Jedaiah (‘Yah [i.e., Yahweh] knows). Unger, Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory, 111.
vi Boda, Haggai and Zachariah, The NIV Application Commentary, 336. Referencing Baldwin (1972: 146), Hill suggests the name changes “may be due to their desire to have their formal names entered in the official temple record.” Hill, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 175.
vii See Leupold, Exposition of Zechariah, 121 for an examination of the Hebrew text substantiating this. Keil writes, “It is evident from vv. 10 and 11 that the messengers had come to Jerusalem from the Israelites who had been left behind in Babel, to offer presents of silver and gold, probably for supporting the erection of the temple, and had
gone to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.” Keil and Delitzch Commentary of the Old Testament (Zech. 6:10).
viii Unger says, “the meaning both contextually and lexically is here singular, crown. . . . Even if the plural were followed, it would indicate not two crowns, but one composite crown of two or more parts’ (emphasis his). Unger, Zechariah, 112. Leupold comments, “Though this word appears in the plural it does not signify ‘crown’ (A.V.), or ‘two crowns’ (Luther), but only ‘crown,’ as appears fro the fact that it is set upon one man’s head” (emphasis his). Leupold, An Exposition of Zechariah, 122.
ix Phillips, Zechariah, Reformed Expository Commentary, 143.
x Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (OT:6780) gives the meaning as: “a sprout, a growth, a branch
a) a sprouting, a growth, a sprout
b) growth (used of a process)
c) a sprout, a shoot (used of the Messiah from the Davidic tree)”
(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research). Most commentaries prefer the term “shoot.” See further explanation of this in my exposition of the fourth vision (part 9 in this series): “Zechariah’s Fourth Vision: Messiah the Qualifier.”
xi In Zechariah 4:8, Zerubbabel is honored as builder of the material temple in Zechariah’s day. But that only served as a sign pointing to a greater temple built by a greater one in the line of David, Messiah. Leupold correctly identifies the temple referred to in Zech. 6:12 as the spiritual temple built by Christ. He writes, “Since Zerubbabel is pointed to as the man who is to complete the material structure (4:7), something more than the material structure is under consideration. Since the Messiah’s activity is in every case regarded as the spiritual completion of all outward symbols, therefore, ‘the Temple’ must be the true spiritual Temple of which passages like I Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:1f; Heb. 3:6; Hos. 8:1 speak” (emphasis his). Leupold, An Exposition of Zechariah, 124.
xii Also see Heb. 3:6; 8:2and 1 Pet. 2:5.
xiii The Millennial temple will serve its purpose during the thousand year reign of Christ when the promises God made to the nation of Israel will be fulfilled through Messiah. But there will be no material temple in the eternal kingdom (Rev. 21:22).
xiv Leupold writes, “This does not refer to other exiles who shall also return and help to build Zerubbabel’s Temple but to those of other nations, who are in every sense ‘far’ from God, who shall draw near in faith and bring their resources for the upbuilding of the spiritual temple unto the Lord (Hag. 2:7).” Leupold, Exposition of Zechariah, 126. Boyd (p. 342) understands this as a reference to Jews still in Babylon at the time of this event. There is certainly an application to the building of the Millennial temple as well. In fact, Rydelnik understand the passage to be referring to the Millennial temple (Ezek. 40-42) Rydelnik and Vanlaningham, eds., The Moody Bible Commentary,1424. The differences of opinion on this reflect the challenges in interpreting this with certainty.
xv Cf. 1 Cor. 3:10; Eph. 4:16;1 Pet. 2:5.
