Bible 101: Lesson 36

Zechariah

Zechariah was the other prophet who, with Haggai, preached to the first generation who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. The first eight chapters relate to the years between 520 and 518 B.C. when the temple restoration was underway. The message supports the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest. At times, however, the message seems to drift into descriptions of the future and it’s hard to tell whether he is speaking of the future Messiah or of his contemporary leaders.

Chapters 9-14 are very different. They deal exclusively with the future beyond Zechariah’s day. Some of those prophecies were remarkably fulfilled by Jesus at his first coming, and some remain to be fulfilled at his second coming. Overall, Zechariah is a book rich with imagery surrounding Jesus and has some very important Messianic prophecies.

Messianic prophecies in Zechariah

God living among his people
OT References: Zech 2:10-13
NT Fulfillment: Rev 21:3,24

A new priesthood
OT References: Zech 3:8
NT Fulfillment: Eph 2:20-21; 1 Pet 2:5

Enthroned high priest
OT References: Zech 6:12-13
NT Fulfillment: Heb. 5:5-10; 7:11-28; 8:1-2

Triumphal entry
OT References: Zech 9:9-10
NT Fulfillment: Matt 21:4-5; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:13-15

Sold for thirty pieces of silver
OT References: Zech 11:12-13
NT Fulfillment: Matt 26:14-15

Money buys the potter’s field
OT References: Zech 11:12-13
NT Fulfillment: Matt 27:9-10

Piercing of his body
OT References: Zech 12:10
NT Fulfillment: John 19:34,37

Shepherd smitten – sheep scattered
OT References: Zech 13:1,6-7
NT Fulfillment: Matt 26:31; John 16:32