The Book of Zechariah

The double purpose for Zechariah's book is given in the two major parts that make up the book. 1. The visions and messages of chapters 1 - 8 were given to encourage the Jews who had returned to Judah to start building the temple again and to inspire them to continue the work until the task was completed. 2. Chapters 9 - 14 were given to encourage the same people after the temple was finished because many of them became discouraged when the Messiah did not come once the temple was completed, as they expected.


The book divides into two major parts. Part one (1-8) begins by challenging the Jews to return to the Lord - to renew their devotion to Him - so that He might return to them. Part 2 (9-14) contains two blocks of apocalyptic prophecy. Each of these sections is introduced with the words, "an oracle" referring to a word from the Lord that foreshadows or points toward certain future events.


Six special features characterize the book of Zechariah. 1. It is the most Messianic of all the Old Testament books. 2. Among the minor prophets, it contains the most specific and complete prophetic prophecies about end-time events. 3. It represents the most successful union of the roles of priest and prophet in Israel's history. 4. More than any other Old Testament book, its visions and highly symbolic language resemble the apocalyptic books of Daniel and Revelation. 5. It records a bold example of divine sarcasm about the time of Christ's betrayal for thirty pieces of silver. Through the prophet, God mockingly referred to that treacherous event as the "handsome price at which they priced me." 6. Zechariah's prophecy about the Messiah in chapter 14, which pictures Him as the great Warrior-King reigning over Jerusalem, is one of the most glorious and inspiring descriptions of Christ in Old Testament prophecy.


The profound importance of Zechariah's prophecy is understood as we see how it is applied in the New Testament. Zechariah's most obvious contribution to the New Testament are his many prophecies about the Messiah, which the New Testament writers clearly recognized as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Among these are: He will come in a humble and lowly manner; He will restore Israel and make a new covenant with them through the shedding of His own blood; He will be a shepherd that leads and cares for God's scattered and wandering sheep; He will be betrayed and rejected; He will return in final glory; He will rule as King in perfect peace and righteousness; and He will establish His glorious and eternal kingdom over all nations.