Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
Z E C H A R I A H.
CHAP. VIII.
The work of ministers is rightly to divide the word of truth and to give every one his portion. So the prophet is here instructed to do, in the further answer he gives to the case of conscience proposed about continuing the public fasts. His answer, in the foregoing chapter, is by way of reproof to those that were disobedient and would not obey the truth. But here he is ordered to change his voice, and to speak by way of encouragement to the willing and obedient. Here are two words from the Lord of hosts, and they are both good words and comfortable words. In the former of these messages Zechariah 8:1 ) God promises that Jerusalem shall be restored, reformed, replenished Zechariah 8:2 - 8 ), that the country shall be rich, and the affairs of the nation shall be successful, their reputation retrieved, and their state in all respects the reverse of what it had been for many years past Zechariah 8:9 - 15 ); he then exhorts them to reform what was amiss among them, that they might be ready for these favours designed them Zechariah 8:16 ; Zechariah 8:17 ). In the latter of these messages Zechariah 8:18 ) he promises that their fasts should be superseded by the return of mercy Zechariah 8:19 ), and that thereupon they should be replenished, enriched, and strengthened, by the accession of foreigners to them, Zechariah 8:20 - 23 .
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
Z E C H A R I A H.
T HIS prophet was colleague with the prophet Haggai, and a worker together with him in forwarding the building of the second temple Ezra 5:1 ); for two are better than one. Christ sent forth his disciples two and two. Zechariah began to prophesy some time after Haggai. But he continued longer, soared higher in visions and revelations, wrote more, and prophesied more particularly concerning Christ, than Haggai had done; so the last shall be first: the last in time sometimes proves first in dignity. He begins with a plain practical sermon, expressive of that which was the scope of his prophesying, in the Zechariah 1:1 - 5 ; but afterwards, to the end of Zechariah 6:1 - 15Zechariah 6:1 - 15 , he relates the visions he saw, and the instructions he received immediately from heaven by them. At Zechariah 7:1 - 14Zechariah 7:1 - 14 , from an enquiry made by the Jews concerning fasting, he takes occasion to show them the duty of their present day, and to encourage them to hope for God's favour, to the end of Zechariah 8:1 - 23Zechariah 8:1 - 23 , after which there are two sermons, which are both called burdens of the word of the Lord (one begins with Zechariah 9:1 - 17Zechariah 9:1 - 17 , the other with Zechariah 12:1 - 14Zechariah 12:1 - 14 ), which probably were preached some time after; the scope of them is to reprove for sin, and threaten God's judgments against the impenitent, and to encourage those that feared God with assurances of the mercy God had in store for his church, and especially of the coming of the Messiah and the setting up of his kingdom in the world.
