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13 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
Idolatry Cut Off
“And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.
“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’ And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’
The Shepherd Struck
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the LORD of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land, declares the LORD,
two thirds shall be cut off and perish,
and one third shall be left alive.
And I will put this third into the fire,
and refine them as one refines silver,
and test them as gold is tested.
They will call upon my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’;
and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”
(ESV)
Zechariah 13 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
In order to understand this chapter, we must rewind to the end of Zechariah 12. In the end times, after Jesus has returned, Zechariah predicts a time of mourning where Israel will finally realize their sin against The Messiah. Through their Godly sorrow comes repentance which leads to the washing away of sin and impurity (13:1).
Once and for all, idolatry will be cut off. Once and for all, those who spew false prophecies and lead the people astray will be destroyed. In fact, Zechariah speaks toward a time when public opinion will no longer tolerate the false prophets in their land. With the Holy Spirit powerfully present over the nation of Israel, His discernment will rule. In that time no one will even want to be identified as a prophet.
Instead, he will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer—I have farmed the land all my life.’ 6 Then if someone asks him, ‘What are those wounds on your chest?’ he will answer, ‘I got them at a friend’s house.’ “
Zechariah 13:5-6 GNB
This does not mean that prophecy itself would cease but that those who speak falsely would be exposed. The reason we must look back at Zechariah 12 is to remember that all of this wisdom and discernment came from Jesus dwelling with His people. Mourning, repentance, and turning to Jesus led to a clarity that unified the people. Finally, they were able to turn from their idolatry and the deceit of false prophets.
It is important to realize that through the Holy Spirit this same discernment is available today!