Main Highlights
Cleansing from sin and idolatry, and the refining of a remnant.
Key Verses
“In that day there will be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.— Zechariah 13:1
And it will come about in that day,” declares Yahweh of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and also I will remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.— Zechariah 13:2
Then it will come about that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you have spoken falsely in the name of Yahweh’; and his father and mother who gave birth to him will pierce him through when he prophesies.— Zechariah 13:3
It will also come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive;— Zechariah 13:4
Related Scripture
"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."— 1 John 1:7
Scholar Insight
"“Zechariah 13 speaks of a future cleansing from sin and idolatry, as well as a refining process for a remnant of God’s people.” - George L. Klein, The New American Commentary, Vol. 23A: Zechariah (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), p. 238."
Theological Analysis
What we learn about God
God is a purifier who desires to cleanse His people from sin and idolatry. He also refines them through trials. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’ " (Zechariah 13:9)
Christological Connection
The striking of the shepherd and the scattering of the sheep point towards Jesus' crucifixion and the temporary scattering of His disciples.
Systematic Theology
Sanctification, the process of being made holy, is demonstrated through the refining of the remnant.
Law & Grace
The fountain opened for sin and impurity is a symbol of God's grace, while the judgment on false prophets demonstrates the Law's demand for truth.
Personal Application
We should seek God's cleansing from sin and embrace the refining process, trusting in His faithfulness. "In that day there will be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity" (Zechariah 13:1)