Zechariah 11:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

We recognize that we were ‘bought at a price’ (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23), ‘not with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish’ (1 Peter 1:18-19). Consequently, we owe our lives to Him, for ‘if One died for all, then all died’ (2 Corinthians 5:14), and we are called to no longer live for ourselves, but rather for Him who died and rose for us (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Thus, He invites us: ‘If it is pleasing to you,’ referring to the sacrament of the shared life in the flesh, if you are saved through Him and find yourself secure, having come to know Me as your Saviour and Redeemer who bore death for the sake of all, then ‘give, having set apart, that is, having separated, My bounty, or deny Me.’ The converts from among the Gentiles acted wisely, as they offered a reward, which, while not equal to the blessings we have received from Him, at least mirrored them in some way. Just as He laid down His life for us, we too are called to offer our very souls out of our closeness to Him and love for Him. We can echo the holy martyrs: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’ (Romans 8:35); nothing could overcome the willpower of the saints.

The resemblance of Christ to us is highlighted when Judas, the betrayer, ‘sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver,’ a sum he received as a reward for his treachery, thus sacrificing the Cause of our redemption to wicked men. In contrast, God allowed thirty pieces of silver to be offered from the Gentiles as a reward for Christ, which were then, by divine command, cast into the crucible, tested like Christ Himself who was tried for our sake. Our faith must endure trials, as revealed by God’s omniscience, and our lives will also face temptations; as the blessed Paul affirms, ‘the work of each one will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire’ (1 Corinthians 3:13). Furthermore, it is written about Christ, ‘Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts, and who can endure the day of His coming? And who will stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap’ (Malachi 3:1-3). The psalmist David, speaking for all believers who aspire to live in accordance with the Gospel, implores: ‘Examine me, O Lord, and test me; try my mind and my heart’ (Psalm 25:2). The prophet notes that the trials are found in the temple of God, for the church of Christ scrutinizes everyone’s lives and the authenticity of their love for Him. With the gift of discerning spirits (1 Corinthians 11:10), the church recognizes who speaks by the Holy Spirit, acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and who speaks by the adversary, declaring curses against Him (1 Corinthians 12:3); distinguishing between true worshippers and those who, like wolves in sheep’s clothing, come to deceive.

When the humble among the Israelites who follow my commandments recognize that what is prophesied is indeed the word of the Lord and that my pronouncements are true, He speaks to them, saying, If you are willing and obedient, you shall partake of the good things of the land (Isaiah 1:19). In light of your willingness to listen to me, you shall indeed enjoy the blessings of the earth. Because I have chosen you, my selected flock, from among all of humanity, I ask for a small measure—keep my commandments as my wages. If you choose not to pay, evaluating my name's worth as unworthy before you, then feel free to reject this.

It is indeed noteworthy that they answered Moses, proclaiming, All that the Lord has spoken we will do (Ex. 24:3). Yet at the culmination of time, despite being chosen from the nations and liberated from the oppressive bondage of Egypt, they offered thirty pieces of silver as my reward, paid to Judas the betrayer for the price of my blood (Matthew 26:15). The Lord, or the Savior Himself, to whom these initial words belong, attests that the Father speaks to Him; the Prophet conveys that He instructed me to cast it into the crucible. In Hebrew, instead of 'crucible,' the term is Joser (יוצר), meaning both sculptor and potter. This indicates, cast my worth to that potter, the Creator of all things. He did not command, “Take it away,” but rather, “Cast it,” so that the valuation might be assessed accurately by the Master Craftsman Himself.

In an ironic statement reflecting on the unworthy price attributed to Him—betrayed for merely thirty pieces of silver—He declares: Decent is the price at which I am regarded by them. This remark carries an undertone of derision: My people, once the humble flock I selected to be my sons, have appraised my value in terms of transactional currency. The Lord relates through the prophet that I followed His instruction, taking the thirty pieces of silver and casting them into the house of the Lord, directed toward the potter. I compelled the betrayer to return the silver to the priests and Pharisees, with the betrayer confessing, I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood (Matthew 27:4). Because it was blood money, they refused to deposit it into the temple treasury, opting instead to purchase the potter’s field for the burial of strangers.

Indeed, we who were once estranged from the law, redeemed by His precious blood, find rest in the house of the Creator and Master Artisan. In previous translations, I referred to Him as the statuarius, emphasizing the dual meaning of artist and sculptor. The Jews, attempting a misleading interpretation, liken the thirty pieces of silver to the thirty commandments of the law, together with the thirty-six prohibitions that the law observes. This suggests an obligation to return the value of the Lord's commandments to the Creator, which they neglected, leading to their rejection. My intent was merely to provide a brief overview of their interpretation before advancing to subsequent topics. Their extensive explanations are laborious to detail.

The Prophet declared that he had thrown the silver into the temple of God, rightly referring to it as 'the crucible,' for within it those who seek repentance are transformed, shedding the toxins of sin and becoming worthy of God's grace. Consequently, the Prophet states:

Thus, this signifies how little the ungrateful Jews valued the Lord’s pastoral care: they reduced Him to the status of a slave, an entity that was regarded as inexpensive in ancient times. The profound ingratitude of the Jews towards their benevolent Shepherd, the Lord God Himself, could not be depicted more vividly.