Zechariah 11:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The first staff, as indicated by the Prophet, has been rejected and dispersed; this corresponds to the gospel teachings in Canaanite territories, spread openly by the holy apostles. Likewise, the second staff, or teaching, represents the law—established by God as a covenant between Judah and Israel, encompassing the entirety of the Israelite people. Judah signifies the two tribes located in Jerusalem, namely Judah and Benjamin, while Israel denotes the remaining ten tribes situated in Samaria, led by Jeroboam. The law was similarly extended to the Canaanites, as it is divinely inspired through both legal and evangelical truths. Therefore, the Savior proclaimed: ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law; I am not come to destroy it, but to fulfil it. I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled’ (Matthew 5:17-18). In this way, He fulfills the law by teaching principles that transcend it while remaining true to its spirit, exemplified in His teachings: ‘Hear that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill: whosoever kills shall be guilty of the judgement. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgement’ (Matthew 5:21-22). Again, He stated: ‘Ye have heard that it was said unto the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, that whosoever looks at a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart’ (Matthew 5:27-28). Thus, the commandment against murder is truly fulfilled only when the anger, which is its root cause, is eliminated. Similarly, we argue that complete abstinence from carnal desires or pleasures eradicates adultery entirely, just as shoots emerging from the roots wither and cease to grow.

After the Jews had valued the Lord at thirty pieces of silver and subjected Him to crucifixion, casting the price of His blood upon a nation lost from the law and divine commandments, He promptly declared, I have severed My second staff; it was intimately connected with Me, described by the prophet Jeremiah as a belt, a girdle or in common terms, a waist belt. This second staff, which is also referred to as the surveyor’s rope and My inheritance, I have cast aside to dissolve the unity, kinship, and harmony that existed between Judah and Israel, creating a division among brethren; henceforth, among the apostles and those who turn back to Me will emerge the names of Judah and believers in their God; Israel will be referred to as Ephraim and Joseph; these are they who, hardhearted, exclaimed, We have no king but Caesar (John 19:15). Therefore, He does not state that He intends to annul the covenant established with Judah and Israel— for He still extends His hand to those who repent— but proclaims that from the same people, He will set apart some who have faith and others who lack it. Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to send peace but a sword: for I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s own household will become his enemies (Matt. 10:34-36).

Hence, the Prophet, after foretelling these matters concerning our God and Savior Christ and addressing the stubbornness of the Jews, rightly redirects the prophecy towards the false Christ they anticipate, as they themselves claim. The Lord also addressed them in the holy Gospel, saying: “I come in my Father's name, and you will not receive me: he who comes in his own name, you will believe” (John 5:43). Blessed Paul likewise remarked about them: “Because they do not love the truth, that they may be saved, God will send them the work of deceit, that they may believe a lie: that all who have disbelieved the truth, but have done well in unrighteousness, may receive judgment” (2 Thess. 2:10-12). The blessed Zacharias similarly prophesied this after being filled with the Spirit of God.