Zechariah 3:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, they liken the Savior's cross to a channel; by spilling the blood of the Lord and daring to execute the Prince of Life, they metaphorically plunged into a pit. If one contemplates the notion that the Father Himself prepared this channel, let no one be swayed by such ideas. Rather, one should recognize the profound significance inherent in the concept of house-building, echoing the truth asserted by Christ: ‘For judgment I am come into this world: that they which see not may see, and they which see shall be blind’ (John 9:39). While it is clear that His purpose was not to blind anyone, the ignorance of those unable to grasp the purpose of the house-building overshadowed the vision of this magnificent edifice. Though divine light radiated upon them, they chose not to see. This must be understood clearly. The Father sent the Son to redeem the world through Him; however, due to the folly of those who were oblivious, the One sent became a pit and a snare for the ones who crucified Him, leading one to infer that He who sent Him prepared the channel. Therefore, His promise to dig a ditch and heal the afflictions of the land in one day is emphasized. He states, I will send pestilence, instead of saying I will search thoroughly because they killed the holy prophets and mistreated the ministers sent to them; some were dishonored, some were stoned, and others were murdered. Yet God was patient with those who suffered as well as with those who inflicted harm. Eventually, however, they became so reckless and malevolent that they violently turned against the Son Himself, plunging into the pit of the cross. This sin did not go unexamined; He sought out the wicked and enacted judgment, determining the ruin of the entire Jewish nation on that day when those who delivered Him to Pilate proclaimed, ‘His blood be on us and on our children’ (Matt. 27:25). Although the consequences of divine wrath did not immediately strike them, and the punishment was not without delay, God’s righteous judgment was assured; destruction was poured out upon the land of the Jews. As Christ was led away to be crucified, and the women followed Him, weeping and mourning, He turned to them and said, ‘O ye daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children’ (Luke 23:28), for they were destined for devastation and suffering, facing the reality articulated by Isaiah: ‘Your land is desolate, your cities are burned up with fire; your country is inhabited by strangers, and your land is desolated; you are consumed by outsiders’ (Isaiah 1:7).

The Lord Almighty declares, “Behold I will open the door, and I will tear it open, and I will remove the unrighteousness of this land, and in that day I will call every honest man of you under the vine and under the fig tree,” indicating that He will transform a desolate land into one rich and flourishing for His service and worship. In another translation, it is noted, “Behold I will dig a ditch, saith the Lord Almighty, and I will bury all the hurt of this land in one day. In that day, saith the Lord Almighty, ye shall call every man of your sincerity under the vine and under the fig tree.” In this enigmatic dig of a ditch, the Prophet symbolizes the opening of Christ’s holy body, revealing all the malice and evil harbored in the wicked nation of the Jews (Ps. 21:17).

This piercing of Christ’s ribs, as noted by the Psalmist David, “My hands and my feet have been pierced” (Ps. 21:17), was the means by which the sins of the entire world were eradicated; on that day, all the iniquity of Israel was laid bare when Christ was lifted upon the cross. On that occasion, the old harvesters were removed from the vineyard, making way for new laborers. The Prophet, signaling this work within the vineyard, speaks of the vineyard and the fig tree, urging, “Call every one of you who is sincere under the vine and under the fig tree,” signifying that each individual is to contribute positively, and by nurturing virtues for themselves, they are to benefit their neighbor.

Those who interpret this as referring to Jesus son of Josedech view his friends, seated in his presence and prophesying, as his disciples and prophets, who are appointed to foretell future events. Thus, what is signified by the declaration for Jesus and his companions to hear, "I will bring my servant East," etc.? In the past, God assured Jesus, son of Josedech, that if he walked in His ways and kept His commandments, he would oversee his house and protect his sanctuary, appointing ministers of equal worth to angels. Now, the promise of complete joy and perfect bliss is proclaimed with the coming of East, who is identified as, "Behold the man, East is his name" (Zech. 6:12), and it is also said in Malachi, "The sun of righteousness shall rise to you who revere My name, and healing is in His wings" (Mal. 4:2). The book of Numbers prophesies that "A star shall arise from Jacob and a man from Israel" (Num. 24:17). The Gospel further clarifies that the East has visited us from on high, "to shed light upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:78-79). This East is referred to as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20), which unites two nations and forms one abode from separate boundaries. To non-believers, it is the stone of offense recorded in the Psalms: "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord" (Psalms 117:22, 23). The seven eyes on this stone are noted by Isaiah: "A shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit from his roots. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord" (Is. 11:1-3). Those who interpret the great priest and his companions as referring to our Savior envision the men who witness miracles as the Apostles or disciples who perceive His hidden signs, recognizing both the healing of the man born blind (John 9) as a reference to the Gentiles and the bleeding woman (Matthew 9) as emblematic of the Church liberated from sin. The statement, "Therefore this is the stone which I have placed before Jesus," is understood by historians as indicative of Christ, asserting that after Jesus son of Josedech, the Christ arrived. To be placed before Jesus signals a role in prophesying the future; the stone symbolizes the strength and fortress through which He will shatter all kingdoms. This stone, dislodged from the mountain without human aid, is also noted in Daniel (Dan. 2:34).

Similarly, Hannah states, "The barren woman shall bear seven children" (1 Sam. 2:5), which indicates a multitude rather than a literal number. Likewise, King David declares, "Repay our neighbors with a sevenfold reward in their bosom" (Psalm 78:12), implying that they should be punished far beyond the wrongs they have inflicted upon us. The prophet refers to Zerubbabel as a stone due to his resilience and steadfastness. Furthermore, Zerubbabel serves as a symbol of Christ, who is identified as a stone in various scriptures. King David proclaimed, "This stone, which the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone" (Psalm 117:22). Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord declares, "I lay in Zion a stone of great value, chosen, the cornerstone, precious for its foundation; and everyone who believes in it shall not be put to shame" (Isaiah 28:16; cf. 1 Pet. 2:7). Likewise, the prophet Daniel envisioned a stone cut without human hands, which struck the statue, obliterated its material essence, and grew into a great mountain that filled the entire earth (Dan. 2:34, 45). Understanding this, the apostle Paul exclaims, "I drink of the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4); he also asserts, "For no man can lay another foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11). Thus, Zerubbabel, embodying this stone, from whom the Savior of all creation came in the flesh, is rightly called a stone himself, shining with diverse gifts. Therefore, the prophet reveals the grace bestowed by God upon Zerubbabel and also predicts the triumphs achieved under his illustrious leadership. "Behold, I will excavate a trench," declares the Lord Almighty, "and in one day I will eradicate all the guilt of this land." This prophecy pertains to Gog and Magog, who were swiftly brought to ruin in a single day, metaphorically referred to as "the moat." Following this, the prophet speaks of all the warriors under Zerubbabel's command, who, as victors, will no longer fearfully summon each other to partake in a feast "under the vine and fig tree," instead sharing a banquet with courage, untroubled by enemy onslaughts. Upon hearing these profound revelations, the prophet set aside worldly matters, sinking into deep contemplation, resembling a man heavily burdened and in a deep slumber. Consequently, the holy angel, who oversees the people and navigates me through my visions, refers to himself as the prophet.