Zechariah 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He, along with Christ Himself, aimed to make Christ his servant by revealing to Him all the kingdoms of the world and pledging to bestow them upon Him if He would bow down and worship him (Matt. 4:8-9). Furthermore, he corrupted one of the apostles, enticing the traitorous disciple to become a tool of Jewish malice. Hence, this message serves as an admonishment directed at him, stating, “Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zerubbabel, that you should be made level?” The phrase, “Who art thou?” is not posed in a way that implies ignorance of his identity—being God, He certainly knows it—but is meant to convey disdain and not confer any honor upon him, regardless of his might and status, as he stands before the coming Christ whom Zerubbabel symbolizes.

Despite the fallen serpent's persistent power, he was effortlessly crushed by Christ, who is inherently divine and triumphant over all creation. This is indeed the correct understanding, or we may interpret it in another way. He stated that the necessities for life shall not be accomplished through human strength and that a lampstand shall be established, signifying Christ, with its lamps illuminating brightly. On either side of this lampstand, two olive trees represent two nations. When someone inquires, almost questioning, “Who are you to promise such great achievements without resistance or toil?” the voice of God the Father responds, “I am the great mountain before Zerubbabel, which shall be made level,” that is, I am the essence that exceeds all things, endowed with divine attributes surpassing all glory, and possessing the ability to fulfill His promises in due time.

“Before the face of Zerubbabel” indicates that Christ knew His Father intimately and represented Him as a collaborator in His divine mission, proclaiming, “I can do nothing on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does His works” (John 8:28, John 14:10). Through His own divine strength, He performed acts of salvation through the Son, the same Son through whom all creation was called into existence and who rightly constitutes a source of awe. Once again, in the wise words of Daniel, God the Father is referred to as a mountain from which a stone was cut without a human hand, shattering gold, silver, bronze, and iron, thus representing Christ. The Son, born of the Father in a manner beyond comprehension, crushed kingdoms, ultimately gaining authority over all. “Every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Hence, from the mountain of God the Father was hewn the cornerstone, God became our inheritance, drawing us into sonship and making us heirs of the living God, receiving grace through unity of grace.

What is this? A unique grace was granted to Israel, demonstrated by their physical deliverance from Egypt, their liberation from the oppression of their captors, their miraculous crossing of the sea, the manna they received in the wilderness, their passage through rivers on foot, and their entry into the promised land. This was the first grace. In a similar fashion, grace was provided through Christ, who became for us the cornerstone, a foundation and the heir as the Son; for through Him we attain our inheritance as God’s children. How then is this second grace equal to the first? What Christ achieved in the physical realm, He has accomplished for us in the spiritual and mental realms. He has liberated us from the bondage of the adversary, freeing us from the burdens of worldly desires and carnal impurities; He has guided us through the waters of life, helping us navigate its trials and tribulations; we partake of the heavenly bread, a profound gift; we have crossed the Jordan, received spiritual circumcision, and inherited the heavenly city, the true Holy Land, of which Christ spoke when He declared, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). It appears that the wise evangelist John sought to convey a similar idea when he stated regarding Christ, “For from His fullness we all received grace upon grace: for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). Moses served as the minister and mediator of the former grace, while Christ is the mediator of the second grace, which reflects that earlier grace (as they were types of the truth, mere formative shadows of the ultimate reality), which is superior and more excellent, for spiritual gifts are rightly recognized as surpassing material realities. Paul indeed affirms this when he writes that “Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant” (Heb. 7:22).

The angel, who roused Zechariah like one awakening from slumber, asked him about his vision so that through the prophet’s inquiries and his expression of confusion—“What is this, my lord?”—we might gain insight into the Lord’s message for Zerubbabel. This conveys that not through armies or strength, but through God's Spirit, will the people return from captivity, and continue to do so, overcoming their adversaries. The proclamation "Who are you, O great mountain?" signifies the adversary attempting to impede Zerubbabel and the people of Judah. However, he will be flattened and humbled, resting at the feet of Israel, as God will reveal the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, His Son, who is a steadfast aid to His people. The grace reflected by this cornerstone will be evident in those redeemed from captivity, paralleling the grace shown to their ancestors.

In the interpretations provided by the Church, the golden lampstand is viewed as a representation of the Church itself, whose essence transcends mere words in scripture. The concept of gold is likened to the dove's wings in Psalm 67:14, illuminating with a radiant glow. The lamp is understood to symbolize Christ, who illuminates the Church; He stated that no one lights a lamp and places it under a bushel, but rather on a stand to shine forth for all within the house.

The interpretation of the seven lamps and the tubes from which the oil flows is seen as the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit, granting the Church divine mercy and virtues. The two olive trees are frequently interpreted as representative of Moses and Elijah, who conversed with the Lord upon the mountain, affirming that He would suffer in Jerusalem, thereby highlighting the prophetic tradition of proclaiming Christ's suffering. Others view them as the Law and the Gospel, each offering insights into divine truth, as articulated in the Song of Songs: "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me."

Many recognize the mountain as a symbol of the devil and Antichrist, entities that dared to rise against Zerubbabel, who is a lineage from which Christ emerged. This adversary, through its pride and false promises, will be cast aside, echoing the Lord's rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." The Gospel illustrates the authority of the Lord over such forces, as demonstrated when the disciples faced a demon-possessed individual and were informed that only prayer and fasting could cast this generation out.

While some misguided interpretations conflate the adversary with Christ, scriptural references draw a clear distinction, such as in the Septuagint's phrasing regarding the mountain opposing Zerubbabel. This imagery touches upon God's choice of Jerusalem and His covenant with Israel, echoed across the Psalms and reinforcing the anticipation of Christ's coming.

Furthermore, the original stone mentioned symbolizes the Word, which was with God and was God, affirming His role in creation. The phrase about mingling grace highlights that all receive from His abundance, bridging the believers of the Law and the Gospel alike. Thus, Gabriel's message to Mary and Paul's affirmations about salvation through grace illustrate the divine intention that encompasses all His people, both Jew and Gentile. The law, delivered through Moses, contrasts yet complements the grace and truth specified through Jesus Christ.

"I will wear away the stone of inheritance, the equality, the grace of His favor." The essence of the Prophet's message is this: even if you were to strive a thousand times more, placing barriers in Zerubbabel’s path, I will render all your ambitions fruitless; for having filled him with abundant grace and made him unyielding as a rock, I will ensure that he brings your schemes to ruin, compensating for human frailty with divine grace from above. Therefore, understand: