Zechariah 6:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is mentioned that from distant nations, people would come to worship the Lord. This will occur if they are marked by their obedience and respond to the voice of the Lord God. Ultimately, when the foretold events come to fruition, they will clearly comprehend that the prophet was sent to reveal God's will to them; he will not speak from his own heart, like those who often tell lies, but will be a true messenger of God and a bearer of truth. This presents a straightforward interpretation of the historical significance of the prophecy. However, it undoubtedly points to the establishment of Christ, which is clear upon closer examination. From the very beginning, we have argued that both Zerubbabel and Jesus Christ are portrayed, individually and collectively, as one figure; in Him, we find the fusion of Israel’s King and the great High Priest, "reverend, harmless, undefiled" (Heb. 7:26).

Since the royal throne was held by the tribe of Judah and the priesthood by the tribe of Levi, it is evident that one Lord is represented by both. Thus, when it is said of Zerubbabel, "the hands of Zerubbabel have founded this temple, and his hands shall make it perfect," these words can be historically attributed to him. However, in a spiritual sense, they can also refer to Christ. He is the foundation upon which we are spiritually built into a holy temple; He is our beginning and our end. By conquering sin and eradicating corruption, He sanctifies us in spirit, creating for Himself and the Father a radiant and holy abode. Jesus Himself is the supreme priest; His name signifies the salvation of humankind. The angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin, "And behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus; this one shall save his people from their sins" (Lk. 1:31; Mt. 1:21). Through Him, we have been justified by faith and cleansed from the stains of former transgressions. He has liberated us from bondage, guiding us out of spiritual enslavement and the deceptions of foreign influences, bringing us to the knowledge of God and leading us into the glorious, holy city—truly, Jerusalem which is the Church. For this, He is crowned among us with right and blameless faith, accompanied by praises of His might and songs of gratitude. The crowns were made of gold and silver, earthly materials, but the crowns we have fashioned for ourselves bear no earthly value; instead, they are woven from the glory that befits God. In place of the law, we offer Him a flawless comprehension of the doctrines regarding Him; for silver, we provide the spiritual radiance of righteous actions. There is another crown of glory for Christ, which encompasses the salvation of His redeemed, for through Him, the entire world is saved—not just a single nation, as Israel was saved through Moses.

Notice how "of them that keyed it, and of them that understood it," the essential elements are provided for preparing the crowns. The leaders of nations, chosen by God to govern, who understood the context of our past captivity, will guide those who have been set free, becoming leaders and teachers who instruct and lead a life aligned with God's law. They bring gifts for everyone, compensating for the weaknesses of the fragile. When the crowns were placed upon Jesus' head, it is written of Zerubbabel, "Behold the man of the East is his name, and under him shall he shine." This illustrates Jesus crowned as a priest, and in the person of Zerubbabel, he embodies royal glory. Understand that He represents the East, identified as the branch of which the divine Isaiah speaks: "A rod shall come forth out of the root of Jesse, and color shall spring up from his root" (Isaiah 11:1). We have grown up under Him; for humanity, especially those called to faith, Christ has become a second root—not like the first Adam, but infinitely better, for we are no longer rooted in corruption and death due to the curse, but in life and incorruption, with Christ as our true root.

He is the vine, and we are His branches (John 15:5), grafted into Him through the unity of the Spirit. He embodies the rod and the branch, the seed and the shoot, from which we flourish and blossom into incorruption and life. He constructed the house of the Lord and is filled with all virtue—glory appropriate to God. "The heavens are covered with his virtue, and the earth shall be filled with his praises" (Habakkuk 3:3), as the prophet Habakkuk declares. The wise John recorded, "and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). He occupies the throne, reigning as God, seated with His Father, governing the universe alongside Him. The intertwining of Zerubbabel and Jesus signifies that both perfectly represent Christ. It is illustrated by the proclamation regarding Zerubbabel, "and the priest shall be at his right hand," indicating honor and glory, where "the counsel of peace shall be between the two." For indeed, He is King and Bishop in unison, represented by one Emmanuel.

The efforts of those who crown Christ will not be overlooked, and their fruitful work will earn them lasting recognition. The truth of this can be affirmed by stating: "and the crown shall be to them that endure, and to them that keyed it, and to them that knew it, and for grace to the children of Sophonias, and for a psalm in the temple of the Lord," for the offerings made will bring grace to the givers, becoming the subject of praise. The piety of rulers serves as a path of love toward God for others. When Christ is crowned with us, the multitudes of the Gentiles will come to know Him, and those who have strayed far due to errors will be called by faith and will "be built up in the temple of the Lord." What will they construct? Clearly, they will build themselves, bringing their lives into harmony with the saints and uniting in faith with the descendants of Israel, for Christ is the cornerstone who restores unity among those previously fragmented, creating one new humanity, establishing peace, and reconciling all things to the Father in His body (Eph. 2:15-16). When all these events are realized, we will be assured of the absolute truth delivered by the holy prophets, clearly recognizing that God has spoken through them and revealed to us the mystery of Christ.

He is known as man because of His incarnation; He emerged from the earth as He was born of the Virgin. He built the temple of the Lord, that is, the Church, received honor and dignity, and secured His eternal reign upon His throne. The phrase about the priest being on his throne and the peaceful council between the two, understood in a spiritual context, relates to Christ's disciples, whom He made priests and called His friends, assuring them that they would occupy thrones in His kingdom and judge the tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). The golden and silver crown, gathered from the four leaders of the people, symbolizes the life-giving message of the Gospel, articulated and spread by the four Evangelists, which conveys the doctrine of Christ's two natures—the human nature likened to pure silver and the divine nature depicted as shining gold.

This promise extends not only to them but also to those who anticipate the crown, whom he describes as "those with understanding and insight." Josiah, the son of Sophonias, who provided the essence for the crown, will receive honor for this, as expressed by the Prophet in the words: "in favor to the son of Sophonias." He also speaks of the site of Divine Worship: