Zechariah 7:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Having dismissed mourning as unnecessary and unproductive, and criticized their futile efforts, He instead guides them toward what is truly beneficial. Clearly, He illustrates the pathway to a life that pleases Him, elucidating the significance of both the Law and the prophets. The Lawgiver takes delight in witnessing righteous and pure judgment, particularly valuing mercy and mutual love, and commending compassion for orphans and support for widows who face hardship. Conversely, He detests covetousness and the oppression of the vulnerable, desiring that, upon grasping this spirit, they should embody kindness and generosity. Christ Himself did not proclaim, “let them go, and they will let you go” (Lk.

In the fourth summer of King Darius' reign, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah in the fourth month, specifically the ninth, known as Conun, or Hasleb, which corresponds to December. The Israelites who remained in Babylon instituted certain fasts for themselves: in the fifth month of Tammuz (June), to remember the destruction of the temple, and in the seventh month, to mourn the death of Gedaliah, whom the Babylonians had appointed as governor over the remnant in Judah. They dispatched messengers to Jerusalem seeking guidance from the prophets and priests regarding the observance of these fasts, as they believed it inappropriate to express sorrow in Babylon while their fellow Jews celebrated in Judah.

"Render judgements that are just, and extend compassion and generosity to each individual, particularly your brethren. Ensure that the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the homeless, and the downtrodden are not mistreated; let not the ill will that one holds for another fester in their hearts. I proclaimed to your ancestors, declares God, that those in positions of judgement ought to deliver fair and equitable verdicts, to treat their neighbors with kindness, to avoid oppressing those burdened by widowhood, and to refrain from exploiting the sorrow of the bereaved. They should not turn the vulnerability of the impoverished into a desire for gain, nor should they harbor resentment or seek vengeance upon those who have wronged them.

If the Lord directed Zechariah, “And let not evil against one another be thought in your heart,” referring to your neighbor, as well as, “Let none of you think evil in your heart against his neighbor,” how much more does He, who instructs us to exercise patience towards others, encourage us to forget our own transgressions.