Zechariah 7:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And what does it mean to bless them? It means to pray for them, to ask the Lord to care for them (Luke 6:27-28). This act of showing kindness to our adversaries is perhaps the most significant way to obtain mercy for our sins on that day of judgment. While it is indeed a challenging command, when we consider the reward promised to those who fulfill it, it doesn’t seem as daunting. What is that reward? The Scripture states, "If you do these things, you will be like your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:45).

While living among the Babylonians, you not only neglected public fasts but also failed to strive to fulfill the requirements set forth in Moses' teachings. Yet, He showed you mercy and rescued you from your oppressors: and you partake in eating and drinking, yet you do not please me; you only satisfy yourselves. Therefore, such fasting is meaningless, and tears are without utility, and your toil goes unrewarded. Are these not the words of the ancient prophets when Jerusalem thrived, flourishing with blessings and celebrated for its prosperous cities on both the hills and plains? The prophet Joel called upon the elders, priests, and the people to weep and to set aside time for fasting. This exhortation aimed to lead them towards repentance because He did not want them to endure the misfortunes they had experienced, mourning over a temple already destroyed. Instead, He desired that even before their suffering began, they would appease God through cries and tears to be spared from such trials. Are these not indeed the utterances of the prophets of the past? In your ignorance, you weep needlessly, shedding tears over fallen stones out of sheer folly. Even if you were to amend your lifestyle and walk in a righteous and upright manner, such changes must come only after you have learned what is truly pleasing to the Lawgiver.

The Lord responded to the representatives through the prophet, instructing them to convey to those who had sent them that they were mistaken in believing their captivity was a result of neglecting prescribed fasts. He made it clear that the true reason for their captivity was their failure to adhere to His commandments and laws. This is reflected in the words: “If ye fast or mourn in the fifth month, as ye say, for seventy years, shall ye fast unto Me?” (Zechariah 7:5). He affirmed that He had not commanded them to fast nor had He preached such observances through the prophets before and after the exile. Instead, He had called for just judgement and the practice of mercy and kindness towards one another, as stated: “Judge righteous judgement, and do mercy and bounty to everyone to his brother” (Zechariah 7:9). Their neglect of these principles led to His anger, resulting in their expulsion from the land. He lamented to them before their captivity, but they did not listen; now, in their time of captivity, they call out to Him, yet He does not respond. As it is said, “They have given their shoulders to despise, and they have weighed down their ears, that they should not hear, and they have made their heart like adamantine” (Zechariah 7:11-12).