Zechariah 8:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He did not merely suggest to let go; rather, He instructed them to refrain from harboring such thoughts and to eliminate all anger, eradicating this affliction. You believe you are exercising retribution upon your foe, yet it is you who suffers, with anger surrounding you like an executioner, tormenting your own soul. What could be more sorrowful than a person consumed by constant rage? Just as those filled with fury live without peace, so too will the vengeful experience unending unrest: they are perpetually agitated, their inner tumult fueled daily by memories of slights, growing more furious at even the mention of the offender. Simply speaking the name of the adversary ignites their wrath, causing profound internal distress; even the sight of that person instills fear and tremors, as though they are facing dire misfortune.

Their focus should solely be on what is pleasing to God—showing forgiveness to their brothers and sisters for any mistakes they may make, whether in action or speech, and especially avoiding false oaths, for He has expressed His disdain for such transgressions. Observe how He commands that all actions should be conducted openly and honestly: He does not require sacrifices of oxen or the burning of incense in His honor, but desires that His followers engage in a more spiritual, higher calling that reflects the essence of the Gospel.

This serves as a brief reminder of the coming of our Savior; accordingly, a command relating to His teachings is presented here as well. If we are to speak truthfully in accordance with divine principles, we must align our thoughts with Christ’s teaching, for He is the embodiment of truth. Thus, the wise Peter instructed us to always be prepared to respond to anyone who inquires about the hope that we hold (1 Pet. 3:15). Those who consistently speak of Christ, keeping Him in both their speech and their hearts and minds, will undoubtedly embody righteousness and be filled with various forms of righteousness, acting as peacemakers and exhibiting humility. They will refrain not only from false oaths but from swearing altogether, remembering the words spoken by Him: “But let your word be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’” (Matthew 5:37).

Therefore, to ensure that My decree remains firm and My promises are fulfilled, observe My commands: Speak truth to all your neighbors. By “neighbor,” we refer to every human being, as we are all children of one Creator. Restricting the term to relatives could lead to dishonesty toward outsiders. The Apostle echoes this sentiment: “Putting away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth to his neighbor” (Eph. 4:25). In ensuring justice at your gates, let truth and righteousness precede mercy. The goal of just judgment is to foster reconciliation, as indicated in the Gospel: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). The phrase “at your gates” connects to the prophetic declaration: “They hate him who rebukes at the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth” (Am. 5:10) and also, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Ps. 126:5). King David also held court at the gate while Absalom was conspiring against his father with deceitful promises of just judgment (2 Samuel 15:3).

It is worth questioning why the Jews established their judgment seat at the gate. Judges positioned themselves there to avoid burdening farmers with the need to enter the city and incur costs, allowing both urban dwellers and country folk to be heard as they entered and exited, so they could promptly return home after each case. The directive against conceiving evil against your enemies means harboring no malice in your hearts: the term “raach” (רעה), commonly translated to mean malice, can denote both evil and affliction, as in: “If calamity occurs in a city, has not the Lord done it?” (Am. 3:6) and “Sufficient for each day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34). In the sense of wrongdoing, God reveals through the prophet Jonah: “Their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jon. 1:2), while the Apostle writes of those “filled with all unrighteousness and wickedness” (Rom. 1:29). Thus, a holy person refrains from causing pain to others through either malice or affliction. He who swears falsely is cautioned against loving false oaths, for the Lord commanded in the Gospel: “Do not take an oath at all, but let your yes be yes and your no be no” (Matthew 5:34-37). A person who refrains from swearing cannot break an oath, whereas one who swears risks violating the command: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). The Lord expresses His disdain for such behavior, as echoed in the words of Malachi: “And what I have hated, you have done” (Mal. 2:13, according to the LXX). In essential teachings meant for living, we should avoid over-complicating and instead engage with clarity, as humorously noted in the saying: let us not toil for nothing.

“You shall not delight in false oaths.” The deceitful thought, approaching the gateway of the spirit, pretends to embody virtue and offers numerous justifications to the mind, the judge that stands at the gate, in hopes of penetrating the soul. However, these reassurances and falsehoods are not to be embraced, as the Prophet counsels against loving such false oaths. We must not only reject these thoughts and not consent to them, but we should also refrain from engaging with them. Instead, at the very first sign of sinful thoughts, we ought to turn to the Lord God in prayer, asking Him to banish the adversary from the gates of our souls. Amen.

Thus, the Lord has set aside these things, so that the new law given by our Lord Jesus Christ, free from the burden of obligation, might reflect the essence of a true human offering. The Lord asked them, Did I ever command your ancestors at the time of their exodus from Egypt to present burnt offerings and sacrifices? This is what I instructed them instead (Jeremiah 7:22-23): Let none of you harbor evil thoughts in your heart against your neighbor or love false oaths (Zechariah 8:17). Therefore, since we possess reason, we should seek to understand the goodwill of our Father. He desires to bring back those of us who stray, similar to the Israelites, and He tells us how to approach Him. He says, ‘The offering pleasing to God is a broken spirit; You will not reject a contrite and humble heart’ (Psalm 50:19). Thus, dear brothers and sisters, we must diligently examine the matters concerning our salvation, lest the adversary find a way to lead us astray from the path of life.

In the appointed readings for one of the days leading up to Great Lent, there are reflections concerning the challenges associated with the observances of this sacred season. These observances, which include acts of self-denial, constant vigilance, self-reflection, and self-judgment, are inherently difficult and are meant to span over a considerable period. The Holy Church encourages us to engage in these practices with the encouragement of the Lord found in the referenced readings. The Lord says to the Jews, who faced numerous hardships while striving for betterment upon their return from Babylonian captivity, “Be strong, all you people of the land.” The Lord offers His support in their endeavors and reassures them with the promise of the rewards of their efforts. Likewise, the Holy Church prepares us during Holy Week for the upcoming fasting period.

“The door is opened to divine abstinence for those who earnestly seek mercy with a light spirit, for the Most Merciful One desires our salvation. To those who diligently pursue it and labor in love, He grants forgiveness.” “The season has been made favorable; let us greet it with joy, having purified ourselves through fasting and prayer.” “We enter the Lenten season burdened by all our sins, so that we may not bow in despondency…” Yet, the act of renouncing sin must be accompanied by a commitment to love and peace toward our neighbors, as highlighted at the conclusion of the reading.