Zechariah 8:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as, at the time of His withdrawal, the holy mountain—the temple in Jerusalem—lost its honor in the eyes of those who witnessed it burning, so too, when it is restored and God chooses to inhabit it, respect for it will return. Jerusalem will be recognized as a true city, no longer serving the false gods and idols of the past but honoring the one true God through righteous conduct, commitment to His laws, and unwavering obedience.

These reflections can be associated with the Word, who for our benefit took on our likeness. As the perfect image of the One who created us, and sharing in His divine nature, He humbled Himself, assuming the nature of a servant and becoming human (Phil. 2:7). He made Himself poor on our behalf so that we might be enriched through His destitution (2 Cor. 8:9). Therefore, He who had rightly turned away due to Adam's transgression and humanity's inclination toward evil from youth (Gen. 8:21) has, in His inherent goodness, turned back to us. He now resides within the church, making the sanctified a city and dwelling for the faithful; for there is no place where He states of the chosen church, “I will dwell here, as I have desired” (Ps. 131:14). The blessed David also proclaims, “Glorious things have been spoken of thee, O city of God” (Psalms 86:3). The prophet Isaiah foretold, saying, “The mountain of the Lord shall be established in the last days, and the house of God on top of the mountains; it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2:2); for the church of Christ is extraordinary, appearing as if set on a mountain, recognized by all. It is genuine not in serving images and shadows, but in receiving the truth, which is Christ, and engaging in spirit and truth.

Following this, the one once nurtured with the finest provisions, adorned in magnificent garments, and blessed with various jewels from the generous Husbandman, turned to infidelity with the Assyrians and Chaldeans. The Lord lamented: "As a woman scorns her husband, so has the house of Israel scorned Me" (Jeremiah 3:20). But he fell into deception and was led into captivity, stripped of his former glory. After engaging in immorality with any who passed by and defiling himself completely, he reminisced about better days, saying with a sigh: "I will return to my former husband, for I was better off then than I am now" (Hosea 2:7). Then the Lord, fully accepting him and restoring their union, proclaimed: "I have deep jealousy for Zion and great indignation for him to whom I had previously said, 'I will not be angry with you, and My jealousy will depart from you'" (Ezekiel 16:42). The Lord reflects on His previous anger due to the defilement caused by many lovers, which dishonored His sanctuary. He handed him over to his lovers, not as an unfaithful wife, but as a neglectful partner, a lowly servant subjected to mistreatment in unfaithful homes. Yet such is the love He now demonstrates in turning back, for he has repented and rebuilt My temple, where I will dwell among them. The city of truth, formerly known as a city of falsehood, will now embody truth, as noted in Isaiah: "Truth has fallen asleep therein," leading to destruction (Isaiah 1:21). This place will also be recognized as the holy mountain of the Lord of Hosts, where sacrifices are offered, and worship is conducted after the temple's restoration. This is historically acknowledged. Moreover, it is evident that Zion and Jerusalem—representing places of contemplation and divine vision—can be understood in relation to the thoughts of believers. When disobedience leads to divine anger and captivity, they may come to know God through hardship if they do not recognize Him through blessings. However, upon their repentance, the Lord will return to Zion and dwell among Jerusalem, representing the same state or city, where once vice and sin prevailed, now Christ, the embodiment of truth, shall reign. The mountain of the Lord of Hosts will be acknowledged as the holy mountain, as stated: "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion" (Psalms 124:1), and "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain" (Psalms 47:2). As prophesied by Isaiah and Micah: "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord will rise above all mountains, and all nations shall journey to it, saying, 'Come, let us ascend to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob'" (Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2). Additionally, the Apostle Paul refers to this very mountain and city, stating: "You have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless angels and to the church of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven" (Hebrews 12:22-23)—unless the Latin language hinders our understanding of the undeniable authority of the Greeks.