Zechariah 13: God Strikes The Shepherd
Zechariah 13: God Strikes The Shepherd
Collin Leong. March 8, 2026
(v1-6) Idolatry Cut Off
(v1-2a) "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to clean them from sin and uncleanness. And on the day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more.
Exp: "On that day" points to a future day of renewal, judgment, or salvation. "A fountain opened" means that the source that cleans them from their sins are provided to the Israelites. This probably refers to the Holy Spirit that goes into their hearts, when they believe in Jesus. In v2, God will also remove "idols" from the land. The new Israel does not worship "idol" gods anymore. This refers to things that they placed above God, such as their job, status, money or even themselves.
(v2b-3) And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother will say to him, "You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD." And they shall pierce him through when he prophesies.
Exp: The “spirit of uncleanness” refers to deceptive prophecy and corrupt spiritual influence. The false prophets will be "pierced" by their own parents. It doesn't mean he will be killed by his parents, but underscores that false prophecy will be intolerable in the purified land.
(v4-6) "On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say. "I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth." And if one asks him, "What are the wounds on your back?" he will say, 'The wounds I received in the house of my friend."
Exp: In the end days, those who "prophecy" will be ashamed, when what he predict did not come true. This is true that last year (2025), many people or even pastors said that there will rapture during the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, September 22–24). They said they receive visions or dreams from the Lord. But when it did not happen, all the videos were taken down. They can defend themselves, saying that they did not know as they are not a prophet. This excuse is similar to what the false prophet will say - he is just a farmer and "sold" in my youth - i.e. he was sold into servitude of farming.
In v6, the false prophet was asked about the wound on his back. Some pagan prophets cut themselves in rituals (cf. 1 Kings 18:28). They’ll deny that they are prophets and say they were inflicted “in the house of friends.” Some people jump to conclusion that this refers to Jesus who was betrayed by his friends. But the context of the passage is talking about the false prophet.
(See Appendix on dealing with false prophecies)
(v7-9) The Shepherd Struck
(v7) Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declared the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones."
Exp: The shepherd is described as “the man who stands next to me,” implying a figure closely aligned with God’s authority. Psalm 110:1 says “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”, and Paul quote this verse when describing Jesus (Hebrew 1:3)
Jesus himself said this prophecy is about himself. In Matthew 26:31, He said to his disciples that they will fall away that night, when the shepherd is struck. Peter said to Him that even if everyone fall, he will never fall. That's when Jesus told Peter than he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows.
The phrase "I will turn my hand against the little ones" refers to Jesus' disciples who denied him and ran away. God’s hand “against” the little ones is not final destruction but corrective discipline leading to their renewal during resurrection and Pentecost.
Note that the person who "struck" the shepherd is God himself. Though human agents physically strike Jesus, it was God's plan all along. Acts 2:23 says "this Jesus… you crucified and killed… according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God”. That means the shepherd’s suffering is not random or merely human hostility - it is part of God’s sovereign plan to redeem us all.
(v8) In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.
Exp: This may be referring to the great tribulation in future. Jesus said in Matthew 24:21-22 that there will be a great tribulation, and if those days are not cut short, no human being would be saved. Jesus reassured them that those days will be cut short for the sake of the elect.
(v9) And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say 'The LORD is my God."
Exp: The one-third that didn't die would go through a painful process for their transformation, from rejecting Christ to accepting Christ at the end of the great tribulation. This remnants will survive the tribulation and restored to be God's people.
Key Messages
1. Cleansing Fountain (v1)
Application:
Christ fulfills this as the fountain of cleansing (John 19:34; Heb 9:14).
Believers can continually draw on His forgiveness and renewal.
This encourages ongoing repentance and reliance on Christ’s sacrifice.
2. Removal of Idolatry and False Prophets (v2–6)
Application:
God calls His people to truth and purity.
Today, this warns against false teaching and emphasizes discernment.
Loyalty to God must surpass cultural or familial pressures.
3. The Shepherd Struck (v7)
Application:
Jesus applies this to His own arrest (Matt 26:31).
His suffering was divinely ordained, not accidental.
Disciples may face scattering and trial, but restoration follows.
4. Judgment and Refinement (v8–9)
Application:
God preserves a faithful remnant through trial.
Suffering is not meaningless—it purifies faith.
Covenant renewal is the goal: “They are my people… the LORD is my God.”
Appendix
1. False Prophecies
In 2025, many people said they receive visions and dreams from the Lord that rapture will take place during the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, September 22–24). These includes pastors and there are many ordinary "Christians" who said the same thing, and many were convinced. Why had this happened?
a) They were convinced that the Feast of Trumpets in 2025 is a continuation from the Feast of Pentecost, which the last feast that Jesus attended through his Holy Spirit. Furthermore they believe that 2025/2026 is 6000 years from creation, and Jesus will come back and rule the earth for 1000 years - this is based on the "millennium theory" where each creation day is 1000 years. Some connect Paul’s “last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52) directly to the Feast of Trumpets, and they believe it will be a pre-tribulation rapture. But all this are assumption, not a biblical fact.
b) When multiple voices repeat the same idea, it feels more convincing. But repetition doesn’t equal truth. Scripture acknowledges that dreams can come from God, but also from human imagination (Jeremiah 23:16, Ecclesiastes 5:3). Not every dream is divine revelation.
c) They ignore biblical warnings:
- Matthew 24:36 — “No one knows the day or the hour.” It's clear from the scripture that he will return again, but we do not know the date. Usually, those who said they know the date are likely to be false prophet.
- Deuteronomy 18:22 — If a prophecy does not come true, it is not from the Lord.
- 1 John 4:1 — “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
What we need to do:
- Test against Scripture — If a prophecy contradicts clear teaching (like setting dates), it must be rejected. (Acts 17:11)
- Look at the fruit — True prophecy leads to repentance, humility, and Christ-centered living, not fear or sensationalism. (Matthew 7:15–16)
- Avoid chasing signs — Jesus warned against being led astray by “false Christs and false prophets” (Matthew 24:24).
- Stay watchful, not anxious - Jesus said nobody knows when He will be coming. The call is to readiness, not speculation. Live faithfully so that whenever Christ returns, you are prepared. (Matthew 24:42)
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