A Flock Doomed to Slaughter

Zechariah: A Glimpse of the Gospel  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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A warning to the unfaithful.

Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer for the Congregation
The last part of Zechariah (chs 9–11) is the most quoted section of the Prophets in the Gospel Passion narratives, and, other than Ezekiel, Zechariah influenced the book of Revelation more than any other OT book.
Walter A. Elwell; Philip W. Comfort
Main Argument: God Displays His Lovingkindness in Giving Us Hints of His Son.

I. The Arrogant and Deceitful Have No Hope. (v. 1-3)

God deliberately sets himself in array against arrogance.
John Blanchard
Those who oppose God at large including human beings and angelic beings are warned of the impending doom.
The Nations, who plot and device against God are warned about the demise of their efforts and eternal life.
The Church, when it seeks for its own interest, and not for the proclamation of the Gospel, is warned about what will happen to her.
The Good Father is warning us to remain faithful and, if need be, to repent.

II. The LORD Speaks in Ways We Can Understand. (v. 4-6)

The Shepherd Rescues His Flock but Is Rejected. Zechariah himself acts out the role of a shepherd whom the sheep come to detest, and who then leaves the flock to a worthless shepherd.

The LORD loves us and in his love He babbles to us to help us understand what He intends to do for our good.
The problem with humanity is the constant game of “the grass is greener on the other side,” causing us to second-guess God in His faithfulness.
The people’s whose hearts are hardened by arrogance, pride, and self-deception are caused to go on their way.
Many people today think the Bible to be the result of “dumb goat herders,” or the delusions of the intellectually deficient. The reality is that God’s message is so simple and straightforward that it goes over people’s heads.

III. The LORD Shows Us What He Will do on Our Behalf. (v. 7-14)

Grace is something more than ‘unmerited favour’ … grace is favour shown where there is positive demerit in the one receiving it.
Anonymous
The Shepherd comes to serve the flock, to save it from demise. Yet, the Shepherd is rejected because He leads to the pastures of God and not the world.
The Servant of God is promising to lead the people with unity (in the Spirit) and Favor (God’s Grace) to redeem them, but the flock would rather have what they know—Chaos and Works-Based Merit.
As the Shepherd is sold off for thirty pieces of silver, the people choose to be left asunder in lack of contrition and repentance.
God displays His faithfulness as He continually seeks to warn us regarding humanity’s disposition to fall and stumble. God seeks us to save us!

IV. The LORD Clearly Notes the Consequences of Opposing His Redemption. (v. 15-17)

Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell.
John Charles Ryle (Bishop of Liverpool)
Those who cling to the worthless shepherd will end up on the market place drawn and quartered ready to be sold. Here we find the end of Judas Iscariot laid before us, as he followed the worthless Shepherd.
The total demise of those whose pride and arrogance turn from God to selfish ambitions and self-aggrandizement is depicted in the most graphic terms. They are torn apart.
Consider that YHWH is speaking to the people as they are looking to the fulfilled promise in Jesus Christ. God warns the people of God to be faithful and obedient to Him, as we are warned to do the same.
We are called to faithfulness and obedience to the LORD through Jesus Christ, who is the Shepherd whose very life counts us righteous and free from slaughter.

V. Living It Out

Get to know the LORD and His Shepherd—Pray, Study the Word, Fellowship with your Church Family.
Live According to the Holy Spirit—Exercise your Spiritual Gifts, Seek Unity under the Word, Be about the Great Commandment and Commission.
Reject anything that is of the enemy—Put off shame, guilt, greed, power-seeking, possessiveness, selfishness, idolatrous pride.
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