“Lesson 54: Zechariah,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, Religion 301–2 (1994), 107–8

“Zechariah,” Old Testament Instructor’s Guide, 107–8

Zechariah

Scripture Content Outline	Supplementary Study Sources
Zechariah 1:1–6; 4; 7. Zechariah Exhorted and Encouraged the People of His Day Zechariah called upon the people of Judah to repent and obey the words of the prophets (see Zechariah 1:1–6). Zechariah was told that Zerubbabel would finish building the temple (see Zechariah 4; JST, Zechariah 4:10, 14). Zechariah told the people that the fasts celebrated by their forefathers were not as important as their own personal righteousness (see Zechariah 7).	Religion 302 student manual, 33-1 through 33-3; 33-17 through 33-20; 33-25 through 33-26. Luke 21:33. How dependable is the word of the Lord? (see also Zechariah 1:6). James 2:21–26. What is true righteousness? Mormon 8:36–41. What does the Lord condemn as hypocrisy in religion? Proverbs 28:27. What is the result of our treatment of the poor? (see also D&C 104:18). Bible dictionary, s.v. “Zechariah.” A discussion of Zechariah and a brief analysis of his book are given.
Zechariah 9:9–12; 11:10–13. Zechariah Prophesied of Events in the Life of the Savior Zechariah saw a time when the King of Israel would come in peace and complete the Atonement in behalf of mankind (see Zechariah 9:9–12). The true Shepherd, who could save Israel, would be sold for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:10–13).	Religion 302 student manual, 33-31 through 33-32; 33-40. Matthew 21:1–11. What significant event took place before the crucifixion of the Savior, as prophesied by Zechariah? (see also John 12:12–15). Matthew 26:15; 27:3–5; Luke 22:2–6. How was the prophecy recorded in Zechariah 11:12–13 fulfilled? JC, pp. 516–17. What is the significance of the triumphal entry of the Savior into Jerusalem?
Zechariah 1:7–2:13; 3; 5–6; 8:1–9:8; 9:13–10:12; 11:1–11, 14–17; 12–14. Zechariah Prophesied of Events from His Time to the Millennium Zechariah foresaw a day when Judah would again build Jerusalem and her cities and peace would be established throughout the land (see Zechariah 1:7–2:13; 8; JST, Zechariah 8:7, 13). The day would come when iniquity would be removed from the earth, Israel would be cleansed, and the Savior would reign over his people (see Zechariah 3; 5; 6:9–15). The Lord would send forth servants to execute judgments on the earth before he appeared in glory (see Zechariah 6:1–8; JST, Zechariah 6:5). Wicked nations who bordered Israel would be destroyed (see Zechariah 9:1–8). The day would come when Judah and Ephraim would be gathered in from their long dispersion and be united (see Zechariah 9:13–10:12). Zechariah prophesied that false shepherds would be destroyed and the true Shepherd raised up (see Zechariah 11:1–11, 14–17). Zechariah saw that all nations would gather together to destroy the house of Judah (see Zechariah 12:1–5; 14:2). In the time of their greatest distress, the Lord will come and preserve Judah; they will then know him as their Messiah, who was crucified (see Zechariah 12:6–14:1, 3–15). After the Lord’s coming, the nations will worship him or be visited with his judgments (see Zechariah 14:16–21).	Religion 302 student manual, 33-4 through 33-16; 33-21 through 33-24; 33-27 through 33-30; 33-33 through 33-39; 33-41 through 33-50; I-1 through I-9. Jeremiah 32:36–44. What did Jeremiah prophesy about the restoration of Israel? Ezekiel 38–39. What will happen in Israel at the time of the Lord’s return? Ezekiel 37:20–28. What will be the conditions in Israel after Israel has been gathered? (see also Ezekiel 28:24–26). D&C 45:48–53. When will the Jews come to know their Messiah? TPJS, pp. 286–87. What did the Prophet Joseph Smith say must take place before the second coming of the Savior? DS, 3:67–72. What must Judah and Ephraim do before the Second Coming? JC, pp. 790–92. What will be the conditions during the Millennium?

Scripture Content Outline

Supplementary Study Sources

Zechariah 1:1–6; 4; 7. Zechariah Exhorted and Encouraged the People of His Day
1. Zechariah called upon the people of Judah to repent and obey the words of the prophets (see Zechariah 1:1–6).
2. Zechariah was told that Zerubbabel would finish building the temple (see Zechariah 4; JST, Zechariah 4:10, 14).
3. Zechariah told the people that the fasts celebrated by their forefathers were not as important as their own personal righteousness (see Zechariah 7).

Religion 302 student manual, 33-1 through 33-3; 33-17 through 33-20; 33-25 through 33-26.

Luke 21:33. How dependable is the word of the Lord? (see also Zechariah 1:6).

James 2:21–26. What is true righteousness?

Mormon 8:36–41. What does the Lord condemn as hypocrisy in religion?

Proverbs 28:27. What is the result of our treatment of the poor? (see also D&C 104:18).

Bible dictionary, s.v. “Zechariah.” A discussion of Zechariah and a brief analysis of his book are given.

Zechariah 9:9–12; 11:10–13. Zechariah Prophesied of Events in the Life of the Savior
1. Zechariah saw a time when the King of Israel would come in peace and complete the Atonement in behalf of mankind (see Zechariah 9:9–12).
2. The true Shepherd, who could save Israel, would be sold for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:10–13).

Religion 302 student manual, 33-31 through 33-32; 33-40.

Matthew 21:1–11. What significant event took place before the crucifixion of the Savior, as prophesied by Zechariah? (see also John 12:12–15).

Matthew 26:15; 27:3–5; Luke 22:2–6. How was the prophecy recorded in Zechariah 11:12–13 fulfilled?

JC, pp. 516–17. What is the significance of the triumphal entry of the Savior into Jerusalem?

Zechariah 1:7–2:13; 3; 5–6; 8:1–9:8; 9:13–10:12; 11:1–11, 14–17; 12–14. Zechariah Prophesied of Events from His Time to the Millennium
1. Zechariah foresaw a day when Judah would again build Jerusalem and her cities and peace would be established throughout the land (see Zechariah 1:7–2:13; 8; JST, Zechariah 8:7, 13).
2. The day would come when iniquity would be removed from the earth, Israel would be cleansed, and the Savior would reign over his people (see Zechariah 3; 5; 6:9–15).
3. The Lord would send forth servants to execute judgments on the earth before he appeared in glory (see Zechariah 6:1–8; JST, Zechariah 6:5).
4. Wicked nations who bordered Israel would be destroyed (see Zechariah 9:1–8).
5. The day would come when Judah and Ephraim would be gathered in from their long dispersion and be united (see Zechariah 9:13–10:12).
6. Zechariah prophesied that false shepherds would be destroyed and the true Shepherd raised up (see Zechariah 11:1–11, 14–17).
7. Zechariah saw that all nations would gather together to destroy the house of Judah (see Zechariah 12:1–5; 14:2).
8. In the time of their greatest distress, the Lord will come and preserve Judah; they will then know him as their Messiah, who was crucified (see Zechariah 12:6–14:1, 3–15).
9. After the Lord’s coming, the nations will worship him or be visited with his judgments (see Zechariah 14:16–21).

Religion 302 student manual, 33-4 through 33-16; 33-21 through 33-24; 33-27 through 33-30; 33-33 through 33-39; 33-41 through 33-50; I-1 through I-9.

Jeremiah 32:36–44. What did Jeremiah prophesy about the restoration of Israel?

Ezekiel 38–39. What will happen in Israel at the time of the Lord’s return?

Ezekiel 37:20–28. What will be the conditions in Israel after Israel has been gathered? (see also Ezekiel 28:24–26).

D&C 45:48–53. When will the Jews come to know their Messiah?

TPJS, pp. 286–87. What did the Prophet Joseph Smith say must take place before the second coming of the Savior?

DS, 3:67–72. What must Judah and Ephraim do before the Second Coming?

JC, pp. 790–92. What will be the conditions during the Millennium?

Some Suggestions for Presentation

You are not expected to teach everything in the scripture content outline. Select those concepts that you feel will be the most helpful to your students.

Introduction to Zechariah (Section A)

Introduce the book of Zechariah by helping students to see it in its historical context. Point out that just before Zechariah’s time, Cyrus, the Persian king, had issued the edict that allowed the Jews to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem (see Ezra 1:1–4).

Zechariah’s grandfather Iddo was one of the returning exiles. If Zechariah had been one of the returning exiles, he likely would have been a mere boy (see Zechariah 1:1; Nehemiah 12:1–4, 16; Ezra 5:1; 6:14).

Zechariah was contemporary with the prophet Haggai (see Ezra 5:1). Haggai and Zechariah were called by the Lord to encourage the people to complete the temple (see Ezra 5:1; 6:14).

Symbolism in Zechariah (Sections A–C)

Sidney B. Sperry wrote: “In many respects the Book of Zechariah is one of the most difficult of interpretation in the Old Testament. Many early commentators, Jewish and Christian alike, were forced to concede that they failed ’to find their hands’ in the interpretation of the prophet’s visions, and that they became lost in the mazes of his thought. Indeed, the writer confesses freely that in comparison to Zechariah all of the other Minor Prophets are easy to interpret.” (The Voice of Israel’s Prophets, p. 411.)

Explain to students that one of the reasons Zechariah is difficult to interpret is that he clothed his message in the language of symbol, as Isaiah and Ezekiel did. Help students see that even though they may not understand every verse, much of Zechariah can be understood by understanding many of the symbols he used. For further commentary on the symbols mentioned below, see the Religion 302 student manual 13-58; 27-16; 33-5; 33-9; 33-15 through 33-16; 33-19; 33-23; 33-49.

Reference	Symbol	Concept Represented
Zechariah 1:8; 6:2–3	Horses—red speckled, bay, white, black	War, bloodshed Confusion, unsettled condition Peace, victory Mourning (see Jeremiah 8:21)
Zechariah 1:19	Horns	Power
Zechariah 3:3	Filthy garments	Sins
Zechariah 3:8; 6:12	The Branch	The Messiah
Zechariah 3:4	“Clothe thee with change of raiment”	Robes of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:8)
Zechariah 4:7	Great mountain	Obstacles
Zechariah 4:7	Becoming a plain	Removal of obstacles
Zechariah 9:9	Riding an ass	Coming in peace
Zechariah 10:3	Shepherds	Leaders
Zechariah 14:21	Canaanite in the house of the Lord	Ungodly in Israel

Consult the Religion 302 student manual for other examples. You might want to select a few examples from the writings of Zechariah and illustrate how understanding the symbols he used helps in understanding the passage.

The Mission of the Savior As Seen by Zechariah (Section B)

To help students see some parts of the mission of the Savior prophesied by Zechariah, place the following illustration on the chalkboard.

Mortal Ministry	Spirit World	Second Coming
Triumphal entry (Zechariah 9:9) Thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:11–13)	Through the Atonement, work for the dead could begin (Zechariah 9:11)	Christ will appear to the Jews at the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 12:8–10; 14:1–7; D&C 45:48, 51–53)

Mortal Ministry

Spirit World

Second Coming

Triumphal entry (Zechariah 9:9)

Thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:11–13)

Through the Atonement, work for the dead could begin (Zechariah 9:11)

Christ will appear to the Jews at the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 12:8–10; 14:1–7; D&C 45:48, 51–53)

Consult the Religion 302 student manual and the Bible dictionary, s.v. “Zechariah,” for helpful commentary on the above references as they relate to the mission of the Savior.

Much of Zechariah deals with the battle of Armageddon and the judgments of God. Other suggestions for teaching this material are found in lesson 49, which covers Ezekiel 38 and 39.