Zechariah 11:8 – In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.
Thus far in our study of the vision given to Zechariah in chapter 11, we have discovered that a time would come when the Jews were led by false shepherds, both civil and religious. 
These men were supposed to lead and guide the common people in the ways of the Lord. They were to be champions of justice and protectors of the poor and fatherless. Sadly, they had abandoned their calling and were using their positions of authority to enrich themselves.
But they did not operate outside the knowledge of God. He saw their works and became impatient and disgusted with them when they refused to repent. The judgment God pronounced against them is detailed in verses 4-17. Although there could be multiple fulfillments of this judgment, our study will focus on the events which occurred at the time of Christ.
In the vision described by Zechariah, the prophet represents Jesus the Great Shepherd. In our last post we saw that he had taken up two shepherd staffs. Although there is a difference of opinion on the exact meaning of these staffs, we know that when a shepherd took up his staff, it signified two things:
- One, he had officially accepted the role of head shepherd.
- Two, he possessed the ability and authority needed to fulfill his role.
In the same way, when Zechariah symbolically picked up the two staffs in his vision, it signified that at some point, Jesus officially agreed to take up the office of the Shepherd/Messiah/Redeemer of mankind. It also signified that he possessed all the power and authority needed for this role.
Now the prophet tells us that in one month, he destroyed three shepherds. What does that mean?
Let’s discuss the 30-day period first. There are generally two interpretations for this. One, it is believed to simply represent a short span of time; not necessarily an exact 30-day period. Or two, each of the thirty days represents a year, which translates to roughly a 30-year time span.
As for the three shepherds who were replaced, different answers are given based on the different fulfillments of the prophesy. For example, some scholars identify the three as Judas, Jonathan and Simon Maccabees, because they believe this prophesy was fulfilled during that era of time (approximately 167-141 BC).
We, however, are focusing on the time period before, during and after the incarnation of Christ. As it relates to this particular time period, it is widely believed that the three shepherds do not represent three individuals, but three groups of leaders/magistrates over the Jews:
- Princes – This category includes those who maintained some type of civil authority over the Jews including judges, the Sanhedrin and/or other smaller governing councils.
- Prophets – This category includes the Scribes, Pharisees, teachers of the Law, etc. Basically it would be religious leaders who were not priests.
- Priests – This category includes all those within the priesthood, including the high priest(s).
When these three groups are destroyed or cut off, the end result is the cessation of civil government, the sealing up or closure of vision/prophesy (as it relates to the Law or OT covenant) and the end of sacrifice.
Historically, we can show that all three of these groups (and their purposes) ceased to exist for the Jews when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 71. Thus, God’s word was fulfilled exactly as he said it would be. 
Zechariah goes on to say that ‘I became impatient with them (or my soul loathed them), and they also detested me’.
To loath is to be filled with disgust or aversion. Used in this context, the meaning is that Jesus was filled with disgust when he looked upon the works of the princes, prophets and priests of that day. In our culture, we might say that the three groups had so corrupted their purpose and misused their authority, that it made Jesus angry and ‘sick to his stomach’.
In turn, the men of these three classes ‘detested’ Jesus. To detest is commonly defined as ‘to hate’, but it also means ‘to witness against, to denounce, to condemn’.
It isn’t difficult for us to read through the gospels and find example after example of the Jewish leaders doing exactly that:
Witness Against - Matthew 26:59- Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Denounce - John 5:16 - And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.
Condemn - Mark 10:33 - Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
Worse yet, they incited large numbers of the common Jews to reject him as well.
Zechariah 11:9 – So I said, “I will not be our shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.”
Many scholars believe Zechariah’s words are a paraphrase of what was spoken years earlier by the prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 15:1-2 - Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not turn toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. …Thus says the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
These two prophesies are very similar and they have virtually the same meaning. So what is the God saying through his prophets?
The Lord declares ‘I will not be our shepherd’ or as the King James Version says, ‘I will not feed you’. The meaning is this: because the people have rejected the Lord and his commands/laws, he will stop ‘feeding’ them or giving them sound doctrine.
Those who reject sound doctrine set themselves up for destruction. In this case, the Jews who rejected the gospel message had only one way left to obtain eternal life - to live a sinless life under the law, which we know was impossible. Therefore they chose death instead of life.
That kind of death/destruction is not just spiritual; it is often physical as well. In the case of Jews alive during the incarnation, those who rejected Christ eventually found themselves embroiled in a bitter war with the Romans, which led to the physical destruction of their homes, their city, their temple and themselves.
Sadly, the principle of rejecting sound doctrine in favor of false beliefs/gods occurs many times throughout the scriptures (for instance, the entire book of Judges). It is important to note that the end result of false doctrine is always the same: spiritual and physical destruction/death.
This is exactly what we would expect, because in rejecting the ways of Jehovah, you are embracing the ways of Satan and he has nothing to give but bitterness and death.
This leads us to one inescapable conclusion: the judgment of God cannot be considered cruel or malicious, because he tried all possible means to gather his flock to himself. In the end, they refused; it was their decision to reject Christ’s doctrine and authority.
Luke 13:34 - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!
Let’s look at it another way. We know that the shepherd is set over a flock for specific purposes: to lead them to places of bountiful food and water, to defend them from wild beasts and robbers, to heal or nurse them and to do what is best for them.
Spiritual shepherds do the same thing. They provide spiritual food, defend against false teachers/doctrines, provide comfort/healing and generally lead them in the manner that is best for their spiritual good. 
Jesus was more than willing to do all this (and more) for the Jews, but they refused. Therefore, Jesus ceased to be their Shepherd; he removed his hand of protection/provision from them. Once that happened, the only possible outcome for the Jews was physical and spiritual death.
When the Jews rejected Christ, God then opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles:
Acts 13:46 - Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [the Jews]: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
You and I need to take this lesson to heart, because it is still possible for Christians today to reject sound doctrine and fall into spiritual death. The apostle Paul warned of this in his letter to Timothy:
2 Timothy 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto myths.
As Christians, it is our responsibility to make sure we don’t begin having ‘itchy ears’ that long for false doctrine. So how can we avoid falling into the same trap? Here are some tips to keep us from being deceived:
- Be careful who you allow to be a spiritual leader or teacher in your life. What do you know about the background of this person? Are there any ‘red flags’ in their everyday lives or ministries that would cause you to pause? If so, make sure you investigate them fully.
- As you are being taught in Sunday morning services, or in a bible study or through an online ministry, be sure that you are carefully watching and listening to what they say. Have your bible close by and double check the scriptural references for accuracy. If Holy Spirit gives you a warning sign, be sure to listen.
- Just as Holy Spirit will never give a word of prophesy or vision that does not match up to scripture, neither will he supersede or replace the scriptures with a new ‘word’ or command of God. If a spiritual leader or teacher tells you they have a ‘new’ word from the Lord that replaces an existing command, beware!
- If you come across a ministry that requires a donation in order for you to receive prayer, or a ministry that claims God will not hear you without a donation, stop following them immediately! While tithes and offerings should be a part of Christian life, they are not required for answered prayers.
Remember, the devil is a liar who specializes in half-truths. If you want to avoid being fooled, know the scriptures!
Zechariah 11:10 – And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples.
In this verse we see God officially ‘breaking up’ with his people. But this does not mean that the grace and salvation of the gospel were completely withdrawn from mankind. Rather, it was temporarily taken from the Jews (Romans 11:25) and given to another flock – the Gentiles.
Matthew 21:43 - Therefore I [Jesus] say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Because of God’s goodness and grace, you and I can also receive the salvation given to the Jews! Such a blessing is almost incomprehensible! Hallelujah! 
In light of the fact that we have received such an astonishing gift, let’s commit ourselves to bringing forth fruit in the kingdom of heaven.
Zechariah 11:11 – So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders (poor of the flock), who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord.
There is no doubt that the majority of the Jews rejected Christ as their Shepherd. But God always has a remnant that is faithful to him (Romans 9:27). In this prophesy that remnant is referred to as ‘sheep traders’ or ‘poor of the flock’.
These Jews ‘watched’ or placed their full attention on Jesus, taking note of his commands and words of warning. Thus, they knew or were fully convinced that the prophesy concerning the destruction of the Jews and the city of Jerusalem was certainly going to come to pass.
Luke 21:20-22 - And when you shall see Jerusalem surrounded with armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them who are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter into it. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
These Jews were saved from the horrific destruction that eventually came upon those who remained in Jerusalem because they closely listened to the Holy Spirit and obeyed his voice.
There is still a spiritual war going on today. If we want to come through it victorious, we too must listen to the voice of Holy Spirit and follow where he leads.
Let me offer you some encouragement:
As we consider the prophesy of Zechariah, one thing becomes very clear – God is always faithful to his word. When he promises destruction for those who reject him, they will be destroyed. When he promises blessing for those who follow him, they will be blessed.
So on those days when life seems hard, or it seems difficult to do the righteous thing, encourage yourself with the promises of God. Today may be a difficult day, but the time will come when the trumpet sounds and you will live in eternal bliss and glory with King Jesus!
Let me offer you some relief:
Is it possible that you are reading this blog post while being in a state of rebellion against the Lord? Are you a prodigal who has walked away from your faith? 
If so, I want to give you a word of hope and relief. God did everything in his power to call the Jews back to himself. He would have forgiven them and immediately placed them back into his flock if they had only asked.
God is more than willing to do the same for you. All you need to do is humble yourself, confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. When you do, the blood of Christ will immediately cleanse you from sin and you will be back under the care of the Great Shepherd.
Let me offer you some strength:
Are you walking through a difficult time? If so, let me remind you that you don’t walk alone. Our loving Shepherd is walking with you every step of the way. He will lead you in the paths of righteousness and restore your soul. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, he is there to comfort you. He will prepare a table of blessing for you under the eyes of your enemies. Surely his goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of this life (Psalms 23)!