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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:13

Verse 13 The Prophet sets forth more fully the dreadfulness of this punishment — that they in vain groaned and complained, for God was deaf to their complaints and cryings. When God in some measure fulminates and becomes soon reconciled, he does not seem to be greatly incensed, but when the miserable whom he afflicts by his hand, avail nothing by their entreaties and prayers, it then appears evident that God is in no common degree offended. This then is what the Prophet meant by saying, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:14

Verse 14 Here the Prophet concludes what he had been speaking of God’s vengeance, by which he had fully proved, that the sins of that nation had arrived to such a pitch, that there was no room for pardon. Hence he says, that they had been dispersed; for so I prefer to render the word, and the context seems to require this. Interpreters vary as to its meaning; and, indeed, the Hebrews themselves say, that this is a difficult passage, for, according to the rules of grammar, the word can hardly be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-14

God and men. I. THE UNITY OF GOD 'S PURPOSE . God's thoughts do not vary, though he varies his methods. His end for nations and individuals is always the same—advancement, not merely in knowledge and culture, but in moral goodness. II. THE MERCIFULNESS OF GOD 'S WARNINGS . At no time hath God left himself without wirelesses. By word and providence and in countless ways his warnings come. We see this in the past. ( Zechariah 7:7 , "former prophets.") So in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:8-14

§ 8. The people are further reminded that they had been disobedient in old time, and had been punished by exile. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:8-14

Hypocrisy warned. "And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts," etc. The severe rebuke of the previous verses seems followed up in these verses by a very solemn yet very merciful warning, intended apparently to save the Jews from the various evils to which their hypocrisy had exposed them. The language of God to their fathers, as referred to in verse 7, appears still (note "thus spake ," according to Pusey, Wardlaw, and others, in verse 9) the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:8-14

Religion, genuine and spurious. "And the Word of the Lord," etc. From this passage we infer three facts. I. GENUINE RELIGION IS PHILANTHROPIC . ( Isaiah 1:16 , Isaiah 1:17 ; Isaiah 58:6 , Isaiah 58:7 ; Matthew 5:44 .) "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute tree judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother," etc. Here is the ritual, the manifestation, the proof of genuine religion, and it is practical philanthropy. The sign and evidence... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:11

Pulled away the shoulder; they gave a stubborn, refractory shoulder, like an ox which refuses to have the yoke put on his neck, or draws hack when it feels the weight ( Nehemiah 9:29 ; Hosea 4:16 ). Stopped their ears . Made their ears heavy. τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν ἐβάρυναν ; Isaiah 6:10 ; Isaiah 59:1 . Three degrees of obduracy are named in this verse: they refused to listen; they resisted the warners; they exhibited open contempt for them. The full climax is given in the next... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:11

The history of ungodliness. I. GERM . The question is—Self or God, our own will or God's will. Must be settled. Pressed by prophet after prophet. The answer shows the state of the heart. "Refused to hear." II. PROGRESS . There is growth in evil, as in good Stages. "First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." 1 . Wilful refusal. "Pulled away the shoulder." Sinners will not submit to be guided by the higher will. Angry and fretted, they will not bow to God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:12

They made their hearts as an adamant stone. They made their hearts as hard as a stone which could receive no cutting or engraving; no message from God could find entrance; and this from their wilful obstinacy. The word rendered "adamant," shamir, probably means "diamond," a stone so hard, says Jerome, as to break all metals to pieces, but to be itself broken by none; hence it is called adamas, "unconquerable." Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 3:9 ) notes that it is harder than flint (comp. Jeremiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:13

As he cried. As the Lord called to them by the prophets. Just retri-button fell upon them ( Proverbs 1:24 , etc.; Isaiah 65:12 , Isaiah 65:13 ; Isaiah 66:4 ). So they cried, and I would not hear; rather, so they shall cry, and I will not hear. God will be deaf to their cry, and will give them up to their own ways ( Jeremiah 2:28 ). In the protasis Jehovah is spoken of in the third person, in the apodosis he speaks in the first. read more

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