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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 7:8-14

What was said Zech. 7:7; that they should have heard the words of the former prophets, is here enlarged upon, for warning to these hypocritical enquirers, who continued their sins when they asked with great preciseness whether they should continue their fasts. This prophet had before put them in mind of their fathers? disobedience to the calls of the prophets, and what was the consequence of it (Zech. 1:4-6), and now here again; for others? harms should be our warnings. God's judgments upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 7:9

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying ,.... The same things as he had before; for the things following are ever in force, and always to be attended to, and to be regarded and preferred before anything merely ritual and ceremonial; and especially before the traditions and commandments of men, of which nature the above fasts were: Execute true judgment ; or, "judge judgment F5 משפט אמת "judicium veritatis", Montanus, Calvin, Cocceius, Burkius; "jus veritatis", Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 7:10

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor ,.... Such as have no husband to provide for them, nor father and mother to care for them, and are in a strange land, where they have no friends or acquaintance, and are poor, and can not help themselves. Laws of this kind were frequently inculcated among the Jews; see Deuteronomy 24:14 , and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart ; thoughts of evil are sinful, and forbidden by the law of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:9

Execute true judgment - See Isaiah 58:6 , Isaiah 58:7 ; Jeremiah Jeremiah 7:23 ; Micah 6:8 , chap. 8. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:10

Evil against his brother in your heart - Do not indulge an unfavourable opinion of another: do not envy him; do not harbour an unbrotherly feeling towards him. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:9

Verse 9 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, (71) saying, The judgment of truth judge, and kindness and mercies show, every one to his brother. We have seen what the Prophet said of fasting, when messengers were sent by the exiles to enquire on the subject. It was a suitable opportunity for handling the question. For, as we then said, the people were so devoted to their ceremonies, as to think that the whole of religion consisted in fasting and in similar exercises. And as we are by nature prone to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:10

Verse 10 He mentions here some other duties, but for the same purpose of showing, that the fear of God is not proved by ceremonies, but by acting justly towards our brethren, and not by abstaining only from doing wrong, but by being ready to help the miserable. As widows, and orphans, and strangers are exposed as it were to plunder, Moses often in the law recommends them to favor, and shows that God cares for them, and will be their defender, when by one injured. So also the Prophet speaks here... 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

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