Zechariah 6:13 Commentary and Bible Study

For emphasis, this is repeated: ‘Even he shall build the temple of the Lord.’ There is only one who can build the temple of the Lord, not with physical stones and hewn timber, but with living stones, with those who are indwelt by the Spirit, ‘To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 2:4-5). It is a building work which cannot be done by men. It was important that the symbols continue to exist for a while, but no temple built with hands can be suitable for heaven. ‘But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us’ (Hebrews 9:11-12). This is the tabernacle, the temple, we look for and which in shadowy form, the remnant of Jewish believers were told to look for in these prophecies.‘He shall bear the glory’, for he will perfectly complete the work given to him, and he will be glorified by ascending into heaven and sitting at the right hand of the Father. This is what he prays for on earth, and this is what he was given: ‘Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again’ (John 12:28). I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was’ (John 17:4-5). This is true glory, and the returning Jews should not feel they have to be content with something small and unimpressive: when the true object of their hopes comes, there will be nothing disappointing about him; he will be the object of eternal praise.The Messiah, the Branch, will build through the preaching of the gospel, through the work of the Spirit of God in hearts, through the new birth. Stone by stone they will be added and set in place, and Christ will rule over them, for every true believer will call him ‘Lord, Lord’ and submit to him as Lord in obeying his commandments. He will be their great High Priest who will make atonement for them and reconcile them to God, and he will also be their King who will rule over them. The counsel of peace will be between these two offices held by the Messiah, and he will perfectly discharge them both. Indeed, he will be our Prophet, Priest, and King, and all three of these offices will work together to accomplish what he alone could ever do: the reconciliation of his elect to God, and their justification and complete sanctification.