How does Zechariah 6:7 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19? The Setting of Zechariah 6:7 • Zechariah’s eighth vision shows four chariots emerging “from between two mountains” (Ze 6:1). • Each chariot represents a heavenly patrol sent to execute God’s purposes in every quarter of the world (vv. 2-6). • Verse 7 records the climax: “When the strong steeds went out, they were eager to go patrol the earth. And He said, ‘Go, patrol the earth!’ So they patrolled the earth.” Why the Command to “Go” Matters • “Go” signals divine initiative—God Himself sends. • The horses’ eagerness shows willing obedience; they fulfill the task immediately and completely. • The goal is worldwide oversight; nothing on earth lies outside God’s concern or authority (Psalm 24:1). Parallel Echoes in Matthew 28:19 Ze 6:7 “He said, ‘Go, patrol the earth!’” Mt 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” Shared themes: • Same verb of motion: a charge to leave the starting point. • Same global scope: “the earth” / “all nations.” • Same divine authority: the Lord speaks in Zechariah; the risen Christ, possessing “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), speaks in Matthew. Agents of God’s Purposes • Zechariah: angelic messengers in chariots—swift, powerful, unstoppable. • Matthew: human disciples empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)—ordinary people transformed into unstoppable witnesses. • Both groups go out under orders, confident that heaven backs their mission. Completion, Not Mere Commencement • The horses “patrolled the earth”—mission accomplished. • Jesus’ commission anticipates the same finish line: “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14). • Revelation depicts that completed scene: people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” redeemed (Revelation 5:9). Implications for Today • The Great Commission stands in the prophetic stream of Zechariah—worldwide reach powered by heaven’s command. • Believers share the horses’ urgency; reluctance has no place when the Lord says “Go.” • Success is guaranteed by God’s sovereignty, not human cleverness (Isaiah 55:11). • Like the chariots, we move out together—each believer a vital part of the Lord’s coordinated advance (1 Colossians 12:4-7). Key Takeaways • Zechariah 6:7 foreshadows the universal mission later given to the Church. • Both passages highlight God’s rule over the whole world and His resolve to see that rule acknowledged everywhere. • Obedience, speed, and confidence mark heaven-sent messengers—angelic or human. • The same voice that directed the horses now directs us; therefore we go, knowing the outcome is certain. |
    |