What do priorities reveal in this quote?
What does "sell them and say, 'Blessed be the LORD'" reveal about priorities?

Focused Passage

“Those who buy them slaughter them without being punished; those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!’ Even their own shepherds do not spare them.” – Zechariah 11:5


Setting the Scene

• Zechariah is acting out judgment on Israel’s leaders, pictured as shepherds who have turned the covenant community into “the flock marked for slaughter.”

• Buyers exploit the flock, sellers profit, and leaders look away.

• Everyone still mouths pious words, “Blessed be the LORD,” as though success equals divine approval.


What “sell them and say, ‘Blessed be the LORD’” Reveals about Priorities

• Profit over people – human lives reduced to merchandise.

• Hypocrisy over holiness – religious language masks unrighteous gain (Isaiah 29:13).

• Self-enrichment over covenant faithfulness – ignoring God’s call to justice and mercy (Micah 6:8).

• Temporal wealth over eternal reward – storing up treasure on earth, not in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

• Convenience over compassion – indifference to the suffering caused (Proverbs 14:31).


Supporting Scriptures

Amos 8:4-6 – trampling the needy “so we can buy the poor for silver.”

Micah 2:2 – coveting and seizing fields because “it is in their power.”

1 Timothy 6:10 – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”

James 5:1-5 – the cries of the exploited have reached “the ears of the Lord of Hosts.”

Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve God and money.”


Priorities God Commends

• Love God wholeheartedly – Deuteronomy 6:5.

• Love neighbor sacrificially – Leviticus 19:18; John 13:34-35.

• Seek first His kingdom and righteousness – Matthew 6:33.

• Pursue justice, mercy, and faithfulness – Matthew 23:23.

• Practice contentment and generosity – Hebrews 13:5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.


Living It Out

• Conduct business with integrity, refusing any gain that harms others (Proverbs 11:1).

• Treat employees and customers as image-bearers, not revenue streams (Colossians 4:1).

• Give generously, proving that money is a servant, not a master (Acts 20:35).

• Guard speech, ensuring our “Blessed be the LORD” aligns with obedient living (James 1:26-27).

• Regularly review motives, asking whether decisions reflect eternal values (Colossians 3:2).


Summary

“Sell them and say, ‘Blessed be the LORD’” unmasks hearts that value wealth above worship, comfort above compassion, and appearance above authenticity. Scripture calls believers to the opposite: honoring God by protecting people, pursuing righteousness, and letting every “Blessed be the LORD” flow from a life that places Him—and His image-bearers—first.

How does Zechariah 11:5 illustrate the consequences of neglecting God's guidance today?
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