How does Zechariah 11:10 connect with New Testament teachings on God's grace? Setting the scene in Zechariah 11:10 “Then I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.” Favor: A Prophetic Picture of Grace • “Favor” translates the Hebrew hen—often rendered “grace” or “unmerited kindness.” • A shepherd’s staff symbolizes guidance, protection, and relationship; naming it “Favor” depicts God’s gracious covenant care. • Cutting that staff dramatizes the withdrawal of grace toward an obstinate flock that rejects its shepherd. Breaking the Staff—Grace Withdrawn from the Rebellious • Israel’s leaders refused the shepherd God appointed (vv. 8–9). • The broken staff signifies judgment: grace withheld from those who spurn it (cp. Proverbs 1:24–28). • Yet the act is temporary and purposeful, opening the way for a greater display of mercy. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and Broken Favor • John 10:11 — “I am the good shepherd.” The Messiah embodies the rejected shepherd of Zechariah 11. • Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50; 27:3–10 — Thirty pieces of silver, quoted from Zechariah 11:12–13, tie the passage directly to Christ’s betrayal. • At the cross, humanity’s sin “cuts” the staff; the Shepherd endures the consequence so that grace may flow freely (Isaiah 53:5). The Covenant Revoked and the New Covenant Established • Revoking the old covenant points forward to a superior one (Hebrews 8:13). • Luke 22:20 — “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” The broken staff prefigures Christ’s blood sealing a covenant that can never be broken (Hebrews 9:15). • Romans 11:11–12 — Israel’s stumbling opens the door for Gentile inclusion, fulfilling “all the nations” hinted in Zechariah 11:10. Grace Amplified in the New Testament • John 1:17 — “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” • Acts 15:11 — “We believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved.” • Ephesians 2:8–9 — “By grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” • Titus 2:11 — “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.” Zechariah’s broken staff shows grace seemingly withdrawn; the New Testament reveals it poured out more abundantly through Christ. Living Under the Unbroken Staff Today • The Good Shepherd now holds an unbreakable staff: “My sheep will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). • Believers stand in a covenant of grace secured by Christ’s finished work (Hebrews 10:14). • Gratitude, humility, and obedience flow from recognizing that the staff once broken for judgment is now restored forever in our favor. |
    |