Audio Sermons

Building Up the Church of Christ:

The Heart Matters

Life B-P Church Worship Services I & II

14^th April 2024

Text: Zechariah 7:1-14

Background

• Zechariah is a post-exilic prophet that ministered to the Jews who had returned together with Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest in 538 BC.
• Together with the prophet Haggai, they urged the people to resume the work of rebuilding the temple that had been put on hold due to opposition and their prioritising their own endeavours (Hag 1:4).
• The word of the Lord came again unto Zechariah, about 2 years since the revelation of the 8 visions and the rebuilding of the temple is in progress (v.1)

1. Request of the People (v.2-3)

• The people asked the priests & prophets if they should continue to observe the fast in the 5^th month.
• Fasting is a spiritual discipline where one abstains from enjoyment of material things such as food & drink, for a defined period of time, and accompanied with prayer & meditation on God’s Word.
• One fast which the Jews kept annually is on the Day of Atonement, on the 10^th day of the 7^th month (Lev 16:29-34; 23:26-32) where the high priest makes the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people.
• There were other annual fasts on the 4^th & 10^th months (Zech 8:19) that the Jews observed, in addition to the fasts in the 5^th and 7^th months which could have been instituted in remembrance of the significant events leading up to the Babylonian captivity and the Jewish diaspora (2 Kings 25 and Jer 52).
• The 5^th month was likely to commemorate the destruction of the temple, which was burned down by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard of the Babylonian army (Jer. 52:12-13, 2 Kings 25:8-9).

2. Response from God (v.4-10)

a) Reproof from God (v.4-7)

• God reproved the Jews’ fasting as He revealed the hypocrisy of their hearts which were devoid of the right motives and attitudes (v.5).
• God indicted the people for indulging in eating & drinking for themselves (v.6), rather than to Him (cf. 1 Cor 10:31).
• God reproved the people for not obeying His warnings of judgment through the prophets.

b) Reform required by God (v.8-10)

• God wanted the people to reform their hearts’ attitude toward Him and engage in true religion that is manifested through their lives & actions.
• Executing true (righteous) judgements and showing mercy & compassion to the brethren (cf. Phil 2:4, Gal 6:10).
• Not oppressing those who are the weak & underprivileged (cf. Jas 1:27).
• Not to even think of anything evil or scheme against another (cf. Jer 17:9-10).

3. Reactions of the People (v.11-12)

• The people’s reactions revealed the true condition of their hearts:

⃝ They refused to submit to the Lord (v.11a)

⃝ They refused to listen to the preaching of the Word (v.11b)

⃝ They hardened their hearts against the Word of God (v.12)

4. Result of the People’s Impenitence (v.13-14)

a) God refused to hear His people (v.13)

• As the people refused to listen to God, God also refused to hear their cries during the time of judgment.

b) God requited His people for their impenitence (v.14)

• God brought about the judgment upon His people that He warned them about, which they refused to listen.

5. Relation to us (Application)

• The heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart – yours and mine.
• Let us remember that God desires our hearts and obedience, and not our external religious observances.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What are your current priorities in life? Does God & His work feature in them?
2. Is there anything in your life that is hindering your obedience to God?
3. What are your heart’s motivation & attitude as you engage in spiritual disciplines and service to the Lord?
4. Would God find the same hypocrisy in you today? Seek the Lord and resolve to walk in His way today.