Wickedness condemned (5:1–4). The scroll was fifteen feet by thirty feet, so it could easily be seen and read. God condemned the thieves and the liars. (Satan is both; John 8:44.) These sins are violations of the third and the eighth commandments and are still condemned by God (Eph. 4:25–28).
Wickedness confined (5:5–11). In the end times, there will be a concentration of evil at Babylon, that last expression of the evil world system (Rev. 17–18). The word wickedness is feminine in Hebrew, which explains why a woman was used as the illustration.
Wickedness controlled (6:1–8). The vision parallels Zechariah 1:7–11 and reminds us that God’s angelic servants patrol the earth. The Jews frequently were invaded from the north, but God was keeping those nations at rest so the remnant could build the temple.
Wickedness conquered (6:9–15). Three Jews from Babylon came to Jerusalem with gold and silver for the temple. But God told Zechariah to make a crown and put it on Joshua and make him a king-priest! No Jewish priest had ever reigned as king, and no king was permitted to serve as a priest (2 Chron. 26:16–21). All of this was symbolic of the coming Messiah, the King-Priest (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:1–3) who would reign from the future glorious temple (Ezek. 40ff.). Just as the three men brought gifts from afar, so the Gentiles would bring gifts to help build the future temple (Isa. 60:4–7).
As Haggai encouraged the people in their daily work, Zechariah urged them to live “in the future tense” and work because they were a part of God’s glorious future. A “blessed hope” is a great motivation for service and faithfulness (Titus 2:11–15).
Messianic Titles
“The BRANCH” is an important messianic title, signifying our Lord’s coming from the stock of David (Isa. 11:1). As Branch, He is King (Jer. 23:5; 33:15), God’s Servant (Zech. 3:8), “the Man whose name is the BRANCH” (Zech. 6:12), and “the Branch of the Lord” (Isa. 4:2). Some see in these four titles a parallel to the four Gospels. Matthew presents the Branch of David, the King; Mark, the Servant; Luke, the Man; and John, “the Branch of the Lord” who is God come in human flesh (John 20:30–31).
