Zec 6:12-13 | KingComments | STEP | Zechariah must make an ornate crown out of the silver and gold ( ). He must then set it on the head of Joshua, the high priest. A crown does not belong to a high priest, but on the head of a king, the head of Zerubbabel, who is out of the line of David. However, God wants to show that King and Priest unite in the Person of the Messiah. Placing the crown on the head of the High Priest speaks symbolic language. Zechariah must explain the meaning of this act to Joshua so that Joshua will not think he is the actual king. He must do so in the Name of the LORD of hosts, a name often mentioned in the remainder of the book. It is the name that indicates that the LORD has all power over all earthly and heavenly hosts. The crown is connected to the Branch, literally Sprout, that is to come ( ; ). The call “behold, a man” is reminiscent of what Pilate says: “Behold, the Man!” ( ). The Sprout is the Messiah from the house of David. Sprout means ‘to sprout out’ ( ). He “will branch out from where He is” or “sprout out”, that is, out of Zion or Jerusalem. The Savior shall come out of Zion ( ; ), not to Zion. He is ascribed to Zion, he belongs to Zion ( ). Joshua here in his ministry is a type of the Messiah, Who will be King-Priest, “He will be a priest on His throne” ( ). He will be “a shoot” that “will spring from the stem of Jesse” ( ). He shall come forth from His own people. And He will build the glorious temple of the realm of peace which we find in Ezekiel 40-43. Here it is about the future temple.

‏ Zechariah 6:12-13

The Branch

Zechariah must make an ornate crown out of the silver and gold (Zec 6:11). He must then set it on the head of Joshua, the high priest. A crown does not belong to a high priest, but on the head of a king, the head of Zerubbabel, who is out of the line of David. However, God wants to show that King and Priest unite in the Person of the Messiah. Placing the crown on the head of the High Priest speaks symbolic language.

Zechariah must explain the meaning of this act to Joshua so that Joshua will not think he is the actual king. He must do so in the Name of the LORD of hosts, a name often mentioned in the remainder of the book. It is the name that indicates that the LORD has all power over all earthly and heavenly hosts.

The crown is connected to the Branch, literally Sprout, that is to come (Isa 4:2; Jer 23:5 ; Jer 33:15-17). The call “behold, a man” is reminiscent of what Pilate says: “Behold, the Man!” (Jn 19:5). The Sprout is the Messiah from the house of David. Sprout means ‘to sprout out’ (Isa 53:2). He “will branch out from where He is” or “sprout out”, that is, out of Zion or Jerusalem. The Savior shall come out of Zion (Rom 11:26; Psa 14:7), not to Zion. He is ascribed to Zion, he belongs to Zion (Psa 87:5-6).

Joshua here in his ministry is a type of the Messiah, Who will be King-Priest, “He will be a priest on His throne” (Zec 6:13). He will be “a shoot” that “will spring from the stem of Jesse” (Isa 11:1). He shall come forth from His own people. And He will build the glorious temple of the realm of peace which we find in Ezekiel 40-43. Here it is about the future temple.

The Messiah Is Priest on His Throne

Zec 6:12-13 give a beautiful picture of the Messiah as King and Priest. He will have this dignity after His enemies have been dealt with, as described in the last night vision. He is still in heaven now and is not sitting on His own throne, but on that of His Father (Rev 3:21). The moment that God will give Him His own throne, the throne of his father David, has yet to come (Lk 1:32). Then He will reign as King.

Everything gives way to Him:

1. The high priest Joshua of Zechariah 3 gives way to the Messiah Priest.

2. The governor Zerubbabel of Zechariah 4 gives way to the Messiah King.

3. Zerubbabel, the temple builder, gives way to Him Who builds the temple.

4. The two anointed ones of Zechariah 4 (Zec 4:14) give way to the anointed King-Priest.

He is the true Melchizedek, who was also king and priest (Heb 7:1). His kingship lays the foundation for His authority; His priesthood connects His caring grace and compassion to it. Each time the emphasis is on ‘He’. In this verse that word is rightly stated at the beginning of every line.

Between the two sides of the ministry that are present in one Person, “the counsel of peace” takes place. The royal aspect and the priestly aspect are in perfect harmony in Him. The counsel of peace will be there between the Messiah and Yahweh. He is Man and also God. This cannot be said of any human being. As a Man he is King and Priest, as Yahweh He fulfills all His promises in Him.