1
In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Kislev.
2
Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to seek the favor of the LORD,
3
to ask the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”
4
Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying:
5
“Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying: When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, these seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?
6
And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?
7
Are not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem and the cities around it were still inhabited and at peace, and the Negeb and the hill country were still inhabited?”
8
The word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying:
9
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgment, and show kindness and mercy each to his brother.
10
Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil in your heart against another.”
11
But they refused to pay attention, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears from hearing.
12
They made their hearts hard as flint, lest they should hear the instruction and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD.
13
“As they would not listen when I called, so I would not listen when they called, says the LORD of hosts.
14
So I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; thus they made the pleasant land a desolation.”
🥖💔⚖️ Summary of Zechariah 7 – Empty Fasting vs. True Justice
Zechariah 7 presents a stern warning from God against worship that is only outward form. When the people ask whether they should continue fasting as they did during the exile, God answers sharply: Were you fasting for Me, or only for yourselves? God turns their attention not to ritual, but to justice, mercy, and true obedience. The message is this: worship without love and justice is empty — and this is what once led their ancestors into exile.
📌 1. The Question about Fasting (verses 1–3)
“Should I weep and abstain… as I have done for so many years?”
A delegation from Bethel came to ask the priests and the prophet:
- Are they still to fast in the fifth month (in remembrance of Jerusalem’s destruction)?
🎯 They gave importance to ritual, but God challenged the motives of the heart behind their fasting.
📌 2. Is the Fast for God? (verses 4–7)
“When you fast… are you truly fasting for Me?”
The Lord examined their motives:
- Your fasting and your feasts — are they not only for yourselves?
- Long ago the Lord had already warned through the prophets, but they would not listen.
🎯 Worship without repentance and justice is empty — and can become a selfish spiritual routine.
📌 3. God Requires Justice and Love (verses 8–10)
“Administer true justice, show kindness and compassion…”
God’s demand is clear:
- True justice
- Kindness and compassion
- Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor
- Do not devise evil against one another
🎯 God desires social justice and real love, not merely the symbolism of fasting.
📌 4. The Result of a Hardened Heart (verses 11–14)
“But they refused to pay attention…”
- They stopped their ears and hardened their hearts
- The Lord was angry and no longer heard their cries
- As a result: they were scattered among the nations and the land became desolate
🎯 Persistent disobedience brings ruin, not because God is not good — but because the heart is hard.
📖 Main Teaching
- God cares more about the condition of the heart than the outward form of worship.
- True fasting is not only refraining from food, but refraining from evil and injustice.
- Love and compassion toward others are part of true worship.
- Do not repeat the mistakes of the forefathers, who were stubborn and did not obey the voice of the Lord.
- The Lord longs for repentance, not empty ritual.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“What I desire is mercy and not sacrifice.”
→ In harmony with Zechariah 7 — love and justice are given priority.
“Pure and undefiled religion… is to visit orphans and widows…”
→ True worship is a caring heart, not formality.
“Even if I give away all that I have… but do not have love, I am of no benefit at all.”
📖 Jesus and the Pharisees
Jesus repeatedly rebuked them because they loved outward form more than love and justice.
🎯 Zechariah 7 is a call to spiritual self-examination — is our worship still centered on God and His love?
🕊️ “Are you truly fasting for Me?” – Zechariah 7:5
🕊️ “Administer true justice, and show love and compassion.” – Zechariah 7:9
🕊️ “But they refused to pay attention…” – Zechariah 7:11
🕊️ “So they were carried by the storm wind among the nations…” – Zechariah 7:14
