Zechariah 11:12-13 (NLT)
“And I said to them, ‘If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.’ So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord.”
In Zechariah 11:12-13, the prophet Zechariah acts out the symbolic role of a shepherd. One Bible commentary I read noted that Zechariah was representing the Lord’s leadership over Israel. Zechariah gives the people a choice to pay him wages according to what they think he is worth. The people responded by counting out thirty pieces of silver, which at the time was the price of a slave. Then the Lord told Zechariah to throw the pieces of silver to the potter, which was symbolic of Father-God’s authority over creation. One Bible commentary I read noted that throwing the silver to the potter in the Temple of the Lord symbolized a rejection of the value placed on the shepherd.
When I read these verses, I was reminded of the thirty pieces of silver that Judas accepted to betray Jesus Christ. Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled in the New Testament, as recorded in Matthew 26:14-16. In Matthew 27:3-7, Judas threw the money into the Temple, and the chief priests decided to use it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. The second part of Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled through the actions of Judas and the temple priests.
When I read prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the life of Christ with such specific detail, it strengthens my belief that the Bible is divinely inspired. Knowing that these prophecies were recorded and studied for centuries before the birth of Christ further strengthens my faith. It also reminds me that prophecies in the Old and New Testaments that have not yet come to pass will be fulfilled in the Lord’s timing.
These verses give me confidence that the guidance I have received from the Holy Spirit about the Lord’s plan for my life will come to pass. Since I already experience the blessings of peace in my life, they also strengthen my faith that the other promises and blessings the Lord has spoken about for His people will be fulfilled. As I continue to obey Him and seek to reflect His character, I trust that His promises are true.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose plan for the world and your life will always come to pass—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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