strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

The mourning penitents are here comforted.įountain opened-It has been long opened, but then first it shall be so ' to the house of David,' &c. Connected with the close of the twelfth chapter. CLEANSING OF THE JEWS FROM SIN ABOLITION OF IDOLATRY THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND CUT OFF, EXCEPT A THIRD PART REFINED BY TRIALS.ġ. And if we are his people, we shall be refined as gold he will be God, and the end of all our trials and sufferings will be praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the sin of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ, and in opposing his gospel, the Romans would destroy the greater part. It has, and shall have its accomplishment, in the destruction of the corrupt and hypocritical part of the professed church. This passage our Lord Jesus declares was fulfilled, when all his disciples, in the night wherein he was betrayed, forsook him and fled. Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. It may refer to the whole of Christ's sufferings, especially his agonies in the garden and on the cross, when he endured unspeakable anguish till Divine justice was fully satisfied. This sword must awake against him, yet he had no sin of his own to answer for. If a Sacrifice, he must be slain, for without shedding of the life-blood there was no remission. He is the Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep. As God, he is called 'my Fellow.' Christ and the Father are one. God the Father gave order to the sword of his justice to awake against his Son, when he freely made his soul an offering for sin. Verses 7-9 Here is a prophecy of the sufferings of Christ.

Often has he been wounded by professed friends, nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his word. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds of our Saviour.

It is well to acknowledge those to be friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing us to a sight of error for faithful are the wounds of a friend, ( Proverbs 27:6 ). When convinced that we are gone out of the way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by returning to it again. False prophets shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their proper employments. The thorough reformation which will take place on the conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. Souls are brought off from the world and the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God only. Those who are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so they are sanctified. Christ, by the power of his grace, takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. It is opened for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are inhabitants of Jerusalem. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. Behold a fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us from that fountain. This fountain opened is the pierced side of Christ. It has hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel but when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts, he will open it to them also. Even the atoning blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. Verses 1-6 In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. (1-6) The death of Christ, and the saving of a remnant of the people. The Fountain for the remission of sins, The conviction of the false prophets.

Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter