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Zechariah 5
Darius 2nd Year
Today’s scripture has baffled many upon first reading—particularly if they start here and just read this chapter. But for us, this is a piece of cake because we understand the full context and the previous 10 chapters of chronology.
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The flying scroll is about 30 feet by 15 feet, which are the measurements of many of the items in the temple. The message of the scroll was regarding judgement against false oaths and stealing. How many of G-d’s people make promises to support the work of rebuilding the temple, yet withhold the delivery of that promise?
Are they steeling from G-d?
In the vision, these broken oaths and theft are promised to be punished severely and swiftly. Remember Ananias and his wife Sapphira? Acts 5:1-10.
Now is a good time for our pastors to warn the congregation. Many may have made such a commitment when we began our rebuilding work.
The ephah can be easy to understand within the context of everything we have read so far. It’s related. Don’t try to make it its own episode, but a continuation of the story we have been reading. If the oath breakers and thieves go unpunished, their sin will spread to others rapidly as if it has wings and will multiply as if the one woman became two in the ephah. Eventually, many will abandon our temple altogether and create temples of their own. Has this already happened in our church today?
Big Take-Away from Zechariah 5
27) Our pastors need to warn our congregations against getting swept up in the moment and making oaths to give and support rebuilding our temple that they either don’t intend to keep, and once made, they need to properly guard their hearts against failing to carry it through to its completion.