Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. ~ Zechariah 13:7

Zechariah 13:7 is interpreted in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 during the time of the arrest of Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus had said to his disciples, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. ~ Matthew 26:31

Mark ‘s quotation is very similar: And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

At first glance it might appear that God himself personally smote Jesus and scattered the sheep, but it is my conviction that if we examine this text in view of the context as well as the overall narrative regarding the death of Jesus, we will find that Zechariah’s prophecy speaks to the foreknowledge of God regarding the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus. The things Jesus endured from the time of his arrest until his death on the cross were the ordained will of God for the salvation of sinners. 

When we examine how the New Testament interprets Zechariah’s prophecy, both Matthew and Mark refer to this passage as the fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus would be forsaken by his disciples. The emphasis is placed on the scattering of the sheep. 

Notice how this verse is used within the overall context in Matthew 26:31-35

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. ~ Matthew 26:31-35

Notice that the emphasis is on how the disciples would respond to the arrest of Jesus. Now, let’s continue reading from Matthew 26.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. ~ Matthew 26:36-47

Remember Zechariah’s prophecy begins with ‘Awake, O sword, against my shepherd…’ Judas, who betrayed Jesus, led a great multitude with swords and staves. God was foretelling by Zechariah the things which were going to happen on the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas into the hands of men. 

Notice what else Zechariah’s prophecy says: “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.”

What could possibly be meant by “I will turn mine hands upon the little ones ?” The little ones refer to the sheep (the disciples) who were scattered. The same voice which says: “Smite the shepherd” also says “I will turn my hand upon the little ones.” 

Did God personally scatter the sheep? Is there anything within the context or the gospels which would imply that God was personally causing the disciples to faint during Jesus’ time of grief and sorrow?  

Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 22, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” ~ v. 31

Now let’s continue reading from Matthew. 

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. ~ Matthew 26:48-52 

Notice that it wasn’t by the sword that Jesus was smitten, even though Zechariah’s prophecy had said, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow.” Jesus actually stopped what could have been a very bloody scene. But it was at this time during his passion that Jesus was forsaken by his disciples as was prophesied by the scriptures. Jesus goes one to say, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? ~ v. 53

Jesus could have prayed and received deliverance. This would not have been so if God were personally opposing him (smiting him) in that hour. Jesus wasn’t slain against his will. When he was arrested, he had already taken up his cross by his surrendered obedience to the will of His Father.

Even though those who hated him had sought to kill him from the beginning, they could not touch his life until the Father delivered him into their hands and this did not begin to happen until Jesus gave Judas the command: “What you are going to do, do quickly. ~ John 13:27 

Jesus was given the authority to lay down His life and to take it up again: and though they came with a band of soldiers to take him by force, he was in complete control even as he had been from the beginning. In fact, John tells us that when Jesus told those who came to arrest him who he was, those with the swords and staves went backward and fell to the ground.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. ~ John 18:3-5

Jesus certainly could have escaped had he chosen too. 

Now, let’s continue:

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. ~ Matthew 26:55-56

Notice how at the beginning of the context in Matthew 26:31, Jesus interprets Zachariah 13:7 as being fulfilled by the disciples forsaking him. Then towards the end of the same context (verse 56) Matthew says: ‘then all the disciples forsook him and fled.’ 

This is the fulfillment of the scripture spoken in Zechariah 13:7.

We must be careful not to create a scenario that the New Testament does not give based on the words “I will smite the shepherd” which is a reference to God’s divine purposes and foreknowledge. Remember that Jesus could have had more than 12 legions of angels at his disposal, even after he prayed through, denying his will for the will of God, 

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. ~ v. 39

It was God’s will for Jesus to be delivered over to death, not delivered from death. Yet in no way did God become opposed to Jesus for that to happen. Jesus took up the cross because it was the Father’s will that he do so and Jesus always did those things that pleased the Father. Thus Jesus laid down his life of his own free will in obedience to the Father’s will to fulfill all that was written concerning him. God did not personally condemn him or afflict him. 

The phrase “I will smite the shepherd” refers specifically to the word of God foretelling in advance what would happen according to the will of God. It does not refer in any way to an angry God pouring out his wrath on his innocent Son. 

The Bible clearly reveals that the offering of Jesus was the gift of God. God was the one who sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. The scriptures had foretold of the Messiah’s death for his people and Christ laid down his life to fulfill the scriptures. In this way he was smitten by God.  

By the divine counsel and wisdom of God he was delivered over to death for our sins (Acts 2:23; Romans 4:24-25; Romans 8:32).  Yet he was unjustly murdered by the hands of wicked men who actually carried out what the scriptures foresaw. 

If we interpret the cross as the wrath of God’s justice whereby God turned against his innocent Son, we face a major conundrum because we have now placed the justice of God at the scene of the crime, and the scriptures clearly state that Jesus was deprived of justice (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:33) and suffered wrongfully (1 Peter 1:19-25). 

When Jesus suffered and died for us, he was literally showing us the Father’s love for us. 

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. ~ Romans 15:3

May those words “the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me” resonate with us all. And may the Lord give us all understanding.