Zechariah 13:6 And one shall say to him, What are these wounds in your hands? Then he shall answer… I. WHO IS THE PERSON MENTIONED AS BEING WOUNDED? No other than the great God, our Creator and Redeemer, the "Man Christ Jesus." It was this mysterious man, this God-man, of whom the prophet inquires in the words of our text, "What are these wounds in Thy hands?" II. WHAT IS MEANT BY BEING "WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS"? This "fair world" is meant by "the house of His friends." "All things were made by Him." The house of His friends was His own house; He built it for them; He came into it because He had a right to; He came into it to do them good, to save them from their wickedness and woe; but they wounded Him, and cast Him out. You all know the history of the Divine Jesus, who was "wounded for our transgressions." In what sense can they be called His "friends" who used Him thus? I may call a man my friend in one or both of two senses. 1. Because he acts a friendly part towards me, though I have not deserved it; or, 2. Because I act a friendly part towards him, though he has not deserved it. A man may be a friend to me; or I may be a friend to him. Christ calls us friends, because He was a friend to us, though we were no friends to Him. III. WHAT IS MEANT BY ITS BEING MENTIONED THAT HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE HANDS? By the feet are signified the ways or goings of a man, his moral conduct. By the hands are signified the works of a man, or the deeds of his life in general. The hands are the instruments of the heart, or will, or mind, or soul. In the house of His friends, Jesus was taunted with all His good deeds. His hands were pierced, because He wrought His Father's will; and His feet were nailed because He chose His Father's ways. IV. WHAT THINK YOU OF THE CREATOR AND PROPRIETOR OF THE WORLD BEING THUS DEALT WITH BY HIS UNGRATEFUL CREATURES? Nevertheless, He deigns to designate them by the gracious name of friends. What think you of the human beings who could persecute to death the benefactor that was come to bless them, to buy them with His blood? Can you possibly be guilty of their crime? Every evil deed you do crucifies the Lord of Glory. (W. H. Henslowe, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. |
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