Zechariah

Zechariah 11: The shepherd valued at thirty pieces

Begin in prayer

Before we read of the shepherd who was valued at thirty pieces of silver, please come to the LORD in prayer. Ask Him to show us how He values His shepherd.

Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us the shepherd the people valued so low, and help us to see Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD says to feed the flock of slaughter, whose buyers kill them, and whose own shepherds do not pity them. He says He will no more pity the people of the land, and will give them into the hands of their neighbors. Zechariah is told to act as the shepherd, and he takes two staffs, named Favor and Union. He breaks Favor to break the covenant with all the peoples, and he breaks Union to break the brotherhood of Judah and Israel. They weigh out thirty pieces of silver as his wages. The LORD says, “Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” Last, the LORD says He will raise up a worthless shepherd who leaves the flock, and woe will come on him.

As you read Zechariah 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD’s people valued His shepherd at thirty pieces of silver, and He judged them for it.

Zechariah is told to act out the part of a shepherd for the LORD’s flock (verses 4 and 7). The flock is already in danger, because buyers slaughter them and their own shepherds do not pity them (verses 4 and 5). The LORD says He will no more pity the people of the land (verse 6). He takes two staffs, Favor and Union, and cuts each one apart (verses 7, 10 and 14). Then he asks for his wages, and they weigh out thirty pieces of silver (verse 12). The law set thirty shekels of silver as the price of a servant killed by an ox (Exodus 21 verse 32). So the LORD calls it a bitter “handsome price” (verse 13). Matthew says the priests paid Judas thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus (Matthew 26 verses 14 and 15). They used it to buy a potter’s field, and Matthew says the prophet had spoken of it (Matthew 27 verses 9 and 10).

How does Zechariah 11 show us that the LORD’s people valued His shepherd at thirty pieces of silver, and that He judged them for it?

The LORD no longer pities a flock that will not listen.

The flock is treated as animals for slaughter, and its own shepherds do not pity it (verses 4 and 5). Then the LORD says, “I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land” (verse 6). He cuts off three shepherds in one month, for his soul was weary of them and theirs loathed him (verse 8). He says, “I will not feed you,” and the flock is left to die and be cut off (verse 9).

The shepherd breaks his two staffs, Favor and Union.

He takes two staffs, and names one Favor and the other Union (verse 7). He cuts Favor apart to break the covenant the LORD made with all the peoples (verse 10). The poor of the flock who listened knew that it was the LORD’s word (verse 11). Later he cuts Union apart to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel (verse 14).

The flock values its shepherd at thirty pieces of silver.

The shepherd asks for his wages, and they weigh out thirty pieces of silver (verse 12). The LORD says, “Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” (verse 13). Matthew says the priests paid Judas thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus (Matthew 26 verses 14 and 15). The priests used it to buy a potter’s field, and Matthew says the prophet spoke of it (Matthew 27 verse 9).

The LORD will judge the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock.

The LORD will raise up a shepherd who does not seek the scattered or heal the broken (verse 16). He feeds himself on the fat sheep and tears their hoofs in pieces. “Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!” (verse 17). The sword will be on his arm and on his right eye.

Memorise

So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Zechariah 11:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how have I valued Jesus, and why do I need Him as my shepherd?

They weighed out thirty pieces of silver as the price of the shepherd, and the LORD called it a handsome price, with bitter words. Judas agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26 verses 14 and 15). Jesus is the Shepherd whom the leaders valued so cheaply.

Jesus was not sold by accident. He knew where it led, and He went to the cross for His people. He bore the sin of His people, even their sin of valuing Him so little, and He paid for it by His death. Nothing is left to pay. He was buried, and God raised Him to life.

You may have valued Jesus too little, as all of us have. Come to Him now. Turn from your sin and trust Him, for forgiveness is given to all who come.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, and that He went to the cross for His people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for Jesus, the shepherd who was valued so low, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so invite each one to speak to Him.

He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.

Mark 14:24

Lord God, thank You for Jesus, who was sold for thirty pieces of silver and still went to the cross for His people. Please show each one of us how little we have valued Him, and lead us to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.