John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 1:4

"Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah." — Zechariah 1:4 (ASV)

In order to correct and subdue the obstinacy of the people, he here upbraids them with having descended from wicked and perverse parents. The Jews, we know, flattered themselves too much; and we know that they were especially inflated with the vain boasting that they derived their origin from the holy fathers.

But the Prophets had something else in view. We indeed know that when anything becomes customary, almost everyone becomes hardened and flatters themselves in their vice, for immorality is then counted almost as the law, and what is sanctioned by public consent seems lawful.

Since they had not ceased for many years to provoke God's wrath, it was necessary to add this reproof, Be not like your fathers: for they no doubt imagined that God approved of them, as they were not worse than their fathers. But God shows that their fathers had been very wicked and perverse.

Let us learn from this passage that the examples which are usually set up as a shield are so far from having any weight before God that they enhance our guilt. Yet we see that this folly infatuates many; for today the religion of the Papists seems to them holy and irreprehensible because it has been handed down to them by their fathers.

Hence, whenever they bring forward the fathers, they think it a sufficient defense against the charge of any errors. But nothing occurs more frequently in the Prophets than the truth that examples tend more to kindle God's wrath, when some people become the occasion of sin to others, and when posterity thinks that whatever has proceeded from their fathers is lawful.

But we must at the same time keep in mind the Prophet's design, for he did not intend simply to show that the Jews vainly alleged the examples of their ancestors; but, as I have said, he intended to shake off their self-flatteries with which they lulled themselves to sleep. He intended especially to suppress those evil practices which by long use had prevailed among them. This then is the reason why he says, Be not like your fathers. The Spirit employs the same sentiment in many other places, especially in the ninety-fifth Psalm (Psalms 95:1), and also in other Psalms.

Then he says that the Prophets, who had been sent by God, had cried to their fathers, but that they did not listen.

Since contempt for the truth had prevailed for so many ages among the Jews, and since this impiety was not properly abhorred by them, as they thought themselves to be, as it were, in perpetual possession—these are the reasons why the Prophet expressly upbraids them with this: that God’s word had formerly been despised by their nation. Cry then did the former Prophets.

He also emphasizes again their crime and their sin, because God had often called them back to Himself but without success. If the Prophets had been silent, and if God had applied no remedy for their falling away, their ingratitude would indeed not have been excusable. But since Prophets had often been sent to them, in succession, one after the other, and each had endeavored to restore these wretched people to a state of safety, not to pay attention to their holy and serious admonitions, by which God showed His care for their well-being, was a much more atrocious crime.

From this we learn that when we find any people prone to this or that vice, it ought to be resisted with greater diligence; for Satan almost always employs this tactic: when he finds us prone to this or that vice, he directs all his efforts to drive us headlong into it.

Since the Prophets had been despised by the Jews for a long time, Zechariah intentionally brings before them that perverseness which had been known for too long. Cry then did the former Prophets, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, return ye, I pray, from your evil ways, and from your evil works; but they heard not nor attended.

After speaking of God’s kind invitation, which was a unique pledge of His love, since He thus showed His concern for their safety, he shows, on the other hand, how unworthily the Jews had behaved, for they obstinately rejected this favor from God. They were indeed more than sufficiently proven guilty; for by saying, Return ye, I pray, from your evil ways and from your evil works, he assumes it as a fact that the reproofs given were just.

And he further says that they refused to listen. Therefore, their perverseness was less tolerable; for though they were self-condemned, they did not yet repent, nor did they deign to listen to God.

And he adds the words, nor did they attend; for by this repetition, not only their stupidity but also their strange madness is more fully expressed, inasmuch as they had so rejected God and closed the door of His favor, as though they intentionally sought to drive Him far from them, so that He would not come to them.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You have not only once embraced us in Your paternal bosom, when it pleased You to offer to us the salvation obtained by the death of Your only-begotten Son, but also continue daily to invite us to Yourself, and also to recall the wandering to the right way—O grant, that we may not always remain deaf and hardened against Your warnings, but bring to You hearts truly submissive, and so study to devote ourselves to You, that it may be evident that we have not received Your grace in vain. May we also continue in the constant enjoyment of it, until we at last fully attain that blessed glory, which having been obtained for us, is daily set before us by the teaching of the Gospel, so that we may be confirmed in it. May we therefore make such continual progress throughout the whole course of our life, that, having at last put off all the corruptions of our flesh, we may be truly united to You in that perfect purity to which You invite us, and which we hope for, through the grace of Your only Son. Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]