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Predictions (48:4) This verse seems to foretell punishment and/or death, at the will of the Lord of hosts. The objects of this justice will be the "shepherd", also referred to as "the man that is my fellow", and "the little ones". No explanation is given regarding why these people should deserve this treatment, nor what the purpose of the scattering of the sheep should be (48:5) One who pondered this verse would wonder who are the shepherd and the little ones, and why they would receive this action from the hand of God (48:6) Fulfillment (48:7) And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (48:8) 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. (mat 26:30-31) (48:9) see Commentary (48:10) Before the coming of Christ, one could hardly have imagined that the shepherd would be the Messiah Himself. In fact, it seems that the premise that this verse referred to the coming Messiah and His followers would have been most strenuously objected to, or at the least, ridiculed. For, was the Messiah to herd sheep? Was He to be punished by God? (48:11) These divine words of Zechariah held a meaning that only the Christ Himself was to know and reveal. They were revealed to none before His Coming, and after His Coming they hold meaning for only those who believe in Him
(48:12)
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