Zechariah 13 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

A fountain — The blood of Christ. Opened — The spouse is to Christ a fountain sealed, but Christ is to sinners a fountain opened. Inhabitants of Jerusalem — The inhabitants of Jerusalem are all to whom the gospel is preached. For uncleanness — For purging away all manner of sins and uncleannesses.

Cut off — I will utterly destroy idols and idolatry. The prophets — The false prophets. The unclean spirit — The devil who sets the false prophets to work.

Prophesy — Falsely. His father — His dearest friends. Shall thrust him through — That is, shall wound, shall chastise him with stripes that may leave their marks behind.

A rough garment — Such as the true prophets were wont to wear.

With which I was wounded — To recover me from ruining myself and others by imposture, see Zechariah 13:3.

O sword — Afflictions, persecutions, and the cross. My shepherd — Who is my faithful shepherd, and will lay down his life for my sheep. My fellow — This speaks Christ; man with us, and God with his father, God — man in one person. The shepherd — This great and good shepherd. Turn mine hand — God will turn his hand in favour, and for protection will keep the new, and weak disciples.

Two parts — Not precisely two, but the greater part shall die a temporal death, by the sword of Titus, or in eternal death under unbelief. The third — A remnant, the lesser part, shall escape or be preserved.