Verse 1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 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.
Verse 2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 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.
Verse 3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 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.
Verse 4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: A rough garment — Such as the true prophets were wont to wear.
Verse 6 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. With which I was wounded — To recover me from ruining myself and others by imposture, see verse — 3.
Verse 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 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.
Verse 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 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.