Matthew 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

Saturday morning I asked a question about this verse. “Why was Jeremiah referenced in the passage if it was Zechariah’s quote?” I did not receive any feedback on the quiz. That’s OK. I didn’t have an answer myself until Sunday morning. I did not let it rest within me until I found an answer that gave me some comfort. In the truest sense of all that God does for us, comfort is right up there with love and grace. We have peace with God and to maintain that peace, comfort is required. So here is my comfort.

I found comfort in see who these prophets were and in the meanings of their names. Not that the names held the key alone. I had to look at my life and circumstances to which I could relate the question and the meanings.

Jeremiah means “whom Jehovah has appointed”. He is a major prophet, right up there with Isaiah and Ezekiel in their roles of delivering the word of the Lord. It is no surprise to think of Jeremiah as being a “thus saith the Lord” quote. It is expected, he is better read than Zechariah. Zechariah after all is listed as 11^th in a line of minor prophets. Hardly anyone quotes Zechariah. But is that any reason to give credit to Jeremiah for his quote?

The line of text referenced in Matthew 27:9 comes from Zechariah 11:12 according to Cross References in the NASB and verse 11:13 by the ESV. Zechariah was not giving a “this saith the Lord” but was rather reacting to the flock over which he had just performed the will of God in obedience of faith. I found comfort from the preceding verse.

Zechariah 11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord.

They didn’t know it was the word of the Lord until the event occurred. Neither did Zechariah in speaking to Israel know when speaking verse 11:12 that it had any connection to Judas and the thirty pieces of silver. Years later Jeremiah is given credit for something that Zechariah did not even realize he said.

So many Christians over the years have confessed to me that they do not feel used of the Lord. They do not see their worth. Some do not know that a word in due season might fall upon someone without awareness, like Zechariah, meaning only to speak what is on their heart. Later when its meaning has taken root and brought forth fruit, who planted that word might be lost from memory or given credit to another because, “That sounded like something Jeremiah would say.”

Here is where the meaning of the name Zechariah comes into play.

Jehovah remembers.