ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 5:5-11 

Please read Zechariah 5 

Focus: A little bit of context 

The first set of visions of Zechariah were visions of great hope and power and accomplishment of the will of God.  The next set of visions carry with them more warnings.  Evil has no place among God’s people and God warns them of this Truth. Sin is serious. Disobedience is nothing to ignore. Selfishness and self-centered attitudes are a big deal.  The woman in a basket symbolizes wickedness which is sent away from the land God carved out for His people.  In keeping with the last vision, wicked people (and wickedness) will be removed from the land. 

Focus: How does this draw us to God? 

God’s Kingdom is not built on sinfulness. Other kingdoms of the world might be, but God’s Kingdom is not of this world and is not built like other kingdoms that fall away. God sends out sinfulness from His presence.  God pushes sinfulness out of what He is doing.  NOTE: This is atonement-type language keeping in mind the scapegoat in Leviticus 16. In Leviticus 16, the goat takes sinfulness out into the wastes. As a parallel, the basket takes the wickedness away from God’s people to the north. God wants His people to leave Babylon (the Land of Shinar, verse 11) behind. God draws people to Himself, but requires repentance from them. His way and His Kingdom is completely different.    

Focus: OT to the cross 

The basic meaning of the passage is that all evil is removed from the Kingdom of God and sent elsewhere.  There is not a direct link with Christ or the cross, but certainly Jesus taught about the holiness and godliness of those in the Kingdom of God.  The godly followers are inside.  The wicked rejectors are outside.   

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