V. 1. 2. And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying book. And he said unto me, What seest thou? I [but] said: I see a flying book twenty cubits long, and ten cubits broad.
(1) Thus do the holy apostles: when they have preached the faith and Christian doctrine, they afterwards proclaim the future deceivers and false teachers, as Christ also does, saying Matt. 24:5, "Many shall come under my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many," that they may warn us to beware, and to abide by the pure doctrine. Zechariah does the same here. After he has preached how the temple and the service of God are to be set up again
He now proclaims here how it will be with the descendants afterwards, namely, that they will no longer have the Spirit among them. The lampstand will be taken away and will fall on the teachings of men and their own works, as the Pharisees and Sadducees did when Christ shows us in the Gospel. That is why the prophet has the golden lampstand before him. For in his time it was well, the Spirit of God was with them. But when he turns around and looks behind him, he becomes aware of another thing, namely a great book that was to come after him. For to see behind him is to see what is to come. Just as Abraham saw the ram in the hedge behind him [Gen. 22:13]. But to have before the eyes is to see the present.
2 And look at it, this face is a masterly painting or picture, which teaches us in the finest way what human teachings are, both before God and the world. First of all, it is "a book", so that one does not doubt that it means art and wisdom of the scholars. For books are the scholars' emblems, and Moses and the prophets also made books.
3. but it is "a flying book," that is, it is a doctrine that goes by preaching in momentum. For to fly means to speak or to preach, as the cherubim with their wings also signify [Ex. 25:20]. For the oral word flies along in the air like a bird. Therefore the poets also give their Mercurio wings on his feet.
4 So the tender fruit, the doctrine of men, does not want to be a book that lies under the pew or in the box, but wants to come forth among the people, and be preached and heard, even much more and above God's word, so that it could not be called finer than "a flying book". Book, because it pretends to great wisdom, art and spirit, and wants to help and advise the world, as St. Paul says: it has a semblance of wisdom, Col. 2, 23. Flying, because it has many preachers and disciples, who drive it; and where they should not wash and chat about it, their belly would burst with great art and spirit, so greedy and heated are they to teach, like the useless washer Elihu does Job 32, 18. So the book bows to and fro. So the Pharisees' laws went with painting among the people, that they also suppressed God's commandment with it, Matth. 15, 3., and Paul speaks [Tit. 1, 11.] that they turn back whole houses, deceive and increase; and [2 Tim. 2, 17.]: "Their word eats around like cancer." In short, false doctrine does not go, but it beguiles, and people fall to it and cling to it as if they were mad. We can see this even now with our Rottengeistern.
Some say that the prophet saw this book flying out of the temple, to mean that false teaching wants to be holy and spiritual, and boasts of God's Spirit. But because this is not in the text, I let it remain that the prophet has seen it fly badly, and never
gend heredity. For the doctrine of men has also no certain arrival, but flew and swarmed like a swarm of bees, and like a dream it seems to one that they themselves do not know where they got it, without [it] being given by the devil. Nor does it say here whether the book was closed or open. But I think it was open, because Zechariah sees how large it is, and perhaps, like Mosi's tablets, a large letter, which can be closed round. For so there is the Hebrew word Megillah 1) sn^], a volvendo. For so they have made the books before times, that one has wound them in, as the painters wind in their cloths. Now, this art wants to stand open and be seen; that is one thing. For we do not read that there was idolatry among the Jews after that. But instead of the former idolatry, here comes the book, the art, wisdom and doctrine, which the right idolatry causes in the heart, that is, the conceit and man's commandments in the things of God. Therefore the prophet does not see an idol, but a book.
Secondly, it is a large book, and has the same length and width that Solomon's hall had before the temple [1 Kings 6:3], as it is said above [ยง4] that the doctrine of men is everywhere a great thing in the sight of the world, having great appearance and prestige, great coincidence and following, great power and obedience, far more than God's word. Moreover, it is also great and heavy to bear, for it has many, even innumerable laws, as Christ says Matth. 23, 4, that they lay infallible burdens on people etc. Again, God's commandments are light and small, 1 John 5:3, for they are few in number, as they are all contained in one commandment, Romans 13:9. Nor do we abandon the light commandments and submit to the heavy and infallible laws of men, which all teach outward things and go beyond the Scriptures, as Solomon's hall stood outside the temple [1 Kings 6:3].
7 But whoever wants to, may also interpret the flying in such a way that the doctrine of men is of such a kind that it never gives rest nor tranquility to the conscience, as St. Paul says Eph. 4, 14.
1) In the old editions: "Megalla".
Wind weaves a reed, that we must be uncertain and uncertain. Therefore this book must also weave and float, and nowhere rest nor lie still. Mosi's book, however, lies and rests in the golden ark [Mos. 40, 20. 5 Mos. 10, 5], because God's word and teaching is quiet and calm, makes consciences quiet, sure and calm, where it is grasped in faith. So St. Paul also chides them 1 Tim. 1, 7: "They do not know what they speak or say", that is, they do not teach anything consistent or certain, but only make consciences mislead and restless. Thus we have what is the doctrine of men in the sight of men, namely, a glorious thing, having great art, wisdom, appearance, power, and chance; and yet difficult and extensive, in addition uncertain, inconstant, uncertain, and fickle, since there is nothing behind it, a vain, deceitful splendor and specter. But what it is before God follows:
V. 3 And he said unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth upon all the land.
(8) The book is a curse and a thing of shame in the sight of God, by which a whole country is cursed and deprived of blessing. For the word of God is blessing, and brings blessing and grace with it, because it preaches, not our work and righteousness, but Christ's blood and God's righteousness. For this is what the Pharisees did among the Jewish people, when they overruled God's commandment through their doctrine of men, Matth. 15, 3, as we will hear; as it is the nature and manner of the doctrine of men to lead from the truth, Tit. 1, 14. There must be curse and wrath. And here he almost indicates himself what the flying of this book is, when he says, "This curse goes out over the whole land." As if he should say: You have seen rightly that it flews. Indeed it does flee and run through the whole land. For the Pharisee's teaching had brought the whole nation under him, just as the commandments and orders of men do in Christendom.
(9) And should the abominable title deter us from all doctrines of men, that they be cursed or cursedness in the sight of God. Who would want to be cursed before God, and earn the curse with so much effort and work? as those do who torture themselves in the commandment of men. Where there is a curse,
Christ's blessing cannot be there. It does not only go through some houses, but over the whole country. But such a curse is now completely upon the Jewish people, that they have despised the gospel, which brought them the blessing promised in Abraham, and are now torturing themselves with their Talmud and rabbinical writings, which make them cursed before God, as the 109th Psalm, v. 17, also says of them: "They do not want the blessing; therefore it shall come far from them. But they love the curse, so they shall also be clothed with it" etc. And to such a time this vision of the prophet goes most. For in Christ's time the curse was begun by the Pharisees, but after that it came in the Schwang, when the Jews were disturbed, and took the Talmud before them. This is the right curse, and the right great flying book.
For all thieves are judged pious according to this book, and all perjurers are judged pious according to this book.
(10) Here he touches and indicates the doctrine written in this book and taught from it, by which they are cursed. And though it is darkly set, yet I hold that the angel gathereth together such doctrines of men, in these two pieces, and will say this much: All their doctrine is, that they teach and praise thievery and ungodly living. For all Scripture gives the false teachers and commandments of men the two parts, that they teach hypocrisy and serve the belly, Rom. 16, 18. Through hypocrisy and beautiful glittering of works they lead away from faith and God's word to ungodly beings, as St. Paul Titus 1, 14. says, that the doctrine of men turns away from the truth; Rom. 16, 17. he says, "They are an offense and a sect apart from right doctrine." In sum, they are always fighting against the salvific word of God and pure faith. Through thievery and avarice they devour widows' houses, Matth. 23, 14. For all their doctrine is to gain money and goods, honor and glory, as St. Paul says Rom. 16, 18: "Such serve their own belly and not our Lord Jesus Christ"; and Phil. 3, 19: "Belly is their god"; and Ps. 5, 10: "Their mouth is an open grave"; and Ps. 14, 4: "They devour their own belly.
my people like food", and so henceforth, in all the prophets they are scolded stingy and belly servants.
(11) So false teachers are thieves and miserly at first. For with a good appearance of holy life and doctrine they deceive the people, so that they are carried away with heaps. For that is called acting thievishly, when one steals away one's goods secretly. Yes, they are twofold thieves: First, that they take it from the people through hypocrisy and deceit. Secondly, that they take it from the mouths of the right preachers. For the right teachers should have what they take, and yet they must go behind.
12. how the Pharisees did this is well taught in the Gospels, Matth. 15, 5. where Christ reproved them for abolishing God's commandment and taught that sacrifice was better than honoring father and mother. Matth. 23, 16. 17. They taught that the gold on the altar and at the temple was better than the altar and temple. They also had changers and merchants in the temple [Matth. 21, 12]. These were all thieves for their own profit; yet all this was not punished, but praised, and their doctrine judged them to be righteous who taught and did such things. But how such things are also practiced in the papacy by the stingy, insatiable altar boys and monastery guards, must no longer be indicated. It is a fact that they have taken the world's goods as thieves and scoundrels; nevertheless, they are called pious, holy people, according to their books and teachings, and they persecute those who do not keep up with them. It has been child's play with the Pharisees etc.
(13) Secondly, they are perjurers, that is, they are liars and blasphemers. For it was the way of the false prophets at that time, that they spoke their doctrine under God's name, and swore by God's name, as Isaiah laments in Cap. 48, 1: "Hear, ye of the house of Jacob, that swear by the name of the Lord, and think not of the Lord Israel with truth nor with judgment." And again [Jer. 5:2], "Though they say that the Lord liveth truly, yet they swear falsely. "etc. Because the doctrine of men is a lie, and yet it is taught under God's name as God's right word, and the
If false teachers also stand on it, swear and swear, banish and curse, as St. Peter did when he denied Christ [Matth. 26, 72], here they are called swearers or perjurers.
14 These are the two virtues that are ugly and hostile even in the eyes of the world, and are commonly found together when it is said, "He steals and lies a great deal. For they must preach lies, otherwise they are not given much. He who must preach the truth has nowhere to stay. If they want to get rich, they have to talk people out of it and steal it away with lies, as they used to say: "The world wants to be deceived. But all these lies remain unpunished; yes, it must be called vain wholesome teaching, and those are judged and praised as right preachers who teach it, but persecuted and condemned who punish it. These are they, the dear, beautiful thieves and liars, who devour all the world, and seduce it to wages for it, and thus ruin body and soul.
V. 4. But I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall come home to the thieves, and to them that swear falsely by my name, and shall abide in their house, and shall consume it, with the wood thereof, and with the stones thereof.
15 Here he proclaims the punishment of such false teachers. For as long as the false teachers continue, there is such swearing, boasting and defiance; there must be vain truth, vain Holy Spirit, vain God, that their adversary might well despair, just before their great boasting and swearing. Therefore God must comfort them and proclaim that such boasting and swearing will not endure. O what have I suffered from the prophets in these short years, who wanted to persuade me badly with swearing and boasting that the spirit was with them. How confidently and defiantly the coiner drove, and all that was against him had to be nothing. How defiant are our blasphemous spirits now, how they go about! how stinking is everything that is said against them, as if they had won forever.
16 But here is the text, and overthrows them, and comforts us. I will bring it forth,
he speaks. What is the bringing forth? Nothing else, but to bring it to light; I will make the book manifest before all the world, that it is a book of thieves and of lies. It is now glistening in darkness as a true and useful book; but I will strip it of its varnish and take away its color, so that everyone may see the thievery and lies, and that they will be disgraced and destroyed. I mean, Christ brought the teaching of the Pharisees to light through the gospel, so that all the world may see how they were vain ungodly things and covetous. This is what happened to all heretics. So it will also happen to our heretics; no boasting or shining will help. He says: I will bring it forth; as he also says in the Gospel [Matth. 15, 13]: "Every plant that my Father does not plant will be uprooted"; and St. Paul 2 Tim. 3, 9: "They will not carry it out, but their foolishness will be revealed to everyone. In short, God brings it forth. This is the first punishment of false teachers, that they become disgraced.
17. after that, the other punishment: it shall come home to the thieves and false perjurers, and consume their house; that is, it shall condemn and destroy them. For it shall come out of the place, and shall deceive no man, when it is revealed. But they themselves will hang on to it, and will not leave it, but will defend and preserve it; therefore they will go to ruin over it and be destroyed, so that hardly a sign or memory will remain there, like a house that burns so that neither wood nor stones remain there, but a desolate place and burning place.
018 For such is the plague of deceivers, that, though their lies come to light, and be brought to shame, yet they shall not depart from them, nor leave them, but stand firm with their heads, and let them not be told, and so keep the lies with themselves, because they flee the true saints, until they be utterly destroyed.
(19) Thus the lie remained with the Jews, and they never ceased from it, until they were all destroyed, like a burned house. So did the Arians and all heretics. No one could talk them out of their senses. What
But are they now? Nothing but a loud memory. Our mobs now and all the deceivers under the pope do not hear us, even though their lies have been brought out in the brightest light; they want to keep the lies with them and stick to them until they perish, so that neither stick nor stone remains there. This is what I have often said: Rotten spirits cannot be restored, for they sin against the Holy Spirit, who has no forgiveness forever [Matth. 12, 32. Marc. 3, 29.]. This means here, that the book comes home to the thieves and liars, that they perish over it.
V. 5. 6. And the angel that talked with me came out, and said unto me, Lift up thine eyes, and behold, what cometh out? And I said, What is it? And he said, A bushel cometh out. And he said, This is her figure throughout all the land.
20) This face of the prophet, I observe, also goes there, as the next previous one, namely on the false teachers. For as we have seen above [Cap. 4,:] 21), this prophet also likes to bring two faces to one story [Cap. 4, 11. Gen. 41, 26.), just as Pharaoh also had two dreams of one story, to mean that the false teaching among the Jewish people would certainly be in the future, after the pure teaching. As it is always certain, where the word of God arises, that false teachings also arise, because the devil cannot stand it, that God's word should remain pure and clear.
(21) What the bushel signifies, the angel himself signifies, saying, It is their eye, or form, in all the land. That eye is called a form in the Scriptures is shown by Moses in Book 2, Cap. 10, 15, when he says that the locusts covered the eye of the whole land, that is, the appearance or form of the ground; and Ps. 6, 8: "My eye is rotten with grief," that is, my form etc. So here too, we take eye for form or outward appearance. But what is it that their outward appearance is so much like a bushel? Here there may be various uses of the bushel, various likenesses. First, that, as the bushel is a special measure, and has its size, so let the hypocrite's life and outward appearance also be written with
The hypocrites are bound to special ways and rules, to special works, places, food and clothing, and everything is vainly measured out by the teachings and commandments of men, since there is neither spirit nor freedom. On the other hand, as the bushel is empty, and there is nothing inside of it of grain or corn, so let the hypocrite's nature be only an empty appearance and form of a good life, since there is nothing inside, as St. Paul says: "They have the appearance of a godly life, but they deny the power of it.
22 But I now maintain that this face rhymes with the previous one. Thus I consider the bushel to be their spiritual, miserly life, which he calls a thieving life above [v. 4]. For by their pretty appearance and doctrine they deceive all the world, and eat up all their goods; therefore it is fair to compare it to a bushel, since grain and food are measured into the sack. For they are all about the belly, about eating and drinking; there is always a measuring in the sack that is not to be filled, and the bushel not to be filled. So their form is a bushel, pretty and beautifully formed, in fine measure and giving, but stingy and thieving, so that they are not to be filled, always allowing themselves to be filled, and always pouring themselves out into the sack. This interpretation pleases me, not only because it rhymes with the previous one, but also because of the custom of the bushel, because the bushel is mainly used to measure out and fill in grain. Now the interpretation is always the most certain and best, since one interprets the custom of the thing, much more than since one interprets the shape or form.
V. 7.8 And, behold, there went a penny of lead, and there was a woman sitting in a bushel. And he said, This is ungodliness.
(23) This rhymes with the previous vision, according to the other piece, namely, that the false teachers are not only stingy, but also ungodly, and deceive people. Therefore the woman sits here in the bushel, and has the name impietas, that is, godless teaching. For the sitting means the teaching office, Ps. 1, 1. and Matth. 23, 2.: "They sit on Mosi's chair, the Pharisees and scribes."
024 But she sitteth in a bushel, that is, she reigneth among the stingy hypocrites, who hearken unto her, and hold to such ungodly doctrine.
For this it goes far, because "in the whole country (he says) this is its shape". Hypocrisy and lies always have a large following.
25 And is a woman; why not a man? Because her teaching does not teach anything masculine or divine (for man is God's image, says St. Paul [1 Cor. 11:7]), but according to beautiful, tender reason; as it writes and judges, so must the teaching go, let God's word remain where it can. Now reason is beautiful to look at, like a woman against a man, but it is not fit to teach and govern; just as a woman is forbidden to teach and govern, 1 Tim. 2, 12 [1 Cor. 14, 34, 35]. Yet here she teaches and rules in hypocrisy. For the woman sits in a bushel, and is a pretty dock to look at, against the right doctrine, which leads a manly, serious image, which is rough around the mouth, and has a sharp beard; for she is not hypocritical, and is serious. But women have smooth mouths; so also the hypocrite preachers.
And he threw it into the bushel, and threw the lump of lead on his hole.
Here follows the punishment of such hypocrisy and ungodly teaching. The angel pushes the woman into the bushel, so that she no longer sits so high and looks out from above, but has to bend down and stoop into the bushel; that is, through the gospel hypocrisy is overthrown and put to shame (for the angel means Christ and all the teachers of the gospel), just as above (v. 4) the book is brought forth and put to shame. But no improvement follows from this, but they only become more hardened and fall deeper into it, and want to defend it and keep it against the truth. Therefore this woman is not lifted out of the bushel, but is thrust into it and down to the ground, just as the book remains in the house of thieves and perjurers and consumes them. For they hold fast to it, and regard it not, that it be known of others for error and unchristian doctrine; they join together, and hold fast to their mind.
The lump of lead on the top of the bushel is the divine judgment on them, that they are hardened in error, and cannot yet go out among others to preach. For they are no longer heard, and
no longer believe them, because the truth has come to light, but they carry with themselves the great, heavy toil and burden of their unchristian doctrine and nature. For all false doctrine is called aven in the Scriptures, that is, toil and burden. And it can be seen how much more difficult and sour it is for the false saints than for the true saints. Therefore it is finely illustrated here that a heavy lump of lead lies on the hole. For the Christians are light, because they have a happy, good conscience, which no hypocrite can have. But the fact that the lump of lead moved or floated before it was thrown into the bushel means that such divine punishment is first threatened to the wicked, whether they would fear and amend themselves. But they despise both the promise and the prophecy.
V. 9 And I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, two women came out, having wings that fluttered. They were wings like the wings of a deer, and they carried the bushel between heaven and earth.
(28) Although the wicked are separated from the people of God, so that their bushel and wife, that is, their doctrine and life, are no longer suffered among the pious, as the first Psalm, v. 5, says: "The wicked do not abide in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous," nevertheless they do not stop their teaching, and always find both teachers and disciples practicing and acting their error and deceit. As we see especially in the case of the Jews, who do not cease from their error against Christ, which this face also especially shows.
(29) The two wives signify the office of preaching or teaching, or all teachers and preachers, just as the two cherubim above the ark of Moses [Ex 25:18, 19] also signify. But that the cherubim are two, and the women also two, signifies that in all preaching or teaching, whether it be right or wrong, the two parts go together in the custom, minae et promissio, preaching and promise, which we call law and gospel. For even the wicked could not maintain their thing, unless they pretended a false law, that is, unless they compelled and drove the consciences with false terror and dread.
not to pretend to a false gospel, that is, to lure and hold out hearts with false comfort and promises. For every teaching must be done in such a way as to frighten and comfort the conscience, so that it pretends that God commands this or that and wants it, and promises God's grace and reward for the comfort of those who do it.
30 Now, in the right teaching office, and above the ark, there are two cherubim as male images; but here, in the wrong teaching office, there are two female images at the bushel. For, as I also said above, reason is a beautiful woman, but she should not teach. She glistens well, but she is not fit to preach. But man's image is God's image, and teaches rightly, that is, God's word should teach. So now in the false teaching office there is all reason, and what is equal to reason; she is master and doctor, and she also begets God's word according to her conceit and pleasure. These are the two women who teach vain reason or carnal law and gospel, and not spiritual or God's law and the right gospel.
(31) But that they had fluttering or spread wings means that the wicked are washy and talkative without ceasing, as St. Paul [Titus 1:10] calls them vaniloquos, useless washers; they can talk more about a flower than a pious teacher about a whole meadow. Summa, they know how to do their thing, and are not lazy; they never beat down their wings, and let no cobweb grow before their mouths, that they may spread their thing far and wide. They are more diligent and more valiant in spreading their error than the children of light are in spreading their truth. The mouths of the deceivers are never open.
Their wings are also the wings of the deer. Some say they are stork's wings, some say they are harrier's wings. We have everywhere rendered the bird as Reiger's. Whatever bird it is, it is an unclean bird, forbidden to eat in the Law of Moses, Deut. 11, 14-19. Of course, they are not dove wings. All this is said: It is vain unclean, unspiritual and unholy preaching, which they do, since there is vain reason and no spirit nor anything pure inside.
Nevertheless they fly high and carry the bushel between heaven and earth, because their thing wants to float above and ride high before the world and reason. But they carry the bushel between heaven and earth, that is, their being with such teaching is neither heavenly nor earthly. For they have neither Joshua nor Zerubbabel, neither priesthood nor kingdom, neither spiritual nor temporal government, but hover and pass between the two, and attain neither. Heaven does not like them, so they do not want the earth, as we can well see in the Jews. Or such floating between heaven and earth may also be that her teaching gives no rest to the conscience, neither in temporal nor eternal goods, for she is without God's word.
V. 10. 11. And I said to the angel who spoke to me: Where are these leading the bushel? And he said unto me, That an house may be built for him in the land of Sinear, and prepared, and set there upon his ground.
34 The land of Sinear is Babylon, as Moses wrote in Book 1, Cap. 11, 2. The people of Judah were recently delivered from Babylon and brought back to Jerusalem; so this bushel is brought from Jerusalem back to Babylon, and not badly to Babylon, but to the land of Sinear, that is, to the old Babylon, where the tower was built, over which the languages were confused and divided [Gen. 11:6 ff]. By this, I think, it is understood that the people of the Jews were to be cast out from the right Jerusalem, the church of God, because of such ungodly teachings, and to come to Babylon, that is, to be scattered among all the Gentiles and languages, as we see that it is fulfilled, and Christ Himself also says Luc. 21:24, that the Jews were to be scattered and imprisoned among all the Gentiles. For why else should he call the land Sinear, where the languages were first divided and scattered abroad? For we do not read that all the Jews came to Babylon, though many went there, and also many remained there before, who would not return to Jerusalem; that they also had two interpreters there, as Jonathan and Uncle, 1) highly renowned among them; and the
1) In Latin: On^tzlsrn.
Babylonian Targum, as Jewish law and doctrine stands inside.
35 But what kind of house is it that is built for the bushel there? By this I understand the hardening of the Jewish people in their unbelief. For a house is where one abides and dwells. So they live scattered in all the world, and yet they remain in their faith and error. This is also that the same house is set on its foundation. For it is not built on the rock of Christ, but they stand firm on their own righteousness of works, as St. Paul writes of them [Rom. 10:3]. But the Christians are not set on their own ground, but Christ is the foundation stone, not laid in Babel, but in Zion, on whom all who trust 2) shall not be put to shame forever [Rom. 9, 33. Isa. 8, 14.].
From all this it may be understood that this face of the bushel is almost made and taken after the face of Moses, which he saw on Mount Sinai, when he was to imitate the ark [Ex. 25:10 ff], just as godless hypocrisy also always imitates and wants to be like the right doctrine and truth. There is a golden ark, here is a bushel; there is a mercy seat on it, here is a lump of lead on it; there God sits on the ark and mercy seat, here sits a woman in the bushel who is godless; there are two cherubim with wings, here are two women with wings; there the ark stands in Jerusalem, here the bushel goes to Babylon.
(37) All things are imitated, and yet are most contrary to one another. For the wicked want to be holy, and also have the appearance, but it is a vain cursed, damned thing. For there is not the ark with the bread of heaven and the tablets of Moses. For they have neither law nor gospel right in their consciences, but fill their own mouths about their bellies. Item, Christ is not sitting there with grace, but the ungodly woman. Item, there is not the right office of preaching, the golden cherubim, but a self-chosen office and way of teaching. And so on it rhymes with no piece, and yet wants to be the same in all pieces.