The Call to Holiness: Every Corner of Life Dedicated to God
"On that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts." - Zechariah 14:20-21
In the book of Zechariah, we are met with profound imagery that encapsulates a future marked by divine presence and purity. The specific verses in Zechariah 14:20-21 from the King James Version (KJV) proclaim:
"On that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts."
The imagery presented here by Zechariah speaks of a radical transformation where every facet of life, even the ordinary bells of horses and cooking pots, is marked by holiness unto the Lord. This prophecy points to a day when God’s presence will permeate every area of life, effectively transforming the mundane into the sacred.
As we reflect on these verses, we recognize that holiness is not merely a status reserved for temples, altars, or priests but is meant to be woven into the fabric of everyday life. The bells of horses—once just a part of everyday farming or transportation—will instead proclaim God’s nature and character. Imagine the clip-clop of horses on the cobblestone streets ringing with a reminder that everything they symbolize now belongs to God. What would it look like for our lives to carry this same weight of holiness?
When the pots in the Lord's house are compared to the bowls before the altar, we uncover the calling for consistency in our worship and service. Each pot, used in mundane cooking processes, becomes a vessel of worship. This is a profound lesson for us today as we consider how our everyday activities can honor God. In our workplaces, homes, and communities, we have an opportunity to practice sacredness in the ordinary moments of life. Whether we are engaging in mundane tasks or intense spiritual rituals, the same call applies: to reflect holiness.
The term "Canaanite" in this prophecy signifies those who do not belong to the community of believers, those who adhere to practices contrary to God’s ways. The promise that there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord symbolizes a time when righteousness reigns, and God’s people live in purity, free from external influences that corrupt. This invites us to examine the influences in our own lives: what attitudes, practices, or habits might detract from our call to holiness? Who or what are the Canaanites in our spiritual homes?
Holiness is often thought of as a daunting standard, a lofty ideal that seems unreachable. However, this scripture reassures us that as we journey toward God, we are not meant to attain holiness through our strength, but through our relationship with Him. It is He who sanctifies, purifies, and makes all things holy.
To live under "Holiness unto the LORD" means actively choosing to invite Him into our daily lives—our conversations, decisions, and interactions. It calls us to be diligent about cultivating a heart aligned with God's desires. This requires discipline: prayer, scripture study, and community with fellow believers, supporting one another in our walk of faith.
In our quest for holiness, let us remember that we are called not only to be temples of the Holy Spirit, but also to transform the spaces we inhabit into places that reflect God’s glory. The promise of Zechariah invites us to declare the sanctity of our lives and to recognize that nothing is too ordinary to be made extraordinary through God’s power.
As we gear ourselves towards a lifestyle that promotes holiness, let us ponder how this scripture can influence our practical spiritual disciplines. May we resonate with the proclamation of holiness and, in doing so, may our lives reflect the beauty of God’s presence in every corner.
Want to reflect more on Zechariah 14:20-21?
Continue your spiritual journey with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, discover connections, and deepen your understanding.
Get Our Apps
Zechariah 14:20-21 Artwork
Zechariah 14:20-21 - "On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty."
"On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty." - Zechariah 14:20-21
Zechariah 14:20 - "¶ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar."
2 Chronicles 20:14 - "¶ Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;"
Zechariah 14:21 - "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 14:9
Zechariah 1:20 - "And the LORD shewed me four carpenters."
1 Chronicles 9:21 - "And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
"¶ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar." - Zechariah 14:20
Zechariah 6:14 - "And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD."
1 Chronicles 15:20 - "And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;"
Zechariah 12:14 - "All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart."
Zechariah 4:14 - "Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
1 Chronicles 27:21 - "Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:"
Zechariah 14:6 - "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:"
Zechariah 14:14 - "And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance."
Zechariah 14:1 - "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee."
"And the LORD shewed me four carpenters." - Zechariah 1:20
Zechariah 14:19 - "This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."
"¶ Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;" - 2 Chronicles 20:14
Zechariah 14:11 - "And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."
Zechariah 14:15 - "And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague."
Zechariah 8:20 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:"
Zechariah 14:3 - "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle."
Zechariah 14:9 - "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."
Zechariah 1:16-21. Create an image depicting the vision of the four horns and four craftsmen.
"And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." - 1 Chronicles 9:21
2 Chronicles 21:2 - "And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel."
Zechariah 11:14 - "Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel."
Luke 13:20-21