The Word of the Lord to Zechariah

Chapter 3

Under the type of Joshua, the high priest, receiving clean garments, 1-5, and a covenant of promise, 6, 7, Christ the Branch and Corner Stone is promised, 8-10.

1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, rebuke you, O Satan. Even I, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And he said to him, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you and I will clothe you with costly clothing." 5 And I said, "Let them set a fair miter upon his head." So they set a fair miter upon his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

6 And the angel of the LORD testified to Joshua, saying, 7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in my ways and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these who stand by.

8 'Hear now, O Joshua the high priest—you and your fellows who sit before you—for they are men wondered at. For behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua, upon one stone shall be seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an engraving on it,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'each of you shall call his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree.'"

Commentary

Matthew Henry Commentary - Zechariah, Chapter 3[➚]

Notes

John Gill's Chapter Summary

In this chapter, under the type of Joshua the high priest, is showed the state and condition of the priesthood, and of the church of God, in his times; and in it are various promises concerning the true High Priest, Christ, and of the efficacy and permanency of his priesthood. The vision of Joshua is in the form of a judicial process: Joshua is the person accused, and is described by his situation, standing before the Angel of the Lord; and by the filthy garments he had on, which were the ground of the charge against him (verses 1, 3); The accuser of him is Satan, who stood at his right hand; and his Judge is the Angel of the Lord, before whom he was (verse 1). The sentence given against his accuser is by way of rebuke, enforced by the Lord's choice of Jerusalem, and merciful deliverance of this person; and, as given in his favor, is an order to take his filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment, and to put a fair miter on his head; which were accordingly done (verses 2, 4, 5); and a promise is made him, by way of protestation, that if he would walk in his ways, and keep his charge, he should judge his house, and keep his courts, and should have a walking place among those who stood by (verses 6-7); and next, Joshua, and those who were with him, are addressed as men wondered at; and are called upon to listen to a promise of the Messiah, under the character of the Branch (verse 8); and under that of a stone with seven eyes on it, and engravings in it, by whom the iniquity of God's people is removed (verse 9); and the chapter is closed with an account of the prosperity, peace, and safety of the saints under the Gospel dispensation (verse 10).

[v.8] - Reference, Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15; Zechariah 6:12.

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