Zechariah Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.

• (a) He prayed to Christ the Mediator for the state of the Church.
• (b) Which declares that the faithful do not only war with flesh and blood, but with Satan himself, and spiritual wickedness; (Ephesians 6:12).

3:2 Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?"

• (c) That is, Christ speaks to God as the mediator of his Church, that he would rebuke Satan: and here he shows himself to be the continual preserver of his Church.
• (d) Meaning that Joshua was wonderfully preserved in the captivity, and now Satan sought to afflict and trouble him when he was doing his office.

3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

• (e) With regard to the glorious garments and precious stones that the priests wore before the captivity: and by this contemptible state the Prophet signifies, that these small beginnings would be made excellent when Christ will make the full restitution of his Church.

3:4 He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take the filthy garments off of him." To him he said, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing."

• (e) See Zechariah 3:3
• (f) He shows of what apparel he speaks, which is, when our filthy sins are taken away, and we are clothed with God’s mercies, which refers to the spiritual restitution.

3:5 I said, "Let them set a clean turban on his head." So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of Yahweh was standing by.

• (g) The Prophet prays that besides the raiment, the Priest might also have attire for his head accordingly, that is, that the dignity of the priesthood might be perfect: and this was fulfilled in Christ, who was both Priest and King. And here all those are condemned, that can content themselves with any average reformation in religion, seeing the Prophet desires the perfection, and obtains it.

3:6 The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying,

3:7 "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

• (h) That is, have rule and government in my Church, as your predecessors have had.
• (i) By which he means to have the whole charge and ministry of the Church.
• (k) That is, the angels, who represented the whole number of the faithful: signifying that all the godly would willingly receive him.

3:8 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch.

• (l) Because they follow my word, they are condemned in the world, and esteemed as monsters. See Isaiah 8:18
• (m) That is, Christ, who did so humble himself, that he not only became the servant of God, but also the servant of men: and therefore in him they should have comfort, even though in the world they are condemned; (Isaiah 11:1) (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:14-15).

3:9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,' says Yahweh of Armies, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

• (n) He shows that the ministers cannot build before God lay the first stone, which is Christ, who is full of eyes, both because he gives light to all others, and that all ought to seek light from him; (Zechariah 4:10).
• (o) That is, I will make perfect in all points, as a thing done by the hand of God.
• (p) Though I have punished this land for a time, yet I will even now be pacified, and punish their sins no more.

3:10 In that day,' says Yahweh of Armies, 'you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.'"