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More Zechariah commentaries
Zechariah 1:7-17
The Man On a Red Horse
Zechariah 1:18-21
The Hammering of the Four Horns
Zechariah 2:1-13
The Man Who is Measuring Jerusalem
Zechariah 3:1-10
The Chief Priest
Zechariah 4:1-14
The Golden Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
Zechariah 5:1-11
The Woman in the Measuring Basket
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The Chief Priest
Zechariah 3:1–10
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Those who refuse to make New Years resolutions because they always break them anyway are missing the point. Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle. (Sourc … More
In the fourth vision Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God. Joshua’s filthy garments are exchanged for clean robes; Satan’s accusations against him are rejected by God. This vision can be divided as follows: (1) The details of the vision (vv. 1-5); and (2) the explanation of the vision (vv. 6-10).
We find Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord (v. 1) and Satan is there accusing Joshua of many things. Then the Lord says to Satan, “I reject your accusations and I rebuke you” (v. 2). I extend my mercy to Joshua and his nation. They are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire.
Joshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood before the angel of the Lord (v. 3). God sees the condition of His minister and takes the incentive of cleansing him. The angel asked those standing near him to remove his filthy garments and replace them with new clothes (v. 4,5). It is only the clean clothes of Christ’s righteousness that makes me worthy to draw near to God.
Then the angel of the Lord lays down two requirement for Joshua to follow (v. 6): (1) To walk in God’s ways; (2) to keep God’s requirements. Then he says if you will meet these conditions I will allow you to enjoy three things: (1) You can be in charge of my house; (2) You can be in charge of my courts and (3) You can have free access to God like the angels have (v. 7). The angel then tells the people that Joshua is an example of one who is to come who he refers to as “the Foundation Stone.” Most Bible scholars say this is Jesus Christ. Furthermore he says, “I will remove the sins of this land in one day (vv. 8-9).” In that day, the Lord of Hosts declares that you will all live in peace and prosperity in your own homes and with your neighbors (v. 10).
Application
Zechariah’s vision shows how I can receive God’s mercy. There is nothing I can do myself. God removes my filthy garments (sins) and provides me with the robes of His righteousness.
Zechariah 3:1-10 (English Standard Version)
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments." And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by. And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree."
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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