Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 3

Verses 1-10

Zec 3:1-10

Zechariah’s Fourth Divine Vision (Zechariah 3:1-10)

“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:1-2).

Zechariah now sees the high priests with Satan standing at his right hand before the angel of Jehovah. Satan has been behind the sins of the priesthood. Consider their recorded sins: Could not make a distinction between the clean and unclean (cf. Ezekiel 22:26 comp. to Leviticus 10:10). They had forgotten God’s laws and caused the people to forget (Hosea 4:6). They taught a perverted law for money (Micah 3:11).

As the priesthood was defiled even so were the people who followed their wicked council. Satan thereby believes that he has affectively disqualified Judah from fellowship with Jehovah God. The Lord; however, reminds Satan that these people were “a brand plucked out of fire.” Through the fiery trials of Assyria, Babylon, and the Samaritans God’s people were being sifted and the righteous were better understanding through time the sovereign authority of Jehovah God and thereby they would fear and obey Him!

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with rich apparel. And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of Jehovah was standing by” (Zechariah 3:3-5)

The priesthood and all the people of God are represented in Joshua the high priest. His garments are filthy with the sins of pride, cheating, murder, idolatry, and general rebellion. We read of all the wickedness of Judah throughout the book of Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk. Herein they are all summarized by Joshua standing before the Lord being judged for their filth. Satan believes he has utterly conquered the people in sin.

Jehovah commands that the filthy garments be taken off of Joshua. Said action symbolizes the Lord’s power and willingness to forgive or “cause thine iniquity to pass from thee.” While we see this as a clear display of God’s grace it is also abundantly clear that God’s blessings are ever conditioned upon man turning in repentance and obedience to His will (cf. Zechariah 1:1-4) (see study # 6; Conditional Grace).

“And the angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: if thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by” (Zechariah 3:6-7).

The conditions of the high priest (i.e., priesthood and people as a whole) standing before Jehovah God in a forgiven state would be their dedication to His will. God’s graciousness will be experienced by all who meet His conditions as is illustrated in the little word “if.” To “judge” God’s house and “keep my courts” is to fulfill the work of the priest according to all God’s ordinances. Doing said work would grant them access unto the Holy God of heaven.

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall ye invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree” (Zechariah 3:8-10).

God has promised, by His grace, to forgive the people of their sins if they would turn to Him in obedience. The Lord now explains how this shall take place. Jehovah would “bring forth my servant the Branch.” Herein is the anointed one; i.e., the Messiah or Christ: Zechariah latter refers to the “Branch” as one who would rule on the throne of God’s kingdom (cf. Zechariah 6:12 ff). Isaiah 11:1 ff depicts this Branch / shoot as coming from the house of Jesse, David’s father, and thus fulfilling God’s promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. Jeremiah tells us that this “Branch” would be of the seed of David, reign as king, and he shall be called Jehovah our righteousness (cf. Jeremiah 23:5-6).

It seems that the “stone” and “that land” are equivalent and representative of God’s people as a whole (i.e., the kingdom of God / church / the redeemed among men who have had their iniquities removed). Said iniquities will be removed in one day. That one day will be the time in which the Messiah would hang upon the cross. Herein is some of the greatest and revealing prophecy about the future work of Jesus and the consequential hope of all humanity. The Branch (Jesus) would not only be king of his kingdom but by the power and mercy of God he would forgive man of their sins (see study # 7; Jesus in Prophecy). This stone would be comprised of every man (i.e., Jew and Gentile who submit to the will of God). Those who call upon the name of Jehovah would be a part of this redeemed stone or kingdom of God (cf. Joel 2:28-32 comp. to Acts 2:17 ff). All are “invited” and all shall be blessed if they follow God’s conditional grace.