Zechariah 3

The fourth vision, to wit, the high-priest Josua, in whose perform is represented, how God loveth, pardoneth, sanctifieth and protecteth his church, verse 1, c. Christ is promised, who destroyeth all our sins, and bringeth true peace along with him 18.

1. After that he [viz. the angel, spoken of above chapter 2. verse 3, 4.] shewed me Josua [of this Josa mention is likewise made, Haggai 1:1, 12. and chapter 2.3.] the high [or, great] priest, [he is brought in here, as a type of the church he having been at that time, the chief overseer or governour thereof on earth, as High-priest; nevertheless in regard he brought or conducted the people out of the Babylonians captivity, and rebuilt the temple, and was actually High-priest. He was likewise a type of Jesus Christ, both in name, and indeed] standing before the face of the angel of the LORD, [Josua stood before the angel who was Christ himself, as an accused person before the judge, Satan being the accuser; others take the word standing, here, for, serving, ministering, as Psalms 135:2.] and Satan [which signifieth an adversary, or withstander. See Job 1:6.] stood at his right hand [viz. Josuas] for to withatand him [laying to his charge before Christ, that he was unworthy, tempe should be repaired under his direction. See Revelation 12:10. the Hebrew words which are used here, import as much, as if one should say, the withstander him. Compare with the words of the text, Ephesians 6:12.]

2. But the LORD [viz. the son of God, whom before he had called the angel of the LORD] said unto Satan, the LORD [i.e. God the father] rebuke thee, [i.e. overthrow and confound thee, with thy false accusation, he judge and condemn thee for it, acquitting and justifying his faithfull servant Josua. See Jude verse 9.] thou satan, yea the LORD rebuke thee, that chooseth Jerusalem: [see above chapter 1.17. and 2.16.] is not this a fire-brand [viz. this high-priest] Josua; see Isaiah 7:4] pluckt out of the fire? [viz. of the Babylonian captivity. Oth. As a firebrand rescued out of the fire, namely of the common or general destruction, for to shew him my favour, why then dost thou desire his confusion; see Amos 4:11.]

3. Now Josua was clothed with filty garments, [i.e. with his personal sins and infirmities, as appears from the next verse] when he stood before the face of the Angel, [spoken of verse who was the LORD Christ himself]

4. Then be [viz. Christ, that forgiveth sins, and justifieth the unrighteous] answered [i.e. said] and spake to those stood before his face, [i.e unto the rest of the angels, as his ministers, standing always ready to receive and execute his commands, Hebr. 1.14.] saying; put away these filthy garment from him: after that, he [the same LORD Christ, they having taken away those filthy garments, as he bad them] spake to him, [to wit, Josua] before I have taken away thy unrighteousnesse, [i.e. by this act thou mayst perceive the truth of it, that I have away thy unrighteousnesses; which was signified by the filthy garments. Compare Isaiah 6:7. Jeremiah 1:9 and See 2 Sam. 12.13.] and I will array thee with change-garments. [thus they were wont to call new, pure and godly garments, such as people used to wear onely on festival-dayes. See Judges 14:12. Here by the change-garments are understood, the righteousness of Christ, true holiness, or, spiritual ornament, the gifts and graces of Christ. Compare Matthew 22:11. Luke 15:22.]

5. Therefore I say, [oth. Then I said, viz. by my self as the prophets words, wishing such a thing might come to pass, by the good pleasure of God] let them set a pure hat upon his head: [of the word Hat see the annotate. Exodus 28:4 the Hat doth signifie the priestly office, unto which the Lord hath ordained & confirmed him, having first cleansed and sanctified him from his sins. See Pet. 2.9.] and they did set that pure Hat upon his head, and they put him on clothes, [to wit, those spoken of in the former verse,] and the angel of the Lord stood (by it): [as ready to execute the father command]

6. Then the angel of the LORD testified unto Josua, saying:

7. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, [to wit, God the father, who for those mercies and benefits, which he so freely bestowes upon man, requireth thankfulness from them, viz. continuall practice of true piety. Luke 1:74.75. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.] if thou shalt walk in my wayes, and if thou shalt observe [or guard] my guard] my guard, [that is, if thou shalt carefully and observe mine ordinances and commands, so as I will have them kept and observed] then thou shalt also judge my house. [i.e. then shalt thou also have the oversight and government of my church, so as thy fore-fathers had it. See 1 Chr. 19.11. the church is oftentimes called the house of God, as Numbers 12:7. Jeremiah 11:15. and 12.7. Hebr. 3.2.] And also keep my courts. [I.e. thou shalt continually abide in thine High-priest office, and have and keep the inspection over my church: is the same thing in other words, which he said immediately before] and I shall give thee walkers among these that stand here. [That is, after this life, I shall take thee up into the lasting life, and cause thee to converse with and among these holy angels here standing and with the rest of the heavenly hosts. Compare Mat, 22.30. Hebr. 12.22 and 1 Tim. 4.8.]

8. Hearken now Josua thou High-priest, thou and thy friends that sit before thy face: [i.e. thy co-partners, or, fellow ministers, the priests under thine inspection. Or in general, the godly people, that partake with thee] for they are miracles. [or, wonderment, Hebr. Men of wonder. Some understand this so, that they were wondred at by the wicked men, they lookt upon them with amazement, whilest they heard the word of the LORD. See Isaiah 8:18. but some understand it, they were lookt upon as a great wonder, being so wonderfully delivered out of the Babylonish captivity, and brought back again into their own country; the same being a token the spiritual deliverance by Christ. See Psalms 71. on verse 7.] for behold, I [to wit, God the father, whose words Christ here relateth. See above verse 6.] shall cause to come my servant [i.e. Christ. See Isa. 42. on verse 1. and 12.13. the sense is, him shall I cause to appear in the world in the fullness of time, and he shall do my will, even as a faithful servant doth the will and command of his master] the sprout; [i.e. the Messia who is a sprout or branch out of the stem of Isaiah see Jeremiah 23:5 and 33. 15 and 38.]

9. For, behold, concerning this stone, viz. Christ, just now verse 8. called a sprout, being indeed the foundation and corner stone of his church; as church formerly was typified by the corner-stone of the Temple. Psalms 118:22. Isaiah 28:16. so here now again, the Temple being to be re edified in the presence of Josua] whom I have laid before the face of Josua; upon that one stone (here) shall be seven eyes; [Oth. In that stone &c. i.e. in Christ there shall be, first the fullness of the God head, and then abundance of spiritual gifts and lastly a tender care of and for his church. Oth. Over, or upon that stone &c. understand thereby, the great care which the father had for Christ and his kingdom. Compare with the words of this verse, those of chapter 4.10. And Revelation 5:6.] To I shall grave his graving, [i.e. I shall curiously hew and fashion him, as they use to polish and garnish a precious stone. That is to say, that is to say, I will adorn Christ with all manner of spiritual graces. Heb. I shall open his openings, which words some do applie to the sufferings and wounds of our saviour Jesus Christ, whereour unrighteousnesse are blotted out and salvation is purchased] saith the LORD of hosts: and I will take away the unrighteousnesse of this land [to wit of the Church of Jewes and Gentiles] in one day; [[namely, that wherein Christ shall be crucified.]

10. In that day, saith the LORD of hostes, shal ye invite every one his neighbour, even underthe vine, and under the fig-tree: [that is; ye shall live in peace, and enjoy abundance of all things. See 1 Kings 4:2.5. Mich. 4.4. Yet this not so much to be understood of a temporall peace and welfare, as of a contentedness and quietnesse of minde, and peace of conscience, through faith, because of God being reconciled to us in Christ. Comp. Isaiah 2:4, 5 and 25.6, 7. Hosea 2:15, 18. and 14.5, 6, 7. Joel 3:18. Amos 9:13, 14, 15. Mich. 4.4. and 5.4, 5. in which places, under figurative expression, the peace of the Church and every member thereof, is represented]