Zechariah 3

Zechariah 3:1

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 he shewed me, in vision, Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest, bearing the type of the son of God who is the everlasting High Priest of his Church, standing before the Lord, to intercede for his people; and Satan, the adversary of God’s Church, standing ready to resist him.

Zechariah 3:2

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?

Then Christ the Lord, who was here resembled and represented in both his natures, in his humanity by Joshua, in his deity by the Angel, said unto Satan; God, even the Eternal Father, rebuke thee, O Satan: the Lord, who hath chosen Jerusalem for the place of his worship, rebuke thee, for that malicious opposition, which thou makest to his Church, and to this faithful high priest thereof; whom yet thou shalt in vain strive to resist; for is not he as a brand plucked out of the furnace of Babylon? Dost thou not see God’s good purpose to him, and to his Church, in his delivery?

Zechariah 3:3

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments.

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, as the rags of his captivity; representing the High Priest of the New Testament, who took upon him our sins and infirmities.

Zechariah 3:4

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

And he said to those ministering spirits, that stood before him, Take away from him these filthy garments, the base and loathsome weeds of servitude and sorrow. And to Joshua himself he said, Behold, I have determined to restore thee to the glory, which pertains to thy great function; in token whereof, I have caused these rags, the monuments of that thy bondage, and of those sins which thou undertakest to expiate, to be put away from thee; and I will clothe thee gloriously, instead of these nasty garments.

Zechariah 3:7

Then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

Then shalt thou, and thy sons after thee, rule over my house, as chief priest; and have the prime oversight and command of my courts: and, at last, I will give thee a place in everlasting glory; so, as thou shalt walk gloriously in white, amongst these blessed angels.

Zechariah 3:8

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

And now, O Joshua the high priest, hearken thou, and those thy assistants in thy sacred function, that sit before thee: they are, by their places, men, whose persons do portend future things to the Church; being made the signs of things to come, and therefore fit to know and foreshew this great mystery: for, behold, I will exhibit unto the world Christ the Saviour; whom I have ordained to work that great business of mediation for my Church; whose visible presence shall grace that Temple, which ye are now to build.

Zechariah 3:9

For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the grazing thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

In signification of which Saviour, I have laid before Joshua a stone, to resemble him who is the chief corner stone of his Church, whereon it shall be firmly built: behold, he shall be a stone of note; all eyes of angels and men shall be upon him; all the graces of my Spirit shall be poured on him, and he shall be polished and set forth with all the gifts thereof, above measure; and I will, for his sake, do away all the iniquity of my people, at once, so as it shall no more be imputed to them.

Zechariah 3:10

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

In that day shall my servants enjoy a true spiritual peace, and a happy communion with each other, in the favours and blessings of God.