Zechariah 3 summary

Zechariah 3 Summary: Vision 4, Joshua Cleansed

©Tod Kennedy, todkennedy.com; knowbelieveapply.com

Theme

Joshua, the high priest, represents the coming servant of the LORD, the Branch, will cleanse the people and land of sin and bring peace and security.

Summary

This chapter opens with the LORD, Joshua, and Satan. Satan’s purpose is to accuse Joshua, Israel’s spiritual leader, of sin. The LORD rebuked Satan, cleansed Joshua and chose him to be high priest. He chose Jerusalem, his city, and Joshua high priest, even though both were dirty with sin. The clean garments and turban showed the cleansing of sin and the appointment. The LORD of hosts then charged Joshua to walk the in LORD’S ways and perform his service, and if he did he will govern the temple and the courts. The LORD is going to bring his servant called the Branch, whom Joshua represents. In the future the LORD will cleanse the land and bring security and peace.

Zechariah 3 Outline

  1. Zechariah 3.1-3. Satan accuses Joshua of sin, but the LORD forgives and cleanses him.
  2. Zechariah 3.4-7. Then the LORD dresses Joshua in clean priestly clothes and makes him high priest for the returned people.
  3. Zechariah 3.8-10. The symbols revealed to Joshua.

Zechariah 3 summary explanation

  1. Zechariah 3.1-3. Satan accuses Joshua of sin, but the LORD forgives and cleanses him.
    1. Zechariah 3.1. Joshua (also named Jeshua, Ezra 2.2 and other verses in Ezra and Nehemiah) was the high priest in Jerusalem for the returned exiles. He was probably born in Babylon and returned with Zerubbabel. He was instrumental in rebuilding the temple and restoring the life of the returned nation. The NET Bible, 2005 note “Joshua the high priest mentioned here is the son of the priest Jehozadak, mentioned also in Hag 1:1 (cf. Ezra 2:2; 3:2, 8; 4:3; 5:2; 10:18; Neh 7:7; 12:1, 7, 10, 26). He also appears to have been the grandfather of the high priest contemporary with Nehemiah about 445 b.c. (Neh 12:10).” The angel of the LORD is the LORD himself. Satan was doing what he does best—accusing God’s servants. Satan, שָׂטָן with the article means accuser or adversary as in Job 1.6-2.7 used 14 times. In 1 Chronicles 21.1 there is no article so the use there is as a name. Satan stood at Joshua’s right hand to accuse him of sin. In Psalm 109 David appeals to God because his enemies have unjustly accused him.
    2. High Priest. The high priest was from the tribe of Levi.
  • Aaron was the first high priest followed by his son Eleazar (Numbers 20.28).
  • The high priest was in charge of the religious duties and supervised the priests, including the Day of Atonement sacrifices of Leviticus 16.
  • The high priest was the supreme civil head of the people
    1. Angel of the LORD. Angel” and “Angel of the Lord” are used 20 times in Zechariah (1:9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19; 2:3; 3:1, 3, 5, 6; 4:1, 4, 5; 5:5, 10; 6:4, 5; 12:8). The interpreting angel delivers God’s messages. In some passages the angel of the Lord is the Lord, (1:8, 10, 11).
  1. Zechariah 3.4-7. Then the LORD dresses Joshua in clean priestly clothes and makes him high priest for the returned people. The NT teaches cleansing from sin for service in John 13.1-11, John 15.1-5, and in 1 John 1. Joshua will be the spiritual leader of the returned people. He symbolizes forgiveness, spiritual leadership of the nation, and Israel’s priest nation status. If Joshua 1. Obedient fellowship (moral) and 2. Delegated service (ritual, priestly duties) he will 1. govern my house (leadership). The importance of the high priest, especially with no king. 2. have charge of my courts (spiritual authority), 3. have free access among these (access like the angels to God).
  2. Zechariah 3.8-10. The symbols revealed to Joshua. This is a new section.
    1. Zechariah 3.8. Joshua’s friends (possibly priests of lower rank) symbolized the “Branch,” the coming servant of the LORD. “Branch” tsemach (3:8; 6:12), contains reference to Messiah. Also see Isaiah 4.2; 11.1; Jeremiah 23.5; and Jeremiah 33.15.
    2. Zechariah 3.9. The “stone” with seven eyes. “Stone,” eben (3:9), is another prophetic title for Messiah in some passages (Psalm 118:22, David and then Messiah; probably Isaiah 28:16, at least in its extended meaning; New Testament Romans 9:31-33; 1 Peter 2:6-8). In Daniel 2:34-35 and 45 the stone symbolizes the future Messianic kingdom which destroy the ruling kingdoms of the times of the Gentiles and rule the earth. NET Bible Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition; Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print, says “The stone is also a metaphor for the Messiah, a foundation stone that, at first rejected (Ps 118:22–23; Isa 8:13–15), will become the chief cornerstone of the church (Eph 2:19–22).” Cleanses the land refers to removing iniquity.
    3. Zechariah 3.10. “In that day” (Hebrew phase בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא bayom hahu’ ) is used 20 times in 19 verses in the NASB95. Seventeen times in chapters 12-14, and 3 times in chapters 1-11. This refers to the future intervention by the Lord for judgment and blessing (2:11 [Heb 2:15]; 3:10; 9:16; 12:3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11; 13:1, 2, 4; 14:4, 6, 8, 8, 9, 13, 20, 21). Zechariah 6:10; 11:11 have the same Hebrew phrase but in a different context.
      1. “Sit under his vine and under his fig “tree indicate peace and prosperity at some future time (1 Kings 4.25; Micah 4.4).

So What Applications Zechariah 3

  1. Satan, the adversary of God’s servants, has the ability to accuse God’s servants of failure.
  2. The LORD wants prepared and cleansed servants.
  3. The angel of the LORD at is times the LORD himself. He reveals God’s will to his servants.
  4. The LORD has chosen Jerusalem for special ministry.
  5. In the future the LORD will bring one called the Branch and the Stone into history This is the Messiah, Jesus. Associated with the Branch, the LORD will remove sin from the land of Israel and will bring peace and prosperity. This is in the future when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
  6. Servant Branch Stone
  7. The servant and branch gives double significance to the messianic meaning of the passage: Servant comes to do the will of the Father (Isa 42:1, 19; 52.13; 53.11) Branch indicates the descendant of David (Zech 6.12; 11.1; 53.2; Jer 23:5; 33:15). NET Bible, and Tom Constable notes.
  8. The stone is also a metaphor for the Messiah, a foundation stone that, at first rejected (Ps 118:22–23; Isa 8:13–15; 28.16; Matthew 21.42), will become the chief cornerstone of the church (Eph 2:19–22). NET Bible, and Tom Constable notes
  9. Angel of the LORD. Hampton Keathly III, Bible.org, 6.3.2004 wrote “The second difficulty concerns the identity of “the angel of the Lord” as it is used in the Old Testament. A careful study of the many passages using this term suggests that this is no ordinary angel, but a Theophany, or better, a Christophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ. The angel is identified as God, speaks as God, and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God. Still, in some passages He distinguishes Himself from Yahweh (Gen. 16:7-14; 21:17-18; 22:11-18; 31:11-13, Ex. 3:2; Judg. 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11-22; 13:3-22; 2 Sam. 24:16; Zech. 1:12; 3:1; 12:8). That the Angel of the Lord is a Christophany is suggested by the fact a clear reference to “the Angel of the Lord” ceases after the incarnation. References to an angel of the Lord in Luke 1:11; and 2:8 and Acts 5:19 lack the Greek article which would suggest an ordinary angel.”