ZECHARIAH 3:1–10 (August 8, 2025)

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a] standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 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[b] plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 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.” 5 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.

6 And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “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. 8 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. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes,[c] I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 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.”

Footnotes

Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary

Zechariah 3:2 That is, a burning stick

Zechariah 3:9 Or facets

Clothed in Clean Garments: God's Grace for the Guilty

Zechariah 3_1-10Brian Lee

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Summary

In the fourth vision, Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, while Satan stands to accuse him (v. 1). Joshua, who represents the spiritual leadership of the post-exilic community, is clothed in filthy garments, a symbol of sin and guilt (v. 3). Satan’s accusations are warranted because Israel’s sin is real. Yet the LORD rebukes Satan.

V. 2, 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?”

God's election is not based on Israel’s innocence, but on grace.

Then, by divine command, the filthy garments are removed, and Joshua is clothed with pure vestments and a clean turban (vv. 4–5), symbolizing not only forgiveness but full restoration of righteousness. The angel of the LORD then speaks of faithful obedience (v. 7) and gives a messianic promise: God will bring “my servant the Branch” (v. 8), and in one day, He will remove the iniquity of the land (v. 9). The vision ends with an image of peace and abundance under the fig tree and vine (v. 10).

This vision explains the gospel of grace, where the holy God clothes guilty sinners in righteousness and removes their sin completely and forever.

Who is God?

God is both the Judge and the one who justifies. He sees the filth, hears Satan’s accusations, and yet defends His people. “The LORD rebuke you, Satan!” (v. 2). His authority overrides the accuser not because the accusation is false, but because God has decided to show mercy to Jerusalem. He is also the one who provides cleansing:

“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.

God does not wait for Joshua to clean himself up. He initiates, commands, and accomplishes the cleansing. Our Heavenly Father is the God of grace. He is holy, yet forgiving. He is righteous, yet restoring of sinners.

What is Our Guilt?

Our guilt is represented in Joshua’s filthy garments. Though he is the high priest, he stands before God defiled, unfit for service, and rightly accused. His condition represents not just personal sin but the corporate defilement of Israel, especially of its leaders. And we are no different. Even our best works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We often presume we are worthy to stand before God because of our position, ministry results, or even our religious zeal. Yet apart from God's cleansing, we are spiritually unclean and worthy of accusation. And unlike Satan, who accuses in order to destroy us, the Spirit convicts us in order to lead us to cleansing through Christ.

How Does Grace Shine?

Grace shines in every verse of this vision. The rebuke of Satan (v. 2), the removal of the filthy garments (v. 4), and the giving of new clothes (v. 5). The grace flows from God’s initiative. Joshua does not and cannot justify himself. God must declare him clean. This is the doctrine of justification by grace alone. The promise of “the Branch” (v. 8) is a direct messianic prophecy. Jesus is the righteous shoot from David’s line. The climactic line in verse 9 is the essence of the gospel: “I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.” On the Calvary's cross, Jesus bore the guilt of God’s people and satisfied justice once and for all. The clean turban on Joshua’s head shows not only forgiveness, but full reinstatement into holy service.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that when we stood before You filthy, accused, and unworthy, You did not cast us away, but clothed us with the righteousness of Christ. Thank You for silencing every accusation by the blood of the Lamb and declaring us clean in Your sight.

Forgive us for trusting in our own garments—our efforts, our status, our works. Lead us back to the cross where all our shame is taken away.

Thank You for Jesus, Your Servant and our Branch, who on the Cross, removed our iniquity.

Clothe us anew each day in His righteousness, and use us again for Your service with clean hands and pure hearts.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.