Zechariah , Sarah Barry
MY SERVANT, THE BRANCH
Passage: Zechariah 3:1~10  
Key verse: 8b
Clean Garments for the High Priest
3 Then he showed me Joshua(A) the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a](B) standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you,(C) Satan! The Lord, who has chosen(D) Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick(E) snatched from the fire?”(F)
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,(G) and I will put fine garments(H) on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban(I) on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements,(J) then you will govern my house(K) and have charge(L) of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.(M)
8 “‘Listen, High Priest(N) Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic(O) of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.(P) 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!(Q) There are seven eyes[b](R) on that one stone,(S) and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin(T) of this land in a single day.
10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit(U) under your vine and fig tree,(V)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
- Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
Cross references
- Zechariah 3:1 : S Ezr 2:2; Zec 6:11
- Zechariah 3:1 : S 2Sa 24:1; S 2Ch 18:21; S Ps 109:6; S Mt 4:10
- Zechariah 3:2 : Jude 1:9
- Zechariah 3:2 : S Isa 14:1
- Zechariah 3:2 : S Isa 7:4
- Zechariah 3:2 : Jude 1:23
- Zechariah 3:4 : S 2Sa 12:13; S Eze 36:25; S Mic 7:18
- Zechariah 3:4 : S Ge 41:42; S Ps 132:9; S Isa 52:1; Rev 19:8
- Zechariah 3:5 : S Ex 29:6
- Zechariah 3:7 : S Lev 8:35
- Zechariah 3:7 : Dt 17:8-11; S Eze 44:15-16
- Zechariah 3:7 : 2Ch 23:6
- Zechariah 3:7 : Jer 15:19; Zec 6:15
- Zechariah 3:8 : Hag 1:1
- Zechariah 3:8 : S Dt 28:46; S Eze 12:11
- Zechariah 3:8 : S Isa 4:2; S 49:3; S Eze 17:22
- Zechariah 3:9 : S Ezr 2:2
- Zechariah 3:9 : S 2Ch 16:9
- Zechariah 3:9 : Isa 28:16
- Zechariah 3:9 : S 2Sa 12:13; S Jer 50:20
- Zechariah 3:10 : S Job 11:18
- Zechariah 3:10 : S Nu 16:14; S 1Ki 4:25; Mic 4:4
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Source:  BibleGateway
Joshua was in the first group to return from exile by Cyrus’ decree. He was high priest and Zerubbabel was governor (Ez 2:2; Hag 1:1). Satan attacked him relentlessly, but God rescued him like a stick from the fire. His filthy clothes represent the shameful sins of him and his people. But God forgave his sins and clothed him with fine garments. The covenant could then be resumed between God and his people (6-7). As the priest goes, so go the people.
2. You are symbolic of things to come (8-10)
Restoring the priesthood was important in that day, but also symbolic of God’s redemptive plan moving forward to the Branch. Jeremiah 23:5 tells of a just and righteous Branch coming from David. This Branch will be the LORD our Righteous Savior. Jesus is the Branch, our Great High Priest (Heb 4:14-16), and the stone upon which the Church is built (1Pe 2:4). The removal of sin in a single day was completed by Jesus on the cross.
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus our High Priest who forgives our sins.
One Word: See, I have taken away your sin