Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryZechariah 3

Joshua the High Priest Accused and Cleansed This section describes a vision given to Zechariah about Joshua the high priest. Joshua stands before the angel of the Lord

v. 2: And the Lord

v. 3: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. Joshua is wearing dirty clothes, which stand for his sins and the sins of the people. He stands before God in this condition, showing that even leaders can be guilty and need forgiveness .

v. 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. God commands that Joshua’s filthy clothes be removed. He tells Joshua that his sins are forgiven, and he will be dressed in clean clothes. This shows how God takes away sin and gives His people a new, clean life .

v. 5: And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord

v. 6: And the angel of the Lord

v. 7: Thus saith the Lord

Advent of Christ Predicted; Prediction Relating to Christ. In this passage, the promises given to Joshua the high priest become promises about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Joshua’s priesthood was a symbol of Christ’s priesthood. The restoration of the temple and priesthood after Israel’s captivity was only a shadow of the greater work that Christ would do. The message is full of hope for everyone who trusts in God, because it points to forgiveness, peace, and a new beginning through the coming Savior.v. 8: God speaks directly to Joshua and the other priests, calling them men wondered at . They are a sign pointing forward to the Messiah. Their lives and work are meant to be examples and reminders of what Christ would do. Even if others think God’s people are strange or different, these priests have a special role as reminders of God’s promises. God says, “I will bring forth my servant the Branch.” This Branch is the Messiah, Jesus, who will save and lead God’s people. When Christ comes, He will be called Wonderful (Isaiah 8:18 ).

v. 9: God promises to bring my servant the Branch and to lay a precious stone before Joshua. This Branch is a name for the Messiah, who will grow from humble beginnings but bring life to many (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5 ). The stone with seven eyes shows that Jesus has perfect wisdom and that all of God’s people look to Him. God says, I will engrave its inscription, meaning He will give Christ great honor and make Him the foundation for His people. God’s words, “I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day”, point to the day Jesus died on the cross, taking away sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:1; Daniel 9:24 ). This symbolizes both forgiveness and the work of salvation being completed in a single act.

v. 10: Because of Christ’s work, God’s people will live in peace and friendship. The Bible says, “In that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree” (Zechariah 3:10 ). This means they will enjoy God’s blessings, rest from fear, and have close relationships with one another. Justified by Jesus, they can live in safety and invite others to share in God’s goodness (Romans 5:1; 1 Kings 4:24-25 ). Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to experience the blessings of God together. This promise of peace and prosperity is the result of God’s forgiveness and the coming of the Messiah.