ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 3 Under the type of Joshua the high priest receiving
clean garments, MALACHI 3:1, and a covenant of promise from God,
MALACHI 3:6,7, Christ, the Branch and Corner-stone, is foretold,
MALACHI 3:8. AND HE; the Lord of hosts, whose servant Zechariah was,
and in whose name he spake. SH... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID, i.e. Christ, the great Redeemer, Restorer, Lord, and
Mediator of the church. THE LORD; the great God, Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who as Mediator rather chooseth to rebuke him in his
Father's name than in his own, though this he could have done. REBUKE
THEE; he who was accused wa... [ Continue Reading ]
At the time Zechariah saw this vision he saw also in what a mean,
dirty, and tattered garb he was who represented the high priest. It
was the hieroglyphic of Joshua, not Joshua himself. FILTHY GARMENTS;
emblem of a poor or sinful state, or both. STOOD: see MALACHI 3:1.
BEFORE THE ANGEL; the Lord Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE; the Lord Christ, who purifieth his church, who purgeth away
her sin, and clothes her with rich and clean garments. ANSWERED; so
the Hebrew, and so this prophet speaks, though no question went
before. It is an idiom of that language. SPAKE; commanded. THOSE THAT
STOOD BEFORE HIM; some of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID: Zechariah takes the boldness to desire that for Joshua
which might add to his veneration and authority; and he asks the thing
of Christ, or rather Christ commandeth this be done. _Let them_, who
minister before Christ, SET A FAIR MITRE; a rich and beautiful
ornament for the head of the h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, the Lord Christ, PROTESTED; solemnly declared
and averted it, gave him to know.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; the Father, whose will Christ reveals to
us. IF THOU JOSHUA, wilt walk in my ways; obey the precepts and holy
commands of the law. WILT KEEP MY CHARGE; the special charge and
office of the high priest. THOU SHALT ALSO JUDGE MY HOUSE: be chief
and ruler in the temple, an... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR NOW; hitherto thou hast been entertained with emblems and
hieroglyphics, but now, O Joshua, hear what these mean. AND THY
FELLOWS; the other priests, thy associates in the priestly office,
though inferior to thee. THAT SIT BEFORE THEE; as assessors or
coadjutors in a council or assembly; the hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is an ellipsis, and to make it up we must repeat that of the 8th
verse, HEAR NOW, & c. For behold, (pointing to a particular stone,)
that stone which I have laid, saith God, in the sight of Joshua, or
which he saw laid in the building of the temple; on that one stone are
seven eyes; and Joshua... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY OF BUILDING MY TEMPLE, when it is finished, and in the day
of removing the sins of my people, literally referring to the returned
captive Jews; mystically, to the whole church in gospel days, when
Christ, the chief Cornerstone, shall have purged away sin, and
established his church. SHAL... [ Continue Reading ]