Zechariah 3

Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloth (Isaiah 30:22), to a plague sore (1 Kings 8:38). Joshua's filthy garments, in which he stood before the Angel (Zechariah 3:3), were nothing but a type and hieroglyphic of sin. Sin has blotted God's image, and stained the orient…

2. As he partakes of the Godhead: he is of infinite prudence to understand all causes brought before him: and of infinite power to execute offenders. He is described with seven eyes (Zechariah 3:9), to denote his prudence; and a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9), to denote his power. He i…

The Dragon is described with seven heads (Revelation 12:3), to show how he plots against the church. But God is described with seven eyes (Zechariah 3:9), to show that he sees all the plots and stratagems of the enemies, and when they deal proudly, he can be above them. Come, sa…

Satan's great design is to render the word we hear fruitless: As when one is writing, another jogs him that he cannot write even: So when we are hearing, the Devil will be jogging us with a temptation, that we should not attend to the word preached. Zechariah 3:1. He showed me J…

A pardoned soul is adorned and embellished with holiness (1 John 5:6): this is he that came by water and blood. Where Christ comes with blood to justify, he comes with water to cleanse (Zechariah 3:4): I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with chan…

He may retain their sins (as Christ's expression is, John 20:23; Matthew 18:18) — that is, call in the patent of his pardon which he had passed under his hand and seal in earth, that is, in their own consciences; take it out of their hands and custody, and call for it home again…

And again because ministers are the Lord's watchmen in the church, we are here also put in mind to seek their good; and to pray that their hearts may be set for the building of God's kingdom, for the beating down of the kingdom of sin and Satan, and for the saving of the souls o…

Only this must be added, that while indeed the soul is at home in this body, (this earthly tabernacle) it is not capable of this sight, of the glory of God, that is, so as to continue in the body, and enjoy it; for it would crack this earthen vessel: as 1 Corinthians 15:50, fles…

There is no sin before, nor after conversion, no sin of ignorance, no sin against light, no enemy, no temptation, whatever it be, but that word answers all; Who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Where Christ takes the sinner's case in hand, who will stand up against…

Yet he was set on and assaulted by the temptation, he was tempted, and that is a consolation. When Joshua the high Priest is in his duty (Zechariah 3), and the Devil is at his right hand to resist him and mar him in it, and he can do or say little himself, he asserts his authori…

2. God does nothing in the election of Peter, more than of Judas; nor can grace and mercy have place in the choosing of the one, rather than the other; but as free will is foreseen to play the game ill, or well, so go the eternal decrees of election and reprobation, and there ca…

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you: think not you can perform a flesh-displeasing duty, when Satan is quiet, and does not molest; he will be busy to tempt when you are going to your God; this is no new thing, he will jog your hand when you are writing your letter to you…

Sect. 1 VVE have considered the Work of the Spirit of God in his laying the Foundation of the Church of the New Testament, by his Dispensations towards the Head of it, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Foundation Stone of this Building, with seven Eyes engraven on him, or filled…

2. Two armies may be mentioned, to show, that when she is rightly, and with a believing eye looked upon, her beauty will appear to be double to what it was said to be; and so, two armies signify an excellent army, as, (Genesis 32:1-2) God's hosts of Angels get the same name in t…

2. All the powers of Hell oppose us. Satan stands at our right hand, as he did at Joshua's (Zechariah 3:2). Shall not we be as earnest to save our souls, as the dragon is to devour them?

The Christian finds not his heart in the morning, as he left it at night; and even when he is about his work, how many setbacks does he meet with? Satan stands at his right hand (the working hand) to resist him (Zechariah 3:1). When he would do good, evil (the evil of his own he…

And verse 24, the saints are represented, standing nearer to the throne of God, than the angels themselves. Hence also ordinances are called galleries, in which both saints and angels walk, beholding the glory of him that sits upon the throne (Zechariah 3:7). "If you will keep m…

Mocking was an old way of persecuting the covenant-seed, for thus, he that was after the flesh, betimes persecuted them that were after the Spirit; compare Genesis 21:9 with Galatians 4:29. God's heritage has always been as a speckled bird, that all the birds are against (Jeremi…

So are the eyes of Christ on us, as the eyes of one who in tenderness cares for us, laying out his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in all tender love on our behalf. He is the stone, that foundation stone of the church, whereon are seven eyes (Zechariah 3:9), wherein there i…

His active obedience for us. This proved at large: Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 5:19; Philippians 3:19; Zechariah 3:3-5. One objection removed.

Raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the dunghill, that he may set him with princes even with the princes of his people. Or as Joshua the priest (Zechariah 3:3-4) so those of this priesthood are dealt with. Now that we may be the deeper in the sense and admir…

When Christ was about to go to Heaven, he thought, my own are to be left in the world, they are exposed to great temptation; and that set his heart at work, as if he had said, Poor creatures, they are undone if I help them not. So (Zechariah 3:1-2), And he showed me Joshua the H…

He meets in congregations, he gets into the closet. When Joshua the high priest was ministering before the Lord, Satan stood at his right hand, ready to resist him (Zechariah 3:1). 2. There needs caution, because in private duties there may be many failings and evils, which we a…

We are endeared to God by his own mercies; he is very tender and choice of them; in whom he has begun a good work he will perfect it. (Zechariah 3:2) Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? What, shall all my former mercies be in vain?

One mercy is the pledge of another. 3. We are endeared to God not only by acts of duty, but by every act of mercy: what is the argument he urges for Zion, (Zechariah 3:2) Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? The Lord rebuke you Satan: have not I delivered Zion, and shall…

God by sending such a creature into the world charges his providence to maintain him, as long as he will use him for his glory. God loves to crown his own gifts (Zechariah 3:2). Is not this a brand plucked out of the burnings?

A carpenter who has a line in his hand, may chop right or miss; but if we could suppose a carpenter, whose hand were his rule, he would always hit right. We may be confident the Judge of all the earth will do right, his righteousness and the righteousness of men differ infinitel…

When God asked the devil if he had considered his servant Job, Yes, says he, I have, and accuse him for a hired servant, one that serves you merely for wages, and would, if but touched by you, curse you to your face. When Satan accused Joshua (Zechariah 3:1-2), it was for his fi…

Ezekiel 16:6: I saw you polluted in your blood. Sin has not only taken off our cloth of gold, but has put upon us filthy garments (Zechariah 3:3). God made us after his likeness (Genesis 1:26), but sin has made us like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49, last verse).

Isaiah 61:1: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted; that is, such as are broken in the sense of their unworthiness. 2. Till we are poor in spirit, Christ is never precious; before we see our own wants, we never see Christ's worth; pov…

God beholds these as the weaknesses of your sickly state here below, and pities you, as you wouldest do your lame child; how odious is he to us that mocks one for natural defects, a blear eye, or a stammering tongue? such are these in your new nature. Observable is that in Chris…

Now such honor shall every faithful soul have. Thus says the Lord of hostes, If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, I will give you places to walk, among these that stand by, Zechariah 3:7. He alludes to the Temple, which had rooms joyning to it for the Pri…

8. As the former Argument is from the promise made to Christ, and fulfilled to him, so this is from the predictions, prophecies and promises of him, as he, of whom such glorious promises are foretold, and may claim the thing promised, by faith, he has some word of promise for su…

So are they in the Vision concerning Joshua the High Pri. Zechariah 3:4 5 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him: And unto him he said, Behold I have caused yours iniquity to pass from you; and I will cloath you…

Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones came to him, and saluted him with, “Peace be to you.” So the first said to him, “Your sins be forgiven you” (Mark 2:5); the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment (Zechariah 3:4); th…

Mr. Sagacity: Talk! the people talk strangely about him: some say that he now walks in white (Revelation 3:4); that he has a chain of gold about his neck; that he has a crown of gold, beset with pearls, upon his head: others say, that the shining ones, who sometimes showed thems…

Yet his journey is lawful: when Christ is upon acts of his priesthood, and stands at the great high altar with his censer of gold, to offer up the prayers of the saints to God, he casts fire with the same censer down upon the earth, and there be then thunderings, lightnings, and…