I WILL REMOVE SIN IN A SINGLE DAY

Passage: Zechariah 3:1-10

Key verse: 4

NIV

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.”

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Footnotes
  1. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  2. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

3 Then he showed me (A)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and (B)Satan[a] standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, (C)“The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has (D)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this (E)a brand[b] plucked from the fire?” 3 Now (F)Joshua was standing before the angel, (G)clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to (H)those who were standing before him, (I)“Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, (J)I have taken your iniquity away from you, and (K)I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, (L)“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 (M)Joshua, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and (N)keep my charge, then you shall (O)rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among (P)those who are standing here. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for (Q)they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring (R)my servant (S)the Branch. 9 For behold, on (T)the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with (U)seven eyes,[c] I will (V)engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and (W)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 (X)under his vine and under his fig tree.”

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Footnotes
  1. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary
  2. Zechariah 3:2 That is, a burning stick
  3. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A burning stick snatched from the fire (1-7)

This is the 4th vision. Joshua, the high priest, represents God's people, a kingdom of priests, who are attacked by Satan. God rebukes Satan and snatches his people from the burning fire. He wants them to be the holy people of God. To be God's holy people and a kingdom of priests we must put off the filthy rags of our sins and our own righteousness and be dressed in the rich robes of his righteousness.

2. God's Servant the Branch (8-10)

How can we be clothed in God's righteousness? God promised to bring his servant, the Branch--the Christ. The stone with seven eyes represents God's omniscience--he knows all our sins and sorrows. He kept his promise and removed the sins of his people in a single day--the day Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. We must put off our filthy clothes and put on the rich robe of his righteousness. We must then walk in his ways and claim his peace.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse my sins and dress me in the robes of Christ's righteousness.

One Word: See, I have taken away your sin