The Book of Zechariah was written in history to encourage the people to finish the temple rebuilding work. Yet, the true intended audience for the book of Zechariah is us today in the New Testament, as we complete the building of the spiritual temple.

Zechariah 3 records the fourth of eight visions in the first section of Zechariah. From here, we see that removing iniquity is a key aspect of finishing the rebuilding work.

Beyond the physical facade of the building, what God really desires is for iniquity to be dealt with and removed.

Removal of Filthy Garments

The vision starts with Joshua the high priest standing before God, with Satan at his right hand opposing him (Zech 3:1).

While Jesus is at the right hand of God ever interceding for us (Rom 8:34), Satan accuses day and night before God (Rev 12:10).

Although Joshua the high priest was indeed clothed with filthy garments (Zech 3:3), we see that God did not side with Satan. Rather, God rebuked Satan for trying to accuse His chosen people whom He has saved from destruction (Zech 3:2).

God then went a step further and removed the filthy garments of Joshua. Joshua was clothed with rich robes and a clean turban was placed on His head, with God assuring him that his iniquity has been removed (Zech 3:4-5).

Joshua the high priest prefigures Jesus Christ our High Priest (Zech 6:11-13, Heb 4:14-5:5; 7:26-27).

Jesus was without sin, yet took on and bore all of our sins on the cross (Heb 4:14-5:5, 1 Pet 2:24). Like how Joshua was clothed in rich robes and a clean turban, through His death and resurrection, Jesus is our King and our High Priest.

For us born into the world of sin, we too have filthy garments (Isa 64:8).

But through the blood of Jesus in water baptism, our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). Through baptism, we can put off our filthy garments and put on Christ (Gal 3:27). Spiritually, we become kings and priests (Rev 1:5).

Crucially, we need to continue to ensure our garments do not get stained by sin, often repenting and washing our garments to keep them white as snow (Jude 22-23, Rev 22:14 ESV).

Engraved Stone

In Zech 3:9, the Lord mentions the engraved stone with seven eyes laid before Joshua, and that the iniquity of the land will be removed in a day.

The stone having seven eyes reminds us of the Lamb with seven eyes in the vision seen by Elder John (Rev 5:6).

Indeed, though He was rejected by man, Jesus today is our chief cornerstone (Psa 118:22, Eph 2:20). Apart from Him, we cannot have any other foundation (1 Cor 3:11).

The stone being engraved with an inscription reminds us of how the hands and feet of our Lord were pierced. He was scourged and beaten, with a crown of thorns twisted upon His head.

For us who believe, it is this stone that gives us a sure foundation for our salvation today (Isa 28:16-18).

For those who do not believe, then this same stone will be to us a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Isa 8:14-15, 1 Pet 2:6-8).

Let us be like the wise man, building ourselves up on Christ the solid rock, rather than on the sinking sand (Matt 7:24-29).

Then, Zech 3:10 says that we will all sit under our vines and under our fig trees. This imagery is one that represents peace and prosperity in the kingdom of God, where we diligently seek after the Lord (1 Kings 4:20, 24-25; Micah 4:1-5).