On to Chapter 3…

Before we even begin this chapter, we are going to look at 3:8 so that we can know who we are reading about. This verse tells us that this passage is about Messiah – THE BRANCH (Jer 23:5-6). ‘Messiah’ is the Hebrew word for the English word ‘Christ’. We are told that Joshua is symbolic for, who we now know as, Yeshua (Jesus).

Let’s go back to v1:

· Yeshua, Joshua, Jesus all mean the same thing – salvation. The Messiah came to bring salvation (victory and deliverance over many transgressions/sins – Jer 5:6)

· Yeshua is a High Priest of the order of Melchizedek (which means King of righteousness – see Gen 14:18-20, Ps 110:4, Heb 6:20, Heb 7)

· The High Priest served on behalf of the people and the people benefitted from his work (His most important work was done on Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement – Lev 16)

· ‘satan’ – there are those who stand in opposition to the things of G-d.

· ‘The right hand’ is the preferred location. In a prime spot

· ‘Oppose’ – bring adversity or affliction.

v2: ‘The L-rd rebuke you satan!’ This is repeated twice. Twice in history we will see satan crushed – Yeshua was victorious over him when He was resurrected. Resurrection is a picture of victory over sin and death. Yeshua will be just as successful at triumphing over satan when He returns again to judge this world and to establish His Kingdom.

· G-d identifies Himself as the One who has chosen Jerusalem.

· Yeshua has saved us from the fire (2 Pt 3:7)- eternal judgement (see also Amos 4:11)

v3-4: There was a very strict protocol for the garments of a high priest(Lev 16:4, Lev 16:23-24, Lev 16:32)

· Scripturally our garments are related to our deeds – what we have done (Rev 19:8)

· Soiled garments are ones stained by sin. Yeshua took our filthy garments (2 Cor 5:21) and died in our place (Rom 6:23). As High Priest He did the work and we benefitted – He took our filthy, dirty garments upon Himself and placed His clean and pure garment on us – His robe of righteousness (an unfair exchange)

v5: This head covering (turban) is also called a mitre(or miter) and can be understood as a type of crown.

v6-7: “Those who stand here” refers to the angels. These verses are speaking of a transition – a change from what was to what will be.

v8: Wonderous sign – a miracle. Miracles communicate truth. These men, who came out of the Babylonian exile, communicate a truth to us. They rebuilt the second temple and established a kingdom in Jerusalem once again. They are a prophetic picture/example of what is going to happen in the last days – Messiah is coming again in order to establish His Kingdom.

v9: ‘The Stone’ is another reference to Messiah Yeshua -1 Peter 2:4-8

(It is good to read, within their context, all the OT passages quoted in 1 Peter: Is 28:16,Ps 118:22,Is 8:14)

· Seven eyes= all-knowing, therefore complete truth.

· The work of salvation was the removal of sin in one day – at the cross!

v10: ‘In that day’ – in the Hebrew it is written in a way that always refers to Judgement Day (הַהוּא בַּיּוֹם)

· ‘Under his vine and under his fig’ – this is a reference to rest. Those who are part of Yeshua’s Kingdom will rest