Zec 3:4 | KingComments | STEP | God’s Spirit does not hide the fact that Joshua is “clothed with filthy garments” ( ). The word for “filth” in Hebrew is a word that indicates filth of the most filthy and disgusting kind ( ; ). As mentioned before, God cannot condone the sins of His people. Joshua, however, does not stand before Satan in those dirty clothes, but before God. It is, as it were, an acknowledgment of his filth, that is, the people acknowledge the guilt of the dirty state of the priesthood. Israel was saved from exile, but as a priestly nation it is an unclean people. The priesthood has been tainted by a long stay in a foreign country, the after-effects of which can still be seen, or again be seen. The priesthood is not exercised in the way God wants it to be exercised. Heathen elements have made it unclean. Joshua is not told to take off those filthy garments himself ( ). The LORD takes the word and commands His angels to take off Joshua’s filthy garments. It is a symbol of getting rid of iniquity. In it forgiveness is suggested (cf. ). In Paul’s letters we see how in a spiritual sense the filthy garments have been taken away from us. In every letter those garments have become filthy by something else. This can be the filthiness of legalism, about which is spoken of in the letter to the Galatians. It also can be about the filthiness of philosophy, spoken of in the letter to the Colossians. The ultimate goal of Paul’s service is to “present every man complete in Christ” ( ). This means that every person who has come to repentance sees his new position in Christ, which is represented here by the “festal robes”. Such a work can only be done by those who live in God’s presence, and whose lives are in accordance with it. God’s mercy provides new robes. He commands to bring out “the best robe” and put it on the repentant man ( ). For everyone who belongs to the church, this means that he may know that he is favored by God “in the Beloved” ( ). This is presented in the adoption and restoration in the position of the high priest Joshua. In this way God takes away the iniquities of His people and gives them festal robes. Festal robes – a word found only here and in Isaiah 3 ( ) – speak of purity, joy, and glory. Here they symbolize the restoration of Israel to its original calling ( ).

‏ Zechariah 3:4

Filthy Garments – Festal Robes

God’s Spirit does not hide the fact that Joshua is “clothed with filthy garments” (Zec 3:3). The word for “filth” in Hebrew is a word that indicates filth of the most filthy and disgusting kind (Pro 30:12; Isa 4:4 ; Isa 64:6). As mentioned before, God cannot condone the sins of His people. Joshua, however, does not stand before Satan in those dirty clothes, but before God. It is, as it were, an acknowledgment of his filth, that is, the people acknowledge the guilt of the dirty state of the priesthood.

Israel was saved from exile, but as a priestly nation it is an unclean people. The priesthood has been tainted by a long stay in a foreign country, the after-effects of which can still be seen, or again be seen. The priesthood is not exercised in the way God wants it to be exercised. Heathen elements have made it unclean.

Joshua is not told to take off those filthy garments himself (Zec 3:4). The LORD takes the word and commands His angels to take off Joshua’s filthy garments. It is a symbol of getting rid of iniquity. In it forgiveness is suggested (cf. 2Sam 12:13b).

In Paul’s letters we see how in a spiritual sense the filthy garments have been taken away from us. In every letter those garments have become filthy by something else. This can be the filthiness of legalism, about which is spoken of in the letter to the Galatians. It also can be about the filthiness of philosophy, spoken of in the letter to the Colossians. The ultimate goal of Paul’s service is to “present every man complete in Christ” (Col 1:28). This means that every person who has come to repentance sees his new position in Christ, which is represented here by the “festal robes”.

Such a work can only be done by those who live in God’s presence, and whose lives are in accordance with it. God’s mercy provides new robes. He commands to bring out “the best robe” and put it on the repentant man (Lk 15:20-24). For everyone who belongs to the church, this means that he may know that he is favored by God “in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6).

This is presented in the adoption and restoration in the position of the high priest Joshua. In this way God takes away the iniquities of His people and gives them festal robes. Festal robes – a word found only here and in Isaiah 3 (Isa 3:22) – speak of purity, joy, and glory. Here they symbolize the restoration of Israel to its original calling (Isa 61:10).