Zechariah 3:8-10 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold… The text is highly figurative language. I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS ''STONE." Joshua may be the representative of the whole priesthood, or of the Church at large. We take the latter idea. Therefore the stone is laid before Joshua, — or the Church of God. 1. The stone. By which I understand Christ. A precious stone. Precious to the Father, to angels, to the fully redeemed, and to us. A precious stone, because God has chosen it as the foundation of His Church. It is a cornerstone. He is a foundation stone. He is a tried stone. 2. The situation of the stone. It is not a stone of human production. It was laid in God's everlasting love. In the Old Testament rites and types and shadows. In prophecy. It is to be laid before the Church even now. 3. The Builder. It is the "stone that I have laid." God in Trinity is the builder. The Father is the builder of the Church designedly. The Son is the builder of the Church really. The Spirit is the builder of the Church efficiently. II. THE EYES FIXED UPON THIS "STORE." "Seven eyes." Some refer this to the operations of the Spirit of God. Prefer to take it as the eyes of all, friend and foe, that are placed upon our Lord Jesus Christ. 1. The eye of the Father is upon this stone: in eternal council, when the everlasting stipulations for the salvation of the Church were entered into. 2. The eye of the Spirit was upon Him. The Spirit of God taketh the things of Christ and revealeth them unto the soul. 3. The eyes of angels are fixed on Christ. 4. The eyes of all the saints in heaven are fixed on Christ. 5. So are the eyes of the Church on earth. 6. And the eyes of the wicked, on earth and in hell. III. THE ENGRAVING OF THIS STONE. The names of the Lord's people are said to be written on stones, or in books. Our names are written on the palms of Christ's hands, denoting our security. Upon His shoulders, to denote the support that we receive from Him. On His heart, explanatory of His love. IV. THE REMOVAL OF THE CHURCH'S SIN. By God the Father, through the Mediator. God has imputed all our sins to Jesus Christ, and removed them in one day. (T. Bagnall-Baker, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. |
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