“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” (Zechariah 3:1-4 KJV)
Linda Harris is Administrating director at JESUS IS THE LAMB and she has written an excellent commentary on this passage of Scripture that is very significant in understanding Salvation by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. She has graciously provided permission to use it here on SeekKnockFind.org.
You can find Linda at her Facebook group called, JESUS IS THE LAMB located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/6350851779/. I am a member of her group and her commentary on this is so beautiful I just had to share it.
Here is Linda’s commentary…
Robes of Righteousness!
God has made a way for our sins to be taken away. He gives a picture of this in Zechariah 3:1-4:
“Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Angel of the LORD, (this Angel of the LORD is Jesus in “pre-incarnate” form), and Satan was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 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, and I WILL PUT RICH GARMENTS ON YOU.”
The filthy clothes represent sin. Isaiah 64:6 reads, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” In other words, even our “best” efforts are unclean compared to God’s perfect righteousness.
The RICH GARMENTS represent Christ’s own righteousness, which is absolutely perfect and without any sin whatsoever. They are the garments worn by the children of God who have submitted to the atoning work of our Savior Jesus. This is why the parable of the prodigal son includes these verses: Luke 15:21- 22 “The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (This is repentance.) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the BEST ROBE and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” (The repentant son is restored to full SON SHIP.)
Isaiah well understood this fact when he wrote, in Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
On account of this robe of righteousness that is given to every believer who trusts in what Jesus has done to save them from the penalty for their sins, they stand QUALIFIED to enter the Kingdom prepared only for God’s children.
Colossians 1:12 “Give thanks to the Father, WHO HAS QUALIFIED YOU to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” You are only qualified if you have been restored to the full status of son ship. ONLY those who are children of God wear the ROBES of righteousness given to them by the LORD HIMSELF.
Romans 3:21-26 reads,
“But now a RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD comes through faith IN JESUS CHRIST to ALL WHO BELIEVE. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented HIM as a SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT THROUGH HIS BLOOD. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just, and the one who justifies those who have FAITH IN JESUS.”
Which is why, in Revelation, we read verses like these: Revelation 7:9 and 13-14:
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were WEARING WHITE ROBES.” “Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.”
No matter when people trust Him, even in the very final days of this world, He gives the Robe of Righteousness to them.
Revelation 7:15-17:
“Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
God’s perfect righteousness is HIS PERFECT HOLINESS. This righteousness is in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This righteousness is ALSO BESTOWED onto every single person who trusts in Jesus’ atoning work.
