231119 Zechariah 3: Cleansed From All Unrighteousness

1 John 1:9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

INTRODUCTION

Genesis 2:7–8“Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being. And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.”

Genesis 3:6–7“Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, so she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”

Genesis 3:21“Then Yahweh God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.”

MAINPOINT

Mark 9:23 “And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.””

1 John 1:9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

ROADMAP

PRAYER

CONTEXT

NAC

New Testament writers quoted Zechariah more than almost any other Old Testament Book

Much is known about his lineage

Zechariah means “Yahweh Remembers” - each mention is an indictment of Israels faithlessness

Zechariah the son of Berachiah grandson of Iddo

Matthew 23:35“so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.”

Doctrine of inviolability of Zion - it could never be conquered because Yahweh was there

Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586BC

Cyrus after 70 years returned people home from exile posturing as the most devout follower of each peoples gods

Temple foundation laid in 536BC

People became distracted

Darius followed Cyrus bad son Cambyses

Joshua the high priest rallied people to build God’s house so worship could be done lawfully

2 Chronicles 36:15–19 “And Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by the hand of His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His habitation; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against His people, until there was no remedy. Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who killed their choice men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on choice man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king and of his officials, he brought them all to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God and tore down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles.”

2 Chronicles 36:20–23“And those who had escaped from the sword he took away into exile to Babylon; and they were slaves to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were fulfilled. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to complete the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah—Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he had a proclamation pass throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up!’””

587 Fall of Judah

550 Cyrus defeats Midians

539 Cyrus conquerors Babylon

538 Edict of Cyrus, encouraging exiles to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the temple

530–522 Reign of Cambyses II, Darius’s son, conqueror of Egypt

522–486 Reign of Darius I (“the Great”)

520 Darius confirms Cyrus’s decree to rebuild the temple; Haggai’s sermons, Zechariah’s eight night visions (1:7–6:8)

Chiasmus focuses Chapters 1-8 on chapters 3 and 4

SERMON

I. Accuser Rebuked (v1-2)

Zechariah 3 | 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand delivered from the fire?”

Paraphrase

v1 Then my guide showed me Joshua who was the high priest in that day, he was standing

Parallel

Revelation 12:10“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

Jude 9“But Michael the archangel, when he, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!””

Jude 23“and for others, save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have mercy with fear, hating even the tunic polluted by the flesh.”

Daniel 10:13““But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”

Daniel 10:21““However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Now there is no one who exerts strength with me against these forces except Michael your prince.”

Amos 4:11““I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand delivered from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares Yahweh.”

Job 1:9–11“And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without cause? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But send forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.””

Notes

Joshua’s name means “Yahweh saves”

Joshua’s grandfather Seriah executed 2 Kings 25:18–21“Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three doorkeepers of the temple. And from the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and five of the king’s advisers who were found in the city; and the scribe of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city. And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and led them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile from its land.”

Rebuke a special word contextually in the Hebrew per the NAC strong divine cursing that the expression became a curse formula widely attested in the post-exilic period

Questions

Is satan mentioned here the satan of the New Testament - some pushback may be warranted as it could be that the accuser is not a proper name but a common noun

Does Joshua know he is being accused? Yes, Zechariah 3:4“And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have made your iniquity pass away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”” Romans 3:20“because by the works of the Law NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Cross References

Angel of Yahweh

Gen 16.7-13 . Gen 21.17 . Gen 22.11-16 .Gen 31.11-13 .

Satan accusing

2 Samuel 24:1“And again the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.””

1 Chronicles 21:1“Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”

2 Chronicles 18:21““And he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’”

Job 1:6–12“Now it was the day that the sons of God came to stand before Yahweh, and Satan also came among them. And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without cause? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But send forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand, only do not send forth your hand toward him.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.”

Interesting to note that Job is righteous while Joshua is not

Revelation 12:9–10“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

Other Accusing

Psalm 109:6“Appoint a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand.”

Context Names

Ezra 2:2“These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:”

Ezra 3:2“Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.”

Ezra 5:2“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.”

Haggai 1:1“In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of Yahweh came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,”

Haggai 1:12–14“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, listened to the voice of Yahweh their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Yahweh their God had sent him. And the people feared Yahweh. Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh, spoke by the commissioned message of Yahweh to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares Yahweh.” So Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God,”

Haggai 2:4“‘But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.”

Observations:

Warning

Application

II. Forgiven and Cleansed (v3-5)

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have made your iniquity pass away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of Yahweh was standing by.

Paraphrase

Notes

Clothing = position

Clothing is covered in excrement

I must develop this and bring about an awareness of our own personal depravity - utter inability to altar or change our own condition

Questions

Cross References

Possible Intro - continuation of Beginning narrative - New Garments

Genesis 3:21“Then Yahweh God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.”

Genesis 41:42“Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck.”

Leviticus 22:3““Say to them, ‘If any man among all your seed throughout your generations comes near to the holy gifts which the sons of Israel set apart as holy to Yahweh, and he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from before Me; I am Yahweh.”

Isaiah 61:10“I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; My soul will rejoice in my God, For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a headdress, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 64:6“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, carry us away.”

Matthew 22:12“and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless.”

Context

Exodus 28:36–38““You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘Holy to Yahweh.’ “You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban. “It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel set apart as holy, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall continually be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh.”

Exodus 29:6“and you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban.”

Uncleanness

Leviticus 22:3““Say to them, ‘If any man among all your seed throughout your generations comes near to the holy gifts which the sons of Israel set apart as holy to Yahweh, and he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from before Me; I am Yahweh.”

Deuteronomy 23:13“and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement.”

Atonement/Expiation/Propitiation

2 Samuel 12:13“Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” And Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.”

2 Samuel 24:10“Then David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. So David said to Yahweh, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Yahweh, please take away the iniquity of Your slave, for I have acted very foolishly.””

Isaiah 6:7“And he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is atoned for.””

Isaiah 43:25““I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”

Micah 7:18–19“Who is a God like You, who forgives iniquity And passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold fast to His anger forever Because He delights in lovingkindness. He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. And You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.”

Jeremiah 50:20“‘In those days and at that time,’ declares Yahweh, ‘search will be made for the iniquity of Israel, but there will be none; and for the sins of Judah, but they will not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’”

Observations:

NAC “The Lord is the One who expiates Joshua” - is that true? The verse says that they put a clean turban on his head etc while the Angel of Yahweh was standing by

Warning

There is every likelihood that this message will create hate for God and His word. There is every likelihood that hearts will be made over hard by the truth from the text. Because of my accountability before God and the shortness of the time we must bring ourselves into submission before this text to see ourselves in light of it

Application: How to regularly repent (THUNDER?)

Look at ourselves - how sensitive are we to sin? When we hear blasphemy does it stop us cold in our tracks?

Look at the dishonor to the community 1 Corinthians 5:6“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”

III. Stone and Branch (v6-10)

6 And the angel of Yahweh testified to Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will keep the responsibility given by Me, then you will also render justice in My house and also keep My courts, and I will grant you access to walk among these who are standing here. 8 ‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a wondrous sign, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. 9 ‘For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 ‘In that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘every one of you will call for his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’”

Paraphrase

Notes

NAC Duel duties are communicated by the phrase “If you will walk in My ways and keep My commandments” Not a hendiadys (CHIP Hendiadys is a literary device used in rhetoric and writing. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "one through two." In this figure of speech, two words connected by a conjunction (usually "and") are used to express a single complex idea, where normally one of the words would modify the other as an adjective or adverb.For example, in the phrase "sound and fury," instead of saying "furious sound," the two nouns are used together, joined by "and," to create a more vivid, emphatic, and poetic expression.)

Seems that the phrase communicates a personal faithfulness as well as an adherence to the levitical law for priests

NAC Paraphrase and Expansion of idea: Walking in God’s way as a manner of life and keeping God’s Law faithfully demonstrate obedience to Yahweh not only publically but personally - INTEGRITY

v7 NAC Paraphrase the blessing of access expands what was previously enjoyed(?) annually (via Lev 16 - Day of Atonement) to having direct access to the throne room of God

v7 NAC Paraphrase, Joshua is in a transitional role that points to Christ Hebrews 4:14–16“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

v8 NAC Branch metaphor represents a large verdant plant yielding bounty for Judah - please note that the Branch cannot be Zerubabbel because he has already arrived in Jerusalem in 520BC

v9 NAC Who/What is this stone -

Expanding on a rebuilding motif that is present in Zechariah it has been argued that this is a “cornerstone or capstone” (see Isa 28:16; also 1 Cor 3:11; 1 Pet 2:4–7, Eph2.19-22 . Per NAC this fails because of the immediate context and there is much conjecture that involves using the stone to dedicate the achievements of the kings, this does take place in pagan cultures but not in Israel

“The Messiah” because of the immediate context and other passages equating Him as a stone of stumbling Ps 118.22-23, 1 Peter 2.6-8 . Problems develop with the stone eyes motif, inscribed? Unknown. This interpretation of the Stone as being the Messiah is a mixed possibility only made potential because of Branch/Servant motif in verse 8b

NAC Breastplate stone makes sense within larger context of the High Priests vestments exchanged for clean robes

v9 NAC states a better interpretation of “eyes” is “pairs of eyes” Offers Lipinski’s interpretation as “fountains” used for cleansing which does not harmonize with 1 Cor 10.4 which spoke of Christ not as cleansing but as refreshing

NAC cites Baldwin “The ‘living water’ of the fountains causes the Branch to shoot up (verse 8), washes away guilt (9) and ensures prosperity (10).”

7 fountains for cleansing - River of Fire Daniel 7/Fountains Ezekiel 47

Questions

v7 Who are “These standing here” per NAC these are the cadre of angels comprising the council of Yahweh and points to verse 4 for support - not sure that there is basis for this

v10 what is meant by vine and fig tree Micah 4:4“And each of them will sit under his vine And under his fig tree, With no one to make them tremble, For the mouth of Yahweh of hosts has spoken.” - extending Branch theme

Cross References

Sons of Abraham

Genesis 26:5“because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.””

Signet ring

Exodus 28:11““As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them all around in filigree settings of gold.”

Exodus 28:21““The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a signet, each according to his name for the twelve tribes.”

Eyes

2 Chronicles 23:6““But let no one enter the house of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of Yahweh.”

Revelation 5:6“Then I saw in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”

Stone

Psalm 118:22–23“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is from Yahweh; It is marvelous in our eyes.”

Isaiah 28:16“Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.”

Lamp

Psalm 132:17““There I will cause the horn of David to spring up; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.”

Branch

Isaiah 4:2“In that day the Branch of Yahweh will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the honor of those of Israel who escape.”

Isaiah 8:14““Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 11:1–3“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of Yahweh. And He will delight in the fear of Yahweh, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor render a decision by what His ears hear;”

Jeremiah 23:5““Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and prosper And do justice and righteousness in the land.”

Jeremiah 33:15“‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to branch forth; and He shall do justice and righteousness on the earth.”

Servant

Isaiah 42:1““Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul is well-pleased. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.”

Isaiah 53:2“For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should desire Him.”

Cleansing

Zechariah 13:1““In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.”

High Priest

Malachi 2:7““For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.”

Observations:

Warning

Application

OBSERVATION

WARNING

APPLICATION: How does cleansing come? Cleansing comes from confession of sin and confidence in Christ’s atoning work on Calvary.

Redrafted: Cleansing comes from Confession and Confidence. Confession of sin must take place and it must be recognized personally in its whole horrible scope. Our depravity and need must be understood so that as God tells us in His Word that He desires that none should perish we in confident faith rest entirely in His promise fulfilled through Christ. Christ came to cleanse from sin by becoming sin on our behalf. Christ came to cover our iniquity. Christ came to appease God’s wrath against sin. Christ’s substitution allows God to pass over our sin. Christ’s work makes us righteous in God’s eyes. How will you know this apart from the word. How will this be evidenced if you do not distance yourself from all ungodliness. How will others be prompted to believe and be saved as well if we do not act on what we have heard?

His cleansing covers our iniquity (Expiation), allowing God to pass over transgression, appeasing His wrath (Propitiation), making us righteous in God’s eyes on the basis of Christ’s righteousness alone

We must confess our sins: 1 John 1:9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Blood must be shed Hebrews 9:22“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 1:3“who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 9:13–14“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

2). Come to Jesus - He is willing - be cleansed Matthew 8:2–3“And behold, a leper came to Him and was bowing down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

1). Understand the inner man needs cleaning not just the outside Matthew 23:26““You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.”

Seek not righteousness through the Law but only through faith Acts 15:8–10““And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?”

Through the Active Work of God Ezekiel 36:25““Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols.” Ezekiel 36:33“‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt.” Ezekiel 47:1“Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.”

Immersion in the Word Ephesians 5:26“so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,” Walk in the Light of the Word 1 John 1:7“but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Putting away false gods Genesis 35:2“So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you and cleanse yourselves and change your garments;”

TRANSITION

James 4:6–10 “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and cry. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

APPLICATION: What inhibits cleansing

Self righteousness Proverbs 30:12“There is a generation that is clean in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.”

Hypocrisy Matthew 23:25““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.”

CONCLUSION

Acts 2:37–47 | 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. 46 And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Matthew 22:11–13““But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Luke 18:9–14 “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

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Sum Total Hours 9:00 Hours

0:30Hrs Daily Reading of Text

0:15Hrs Pray Over Text

0:05Hrs Reset Manuscript with notes outline etc

0:05Hrs Various research and confirm text to be studied

0:40Hrs Hand write text for comprehension

0:30Hrs Read Passages in LSB/NIV/NKJV/LXX/BHS

0:05Hrs Copy passages in the sermon template in italics

0:10Hrs Draft title/thesis/antithesis that connects the passages

0:00Hrs Make notes

0:05Hrs Write Sermon Outline

0:00Hrs Check Biblemaps.com

1:00Hrs Review all Cross References to see what I have missed

0:30Hrs Context

0:00Hrs Read theology CT3

3:15Hrs Read Book commentary NAC/CICR

0:00Hrs Read Logos commentary on primary passages

0:00Hrs Read Logos Commentary on secondary passages

0:00Hrs Write Sermon

0:00Hrs Write Introduction/prayer

0:00Hrs Practice

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v1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

v2 And Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you , Satan! Indeed, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand delivered from the fire?”

v3 Now Joshua was clothed in with filthy garments and standing before the angel.

v4 And he answered and spoke to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have made your iniquity pass away from you and will clothe with festal robes.”

v5 then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments while the angel of Yahweh was standing by.

v6 And the angel of Yahweh testified to Joshua, saying,

v7 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will keep the responsibility given by Me, then you will also render justice in My house and also keep My courts, and I will grant you access to walk among these who are standing here.

v8 ‘Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you - indeed they are men who are a wondrous sign, for behold, I am going to bring in My Servant the Branch.

v9 ‘For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave and inscription on it,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

v10 ‘In that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘every one of you will call for his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’”