The filthy garments of the high priest Joshua depicts represents the works of the sinful man. All our righteous works are like filthy garments before God. In this discussion I will try to make a live illustration.
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like
the wind, have taken us away.
The high priest Joshua serving stood before in a rooten filthy condition and Satan stood before him to oppose and accuse him. Satan lays claim on.sinners and hypocrites as his own. He was trying to serve God while still a captive of sin, under servitude to sin, which is liked to adultery, since he had a living husband ruling his heart by sin yet claiming to be bound to God by the law of liberty.
Romans 3:10-20
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have
used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Satan still had a claim over Joshua, clothed in Satan's garment. Sin was still ruling his heart:
Romans 7:1-4
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how
that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her
husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is
loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man,
she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is
free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be
married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the
body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who
is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Joshua, serving under the law was still a servant of sin:
Romans 7:14-20
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under
sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;
but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it
is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not,
that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me.
In the condition of adversity he was in, Grace stepped in to deliver him. Grace made a way for a change of garments:
Zechariah 3:1-7
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of
the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto 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?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the
angel.
4 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.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a
fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel
of the LORD stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if
thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and
shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among
these that stand by.
Grace delivered Joshua from the power of indwelling sin to serve the Lord in the law of spirit and life in Christ Jesus. Grace furnished the new garments of righteousness. Grace set the priest free from condemnation.
Romans 8:1-6 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.
Grace set him free indeed.
John 8:32-36
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage
to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son
abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
God made him a God's workmanship in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
In scripture of Joshua holds a deep mystery of law and Grace.
