And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house
Eliakim’s family
The vessels, large and small, are figures of the various members of Eliakim’s family.
As vessels of every kind are suspended upon a nail, so will Eliakim’s connections, rich and poor alike, support themselves upon his new dignity. (Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D.)
Oriental display of wealth
A large part of the wealth of the ancients consisted of gold and silver vessels, and in changes of showy raiment, of which they made an ostentatious display, by hanging them on the spikes along the walls. It was also common to suspend in houses and temples, suits of armour, swords, shields, and helmets; the spoils of war, or the heirlooms of honoured ancestors (Son_4:4). (J. N. Norton.)
Christ the sole Manager of the Church
I. THE CHURCH IS THE HOUSE OF GOD (Isa_2:2-3; Heb_3:6; 1Pe_2:5).
1. He is the Founder of the house.
2. The Purchaser.
3. The sole Proprietor.
4. Here He hath His abode.
Hence, it must be a very glorious structure. The plan of it was laid by infinite wisdom from all eternity (Pro_9:1).
(1) The foundation of the house is glorious.
(2) The form.
(3) The door (Joh_10:9).
(4) The pillars (Pro_9:1). These are the perfections of the Divine nature as they are manifested in Christ.
(5) The ordinances.
II. CHRIST IS CONSTITUTED THE GREAT MANAGER OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE.
1. In the council of peace, from eternity, He was chosen to be the Builder of the house (Zec_6:12-13).
2. He is the everlasting Father of the family (Isa_9:6).
3. The great Oracle and Counsellor (Isa_9:6).
4. The great Priest (Heb_10:21).
5. The great Lord-Treasurer, yea, the treasury (Col_1:19; Joh_1:16).
6. The great Lord-Steward or Dispenser.
7. The Lawgiver.
III. CHRIST IS FIXED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOUSE OF GOD, as a nail in a sure place.
1. There is an irreversible decree passed in heaven that He should be the sole Manager and Governor of the house (Psa_2:6-7).
2. He is fixed in the administration of the house with the solemnity of a covenant transaction (Psa_89:3).
3. With the solemnity of an oath taken by the great Jehovah.
4. In His oath He pledges the most dazzling perfection of His nature. He will as soon cease to be a holy God, as suffer His Son’s authority in His house to be overturned.
5. He is fixed in the management by a solemn call and investiture.
6. By an actual possession of the throne (Php_2:9-11).
7. By a complete victory over all His and His Church’s enemies, so that none of them are capable to give Him the least disturbance.
IV. THE WHOLE HOUSE, WITH ALL ITS APPURTENANCES, HANGS OR DEPENDS UPON THIS BLESSED NAIL THAT IS FASTENED IN A SURE PLACE.
1. All the glory of the house hangs upon our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1) God’s presence in a Church makes her glorious. It is owing to Christ that the tabernacle of God is with men.
(2) The revelation of the mind and will of God in the Scriptures of truth, is the glory of the Church. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the whole Scriptures.
(3) A faithful ministry is the glory of a Church. (See Eph_4:11-13.)
(4) The ordinances of the Gospel, dispensed in purity by faithful ministers of Christ, are the glory of a Church. Well, all hang upon the great Manager, such as word and sacrament, prayer and praise.
(5) The judicatories of a Church, higher and lower, constituted in His name, and moulded according to His appointment for the government and for the exercise of the keys of discipline, are the glory of a Church. All this glory hangs upon the nail fastened in a sure place, for He it is that gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven unto His office bearers, and promises that “what they bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and what they loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven”; and where they assemble in courts for discipline, He “will be in the midst of them.”
(6) The covenants of a Church are her glory; God’s covenant of grace and promise, and their covenants of duty and gratitude. The covenant, and an the blessings and promises of it, hang upon this blessed nail; they are all in Him, and “in Him yea and amen.” Our covenants for duty, obedience, and gratitude, hang upon this blessed nail. When men engage to duty in a legal way, they do only make to themselves ropes of sand. All our funds of grace lie in Him.
(7) The multitude of real converts is the glory of a Church. Of His own will He begets us by the word of grace.
(8) The purity, holiness, and faithfulness of Church members are the glory of a Church. This glory hangs upon this blessed nail; for it is by virtue of their union with Him, that they derive sanctifying influence from Him.
2. The offspring and issue of the house are also said to hang upon Christ. By the offspring and issue I understand all true believers.
(1) Their very being, as they are new creatures, hangs upon Him Eph_2:10).
(2) Hence, their life hangs upon Christ. The second Adam is a quickening Spirit.
(3) Have the offspring and issue of the house anything of the light of saving knowledge of God? This hangs upon Christ; for He is the true Sun of Righteousness.
(4) The offspring and issue of the house of God enjoy a glorious liberty. This hangs upon Christ; for “if the Son makes us free, then are we free indeed.”
(5) They have all the best robe put upon them, when they return from the far country to their Father. Christ is the “end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
(6) Have they anything of the beauty of holiness! Christ is made unto them sanctification.
(7) Have they strength for work or warfare! They are “strong in the Lord.”
(8) Am they heirs of God and of glory! They are “joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.”
8. The vessels of the house hang upon this nail fastened in a sure place, from vessels of cups to vessels of flagons.
(1) By the vessels of the house we are to understand believers (2Ti_2:20-21; Act_9:15).
(2) These vessels are of different sizes. In God’s family there are saints of different stature.
V. REASONS OF THE DOCTRINE. Why is Christ constituted sole Manager of His Father’s house? why doth He hang the offspring and issue, and all the vessels, upon Him, as upon a nail fastened in a sure place?
1. He only had ability for bearing such a weight.
2. Christ voluntarily undertook it.
3. Hereby a new revenue of glory is brought in to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Hereby all men are brought to honour the Son, as they honour the Father.
5. This was for the safety and comfort of the saints and children of God.
VI. THE APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE. (E. Erskine.)
“Vessels of cups”
A word to weak believers who are designated “vessels of cups.”
1. It is a high privilege to occupy the least room in the house of our God.
2. God has service for the least vessel of His house, as well as for the largest.
3. The least vessel is God’s property, and He will not disown, but maintain His property, and own it before men and angels, saying, “They are Mine,” in the day when He makes up His jewels.
4. The bands, by which you hang upon the nail fastened in a sure place, are as strong as those by which the vessels of flagons are secured; for He has said as to both, “They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.”
5. The weakest measure of grace is a pledge of more; for “to him that hath be given.”
6. Although you are not to envy or grudge at God’s bounty liberality to others, in making them vessels of flagons, yet you may and ought earnestly to covet more grace than you have yet received. (E. Erskine.)
The vessels of flagons,
The vessels of flagons, i.e., believers of a higher stature.
1. Be not proud of grace received, but walk humbly with your God. “What hast thou that thou hast not received?”
2. Instead of despising others that are not come your length, study to be helpful and serviceable unto them. The vessels of cups are ordinarily filled out of the flagons; so study to impart and communicate of your grace, of your faith, love, hope, knowledge, and other graces, unto those that are weak ingrate. The strong children in a family are helpful to the young and weak.
3. Whatever grace you have received, be not confident therein, like Peter; but be strong in the that is in Christ Jesus, sad let the life you live be by faith in the Son of God. (E. Erskine.)
Christ the glory of His Father’s house
By Christ’s Father’s house is meant His Church.
I. ON CHRIST JESUS HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF THE REDEMPTION OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE.
II. ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF THE INSTRUCTION OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. There is a two gold light which the Lord Jesus imparts to the members of His Father’s house. There is the light of His Word, those Scriptures which testify of Him as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The Scriptures, however, are not, of themselves, sufficient for spiritual illumination. The light of the Spirit must accompany the truth revealed in the Word, that it may become effectual for salvation. The Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Redeemer’s purchase. It is His glorious office to take of the things of Christ and show these to the soul. It is in the light of the Divine Word and Spirit that we discern aright the way of acceptance and the path of duty.
III. ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF THE RENOVATION OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. When He ascended on high, He received gifts for men; even the seven Spirits before the throne--the Holy Ghost, in His quickening, renewing, and sanctifying grace. These gifts are bestowed, let it be carefully noted, in virtue of the believer’s union with the Lord Jesus Christ, through the instrumentality of living faith.
IV. ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. They are under law to Christ as the sole Ruler of the house. We must take order from Him; for “One is our Master, even Christ.”
V. ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF THE VICTORIES OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. The Christian Church, both collectively and in its individual members, is in an enemy’s country on this side heaven. It is the Christian’s solace to be assured that he has not been sent a warfare on his own charges. Apart from the clear and full revelations of Scripture, no subject of human contemplation is so saddening as death. He, on whom hangs all the glory of His Father’s house, is Himself the Resurrection and the Life. Conclusion--Let us seriously inquire whether we are members of that house. Mere external relationship to it will avail us nothing. We must be united in the bonds of faith and love to the Lord Jesus. (J. Smyth, D. D.)
The glory of the Mediator
The idea in the text seems to embrace this statement: That every attribute belonging to God is concentrated in the Saviour, as “God manifest in the flesh,” and that the Father is most glorified when we give in our services all the glory to His Son.
I. UPON HIM HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE OF CREATION. “By Him were all things made, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
II. UPON HIM HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE OF PROVIDENCE. And what is providence but creation continued, in upholding, governing, and guiding all things to accomplish their predestined end? Jesus Christ is on the throne; every painful feeling is anticipated, every tear is bottled, every anxiety alleviated, every distress sanctified. He is our Saviour, our Friend, our Refuge and Strength.
III. UPON HIM HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE OF GRACE. Christ’s kingdom is a spiritual one, set up within the believer’s soul.
IV. UPON HIM HANGS ALL THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE OF HEAVEN. “I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing”; and thus the ransomed and renewed universe will “hang upon Him all the glory of His Father’s house.” (F. Newman, D. D.)
