Free Bible Commentary
“Philemon 1:17-20”
Categories: Philemon“If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Whatever act of kindness we extend to a brother or sister in Christ, Jesus said that we actually do that for Him. When we clothe someone who is exposed, feed someone who is hungry, visit someone who is sick or in prison, Jesus takes that very personally. When we see these needs and refuse to extend the love of the Lord to them, Jesus takes that very personally as well.
Paul told Philemon that receiving Onesimus back with a heart full of forgiveness and love was, in effect, to receive the Lord’s apostle in the same way. While this is true, it even goes farther and higher than that. To forgive an erring brother and receive him back into the family of Christ when he repents is to actually receive the Lord himself. When we show compassion for a fellow debtor, we expand our heart’s capacity to love and receive “benefit” from the Savior who died to pay our debts.
Onesimus owed Philemon a trifling sum compared to the life that he owed Paul and his salvation that he owed the Lord. It is much more blessed to receive a debt of gratitude than to have a monetary debt repaid. Jesus tells us in the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward to, “make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). It is spiritually shrewd to use our money to make good friends, influence people for Christ, and serve the Lord faithfully (Luke 16:8).
It is impossible to serve two masters. We cannot serve God and wealth simultaneously (Luke 16:13). Let’s make sure that we are using our material and financial blessings to serve the Lord and our fellowman.
Please read Philemon 1:21-25 for tomorrow.
Praying that your blessings abound!
- Louie Taylor
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