PHILEMON 18-25
PREPARE A PLACE FOR PAUL AS YOU PRAY FOR HIS PARDON
Philemon 18-19 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
SUSAN: Just as Jesus paid the debt of our sin on the cross as the final perfect Lamb, Paul offered to pay the debt that Onesimus owed Philemon.
What an absolutely awesome offer! Paul basically reminds Philemon what Christ did on the Cross for everyone who believes in Him. Jesus cancelled the debt of our sin (Rom. 6:23; Col. 2:13, 14). He took away our sin and the wrath we deserve. He gave us His righteousness in return so we can have an intimate relationship with Him.
NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (BSB)
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
Colossians 2:13-14 (BSB)
SUSIE: Paul wrote that part of the letter in his own handwriting as proof that he was truly the one making this offer.
V. 19 Ordinarily Paul dictated his Letter to someone else, writing only the closing lines with his own hand. We can’t be sure whether he wrote this entire Letter by hand, but at this point at least he took the pen and, in his familiar scrawl, committed himself to pay any debts incurred by Onesimus. He would do this in spite of the fact that Philemon owed him a considerable debt. Paul had led him to the Lord. He owed his spiritual life to the apostle, as far as the human instrument was concerned. But Paul would not press him for payment of the debt.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
SUSAN: Paul facetiously said he would not mention that Philemon owed him his very life, . . .
SUSIE: . . . as in his eternal life since Paul led him to the Lord.
Philemon 20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Yes, brother, please do me this favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Messiah.
Philemon 20 (CJB)
QUESTION: If Philemon responded favorably to Paul’s advice to receive Onesimus, how would this refresh Paul?
SUSAN: Philemon was Paul’s son in the faith. It would nourish Paul spiritually to know that Philemon was listening to and heeding his counsel. It would be an affirmation of the investment of Paul’s time that Philemon did not hesitate to do as Paul had asked.
SUSIE: It is encouraging to watch younger believers you have discipled live in a way that honors the Lord.
PONDER THIS: Would the person(s) who discipled (mentored) you in your walk with Jesus be pleased with your day-to-day behavior? Would they have confidence that you would honor God in your choices and actions? Would they be confident that you would continue to obey the Lord?
Philemon 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
SUSAN: Paul was confident that Philemon would go above and beyond his instructions. He felt sure that Philemon would welcome Onesimus with open arms. Paul may have been reflecting back on the time when the other apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem were doubtful of his own conversion and was hopeful that Philemon would not treat Onesimus in that same manner.
Philemon 22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
SUSAN: Paul believed he would soon be released and on his way. Therefore, he told Philemon to get a room ready for him.
SUSIE: He gave credit to Philemon and the church that met in his home for praying for his release from prison.
Philemon 23-24 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
SUSIE: Epaphras had traveled to Rome to bring Paul news about the church at Ephesus. He may have been imprisoned by the Romans as a “suspicious character” or may have just seemed like a fellow-prisoner because he spent so much time with Paul. He and others there encouraging Paul and delivering letters for him sent their greetings to Philemon, et. al. The others were 1) Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark and nephew to Barnabas, Paul’s fellow missionary, 2) Aristarchus, who had ministered with Paul in Ephesus, 3) Demus, who later would abandon Paul and become . . .
SUSAN: . . . sucked in by the world’s enticements . . .
SUSIE: . . . 4) and Luke, Paul’s physician and faithful friend.
SUSAN: It seemed that Paul had an entire staff with him while under house arrest!
SUSIE: God was powerful in working out the logistics of getting His message out to the world through the letters Paul penned while imprisoned in Rome.
Philemon 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
SUSAN: Paul blessed them by praying for the grace—the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life—of Jesus to be with them. So be it! Paul’s desire was that their lives reflect the change that comes from knowing Jesus Christ, the Messiah, intimately.
Ponder this: Paul felt so strongly about the change the Lord had brought about in Onesimus that he was personally willing to pay his debt to Philemon. What gratitude must Onesimus have shown Paul. Jesus paid ALL of your debt by dying on the cross in your place. Have you shown Him gratitude lately?