If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
The pledge concerns Onesimus, a pagan slave who had wronged his master Philemon, a Christian believer in Colosse, and had escaped to Rome, where through Paul he confessed his sins and was converted to faith in Christ. After his conversion he endeared himself to Paul by piety, sincerity, tender care for him, and zeal for the gospel. He was counseled to return to Philemon without delay to beg forgiveness and plan for the future, and was sent back with Tychicus, who was carrying letters to churches in Asia Minor. Though delivering himself up to the master he had wronged was a severe test, his genuine conversion led him not to turn aside from the duty.
In the verse Paul voluntarily steps between Onesimus and Philemon and takes the guilty servant's debt upon himself, promising to repay whatever loss was caused or sum was robbed. He does this so that Onesimus might be spared punishment and restored to his former privileges. As Onesimus had defrauded his master and had nothing with which to make restitution and could not repay him, so the sinner has robbed God of years of service owed to Him and has no means to repay or cancel the debt.
The verse thus illustrates Christ's love for the repentant sinner. Jesus interposes Himself between the sinner and God and His just wrath, offering to pay the debt. He asks that the sinner be spared and offers to suffer in the sinner's stead.
The pledge concerns Onesimus, a pagan slave who had wronged his master Philemon, a Christian believer in Colosse, and had escaped to Rome, where through Paul he confessed his sins and was converted to faith in Christ. After his conversion he endeared himself to Paul by piety, sincerity, tender care for him, and zeal for the gospel. He was counseled to return to Philemon without delay to beg forgiveness and plan for the future, and was sent back with Tychicus, who was carrying letters to churches in Asia Minor. Though delivering himself up to the master he had wronged was a severe test, his genuine conversion led him not to turn aside from the duty.
In the verse Paul voluntarily steps between Onesimus and Philemon and takes the guilty servant's debt upon himself, promising to repay whatever loss was caused or sum was robbed. He does this so that Onesimus might be spared punishment and restored to his former privileges. As Onesimus had defrauded his master and had nothing with which to make restitution and could not repay him, so the sinner has robbed God of years of service owed to Him and has no means to repay or cancel the debt.
The verse thus illustrates Christ's love for the repentant sinner. Jesus interposes Himself between the sinner and God and His just wrath, offering to pay the debt. He asks that the sinner be spared and offers to suffer in the sinner's stead.