17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
But he answered him who spoke to him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
"The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers{The word for "brothers" here may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, you did it to me.'
that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel,
It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,{Onesimus means "useful."}
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:
Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Philemon 1
Commentary on Philemon 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 1
In this epistle we have,
Phm 1:1-7
Phm 1:8-25
We have here,
Amen is added, not only for strong and affectionate summing up the prayer and wish, so let it be; but as an expression of faith that it will be heard, so shall it be. And what need we more to make us happy than to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with our spirit? This is the usual benediction, but it may be taken here to have some special respect also to the occasion; the grace of Christ with their spirits, Philemon's especially, would sweeten and mollify them, take off too deep and keen resentments of injuries, and dispose to forgive others as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us.