Philemon 17-25: Forgive and Refresh My Heart

Making his love-based appeal to Philemon, in verse 17 Paul finally begins to express his specific request for Philemon to forgive and reconcile with his runaway slave--but who is now also a beloved brother. In verses 17-21, Paul gives us more understanding of what forgiveness fueled by "heart refreshment" should look like.

Three parables of Christ are used to give pictures of such heart refreshing forgiveness: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15), The Good Samaritan (Luke 10), and The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18). Christian forgiveness should be welcoming, compassionate, and relative to the infinitely greater forgiveness received in Christ.

In closing, the encouragement from Mark's reconciliation is compared to the warning from Demas' succombing to wiles of the world.