“Put That on my Account”

John F. Schmidt

1/15/2002

Philemon 18 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account”

Onesimus, a slave of the wealthy believer Philemon, has run away. In fact, he has run all the way to Rome, where perhaps he felt he could melt into the background and not be caught. Fortunately for him, he encounters Paul, a close friend of his master. In process of time, Onesimus receives Christ as his savior and begins to minister to Paul’s needs while in prison.

Paul writes a letter to Philemon (the epistle) with the intention of restoring Onesimus to his master. But the penalty for run away slaves could be very severe indeed, even death, so Paul is taking some pains to open the way for Onesimus to find mercy in his master’s eyes.

In this letter, Paul makes an appeal to Philemon, his friend, that is so touching and poignant that it surely must have won his former slave’s acceptance. What makes the appeal so powerful is that it models the way Christ brings us to the Father.

Consider:

Onesimus’ name means ‘profitable’, yet in running away he became un-profitable. Likewise we, having been made to glorify our Father, have through sin become unprofitable to Him. We are worthy of condemnation, not forgiveness.

Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, while informing Philemon that Onesimus is precious to Paul. He urges him to receive his former slave, as he would receive Paul himself. How wonderful that Jesus is urging the Father to receive us as if we were Jesus himself! The Father would withhold nothing from Jesus! He is well pleased with His Son! How gracious and loving our Lord Jesus proves himself to be in so interceding for us! Love Him, for He first loved you.

Paul reminds Philemon that although Onesimus departed for ‘a season’, he may now be received back ‘forever’. So also we have, through our rebellion and sin – just like Onesimus – run away from our Father, yet in the providence of a loving God, his workings in our lives have produced a change in us that now results in our return to Him, this time ‘for ever’. Praise His name. He is able to take even our rebellion and work it to our good and his glory.

Finally, Paul urges Philemon to receive his borrowed servant back again, not holding any debts against him. Reading ‘between the lines’, we may infer that Onesimus may have stolen something from his master when he left: traveling cash perhaps. So he can’t come back without being able to pay his debt. Paul takes care of that by taking the debt on himself: “Put that on my account.” This is precisely what the Lord Jesus did for us. We owed a debt for sin that was enormous and eternal. No way could we pay; we had no resources, no power. But the precious Son of God, our Savior and Friend, took our debt upon Himself on the Cross and paid it for us. He now brings us to the Father and says concerning us: “If you, Father, count me as a partner, receive ________ (insert your name here) as myself. If ______ (insert your name here) has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that to my account. I Jesus will repay it. I have written it in my blood.”

I love the Lord because he has heard my cry, and has lifted me out of the pit of my sin; out of the snare of the Fowler, and out of the deceptions of the world. He has set my feet upon a Rock; He has clothed me in a finest robe, and kissed me, and killed for me the fatted calf. He has entreated me with kind and gentle words, and has reserved for me “one thing” that was needful and has filled my mouth with good things. He has freed me, and kept my foot from slipping; He has set my feet in a wide place and set me at liberty. He has surrounded me with his goodness and loving kindness and therefore I will praise Him as long as I live.