20 Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;
for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me?
great `is' my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation, for also we, having come to Macedonia, no relaxation hath our flesh had, but on every side we are in tribulation, without `are' fightings, within -- fears; but He who is comforting the cast-down -- God -- He did comfort us in the presence of Titus; and not only in his presence, but also in the comfort with which he was comforted over you, declaring to us your longing desire, your lamentation, your zeal for me, so that the more I did rejoice,
because of this we have been comforted in your comfort, and more abundantly the more did we rejoice in the joy of Titus, that his spirit hath been refreshed from you all;
For God is my witness, how I long for you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ,
So then, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand ye in the Lord, beloved.
for what `is' our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye before our Lord Jesus Christ in his presence? for ye are our glory and joy.
because of this we were comforted, brethren, over you, in all our tribulation and necessity, through your faith, because now we live, if ye may stand fast in the Lord; for what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?
whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,
Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this `is' unprofitable to you.
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.