The Merciful MasterSample

An Appeal of Love

Paul, having dispensed with the preliminary greetings, gets down to business. He mentions that the purpose of writing this letter is a personal appeal. Paul states that though he could command Philemon with apostolic authority in the name of Christ to fulfill his request, he nevertheless chooses to appeal in love. Paul chooses not to order Philemon as a superior but rather comes to him as his equal and as his friend. Thus, Paul appeals to the grace of Philemon by stating that he is an old man now who is in prison. He reasons that an appeal of a dear friend, advanced in age and persecuted for the sake of the gospel cannot go unanswered by Philemon. By appealing, Paul is taking a gambit. He is hoping that Philemon’s Christian conscience and his love for Jesus and himself would look favorably at his appeal. It is a risky venture since Philemon could always turn him down saying, “I am sorry. This time I am unable to come through for you.”

Paul could have avoided this risk and merely commanded him which surely Philemon would have followed. However, Paul knew that faithful obedience to Lord Jesus and His demands is not grudging obedience to a command but rather an earnest response of love. This is why Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).” Thus, Paul hopes that Philemon’s love for Christ would compel him to answer his appeal. 

Here, we see something fundamental to the Christian faith that is often missed. Christianity is not about slavish obedience to the law but rather it is following the law of Christ in love. Whenever we see Christianity turned into a legalistic religion it is because people have forgotten this. This is the world of difference between a mule that is whipped to carry a luggage and a friend who comes to your side and offers to carry your luggage. May we always strive to fulfill God’s appeal in gracious love and never in slavish drudgery.