Luke 15:21

21 His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son --'

Luke 15:21 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 15:21

And the son said unto him, father
Or "my father", as the Syriac version reads; and the Persic version adds, "pardon me": sin lay heavy on him, and he wanted a view and application of pardoning grace, though he seems to be prevented making this request by the kiss he received from his father:

I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight;
this is what he determined to say, and was allowed to say, having a deep sense of his sin and vileness, and which was increased by the love and kindness his father had shown him. The phrase is Jewish; (See Gill on Luke 15:18) to which may be added, what is elsewhere said ^F3,

``what is the sense of that passage, ( Psalms 12:4 ) "who have said, with our tongues we will prevail?" &c. it designs all the transgressions a man sins against earth; and if (Mymvb Nyajwx) , "they sin against heaven", and earth; what is the sense of that in ( Psalms 73:9 ) ?''

and am no more worthy to be called thy son:
so much he was suffered to say, which fully expresses his sense of his vileness and unworthiness: but he was not allowed to say, "make me as one of thy hired servants"; because this could not be granted; for a son is always a son, and cannot become a servant; see ( Galatians 4:6 Galatians 4:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 T. Hieros Peah, fol. 16. 1.

Luke 15:21 In-Context

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers." '

20 So he got up and started back to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly.

21 His son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son --'

22 but his father said to his slaves, `Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet;

23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let's eat and have a celebration!