Luke 15:21

21 "Father,' the son said, "I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit 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 fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers." '

20 So he got up and started back to his father. "He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.

21 "Father,' the son said, "I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.'

22 But the father called to his servants. "Hurry!' he said. "Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

23 Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!