Luke 15:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

NIV: I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

NASB: I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

CSB: I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

NLT: I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

KJV: I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

NKJV: I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

The arrogant, selfish son (Luke 15:11–13) has spent his money, earning him the traditional title of "prodigal" (Luke 15:14–16). Eventually, he wastes everything and becomes jealous of the pigs he is forced to feed. He realizes his father's seasonal laborers are better off than he is (Luke 15:15–17). Even more important, he admits he has disrespected his father and disobeyed God.

The first step of repentance is acknowledging we are wrong and God is right. The second step is determining the right response based on that truth. The son does so immediately. He doesn't stop to think if he has another option to keep his independence. He doesn't contemplate what his father might have done to contribute to his situation. The son just acknowledges the right thing to do and does it (Luke 15:19–20).

Jesus is telling this story to Pharisees and scribes who don't understand why Jesus associates with sinners (Luke 15:1–2). At least some of these sinners—the tax collectors—are not poor. Their job is to collect money from the Jews and other residents for the Roman government, and if they can collect any more, they're welcome to keep it. These tax collectors and other sinners are Jews who have forfeited the culture, fealty, laws, and God of their people: their extended family. They haven't responded to a lack of money. They've experienced a deeper poverty: a poverty of the soul which has left them spiritually hungry and vulnerable. With the help of Jesus' community, they've remembered they have a Father who can fill their souls with life. Their hearts are softened and open to God in a way the Pharisees could never imagine. Their newfound appreciation for their Father makes them truer sons than the religious leaders who superficially appeared to stay near to the Lord (Luke 3:8–9).

Luke 15:11–32 records the famous parable of the prodigal son. To be "prodigal" is to be wastefully extravagant. Jesus is speaking to Pharisees who condemn His association with sinners. His point is that God seeks sinners so they can be saved (Luke 15:1–10). In this parable, Jesus presses others to join God's celebration over the return of repentant sinners. This is one of the most detailed and developed parables in the Bible, almost on the level of allegory, and is unique to Luke. Next, Jesus teaches how the lives of Christ-followers should differ from those in the world (Luke 16:1—17:10).

To answer criticisms that He associates with sinners, Jesus tells three parables. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to rescue a single lost member. A woman searches diligently to locate a lost coin. A father eagerly forgives his wayward son when the young man returns in humility and repentance. All these lead to celebration. In the same way, Jesus teaches that God cares about restoring those who have fallen, and we should mirror His joy whenever that happens.

Luke 15 contains three parables with the theme of something "lost." The lost sheep, coin, and son represent sinners who leave God foolishly, unknowingly, or rebelliously. God seeks the foolish and the ignorant and waits patiently for the rebel to return to Him in humble repentance. Next is a collection of teachings on the differences between worldly and kingdom living (Luke 16:1—17:10). After two more groups of a miracle, teachings on the kingdom, and teachings on salvation (Luke 17:11—19:27), Jesus will enter Jerusalem and prepare for the crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.