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Luke 15:21
Verse
Context
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Make me as one of thy hired servants, is added here by several MSS. and versions; but it is evident this has been added, merely to make his conduct agree with his resolution, Luk 15:19. But by this a very great beauty is lost: for the design of the inspired penman is to show, not merely the depth of the profligate son's repentance, and the sincerity of his conversion, but to show the great affection of the father, and his readiness to forgive his disobedient son. His tenderness of heart cannot wait till the son has made his confession; his bowels yearn over him, and he cuts short his tale of contrition and self-reproach, by giving him the most plenary assurances of his pardoning love. Bring forth the best robe - Bring out that chief garment, την στολην την πρωτην, the garment which was laid by, to be used only on birth-days or festival times. Such as that which Rebecca had laid by for Esau, and which she put on Jacob when she made him personate his brother. See the notes on Gen 27:15. Put a ring on his hand - Giving a ring was in ancient times a mark of honor and dignity. See Gen 41:42; Kg1 21:8; Est 8:2; Dan 6:17; Jam 2:2. Shoes on his feet - Formerly those who were captivated had their shoes taken off, Isa 20:1; and when they were restored to liberty their shoes were restored. See Ch2 28:15. In Bengal, shoes of a superior quality make one of the distinguishing parts of a person's dress. Some of them cost as much as a hundred rupees a pair; 10 or 12. Reference is perhaps made here to some such costly shoes. It is the same among the Chinese: some very costly shoes and boots of that people are now before me.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Father, I have sinned, &c.--"This confession is uttered after the kiss of reconciliation" (Eze 16:63) [TRENCH].
John Gill Bible Commentary
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 Luk 15:18 to which may be added, what is elsewhere said (c), "what is the sense of that passage, Psa 12:4 "who have said, with our tongues we will prevail?" &c. it designs all the transgressions a man sins against earth; and if , "they sin against heaven", and earth; what is the sense of that in Psa 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 Gal 4:6. (c) T. Hieros Peah, fol. 16. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
15:21 The son gave his rehearsed speech. Some manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant. The lack of this sentence in the better manuscripts suggests that his father didn’t give him a chance to finish.
Luke 15:21
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
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Azusa Street's Confession of Faith
By William Seymour1EXO 15:26PRO 28:13ISA 55:7EZK 33:15MAT 9:13MRK 1:14MRK 16:16LUK 15:21LUK 19:8JHN 3:8JHN 17:15ACT 3:19ACT 10:42ROM 3:252CO 7:91TH 4:3HEB 12:14JAS 5:14William Seymour preaches on The Confession of Faith Statement of the Apostolic Faith Mission at 312 Azusa Street, Los Angeles, California, emphasizing the Apostolic Faith Movement's stand for the restoration of the old-time religion and Christian unity. The sermon covers teachings on repentance, godly sorrow for sin, confession of sins, forsaking sinful ways, restitution, faith in Jesus Christ, justification, sanctification as the second work of grace, and the baptism with the Holy Ghost as a gift of power upon the sanctified life.
A Heart That's Tender
By K.P. Yohannan0Tenderness of HeartUnity in RelationshipsGEN 3:9MAT 18:19LUK 15:21JHN 17:21K.P. Yohannan addresses the alarming state of relationships within the Church, emphasizing the lack of tenderness in our hearts towards God and one another. He highlights that many personal conflicts and high attrition rates among Christian workers stem from an unwillingness to admit sin and take responsibility for our actions. Yohannan urges believers to cultivate a heart of humility and repentance, akin to the prodigal son, to foster unity and love within the body of Christ. He stresses that true oneness is only achievable when we acknowledge our failures and seek reconciliation, as demonstrated by Jesus' prayer for unity among His followers. Ultimately, a tender heart is essential for fulfilling God's promises and maintaining healthy relationships.
Lord, Is My Heart Tender? Part One
By K.P. Yohannan0RepentanceRelationship RestorationPSA 51:17PRO 28:13MAT 5:23MAT 7:3LUK 15:212CO 7:10GAL 6:1EPH 4:32JAS 4:101JN 1:9K.P. Yohannan addresses the alarming state of the church, highlighting the lack of conviction of sin among leaders and the high attrition rates of missionaries due to personal relationship conflicts. He emphasizes that the root of these issues lies in the hardness of our hearts, which prevents us from humbling ourselves and taking responsibility for our actions. The sermon calls for a return to genuine repentance, akin to the prodigal son, who recognized the pain he caused and confessed his sins with a broken heart. Yohannan urges believers to examine their hearts and restore tenderness towards God and one another to heal the relationships that are suffering within the church and families.
Yet Doth He Devise Means That His
By F.B. Meyer0RepentanceForgiveness2SA 14:14LUK 15:21F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of true repentance and accountability in his sermon, using King David's inadequate response to Absalom's return as a cautionary tale. David's failure to demand confession and penitence from his son led to disastrous consequences, undermining justice and authority. Meyer warns parents against condoning disobedience in their children without requiring acknowledgment of wrongdoing. He contrasts David's flawed approach with God's perfect plan for forgiveness, which necessitates the work of Christ and genuine repentance. Ultimately, the sermon highlights that true restoration requires acknowledgment of sin and the transformative power of God's grace.
Father, I Have Sinned
By C.H. Spurgeon0ConfessionForgivenessPSA 51:10LUK 15:211JN 1:9C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of daily confession for Christians, who, though legally cleansed by Christ's sacrifice, still need to acknowledge their sins as children before their loving Heavenly Father. He draws a parallel between earthly children confessing to their parents and believers confessing to God, highlighting that failing to seek forgiveness can lead to feelings of distance and doubt in God's love. Spurgeon encourages believers to approach God with a child's heart, seeking forgiveness to maintain a close relationship and experience peace in their Christian walk. He distinguishes between confessing as a criminal and confessing as a child, underscoring the need for ongoing cleansing in our daily lives. Ultimately, he reassures that the Father's embrace is the right place for sincere confessions.
The Apostolic Faith: A Doctrinal Overview
By William Seymour0EZK 33:15MAT 9:13MRK 1:14LUK 15:21LUK 18:13LUK 19:18JHN 3:3JHN 17:15JHN 17:20ACT 2:1ACT 3:19ACT 10:42ACT 10:45ACT 17:30ACT 19:6ROM 3:25ROM 4:251CO 4:212CO 1:152CO 5:172CO 7:9HEB 13:12William Seymour preaches about the Apostolic Faith Mission's commitment to restoring the old-time religion of camp meetings, revivals, missions, and Christian unity based on the faith delivered to the saints. He emphasizes the importance of repentance, godly sorrow for sins, confession, restitution, and faith in Jesus Christ as foundational steps in the believer's journey. Seymour teaches on the first work of grace, justification, and the second work of grace, sanctification, highlighting the cleansing and empowering work of the Holy Spirit. He stresses the significance of the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire for experiencing God's love, power, and truth, with speaking in tongues as a sign. Seymour also addresses the importance of marriage, water baptism, feet washing, and the Lord's Supper as essential ordinances in the Apostolic Faith Mission.
Then Said Saul, I Have Sinned.
By F.B. Meyer0RepentanceForgiveness1SA 26:21PSA 32:5PSA 51:4ISA 53:6MAT 5:4LUK 15:21JHN 8:11ROM 3:232CO 7:101JN 1:9F.B. Meyer explores the distinction between worldly sorrow and godly repentance, using Saul's confession of sin as a primary example. He emphasizes that Saul's acknowledgment of his wrongdoing was superficial, focusing on the consequences rather than the offense against God. In contrast, true repentance, as seen in David's Psalm of confession, recognizes sin as a grave offense against the holiness of God. Meyer urges believers to examine their own confessions, ensuring they reflect genuine remorse and a desire for reconciliation with God. He concludes with the assurance that sincere confession leads to forgiveness and peace through Christ.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Make me as one of thy hired servants, is added here by several MSS. and versions; but it is evident this has been added, merely to make his conduct agree with his resolution, Luk 15:19. But by this a very great beauty is lost: for the design of the inspired penman is to show, not merely the depth of the profligate son's repentance, and the sincerity of his conversion, but to show the great affection of the father, and his readiness to forgive his disobedient son. His tenderness of heart cannot wait till the son has made his confession; his bowels yearn over him, and he cuts short his tale of contrition and self-reproach, by giving him the most plenary assurances of his pardoning love. Bring forth the best robe - Bring out that chief garment, την στολην την πρωτην, the garment which was laid by, to be used only on birth-days or festival times. Such as that which Rebecca had laid by for Esau, and which she put on Jacob when she made him personate his brother. See the notes on Gen 27:15. Put a ring on his hand - Giving a ring was in ancient times a mark of honor and dignity. See Gen 41:42; Kg1 21:8; Est 8:2; Dan 6:17; Jam 2:2. Shoes on his feet - Formerly those who were captivated had their shoes taken off, Isa 20:1; and when they were restored to liberty their shoes were restored. See Ch2 28:15. In Bengal, shoes of a superior quality make one of the distinguishing parts of a person's dress. Some of them cost as much as a hundred rupees a pair; 10 or 12. Reference is perhaps made here to some such costly shoes. It is the same among the Chinese: some very costly shoes and boots of that people are now before me.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Father, I have sinned, &c.--"This confession is uttered after the kiss of reconciliation" (Eze 16:63) [TRENCH].
John Gill Bible Commentary
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 Luk 15:18 to which may be added, what is elsewhere said (c), "what is the sense of that passage, Psa 12:4 "who have said, with our tongues we will prevail?" &c. it designs all the transgressions a man sins against earth; and if , "they sin against heaven", and earth; what is the sense of that in Psa 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 Gal 4:6. (c) T. Hieros Peah, fol. 16. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
15:21 The son gave his rehearsed speech. Some manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant. The lack of this sentence in the better manuscripts suggests that his father didn’t give him a chance to finish.