Haggai 2:15

2:15 Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past, ¹  before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. ² 

Deuteronomy 32:29

32:29 I wish that they were wise and could understand this,

and that they could comprehend what will happen to them.”

Luke 15:17-20

15:17 But when he came to his senses ³  he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food ⁴  enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned ⁵  against heaven ⁶  and against ⁷  you. 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me ⁸  like one of your hired workers.”’ 15:20 So ⁹  he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home ¹⁰  his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; ¹¹  he ran and hugged ¹²  his son ¹³  and kissed him.

¹ tn Heb “and now set your heart from this day and upward.” The juxtaposition of מָעְלָה (ma’lah, “upward”) with the following מִטֶּרֶם (mitterem, “before”) demands a look to the past. Cf. ASV “consider from this day and backward.”

² sn Before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple is best taken as referring to the laying of the present temple’s foundation, sixteen years earlier (536 b.c.; see Ezra 3:8). Cf. NCV “before you started laying stones”; TEV “before you started to rebuild”; NLT “before you began to lay (started laying CEV) the foundation.”

³ tn Grk “came to himself” (an idiom).

⁴ tn Grk “bread,” but used figuratively for food of any kind (L&N 5.1).

⁵ sn In the confession “I have sinned” there is a recognition of wrong that pictures the penitent coming home and “being found.”

⁶ sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

⁷ tn According to BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνωπιον 4.a, “in relation to ἁμαρτάνειν ἐ. τινος sin against someone Lk 15:18, 21 (cf. Jdth 5:17; 1 Km 7:6; 20:1).”

⁸ tn Or “make me.” Here is a sign of total humility.

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the son’s decision to return home. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style generally does not.

¹⁰ tn Grk “a long way off from [home].” The word “home” is implied (L&N 85.16).

¹¹ tn Or “felt great affection for him,” “felt great pity for him.”

¹² tn Grk “he fell on his neck,” an idiom for showing special affection for someone by throwing one’s arms around them. The picture is of the father hanging on the son’s neck in welcome.

¹³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (the son) has been specified in the translation for clarity.