Isaiah 65:24

65:24 Before they even call out, ¹  I will respond;

while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Hosea 6:1

Superficial Repentance Breeds False Assurance of God’s Forgiveness

6:1 “Come on! Let’s return to the Lord!

He himself has torn us to pieces,

but he will heal us!

He has injured ²  us,

but he will bandage our wounds!

Luke 15:17-19

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.”’

Luke 15:21

15:21 Then ⁹  his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven ¹⁰  and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ¹¹ 

¹ tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

² tn “has struck”; NRSV “struck down.”

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

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

⁴ sn In the confession “I have sinned” there is a recognition of wrong that pictures the penitent coming home and “being found.”

⁵ sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

⁶ 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).”

⁵ tn Or “make me.” Here is a sign of total humility.

⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁷ sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God. 1st century Judaism tended to minimize use of the divine name out of reverence.

⁸ sn The younger son launches into his confession just as he had planned. See vv. 18-19.