Luke 15:18

15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Luke 15:21

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

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

sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

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).”

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

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

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