Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Luke 15:21
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And the son said unto him, father, etc.] 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 “<421518>Luke 15:18”) to which may be added, what is elsewhere said f459, “what is the sense of that passage, (<191204>Psalm 12:4) “who have said, with our tongues we will prevail?” etc. it designs all the transgressions a man sins against earth; and if µymçb ˆyajwj, “they sin against heaven”, and earth; what is the sense of that in (<197309>Psalm 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 <480406>Galatians 4:6,7).
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