Luke 15 18

Luke 15:18 kjv

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Luke 15:18 nkjv

I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

Luke 15:18 niv

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Luke 15:18 esv

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Luke 15:18 nlt

I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 18 Meaning

Luke 15:18 records the prodigal son's definitive resolve to turn away from his self-inflicted misery and return to his father. It encapsulates the core elements of true repentance: profound humility, self-awareness of one's fallen state, and a direct, sincere confession of sin committed against both God (represented by "heaven") and his earthly father. This statement marks a pivotal shift from self-destruction to seeking reconciliation and restoration.

Luke 15 18 Context

Luke 15 commences with Jesus responding to the criticism of Pharisees and scribes who grumble about Him welcoming and eating with "tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). In direct response to their self-righteousness, Jesus narrates three parables illustrating God's joyous pursuit of the lost: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Luke 15:18 marks the profound turning point in the parable of the lost son. After experiencing destitution and degradation from his reckless lifestyle, the son "came to himself" (Luke 15:17), leading to this crucial declaration.Culturally, a son demanding his inheritance while his father was still alive was a grave affront, tantamount to wishing the father dead. His subsequent wasteful actions brought immense shame upon his family. His decision to return home in disgrace, with nothing left, was an act of profound humiliation. His meticulously planned confession signifies his understanding of the magnitude of his transgression against not only his family's honor but also the divine standards he had defied. "Heaven" serves as a conventional metonymy for God in Jewish speech, underscoring that his sin had a profound spiritual dimension beyond the social and familial implications.

Luke 15 18 Word analysis

• "I will arise" (Greek: Anastasomai, ἀναστήσομαι): This verb, from anistemi, denotes a decisive act of standing up or getting up from a prone or inactive state. While often used for resurrection, here it conveys a determined resolve to depart from his degraded condition, indicating an active and deliberate act of repentance and change.
• "and go" (Greek: poreusomai, πορεύσομαι): Future tense of poreuomai, meaning "to go, travel, journey." This emphasizes a purposeful and deliberate movement back to his father, reflecting an active step in his spiritual return.
• "to my father" (Greek: pros ton patera mou, πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου): "Pros" indicates movement towards a person, implying directness and intimacy. The phrase "my father" stresses the unique familial relationship, expressing his hope for the restoration of that deep bond despite his egregious actions.
• "and will say to him," (Greek: kai ero auto, καὶ ἐρῶ αὐτῷ): "Ero" is the future tense of lego, "to speak, to say." This highlights his intention to vocalize his confession, expressing his regret and culpability directly and personally, making his repentance an open act.
• "'Father," (Greek: Pater, Πάτερ): Addressing his father directly as "Father" signifies that he still recognizes and clings to their relational identity. It is a humble appeal, born from the hope that the unique familial bond might still permit forgiveness and reconciliation.
• "I have sinned" (Greek: hemarton, ἥμαρτον): The aorist indicative of hamartano, meaning "to miss the mark," to err, or to commit an offense. This term precisely describes falling short of a standard. The aorist tense emphasizes the definite, factual nature of his transgression.
• "against heaven" (Greek: eis ton ouranon, εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν): "Heaven" is a common metonymy in Jewish idiom for God, out of reverence for the divine name. Thus, "against heaven" directly means "against God." This indicates the son understood that his primary transgression was spiritual, an offense against divine holiness and God's order, demonstrating deep theological awareness.
• "and before you" (Greek: kai enopion sou, καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου): "Enopion" means "in the sight of" or "in the presence of." This acknowledges the immediate, tangible impact of his sin on his earthly father. It signifies that his actions were a profound personal affront, bringing public shame and grief. The son thus recognizes the dual nature of sin: fundamentally against God and consequently damaging human relationships.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will arise and go to my father": This phrase captures the essence of a turning point: a deliberate and determined act of will to reverse his course and seek reconciliation. It signifies a decisive move from a state of spiritual and physical degradation toward seeking restoration of a vital, foundational relationship. This parallels a spiritual awakening where an individual actively decides to abandon their lost condition and seek God.
• "and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned...": This represents the essential, humble act of verbal confession. His readiness to articulate his failings directly and openly, rather than merely harboring internal regret, underscores genuine humility and vulnerability. By first addressing him as "Father," despite the magnitude of his wrongdoing, he shows that he still acknowledges their profound relational tie and seeks forgiveness within that established bond.
• "I have sinned against heaven and before you": This crucial declaration reveals a comprehensive understanding of the nature of sin. The son does not just acknowledge his moral failures or social disgrace but recognizes that his actions carried implications on two distinct levels: they directly offended God (symbolized by "heaven") and gravely harmed his earthly relationship ("before you," his father). This demonstrates profound insight into the spiritual and relational consequences of sin, aligning with broader biblical teaching that all sin, even against another person, is ultimately an offense against God's holy standard.

Luke 15 18 Bonus section

The Greek word for "arise" (anastasomai) is closely related to resurrection. While the son isn't physically resurrected here, his decision to "arise" symbolically represents a profound shift from a state of spiritual deadness, despair, and separation to active movement toward new life and reconciliation. This declaration is proactive and does not wait for an invitation; the son initiates the turn towards repentance and restoration. His specific, two-fold confession—first to God, then to his earthly father—highlights that all human sin, in its essence, is a defiance of God's perfect will, even when it directly harms another person. This precise understanding of sin makes his confession remarkably authentic and distinct from mere regret or attempts to manage consequences.

Luke 15 18 Commentary

Luke 15:18 depicts the defining moment of the prodigal son's repentance. His self-inflicted squalor and desperation lead to a moment of clarity (Luke 15:17) followed by resolute action. The phrase "I will arise and go" signifies a determined physical and spiritual turning, a decision to abandon his previous life and return home. His planned confession—"I have sinned against heaven and before you"—is profound. "Against heaven" underscores his understanding that his primary offense was against God Himself, recognizing sin's spiritual dimension. "Before you" acknowledges the deep personal pain and public shame his actions inflicted upon his earthly father, demonstrating his willingness to bear the full weight of responsibility for the harm he caused. This statement embodies true contrition: a humble admission of guilt without excuse, recognizing both divine and human offense, and taking the initiative to seek reconciliation. This determined, humble return sets the stage for the Father's overwhelming and undeserved grace described in the following verses.