Luke 15:18 Meaning and Explanation
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The son resolves to return and rehearses his confession: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."
What Does Luke 15:18 Mean?
Resolve follows realization: "I will arise and go to my father." He composes his confession in the pig field, and it is a true one — no blaming of famine or companions, no softening clause. "I have sinned against heaven, and before thee": he knows that the wrong done to his father runs all the way up.
This verse has given the words to every wanderer since. Confession in Scripture is not groveling; it is truth-telling — naming the wrong plainly, to God first and to the one wounded. And "I will arise" is the hinge of the parable: mercy will meet him on the road, but he must rise from the husks and take the road. The Father does not despise such a beginning. He is already watching for it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:18
What does Luke 15:18 mean?
The son resolves to return and rehearses his confession: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."