John Gill Commentary Luke 15:21

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son." — Luke 15:21 (ASV)

And the son said unto him, father
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 your 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 Luke 15:18) to which may be added, what is elsewhere said ^F3 , ``what is the sense of that passage, (Psalms 12:4) "who have said, with our tongues we will prevail?" &c. it designs all the transgressions a man sins against earth; and if (Mymvb Nyajwx) , "they sin against heaven", and earth; what is the sense of that in (Psalms 73:9) ?'' and am no more worthy to be called your 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 your hired servants"; because this could not be granted; for a son is always a son, and cannot become a servant; see (Galatians 4:6Galatians 4:7) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F3: T. Hieros Peah, fol. 16. 1.