Luke 12:10

12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit 1  will not be forgiven. 2 

Luke 15:18

15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned 3  against heaven 4  and against 5  you.

Luke 15:21

15:21 Then 6  his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven 7  and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 8 

1 sn Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit probably refers to a total rejection of the testimony that the Spirit gives to Jesus and the plan of God. This is not so much a sin of the moment as of one’s entire life, an obstinate rejection of God’s message and testimony. Cf. Matt 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30.

2 tn Grk “it will not be forgiven the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit.”

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

4 sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

5 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).”

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

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

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