Knowing The Word in Luke 15:25-32

The Parable of the Prodigal Son Continued

15:25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Comments

There is no doubt that in the father’s welcome of the younger son Jesus teaches that God the Father welcomes repentant sinners. When Jesus included the elder brother in the parable, he showed his concern for the Pharisees and people like them. They too were part of God’s family. The older son was evidently unaware of the return and reinstatement of his estranged brother as he had been working in the field for his father. The likeness of the older son’s response to the Pharisees’ response to the ministry of Jesus is unmistakable. They knew Jesus saw them rebelling against God in an equally repugnant way as had the younger brother to the father.

Again, demonstrating no false pride, the father came out of the house to meet with his son. The older son portrays his hard work like that of a slave, meaning there was no familial loyalty of love in his work but an expectation of being richly rewarded. Then he distanced himself from his brother and suggested the father was to blame for his brother’s sins. Completely self-righteous, he saw himself as the model son, serving as a slave, which means he did not know what it meant to be a son. That was why he did not understand his father’s joy and became a killjoy—although an unsuccessful one. When the father said, “all that is mine is yours,” he told his older son that the property settlement stands. He has it all; however, like the Pharisees, he does not realize the extent of his privileges.

Jesus ended the story unresolved on the porch. Will he come to his senses like his younger brother? Or will his heart remain hard and prideful?

While there is no atonement (no cross) in this parable, meaning we do not get the whole gospel message of Jesus dying for our sins, its focus is on the Father’s extravagant pardoning love. In the situation Jesus found himself, while it was important to make the point that God welcomed sinners, it was equally important to emphasize that those who reject repentant sinners are out of line with God’s will and left outside of the banquet.

Application

What kind of person does the older son represent to you? When have you been like the older brother in your life? Has someone ever treated you as the older brother treated his father? How did you respond to them?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to celebrate daily with you when someone repents and returns to you. I want to be in the banquet room with you, never standing outside.