Last week we looked at the first part of the story of the Prodigal son. This week, we will look specifically at how the older son reacted as found at the end of this parable in Luke 15:25-32.
In verse 28 we see the older son’s reaction to the feast his father was giving his brother. After what his brother had done he comes back and gets a party. After demanding his share of the estate, leaving his father and brother behind and moving to another place, squandering all his inheritance, the younger son comes back. Their father not only forgives him, but treats him like royalty!
The older brother is ticked off! Not only did his younger brother NOT get what he deserved, but he (the older and obedient son) has never gotten what he thinks he deserves. So he boycotts the celebration and doesn’t go.
The father goes out to get his older son and pleads with him to come and join them. This was an act of grace on the father’s part, but culturally this was a sign of disgrace. No father should ever have to go and plead with any of his sons, let alone his eldest.
The son then “lets him have it!” He reminds his father how faithful and obedient he has been. In fact he tells the father, “all these years I’ve been slaving for you.” (Verse 29) And then he adds, “And what have I gotten for it!” The term “slaving” implies doing something out of obligation, not out of joy or love. And asking, “What have I gotten for it?” reveals a desire for a pay-off?
In verse 31 the father says, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Basically saying, “You’ve got me son, isn’t that enough for you?” It seems the older son didn’t want the father’s love; he wanted the father’s stuff, the father’s favor, and the father’s inheritance.
Here is a case where knowing the audience gives us insight into the meaning of the parable. Verses 1 and 2 tells all: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Pharisees represented the older son; super-spiritual and obedient to a tee. Yet, they were the ones who were really lost. While the younger son was lost in his sin, he knew it. The older son was lost in his obedience and what’s worse, he was blind to it.
Here is the message: The Christian life is not about our goodness; it’s about loving the Lord. Our Father is waiting….
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