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Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“The Elder Son - |
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I. Introduction.
A. In Matthew 21, there is a shorter parable than that of the
prodigal son, but it parallels the story in Luke 15 in a
number of ways, especially in the people to whom it was
directed, the “. . .chief priests and the elders of the
people . . .” (Matthew 21:23). Jesus told that story, also
about a father and his two sons, at the Temple in Jerusalem.1. These religious leaders were the ones who initiated
this hostile encounter, once again to confront Jesus
and force Him to make an incriminating statement.
But, as always, their intent fell victim to Jesus’
knowledge of what they were trying to do, and He
turned the situation around and put these men on the
spot instead.2. The parable of the prodigal son was designed to
illustrate, and reveal, the scribes’ and Pharisees’
hypocrisy. The other parable, of the father who
asks his sons to “. . . ‘go, work today in my
vineyard’ ” (Matthew 21:28;30), showed how it was
better for an openly sinful person to repent than for
someone who denies being a sinner to cover his sin
behind a façade of respectability.3. Not only does Jesus make this point by his story, He
forces the Jewish religious leaders to acknowledge
the truth with their own life. (“Which of the two
did the will of his father?” They said to Him, ‘The
first.’ ” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you
that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of
God before you. For John came to you in the way
of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but
tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when
you saw it, you did not afterward relent [regret it]
and believe him.” Matthew 21:31-32).B. The parallels between the two parables are obvious. In
fact, the Matthew 21 story is virtually the same idea as that
conveyed in the parable in Luke 15, minus all the rich
detail.1. The son who first rebelled, then relented, represents
the “tax collectors and harlots” who came first to
John the Baptist, then to Jesus Himself for mercy
and forgiveness.2. The son who said he would obey, but did not,
symbolized the religious elite, those who made
every pretense of faithfulness and obedience but
were, in truth, trusting in their own goodness for
their salvation. That’s why the “. . . tax collectors
and harlots enter the kingdom of God before [they
would or could].”C. When you come to the conclusion of the parable of
Luke 15, after all the colorful details, the plot twists, the
human-interest aspects, and the prodigal son’s redemption,
the lesson of the story comes down to this : a very serious
and urgent “wake-up call” for all who think themselves
religious, but are really only self-righteous.II. True Character Revealed.
A. The real character of the elder brother is revealed in his
conversation with his father after the return of his younger
brother (Luke 15:29-32).B. The elder brother, returning home late in the day, arrives to
find a celebration in progress. He learns from a servant that
his younger brother has come home, that his father has
forgiven the son, and, in his joy, has ordered a feast in
honor of his brother’s redemption.1. Without asking any additional questions, the elder
brother “. . . was angry and would not go in . . .”
(Luke 15:28).2. His anger exposes what the elder son had been
keeping inside himself all along. He’d kept up a
respectable façade, but, inside, he had a bitterness
that now could no longer be hidden.3. What, really, did the elder son have to be angry
about? His father’s joy over the younger boy’s
repentance and return was no insult to him. His
father thought no less of him because he’d
forgiven the younger son.4. The anger over the celebration was the elder son’s
own rebellion against his father. The anger did not
allow him to show any joy over the redemption of
his brother, or for the burden of grief that had now
been lifted from his father. He could not “Rejoice
with those who rejoice, . . . (Romans 12:15).C. Joy permeates the remainder of Luke 15. The shepherd
who’d found his lost sheep was so glad he “. . . calls
together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice
with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ”
(Luke 15:6). The woman who searched for the lost coin,
when she found it, could not contain her joy, so she, too,
“. . . calls her friends and neighbors together, saying,
‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I
lost!’ ” (Luke 15:9). In all three parables, only one person
refused the invitation to rejoice, this angry elder brother.
The point Jesus makes her is clear: these three parables
reflect the delight of God over the salvation of sinners.
Each celebration represents His, and heaven’s, joy over
those who are redeemed. The person who stands angrily
outside the feast has already excluded himself from the
kingdom of God. The elder brother, with arms crossed,
feet firmly planted, and a scowl on his face paralleled the
words of Jesus in Matthew 21:31: “. . . ‘Assuredly, I say
to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of
God before you.’ ”D. Not only his anger, but his pride was on display. The
scribes’ and Pharisees’ chief error lay in their belief that
they deserved God’s favor. They’d worked hard to live
respectably, and to gain such favor. Now they’re told the
most sinful of people were forgiven and had a place at
God’s feast of celebration. And, they weren’t even asked
to help oversee the feast.1. The elder brother gives expression to this feeling of
unfairness in verses 29-30 (re-read).2. The single most glaring problem here is that, by
despising his father’s grace, he condemns himself.E. The father and his firstborn son are a study in contrasts.
The father is kind and merciful. The elder brother is self-
centered and cruel-hearted. His childish anger and resent-
ment (“You like my brother more than me!”), should also
have drawn a swift rebuke from the father.1. But, instead of getting angry himself, the father is
as tenderhearted, and gracious, to the elder son as
he is to the wayward brother.2. Here was the father dealing with a second defiant
son. That defiance, long-suppressed, had now
showed itself openly. But, still, the father did not
chastise his older son, but “. . . came out and
pleaded with him” (verse 28). He left the
celebration to go to his older son. He loved both
of his sons, and wanted them both at his feast.3. Here is yet another picture of God, and Christ, as
the one who makes the proposal of peace to the
sinner. He is the seeker, and initiator. The father
didn’t command the elder son to come in to the
feast (although he had every right to do so), he
pleaded for him to relent and come; he offered his
son, whom he loved, an invitation.4. The elder son’s response revealed his resentment,
of father and younger brother. He doesn’t even
address his father respectfully, but begins his
complaint with an emphatic “Look!” The New
American Standard Bible offers this translation of
verses 29-30: “But he answered and said to his
father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been
serving you and I have never neglected a command
of yours; and yet you have never given me a young
goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but
when this son of yours came, who has devoured
your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fatted
calf for him.’ ”F. The parable has really come full circle. The firstborn son
is now in the place where the younger son started out. He
wanted what he considered rightfully his, on his own terms,
so he could live as he pleased. He may have lacked the
boldness and aggressiveness of his younger brother. He
didn’t have the adventurous spirit to run away. He planned
to wait until his father died to claim what was his. This
satisfied him that he was better than his more brash brother.
But, just look at his self-righteousness:1. “. . . I never transgressed your commandment at any
time; . . .” (Luke 15:29). He sounds like the rich
young ruler of Matthew 19: “All these things I have
kept from my youth.” (verse 20).2. He directs his wrath at the father by saying:
“. . . you never gave me a young goat, that I might
make merry with my friends” (verse 29). Notice, he
left both his father and his brother out of his idea of
a good party. But, what he says is just not true. His
father had given him full rights to everything he
owned (“. . . all that I have is yours”, verse 31).3. He also directs his wrath at his brother, whom he
refers to as “. . . this son of yours . . .” to his father
(verse 30). He brings up his younger brother’s sins,
which he knew had been forgiven already.4. No compassion. No love. No joy. A concern only
about himself and his desires.III. Conclusion.
A. Inside the father’s house, there is vibrant celebration that
represents heaven’s supreme joy. There is a feast for a son
who is now gloriously redeemed (Re-read verse 32).B. Outside, in the dark that has now come with the night, a
struggle takes place. The elder son, in the gall of his
bitterness, attacks the virtue, the integrity, and the
character of his loving father.C. This is where Jesus ends His story. The father’s plea to
his older son simply hangs in the air. The parable
concludes with a tender request for the repentance of the
elder son. The whole parable was told to make this one
entreaty stand out. It was Jesus’ own appeal to the scribes
and Pharisees, and to everyone who needs God’s grace, and
favor.