LUKE 15:25-32 BIG BROTHER BLOWS UP

BIG BROTHER BLOWS UP

LUKE 15:25-32

Luke 15:25-26 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

Susie: The older brother must have been terribly confused. He comes home from a hard day’s work and hears dancing music.  He had not been there when his brother returned and was, in essence, restored to full sonship by their father.  There were certain times for dancing and making merry; and as far as he knew this day was not one of them. It’s not a feast day or a full moon, so why the party?

Ecclesiastes 3:4 . . . A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . .

Susan: He calls over one of the household servants and asks what is all the merriment about?

Luke 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

Susan: This staff member assumes that he is delivering good news to the older brother. Wrong! As we will see, the news makes him boiling hot and bothered.

Susie: The servant informed him that the calf fattened up for a feast day had been slaughtered to celebrate the younger brother’s return home.

Luke 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore, came his father out, and intreated him.

Susie: The elder brother was angry. In the next few verses we will see that he felt himself wronged because of his hard work to earn his father’s favor. He was jealous that the son who had abdicated his responsibilities to the family was being celebrated while he, who had obeyed in order to receive reward, felt neglected.

Susan: The father, the host of this magnificent soiree, left the party to go out and persuade the older son to come celebrate with them.

Susie: But the older son would not be convinced.

Luke 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Susan: The older son’s obedience wasn’t founded on respect or reverence for his father. His motivation and intention was what he would get by being the “good son.” He saw himself as blameless.

1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Susie: Many commentators compare the elder son with the Pharisees who thought their good works and exacting obedience to the Law put them in favor with God. The younger son is the tax collectors and sinners with whom Jesus associated, those who because of their humility in admitting their sin, benefited from the free gift of His grace. In reality, there are Pharisaical people in all ages who think themselves better than others. However, it is those who humbly admit their sin and unworthiness and come to Christ by faith who receive the reward of Heaven.

Susan: The older son complains that the father never even let him throw a backyard barbeque featuring young goat for his friends. He callously compares that type of party to the joyous celebration his father is having over a lost son, a lost soul, returning home.

Susie: Note that he does not refer to the prodigal as “my brother” but as “thy son.” He no longer claims relationship with his younger brother and points out his reckless and sinful living to the father.

Susan: It’s like a mother telling her husband, “Your son did such and such.”

Susie: Again, this is similar to how the Pharisees pointed out the sins of those following Jesus, thinking them unworthy of being accepted by God.

Luke 15:31-32 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Susie: The father points out that the elder son has been enjoying the comfort of his father’s home, the service of his father’s workers, and the joy of his father’s presence. The father has constantly shared with the older son, so why should he be jealous.

Susan: The father freely gave of himself to the elder son, not only the comforts of home but the benefit of his wisdom. The son had obeyed out of obligation rather than the heart, and had missed seeing the love in his father’s heart for him. God does not desire our obligatory obedience. He desires our hearts, a greater depth of obedience out of love.

Susie: The father tries to help the older brother see that for all intents and purposes, the younger son had been dead. Now he has returned home alive which is ample cause for celebration.  We, too, were dead in our trespasses and sins, and the point of these three parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—is that God our Father celebrates when we come into His kingdom by humbly relying on Jesus’s work on the cross to redeem us.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ponder this and Apply it: God created us, knit each of us together in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13). However, we are all sinners, prodigals, until the Holy Spirit quickens us, makes us alive to understand God’s grace and surrender our lives to Him. Then Heaven rejoices over our repentance and adoption into God’s family. Have you experienced the joy of being received into our Heavenly Father’s kingdom? If not, approach Him humbly, acknowledging your sin like the prodigal son. God is merciful and gracious and wants to welcome you home. Then Heaven will throw a party!