The Elder Brother in Luke Chapter 15

Luke 15:25-32

INTRODUCTION: We call this story “the parable of the prodigal son” (the word prodigal means “wasteful”), but it could also be called “the parable of the loving father,” for it emphasizes the graciousness of the father more than the sinfulness of the son. God the Father is here depicted as a certain man who had two sons. The younger son typifies the repentant sinner, whereas the older son illustrates the scribes and the Pharisees. The latter are sons of God by creation though not by redemption. The younger son is also known as the prodigal son.

The father’s description of his son’s experience: He was dead, and was now alive; he was lost, and now was found. This is the spiritual experience of every lost sinner who comes to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ (John 5:24; Eph. 2:1-10). Note the parallels between the prodigal’s coming to the father and our coming to the Father through Christ (John 14:6)

God is like this loving father. He wants to welcome sinners back home with open arms. This parable is a picture of God’s grace. Thank him for showing that type of compassion to you.

I. THE ELDER BROTHER WAS FILLED WITH A HORRIBLE SPIRIT OF ENVY AND JEALOUSY
How forcibly this is portrayed in verse 25, 26 and 27

If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of sin. (R. L. Wheeler).

2. THE ELDER BROTHER FOUND SERVICE A DRUDGERY INSTEAD OF A DELIGHT
This surely is indicated in verses 28 and 29. He was a good worker, and certainly not lazy—but one mark of carnality, of a low spiritual state can be a surfeit of work! “These many years have I been slaving for you.”—that is what this son really said.

3. THE ELDER BROTHER WAS DOMINATED BY SELF
Self is “flesh” look up Romans 8:1 and 13, and compare Galatians 5:19-21.

It was hard for the older brother to accept his younger brother when he returned, and it is just as difficult to accept “younger brothers” today. People who repent after leading notoriously sinful lives are often held in suspicion; churches are sometimes unwilling to admit them to membership. Instead, we should rejoice like the angels in heaven when an unbeliever repents and turns to God. Like the father in the parable, accept repentant sinners wholeheartedly and give them the support and encouragement that they need to grow in Christ.

4. THE ELDER BROTHER WAS FILLED WITH BASE INGRATITUDE
Verse 29 hear him complaining. He speaks of his “friends”—one wonders if he had any real friends! How much he had to be thankful for! How thankful he should have been—and we should be!

The older brother was angry because he had never been honored with a feast even though, as he said, All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders (v. 29). Those words betrayed the fact that the older brother thought he had a relationship with his father because of his work. He served his father not out of love but out of a desire for reward. He even thought of himself as being in bondage to his father.

5. THE ELDER BROTHER SHOWED NO CONCERN OR SYMPATHY FOR THE LOST
How tragic verse 30 is! Yet there are Christians who think and speak in this way. Do you detect his compete lack of sympathy with his father and brother as he says, “Thy son… thy living… harlots…”

6. THE ELDER BROTHER WAS OUT OF SYMPATHY WITH HIS FATHER
This fact is written all over the story. The father had one burden, one longing, one passion, and that was to see his lost son saved and restored. But did the Elder Brother share this burden, this “travail.” No! Do we?

7. WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE OF CARNALITY?
It is found in the amazing patience, passion and pity of the father, and of his tender words in verse 31.

The father spoke kindly to his overheated son; he explained that what the older son had been experiencing in the interim was far better than a one-day celebration. The older son had not been displaced as the firstborn—he had his relationship with his father (who obviously loved him very much), and he still had his inheritance.

The older brother represents the Pharisees, who were angry and resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God’s kingdom. “After all,” the Pharisees must have thought, “we have sacrificed and done so much for God.” How easy it is to resent God’s gracious forgiveness of others considered to be far worse sinners than oneself.

The scene of reconciliation between the father and the younger son echoes several Old Testament narratives.

The reunion between Jacob/Israel and his son Joseph is described similarly: “Joseph . . . went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck . . .” (Gen 46:29). The story of Joseph and his estranged brothers also has parallels in the parable. Like the younger son, Joseph goes to a distant country (Egypt) but ends up receiving a “robe” and “ring” (Luke 15:22; Gen 41:42). A “famine” (Luke 15:14; Gen 41:54; 42:5) occurs, which leads to the reconciliation of the brothers and the reunion of father and son.

CONCLUSION: Everybody in this chapter experienced joy except the elder brother. The younger son experienced the joy of returning and being received by a loving, gracious father. The father experienced the joy of receiving his son back safe and sound. But the elder brother would not forgive his brother, so he had no joy. He could have repented and attended the feast, but he refused, so he stayed outside and suffered.

The Lord left the story unfinished. The last we see is the father still pleading and the elder brother still pouting. The die was not yet cast when Jesus told the tale. The Jews had not yet finally and irrevocably rejected Christ. The door was not yet shut, but it soon would be. Paul expounded the end of the story later in Romans 9-11.

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