The Parables of Jesus: The Older Brother

"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  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.'  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  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.  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" - Luke 15:25‭-‬32 ESV

The translators of the Bible titled this story, the prodigal son. But this is not in the original text. We often overlook the older son. Sermons address the younger son, those living in a morally corrupt lifestyle. But this parable has two sons. The older son is also important. He represents the Pharisees, and in this day, those who grew up in the church and those who serve in ministry. Jesus addresses not only the prodigal, but also the religious.

The older brother was the responsible and dutiful one. He stayed behind and worked in the fields. But when he hears about the party for his younger brother, he is angry. In this culture of hospitality, for the older son to not come into the party that the father threw was shameful. This brought shame on the father. To treat his father like this is dishonoring. It points to an unhealthy relationship.

The irony of the older brother

The older brother was physically close, but did not understand the heart of the father. He did not engage in immoral and outrageous behavior, but his heart was far from his father. Their relationship was not a healthy one. This describes the religious types who are church-going, serving, and ministry.

Aspects of an older brother

An "older brother" is characterized by anger and frustration towards God. They feel unfairly treated by God. They are envious of what others have received from God. They feel they have given so much for God and received so little. So what's wrong with duty and obedience? Because a relationship like this is purely transactional, God is not a genie.

We should not serve God so he gives us what we want. If that is why we serve, then at the end of it, we are serving ourselves. We want status, wealth, and answered prayer. We are using God to get what we want. The younger and older brother are both rebellious, just that the former was overt and the latter was covert.

Older brothers are concerned with their inheritance. They slave not for their father, but the inheritance. They are driven by fear. Many of us within the church are older brothers. Their service is shallow and joyless. They are only working and serving so that God will bless them. They are apt to cut corners. It is a joyless drudgery. Their righteousness is shallow. Slaves work hard because they fear the Master.

This is not to say that there is no place for duty and obligation. But if all of our service to God is bereft of joy and gladness, then something is wrong with their relationship with the heavenly Father.

Older brothers are highly critical. They cast themselves in the best possible light. They cast others in the worst possible way. This is self righteousness at the root. There is little grace and compassionate. They are harsh with others and themselves. They believe that they can save themselves and are self reliant. They not only cannot forgive others, but they cannot forgive themselves. Older brothers make it so that prodigals don't want to come home (to church).

The father's words to the older son

The father's response is gracious. To the older brother, he speaks words of reassurance and security. In this culture and time, the firstborn was to inherit the lion's share of the father's assets. The father tells him that everything is his. Everything the father has is given to the older brother. To the older brother types, this is what God says. We have a secure inheritance in Christ. We need not fear. We are also his heir. We need not worry about status or love. God will not reject us for our sins, nor be won over by our service to Him. In the life and death of Jesus, all of our sins are covered and forgiven. Both for the overt rebel and the covertly rebellious, Jesus has bought forgiveness, grace, and mercy.