The Older Son

Luke 15:11-32
You all know the story how the younger son asked for his inheritance early and left his father.  We see from this story God's undying love for one who falls away into sin.  We wrap up the story by contrasting the younger with the older.

The older, we say, is unforgiving, bitter, perhaps we can throw in legalistic.  We use the older as an example of the hypocritical self-righteous christian.  But a closer look at the story gives us a different conclusion.

First, the father comes out to his older son just like he went out to look for his younger son.  He loves this son dearly. He listened to his son's complaint and explained why it was right to celebrate his brother's return.

Look carefully at the next part:  "Son, you are always with me."  This son is not dismissed in any way by his father.  This is the son who has always been loyal and never complaining.  He worked hard and I think he increased his fathers wealth.

"And all that is mine is yours."  Think on that.  God's law allows a double portion of inheritance to the eldest son.  That means that at the time that this father would have given his younger son his share, he got 1/3 of all his father's worth at that moment.  The older son  continued to serve his father faithfully and helped to increase his father's wealth.  His inheritance will be far greater than double the amount his brother got.

Can a son who has been so faithful and obedient be so far from his father's desires that he would hold unforgiveness in his heart?  This son never disobeyed his father's command (vs 29).  Is he going to start now?

Jesus spoke this parable to teach his disciples about his first work:  that which would bring life to the dead.  He ended the parable by just telling us about the younger son's redemption.  The unspoken part of this parable speaks of Jesus' second work:  the manifestation of the sons of God who will participate in bringing the lost sons back to their Father.