Everyone loves a prodigal son testimony. Those Christians whose lives were once marked by partying and self-destruction, but by the transforming power of Christ are now dedicated to serving their Savior. When we read Jesus’s parable in Luke 15:11-32, we see the story of one brother’s tumultuous journey to salvation. Yet we so often forget it’s the story of two brothers.
The good son?
We don’t know much about this older brother. When the younger goes off to live the good life, we know he stays home and keeps working the fields and doing whatever his father asks. When the younger returns and is welcomed with love and celebration from the father, we also see the older brother’s cold and jealous reaction.
Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 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 became angry and was not willing to go in; (Luke 15:25-28a)
When we think of this story, we aren’t always sure what to make of this guy. Is he a picture of a bitter Christian who isn’t excited about someone’s salvation? A jaded believer who doesn’t embrace evangelism? We “get” the younger brother because we think he represents all of us as former enemies of God who have been welcomed back home. So what do we do with this older brother who seems so out of place?
and his father came out and began pleading with him. 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 fattened calf for him.’ (Luke 15:28b-30)
The motivation for his reaction tells us everything. With this glimpse into the mind and heart of this fictional character, we can start to piece together why Jesus included him in the story. Furthermore, many of us may be able to relate to the older brother much more than the younger.
Shots fired
Step one in understanding anything in the Bible is to figure out why things are being said. In other words, who is the audience? If we back it up to the beginning of this chapter, things start coming together.
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2)
From here Christ launches into his first parable about the lost coin, then immediately follows up with the prodigal son. With that background, it’s clear who the eldest son represents. He’s not some misguided Christian, but someone who is just as lost and lacking a relationship with the father as his younger brother.
Consider the older brother’s statements. “I’ve served you for years! I’ve always obeyed everything you’ve said!” Notice where he places his emphasis on worth as a son – he thinks he is worthy of the father’s goodness because he’s always acted right. He considers himself a son of the father because he obeys, not because he loves.
Likewise, his disdain for his brother is evident. “But when this son of yours came…” is such a detached and spiteful series of words. It’s not his brother, because he could never associate his perfect obedience as a son with someone so irresponsible. It may be the father’s son, but it’s not his brother. Again, we see Christ building up the older brother as someone who is so completely wrapped up in his works as a means of making him better than his father’s other son.
When we compare the brother’s statements to those just made by the scribes and Pharisees, we see exactly what Jesus is going for.
A tale of lost sons
This is a story of two sons who are without a true relationship with their father. One finds his value in the world, living for himself by following his heart and not withholding anything from his desires. The other finds value in his self-denial, living for himself by presuming his sonship based on his works and constant proximity to the father.
One son can easily see how far he’s fallen, while the other is blinded by being almost where he’s supposed to be. The older son is a clear picture of the Pharisees, those religious leaders who were so blinded by their self-righteousness that they couldn’t see their need for Christ. They spent their lives in close proximity to God, being good and obedient by refusing the things of the world and obeying everything they were told to do.
When we look at this parable, understanding who is being represented by each son, many of us can start sympathizing with the older brother more than we thought. Many of us base our salvation on good works, assuming that not indulging all our lusts means we’ve hit a certain level of righteousness. We go to church, give money, don’t use profanity, and have many other things on our list that assure us of our salvation. Yet it’s possible to live a life of denial and right choices and still die as an enemy of God, no better off than those who pursued a life of pleasure.
Like the Pharisees and the older son, it can be difficult to see our need for the Father because we’re standing just outside His grace. Our lives can be almost indistinguishable from a true son or daughter whose sins were placed on Christ. Yet it’s what we trust in, not what we do, that saves us. Are we trusting in our right thoughts and actions to save us, or are we trusting in the blood of Christ and letting our thoughts and actions be transformed by His power?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (John 14:7-8)
