Parables, Luke 15- The Father & Older Brother

Introduction

Luke 15:1-2 gives us the setting of the parable

“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

The Two-Fold Complaint of the Pharisees is that Jesus receives and eats with sinners.

What’s so bad about Jesus receiving and eating with sinners?

Is the issue that Jesus hasn’t received them, the Pharisees, or is it that they haven’t received those Jesus does? Is the issue that Jesus isn’t eating with them or is it that they haven’t joined Jesus in his relentless love for those who are lost?

15:1 “All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him”

Luke records three parables in chapter 15 that Jesus tells in response to the grumbling pharisees… and knowing who Jesus addresses with these parables may change your entire understanding of the third parable, the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The theme of the three parables in Luke 15 is “The Joy of the lost being found.” This is found in seeing the end of the parables…

Read Luke 15:3-7 Parable of the Lost Sheep

15:6-7 It ends with “Rejoice with me for I found my sheep that was lost.”

Read Luke 15:8-10 Parable of the Lost Coin

15:9 “Rejoice with me for I have found the coin that had been lost.”

Read Luke 15:11-32 Parable of the Prodigal

15:24 “24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.”

15:32 “32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”

They all end with rejoicing and celebrating over the return of what was lost. Looking at the third parable in part one we saw that

Jesus reveals God’s Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Un-breaking, Always and Forever Love through the Father.

How did he do this? By the way the Father responds to the repentance of his son… The father’s love for the wayward son is so that we would understand God’s love.

The father loves sacrificially and extravagantly, so that we would see the heart of our Heavenly Father.

The father in the parable does not hesitate to show grace and be generous… and neither does God.

As Richard Sibbes wrote, “We have this for a foundational truth, that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” - Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed

Tod we focus our attention on the older son in the parable, the one the story focuses on at the end…

The older brother reveals the primary intention of this parable, because he represents the primary audience of the parable- The Pharisees and the Scribes

Look again at the context of the three parables… the grumbling pharisees prompt Jesus to tell these stories.

The first two parables are situations that even the Pharisees could identify with. These two set up the third one…

Through the older brother in the story…

Jesus addresses the misunderstandings of the Pharisees

Jesus redefines their understanding of sinfulness

Pharisees definition of Sin = Failing to keep God’s rules of conduct. Only one son is guilty of sin as the Pharisees define it. This definition leads to avoiding Jesus by avoiding sin… leads to an attitude that sees God as owing answers to prayer, etc.

Jesus changes the definition of sin = Putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge. Both sons in the story are guilty of sin as Jesus defines it.

Redefining sin leads to a new and true definition of lostness. In light of the other two parables it is hard for the Pharisee to see himself as he one who is lost. But,

At the end of the story the father leaves the crowd, like the shepherd left the 99, and goes to find his older son and bring him in.

This parable recognizes the two types of people who need to repent. But, only one in the story is restored through repentance- the younger brother. Jesus told the story so that the Pharisees would repent, and just like the Pharisees we have to decide how we will respond.

Many of us will readily admit that we “were” the wayward son. Some of us will even admit now and find comfort in being the “wayward” son because of what happens in the parable- the father loves and lavishes his riches on him.

But, those who identify with the older brother often find themselves in a similar situation like the one at the end of the story.

An older brother would rejoice with the shepherd who found his sheep.

An older brother would rejoice with the woman who found her coin.

But, an older brother stands outside with selfish and prideful jealousy at the celebration for the son who was found.

Luke 15:28–32 (ESV)

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 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. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

This is disappointing… and it reminds me so much of the end of the book of Jonah. Jonah didn’t want the people in Ninevah to be saved from God’s wrath, but he knew that if they repented God would keep His Word and show them mercy. So, when the Ninevites repented, and God was merciful.

Jonah 4:1-4 says, “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah’s heart at the mercy God showed his enemies is similar to the heart of the man in this story Jesus is telling.

Jesus is revealing that the issue the Pharisees and scribes have is a heart issue. Their hearts are hard and selfish, and they have a problem with the heart God has for others.

But, Jesus’ story demonstrates the same never stopping, never giving up, un-breaking, always and forever love through the father to the older son.

You could say that Jesus is the true older brother who came to bring the wayward brothers home to the Father. And with the Great Commission Jesus has sent us out to bring the lost home.

The church is built on younger brothers, and it must guard against becoming a group of older brothers.

This issue just might be the obstacle to most churches in America reaching the lost and younger generations.

A church that reaches their neighbors is characterized by selflessness, celebration, and satisfaction.

Simply being with the Father is enough… the joy of having been found is enough… Like the parable presents… ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’

So what about you?

Do you have the joy that comes from being found? Do you actively celebrate the Lord’s work in your church and around you? Are you known for being selflessness and sacrificial for the sake of the Kingdom?

If you are far from God and wayward in how you live your life- God will run to you when you turn toward Him.

If you are hard hearted and selfish, standing out waiting to be the focus or attention, God comes out to you and invites you in.

Closing Applications

God finds joy in every sinner who repents

Heaven is filled with the lost who were found and repentant sinners.

Do we see ourselves that way?

Heaven rejoices over the sinner being saved.

Self Righteous religious people bring no joy to heaven

The churches greatest joy is found through joining God in His pursuit of the lost

The church joins heaven in rejoicing when the lost are found.

It is the hard hearted that don't rejoice over the lost being found.