Return: The Older Child

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Today, we will continue our series examining the Parable of the Prodigal. Today, we will focus on the Older Child. Today’s message is more of a cautionary tale. Today, we will examine behaviors we must be aware of.

Jesus said, “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6.

Yeast: a microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding, and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. used to raise bread dough.

Hence, today I will caution you about certain attitudes or behaviors that keep you from returning to the House of Joy. Beware of the things that keep you outside of Joy.

Psalm 46:11, The Psalmist wrote, “In your presence is abundant/fullness of joy.”

We want to be in the house of joy. Open our eyes to see what keeps us on the outside.

1. The one who stayed home became lost

Subpoint 1.1: Beware of resentment

Exteriorly he did all the things a good son is supposed to do, but, interiorly, he wandered away from his father

He did his duty, worked hard every day, and fulfilled all his obligations but became increasingly unhappy and unfree

Lost in Resentment - Beware of Self-righteousness

There is so much resentment among the “just” and the “righteous.”

There is so much judgment, condemnation, and prejudice among the “saints.”

There is so much frozen anger among the people who are so concerned about avoiding “sin.”

The lostness of the resentful “saint” is so hard to reach precisely because it is so closely wedded to the desire to be good and virtuous.

This lostness—characterized by judgment and condemnation, anger and resentment, bitterness and jealousy—that is so pernicious and so damaging to the human heart.

Often we think about lostness in terms of actions that are quite visible, even spectacular.

The younger son sinned in a way we can easily identify. His lostness is quite obvious.

Subpoint 1.2: Beware of Entitlement and Jealousy

Luke 15:28–29 “28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.”

The older child's sense of entitlement and jealousy arises from his belief that his obedience should be rewarded more extravagantly than his brother's repentance

Subpoint 1.3: Judgment and Superiority

Luke 15:30 “30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’”

His judgmental attitude towards the prodigal son, considering himself morally superior, prevents him from experiencing compassion and empathy.

Subpoint 1.4: Pride and Ungratefulness

Luke 15:29 “29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.”

The older child's pride blinds him to the abundant blessings he has received, making him ungrateful for his father's love and provision.

2. The lostness of the older child

The lostness of the elder son, however, is much harder to identify.

Subpoint 2.1: The older child did all the right things

He was obedient, dutiful, law-abiding, and hardworking.

People respected him, admired him, praised him, and likely considered him a model son.

Outwardly, the elder son was faultless.

Subpoint 2.2: Beware of envy, anger, and pride

But when confronted by his father’s joy at the return of his younger brother, a dark power erupts in him and boils to the surface.

Suddenly, there becomes glaringly visible a resentful, proud, unkind, selfish person, one that had remained deeply hidden, even though it had been growing stronger and more powerful over the years.

The Older Son is the one who remains at home and works diligently on his father's estate.

He is obedient, hardworking, and responsible, but he is also self-righteous and harbors bitterness towards his brother.

When he learns of his brother's return, he becomes angry and refuses to join the celebration, despite his father's invitation.

The Older Son represents the Pharisees and religious leaders who followed the law strictly and looked down on those who were considered sinners.

He sees himself as morally superior to his brother, and his rejection of his father's forgiveness reflects the pride and self-righteousness of the Pharisees.

Subpoint 2.3: Beware of the judgmental attitude

Judgmental: Having or displaying an excessively critical point of view

The elder son couldn’t enter into the house and share in his father’s joy.

His inner complaint paralyzed him

Returning home from a lustful escapade seems so much easier than returning home from a cold anger that has rooted itself in the deepest corners of my being.

Resentment is not something that can be easily distinguished and dealt with

Wherever my virtuous self is, there also is the resentful complainer.

3. The separation of the older child

Subpoint 3.1: The eldest sons anger and jealousy

He was in the field, detached from the familys affairs

He was offended by the special treatment given to his younger brother

He saw himself as more deserving of his fathers love and blessings

Subpoint 3.2: The eldest sons accusation against his father

He accused his father of unfairness

He had a sense of entitlement and expected to be rewarded for his obedience

He viewed his fathers love as conditional and based on his own actions

Subpoint 3.3: The eldest sons resentment towards his brother

He resented his brother for squandering his inheritance

He judged and looked down on his brother for his mistakes

He was unable to forgive and show compassion towards his brothers repentance

4. The older child’s need to be found and led back into the house of joy

Subpoint 4.1: Seeking Reconciliation with Others

Matthew 5:23–24 “23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

As we return to God, it is essential to seek reconciliation with those we have distanced ourselves from, mending broken relationships and extending forgiveness.

Subpoint 4.2: Embracing Our True Identity

Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Returning to our Heavenly Father means embracing our true identity as His beloved children, understanding that our worth comes from Him alone.

Subpoint 4.3: Participating in God's Restoration Work

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

As we return to God, we join Him in the restoration of broken lives and communities, becoming active participants in His redemptive plan for the world.

I can only be healed from above, from where God reaches down.

Outside of God’s house, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, lovers and friends become rivals and even enemies; each perpetually plagued by jealousies, suspicions, and resentments.

The elder son no longer has a brother.

Nor, any longer, a father.

Both have become strangers to him.

His brother, a sinner, he looks down on with disdain; his father, a slave owner, he looks up at with fear.

Resentment and gratitude cannot coexist, since resentment blocks the perception and experience of life as a gift.

The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.

Faith means loving without expecting to be loved in return, giving without wanting to receive, inviting without hoping to be invited, holding without asking to be held.