The Pharisee in Me

Tonight I want to expand a little on the parable that we talked about this morning, only tonight I want to focus more on the older brother. I wonder if we see any of ourselves in the older brother’s attitude? It seems like I can see some of that in me.

The reason Jesus placed the older brother in this parable was to contrast to the Pharisee’s their attitude in spite of the repentant sinners. Remember that at the beginning of this chapter, the Pharisees were grumbling in verse 2. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So it makes perfect sense that Jesus would reveal their sinful hearts and attitude with a comparison to themselves in this parable.

Self-righteousness is an oxymoron

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The implication here made by the older brother is that he is righteous and always has been righteous. He is saying to the father that surely he deserves more than the younger brother because the younger brother has been everything but righteous. And on the surface that would seem correct, right?

I mean, he says that he has never disobeyed, and served all these years. And we see what the younger brother did and the difference in their behavior is obvious.

However, we see something a little deeper in the heart of the older son. We see an unforgiving spirit coming from an unforgiven soul. We see a bitter, angry heart of unforgiveness that can only come from a person that hasn’t been forgiven of their sins.

Self righteousness “fosters the sinful human illusions of sinlessness, sufficiency, and freedom.”

Let’s look at another parable to illustrate this older brother’s heart condition.

English Standard Version Chapter 18

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Here again we see a contrast of two. Two men. Two different attitudes about their sin. Two different outcomes of salvation.

Can’t you see the younger son and the older son in this parable also?

Isn’t that what the older brother said “I’ve been good all my life! I’ve never done anything wrong! I’m not going to celebrate or even call this guy my brother anymore!”

You see here the penitent sinner and the self-righteous snob. They both deserve hell, but one is truly repentant for his sin.

(ESV)

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Self-righteousness is an illusion. It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

Self-righteousness is an illusion. It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Self-righteousness is an illusion. It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

Listen folks.. There is nobody so bad they can’t be saved, and nobody so good they don’t need to be saved.

We see this also described in Matthew 23:27-28

That is a fact. You may think that your sins are better than someone else’s sins. You may think that because your sins aren’t as public as someone else’s that makes you better. IT DOESN’T.

The ground at the cross is level. There is no distinction of sin with God. God is no respecter of sins. The most self righteous Pharisee that keeps all of the laws will go to hell without Christ. The repentant sinner will go to heaven with Christ.

Self-righteousness separates us from God. Just like both of these guys we see in these parables.We see this also described in

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Again here we see a picture of the older brother. He didn’t do anything wrong on the outside, but on the inside he was full of envy, anger, hatred, and that is what is referred to here as uncleanness.

The older brother appeared clean on the outside, but on the inside it was a totally different story.

The Father is kind to both sons

The father is kind to both sons in hope that they both will come to repentance

The father is kind to both sons in hope that they both will come to repentance

English Standard Version Chapter 15

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

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English Standard Version Chapter 15

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

The younger brother came

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Parable of the Forgiving Father (15:11–32)

The brother who had been on the outside is now on the inside, while the brother who had been on the inside is now on the outside. Again Jesus’ words echo, “The last has become first, and the first has become last.” The repetition of this theme shows how important it is not to be in the wrong place in the line!

You’ll notice that the Father never gets angry with either son. He is patient and kind to both.

The Father entreated the older son and gave him every opportunity to bring his self-righteous attitude to the foot of the cross. The issue with the older son is that he doesn’t think that he needs God. He thinks he’s good enough on his own.

His kindness to the older self-righteous son almost seems more unreasonable than the grace offered to the younger son.

The Father reaches out to both sons. But only one had a repentant heart.

How does this apply to us today?

Do you think there is any of the older brother’s attitude in the church today?

The older brother’s attitude has no love for the Father. The older brother’s attitude has no love for repentant sinners.

Listen folks.. There is nobody so bad they can’t be saved, and nobody so good they don’t need to be saved.

The older son was a rebel, just like the younger son was - only it was all on the inside.

That is a fact. You may think that your sins are better than someone else’s sins. You may think that because your sins aren’t as public as someone else’s that makes you better. IT DOESN’T.

There is a measure of religious hypocrites in the church today. I’m not trying to be negative, but it is important that we understand this type of attitude. It is important that we identify religious hypocrisy in the church today and expose it. Not for the sake of just exposing it, but for the sake of rescuing the older son.

The ground at the cross is level. There is no distinction of sin with God. God is no respecter of sins. The most self righteous Pharisee that keeps all of the laws will go to hell without Christ. The repentant sinner will go to heaven with Christ.

Self-righteous people hate grace. They hate the grace that the Bible speaks of. They feel that there must be WORKS involved in order to get to heaven. That’s what this older son said, “all these years I have worked for you”.

Self-righteousness separates us from God. Just like both of these guys we see in these parables.

Conclusion

Do you receive all of those with open arms that God receives?

Do you love those whom God loves?