THE LOST SON RECEIVED (3)
Luke 15:11-32

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We previously observed the character of “The Prodigal Son” and of the father who received him upon his return (vv.11-24). We now will observe the character of the father’s older son, who is introduced with these words (vv.25-27): “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’”

III. This “older son” represents the self-righteous (vv.25-32) – especially Pharisees and scribes who would vilify Christ for receiving sinners and feasting with them (vv.1f).

1. Displeasure at father’s grace (v.28a):“But he was angry ....” Likewise, the self-righteous today are angered when servants of the heavenly Father proclaim the gospel of salvation by grace through faith apart from works – of how He receives prodigals as sons, and graciously rewards them, and celebrates in their honor.

But let the saint also here beware: National pride may also cause you to begrudge the grace of God to certain heathens. It did to Jonah (Jonah 3:1-4:4), who for this sin was sorely rebuked by God, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

2. Refusal to enter father’s house (v.28b): “... and would not go in. ...” Likewise, the self-righteous today disdain the house of God because it is comprised of “sinners” – as we who are saints confess ourselves to be (1 Timothy 1:15). They claim to be too holy for such company (Isaiah 65:5). They prefer their own religious societies in which works of self-righteousness are praised (Matthew 23:5-7). They not only refuse to enter Christ’s kingdom, but would prevent others from entering (Matthew 23:13).

3. Rejection of father’s plea (v.28c): “... Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.” How merciful is this father! He does not send a servant to his son, but rather goes to him personally. He does not evict this obstinate son, but rather implores him to enter the house of salvation. But as this self-righteous son refused his father’s plea, so did the Pharisees and scribes refuse to heed Christ as He spoke this parable to them, and so do the self-righteous today who refuse to hear God beseeching them through gospel preachers (2 Corinthians 5:20).

4. Service for wrong reason (v.29): “So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.” The self-righteous serves as a mercenary, in hope of reward – not as a son, out of love (as in Ephesians 6:5-7). And he lies about the quality of his service (Romans 3:10-12, 23) – a natural proclivity of the self-righteous (Luke 18:11f). He should hope the Father never gives him what he deserves.

5. Denial of “my brother” (v.30a): “But as soon as this son of yours came, ...” He would not acknowledge his father’s son as “my brother”. The self-righteous of every age claim God as their Father, but refuse the proper relationship with Christ, His only-begotten Son (as in John 1:11). None but those who trust in Christ alone for all their salvation will in the end prove to be God’s sons.

6. Misrepresentation of other’s faults (v.30b): “... who has devoured your livelihood with harlots,...” Not true! The prodigal had wasted what rightfully was his (vv.11-14), not what yet remained for the complainer (see v.31). The self-righteous are as disingenuous with others’ faults as with their own perfections.

Note his father’s response (vv.31f): “And he said to him”:

1. The reception of the returning son did not mean the rejection of the other son: “Son, you are always with me, ...” God will not reject one person in order to receive another. He receives all who come, and rejects none who stay.

2. The blessings given to the returning son did not mean the deprivation of the other son: “... and all that I have is yours.” God will not rob one son in order to be gracious to another.

3. The celebration at the prodigal son’s return was just: “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” Why? Because “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~