May 17, 2016

Two Lost Sons

By: Anthony Mathenia Topics: Uncategorized Scripture: Luke 15:25

Two Lost Sons (Luke 15:25ff)
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At the beginning of the chapter, the Pharisees grumble because Jesus is receiving sinners and eating with them. While the statement they make about Jesus is true and accurately reflects his willingness to associate with sinners, the fact that they are angry and grumbling shows that their doctrine of salvation is completely different than Christ’s. They are under the conviction that salvation is only for them and that it is by segregation and separation from sinners entirely. The choices that Jesus continues to make right in front of them contradict their shallow and narrow ideas about salvation and about God, and he tells them this parable, consisting of three stories, to show just how wrong they are. In the final story (15:25ff), the older brother clearly represents the Jews of Jesus’ day, these very Pharisees to whom he was speaking, who could not imagine Gentile brethren being granted their promised privileges. Even more specifically, the older brother represents a large section of the professing church in our day who dislike a full and free gospel and the acceptance of those who are so outwardly sinful.

Welcoming the Respectably Religious (15:25-27)

When the older brother asks the servant about the music and dancing, his inquiry does not result in the desired answer (15:25-27). The older brother had served his father faithfully all his life, and yet the father is not celebrating him, but instead he is celebrating the return of his irresponsible younger son who had wasted so much of his money. He was infuriated by the idea that his father would freely offer forgiveness and celebrate the return of this prodigal son. In his understanding, his younger brother needed to pay, and pay dearly, for his sins. In other words, the older brother’s motto is: “No reconciliation without compensation!” However, despite the son’s self-righteous refusal to enter the house, the father himself comes out to plead with him (15:28), just as he had come out to greet his lost son upon his return. He didn’t send a servant to bring him in, but like the shepherd in the first story of this parable, he went out himself to offer the invitation. The father shows no partiality between his two sons (even though the older son accuses his father of partiality!). The evidence is clear: God is as willing to receive the respectably religious as he is the outwardly rebellious. There are none who are not welcome!

– Why do we find it easier to relate with the younger brother than with the older brother? In what ways do you find the self-righteousness of the older brother reflected in your own heart? Based on the truths of the gospel expressed in this parable, what should be our attitude toward self-righteousness?

Sonship vs. Slavery (29-32)

The older brother is terribly impressed with his own resumé, pointing out how well he has served his father over so many years, and yet not once receiving a young goat from his father in order to celebrate with his friends. However, in pointing out his impeccable serving history and what his father ought to have given him in return, he is denying his privilege of sonship by relating to his father as would a slave who works for his reward. The older brother does not want grace; he can earn it for himself. Not only that, but he is also indirectly accusing his father of being a slavedriver. Despite the fact that his father is willing to give him all that is his own (15:31) and not withhold anything from him, the older brother remains discontent and unsatisfied because of his consuming jealousy of his younger brother.

– The abrupt ending to the story does not tell us what decision the older brother ultimately makes. However, more importantly, we also are faced with the same decision to make. Have you abandoned your slave mentality and confidence in your own righteousness, in order to trust solely in the grace that is found in Jesus Christ, who has secured our reconciliation because of the compensation made on the cross?