GLEANING FROM THE PRODIGAL THE SIN OF THE ELDER BROTHER

 Luke 15 falls toward the end of Christ’s ministry  At this point Jesus has “set His face toward Jerusalem”  The Scribes and Pharisees were “lying in wait for Him” (Lk 11:54)  Jesus took every opportunity to stress that their view of religion was really a wicked expression of unbelief SETTING THE SCENE

 There are two different kind of sinners demonstrated in this parable  The straightforward sinner  The secretive sinner  The older brother is clearly the secret sinner of the parable  Under the veneer of loyalty grew a heart of passive rebellion HIS RESENTMENT

 The reaction of the Elder Brother was such that only a Pharisee could appreciate it  His actions revealed his true heart  Void of any authentic love or appreciation for the father  An exact mirror to the real life situation  The Elder Brother is the true rebel of the parable HIS RESENTMENT

 His anger at the celebration shows his true feelings for his father  The message of the parable becomes clear – those who refuse to celebrate the redeemed exclude themselves from the joy of heaven HIS TRUE CHARACTER

 He shows extreme enmity against his father  “Lo these many years I have been serving you”  Everything he had done had been due by compulsion  He served not from love but for reward HIS TRUE CHARACTER

 His audacity is seen in his self description  His hostility toward his brother  His insensibility to the truth HIS TRUE CHARACTER