JESUS THE TRUE ELDER
BROTHER
Luke 15:1, 8, 11- 32
• This is the tale of two sons: the younger
and the elder brother
• This story undermines the existing
parables we have for understanding
our relationship with God
• Three Act Process
– The background, the problem and the
resolution
ACT I: Part I
• “Father, give me the share of the
estate that falls to me.” (Luke 15:12b)
– His request implied that he wished his
father was dead
– The younger son wanted the father’s
wealth, comfort, and prestige but not the
father
– Land=estate, status, self
• The father’s life was his land, so the younger
son is asking his father to tear himself apart.
ACT I: Part II
• I will get up and go to my father, and
will say to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and in your sight; I am
no longer worthy to be called your
son; make me as one of your hired
men.”’(Luke 15:18-19)
ACT I: Part II
• The Son’s Request
– This is not a request to become a slave
because a slave works on the estate and
lives on the estate. A hired man lives in
town and has a wage. He actually is
saying: “I want to work and pay the father
back.”
– He knows he needs to make restitution.
ACT I: Part II
• The Father’s Response
– He felt compassion for him.
– He ran-he broke tradition
• Complete emotional abandonment: runs to him,
kisses him, and fell on his neck.
– He fully restored the son to his position as a
son
• The robe
• The ring: the signet ring has the family seal on it
• The sandals
Act I: Part II
• Are you like the younger brother?
– Have you wanted the things God provides
but not God?
– All of us are like the younger son because
when we first come to God, we want to
earn our way back, but God, like the
father in the story, will have none of it.
• God fully restores us as His sons and daughters
Act I: Part II
• Act One is not where the story ends
– Jesus’ purpose was not to give us a
sentimental message that God will accept
us no matter what we do. The audience is
offended by Jesus’ parable
– He is here to say that everything we have
ever heard and everything we’ve ever
thought about how to approach God is
wrong!
Act II
• “Now his elder son was in the field, and
when he came and approached the
house, he heard music and dancing.”
(Luke 15:25)
Act II
• “Now his elder son was in the field, and
when he came and approached the
house, he heard music and dancing.”
(Luke 15:25)
– The elder brother was angry at the father’s
celebration for the younger son
Act II
• “Now his elder son was in the field, and
when he came and approached the
house, he heard music and dancing.”
(Luke 15:25)
– The elder brother was angry at the father’s
celebration for the younger son
– It was now his turn to assault the integrity
of the family
• His attitude was, “I am the heir and I don’t
want to be in the same family with him in it.”
Act II
• “Look! For so many years I have been
serving you and I have never
neglected a command of yours; and
yet you have never given me a young
goat, so that I might celebrate with my
friends; but when this son of yours
came, who has devoured your wealth
with prostitutes, you killed the fattened
calf for him.” (Luke 15:29)
Act II
• He will not acknowledge being in the
same family with the younger brother.
Act II
• He will not acknowledge being in the
same family with the younger brother.
• The elder brother is furious, but he is
particular upset about the cost.
Act II
• He will not acknowledge being in the
same family with the younger brother.
• The elder brother is furious, but he is
particular upset about the cost.
• The elder brother realizes that this was
the greatest day in the father’s life
Act II
• He will not acknowledge being in the
same family with the younger brother.
• The elder brother is furious, but he is
particular upset about the cost.
• The elder brother realizes that this was
the greatest day in the father’s life
• All he sees is that the father is using his
inheritance in a way that he doesn’t
approve of
Act II
• The elder brother’s true heart
Act II
• The elder brother’s true heart
– He cares about the father’s things and not
the father’s heart.
Act II
• The elder brother’s true heart
– He cares about the father’s things and not
the father’s heart.
• The father’s plea
Act II
• The elder brother’s true heart
– He cares about the father’s things and not
the father’s heart.
• The father’s plea
– Everything I have is yours
Act II
• The elder brother’s true heart
– He cares about the father’s things and not
the father’s heart.
• The father’s plea
– Everything I have is yours
– The father wants the elder brother to join
the celebration
Recap
• Act One-Traditional depiction of sin
Recap
• Act One-Traditional depiction of sin
• Act Two-Two sons, one good and one
bad, but they’ve both been alienated
from the father
Recap
• Act One-Traditional depiction of sin
• Act Two-Two sons, one good and one
bad, but they’ve both been alienated
from the father
– The young brother was trying to get
control by leaving and disobeying. The
elder is trying to get control by staying
and obeying.
Recap
• Act Two-Two sons, one good and one
bad, but they’ve both been alienated
from the father
Recap
• Act Two-Two sons, one good and one
bad, but they’ve both been alienated
from the father
– The young brother was trying to get
control by leaving and disobeying. The
elder is trying to get control by staying
and obeying.
Recap
• Act Two-Two sons, one good and one
bad, but they’ve both been alienated
from the father
– The young brother was trying to get
control by leaving and disobeying. The
elder is trying to get control by staying
and obeying.
– So there are two states of being lost