We’ve all read the story in Luke 15 about the lost brother. We know that the younger brother asked his father to give him his inheritance so he could leave and have nothing to do with the family. He comes back ready to beg to be hired on as an employee. The father welcomes him back as a son. – Great story, isn’t it?
But that’s only half of it. The older brother was just as lost, but he wasn’t as far from the father. He refused to enter and join the banquet. The father didn’t have to run to meet him, but he did go out to plead with him.
If you check different versions, you’ll see that the son “slaved,” “served,” “never disobeyed orders,” “never transgressed your commandment.” The older son didn’t serve out of love for his father. He did it so he would get what he deserved.
The older son hated the grace shown to his brother because he thought if he worked hard enough, he deserved more than his brother who blew off the responsibility. He represents the “religious” people of Jesus’ day (and of today) who attend church and keep the commandments, but who are full of pride, judgement and resentment.
Both brothers were clueless as to the father’s love. It was unconditional and freely given. Don’t let moral pride get in the way of the grace of the father. Don’t think you deserve more than your brother or sister. We all need to be rescued. We all need to let ourselves be loved by the Father.