GLEANING FROM THE PRODIGALGLEANING FROM THE PRODIGAL

THE SIN OF THE SIN OF THE ELDER THE ELDER BROTHERBROTHER

è Luke 15 falls toward the end of Christ’s ministry

è At this point Jesus has “set His face toward Jerusalem”

è The Scribes and Pharisees were “lying in wait for Him” (Lk 11:54)

è Jesus took every opportunity to stress that their view of religion was really a wicked expression of unbelief

SETTING THE SCENESETTING THE SCENE

è There are two different kind of sinners demonstrated in this parableè The straightforward sinnerè The secretive sinner

è The older brother is clearly the secret sinner of the parableè Under the veneer of loyalty grew

a heart of passive rebellion

HIS RESENTMENTHIS RESENTMENT

è The reaction of the Elder Brother was such that only a Pharisee could appreciate it

è His actions revealed his true heartè Void of any authentic love or

appreciation for the fatherè An exact mirror to the real life

situationè The Elder Brother is the true rebel

of the parable

HIS RESENTMENTHIS 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 CHARACTERHIS TRUE CHARACTER

è He shows extreme enmity against his father

è “Lo these many years I have been serving you”

è Everything he had done had been due by compulsion

è He served not from love but for reward

HIS TRUE CHARACTERHIS TRUE CHARACTER

è His audacity is seen in his self description

è His hostility toward his brother

è His insensibility to the truth

HIS TRUE CHARACTERHIS TRUE CHARACTER