Xanthe Hancox

The elder brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”  Luke 15: 28-30

I’ll admit, in the tale of the prodigal son (you can read the full story in Luke 15:11-32), I’ve always sympathized with the elder brother. Why should he go to his brother’s welcome home party when he’s the one who has worked so hard for so long? Where was his reward?

But when we read this parable carefully, we discover that it’s not about either of the sons – the main character is the father. One son leaves because he is rebellious; the other son rebels because he is self-righteous.

Both the prodigal and the older brother are self-centered. The younger son’s main concern is to rid himself of the restrictions of home and family life and be freed to do as he pleases in the attractive outside world. The older son grumbles about the sacrifices he has made and the luxuries he has missed while working and being responsible. He cannot acknowledge his father’s joy; it makes no sense to him. In the end, the older brother excludes himself from fellowship with his father just as the younger son did earlier.

The compassionate love of the father holds the two parts of the story together. Out of love for the younger son, the father welcomes him home. Out of love for the elder son, the father leaves the celebration to explain and invite him in.

All that the Father has is ours – whether we’re a new Christian or decades into our walk with Christ. Do we realize how much he always loves us all?

Prayer: Father, we often act like the older brother. By your grace, remove the blindfolds from our eyes so that we can see others as you see them Amen.