Prodigal | Week Two
All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1-2
So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24
“Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in.” Luke 15:25-28
So his father came out and pleaded with him. Luke 15:28
Attitude #1: “I have to.”
But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. Luke 15:29
Attitude #2: “You owe me.”
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets[j] with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ Luke 15:30
Attitude #3: “I’m better than you.”
Attitude #4: “You can’t be forgiven.”
“‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:31-32
- Religious older brothers are just as far from the father as rebellious younger sons.
“When you’ve made a slobbering mess of your life, compassion becomes a tad easier if you are conscientious in taking your own inventory rather than someone else’s.”
– Brennan Manning
2. Religious older brothers, who love the father, take responsibility for and celebrate when rebellious younger sons come home.