Parable of the Prodigal Son Part 2

Study of Luke 15:25-32

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 

But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘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.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

— Luke 15:25-32

The Pharisees and scribes who are hearing Jesus must be appalled by the father's lavish grace toward the prodigal son. This part of the story is indirectly told to refer to them. This is their man, the character that they will be able to relate to, the older son.

Primary care of parents is the responsibility of the oldest son. He is supposed to be the leader of the household and expected to be the defender of his father's honor. But he seems to be passive or not up to date when it comes to family matters. He's not there to rebuke his younger brother when he asked for his inheritance ahead of time nor is he there to stop his brother from leaving. Now he is late to the news that his brother has come home. He is too busy out in the field to be occupied with matters inside the home.

When he learned that the reason for the music and dancing and killing of the fattened calf is to celebrate his brother's homecoming, he was indignant and wouldn't go inside to celebrate with his family. 

Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says

"Normally an elder brother would be expected to help reconcile a father and a younger brother. That the entire village would attend the party and the elder brother alone would be unaware of it is unlikely in real life but this incongruity further drives home the point: the self-righteous critic alone fails to join the party. Refusing to enter the home during a village-wide celebration made an intrafamily dispute public gossip and shamed the father in the midst of celebration. Ancient hearers might have expected the father to discipline this son (cf. v. 12). That the father is reduced to going outside to entreat him reinforces the humiliation."

The father endures the shame to go out and plead to his older son to come in. The angry son wouldn't even address his father properly as he said 

‘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.’

Like his younger brother, he also have no love for his father. He may have stayed at home but his heart is far away. He felt all his labors are unjustly rewarded which reveals he is not doing it out of love but drudgery. His motives are as selfish as his younger brother, both of them just wants the father's possessions, they just differ in their method of obtaining it. He claimed never to have neglected his father's command but the father neglected to give him compensation so he can celebrate, not with his family, but with his friends which shows whom he love.

He has great disdain for his brother that he wouldn't even call him brother but 'this son of yours' and highlighted his brother's sins while he is blind to his own sins that he is greatly dishonoring his father. He felt cheated that his father showed mercy to his wicked brother and is jealous for the attention and love that he thinks he alone deserve for being such a good son. 

The father responded patiently ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” 

The older son perfectly describes the scribes and Pharisees who boasts in their own righteousness while looking down on others. They aren't happy with the freeness of the gospel to save anyone who repents. They must add their own righteousness and merits. They do not rejoice with God's joy. 

J.C. Ryle warns

Let us beware of this spirit infecting our own heart. It arises partly from ignorance. Men begin by not seeing their own sinfulness and unworthiness, and then they fancy that they are much better than others, and that nobody is worthy to be put by their side. It arises partly from lack of charity. Men are lacking in kind feeling towards others, and then they are unable to take pleasure when others are saved. 

Above all, it arises from a thorough misunderstanding of the true nature of gospel forgiveness. The man who really feels that we all stand by grace and are all debtors, and that the best of us has nothing to boast of, and has nothing which he has not received--such a man will not be found talking like the "elder brother."