Prodigal Son Story: How About The Son That Stayed Home?

My pastor's message on this passage is really good. The older son is the one who does everything right outwardly and expects to get the love for his works, but his heart is in the wrong place because he's doing it all for recognition. His true nature is shown when we see him being jealous of the younger brother coming home and getting a feast, instead of rejoicing with the father.

The older son is "religious" and lives by works, as you say "performance," and not inner conviction and love.

Btw, just fyi, most people will not read such a long post as you have above. I scanned it but didn't have time to read it.

 

Me too. I hardly ever read such long threads. Glad I read this one -- very good. Totally on target.

I've heard some say that the first son is picture of a nonbeliever. After all, he does not attend the feast. Not sure if I would go that far, but sure is something to think about. Are we performance driven or grace driven??

 

FTR, I did read the post. eightball, I have had many cats over the years, including more than one that would actually lay in someone's lap or on them, for hours. Ive had multiple cats that would actually ride on my shoulder, as I walked, or follow me ablmost anywhere I walked. Never have I seen one that was the constant aggravation you describe, demanding full-time attention, unless the food and/or water dish was actually empty.

As to the text, first-off, this is not a parable but an account. See here,

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=1351817&postcount=2

here,

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=821354&postcount=94

and here.

http://www.baptistboard.com/showpost.php?p=977244&postcount=168

This should give my answer to the rest of your post, I'd say, even if the linked posts are too long for Marcia to read.

Ed

 

I think my pastor was equating the older son to the Jews who lived righteously in an outward way and following the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law. I am not sure, but I think I recall him saying that.

 

I am here going to repeat something I said, three months ago, just to see if it draws any more reaction, this time around.

Ed

 

The older son reminds me of the Pharisees that Christ likened to tombstones (white on the outside but filled with dead men's bones). His works were his salvation (he thought). I also believe the father was hoping his stay-at-home son would realize this by the way the prodigal was treated when he came home with a humble attitude.

Ed: It depends on which definition of prodigal you are using. Lavish - yes. Waster - no.

 

I agree with what Blessed said.

The son that stayed home represented the Pharisees that were so self righteous and the wayward son represented the dirty rotten sinners that Jesus always welcomed when they came to Him in repentance. The Pharisees resented the fact that those "sinners" got so much of Jesus' attention while He was rebuking them for being white washed tombs, vipers, and sons of the devil.

 

That's the issue that I have with him not being a believer.

 

I have often wondered if the good son might be the angels that kept their first estate. They seem to show the some of the same attitudes as in these verses.



1 Peter 1:12

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.


Hebrews 2:5-7

5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

 

Here's a quote from "Christ's Object Lessons" by Ellen White, pages 209-211.

Was the elder brother brought to see his own mean, ungrateful spirit? Did he come to see that though his brother had done wickedly, he was his brother still? Did the elder brother repent of his jealousy and hardheartedness? Concerning this, Christ was silent. For the parable was still enacting, and it rested with His hearers to determine what the outcome should be.

By the elder son were represented the unrepenting Jews of Christ's day, and also the Pharisees in every age, who look with contempt upon those whom they regard as publicans and sinners. Because they themselves have not gone to great excesses in vice, they are filled with self-righteousness. Christ met these cavilers on their own ground. Like the elder son in the parable, they had enjoyed special privileges from God. They claimed to be sons in God's house, but they had the spirit of the hireling. They were working, not from love, but from hope of reward. In their eyes, God was an exacting taskmaster. They saw Christ inviting publicans and sinners to receive freely the gift of His grace--the gift which the rabbis hoped to secure only by toil and penance--and they were offended. The prodigal's return, which filled the Father's heart with joy, only stirred them to jealousy.

In the parable the father's remonstrance with the elder son was Heaven's tender appeal to the Pharisees. "All that

Page 210
I have is thine"--not as wages, but as a gift. Like the prodigal, you can receive it only as the unmerited bestowal of the Father's love.
Self-righteousness not only leads men to misrepresent God, but makes them coldhearted and critical toward their brethren. The elder son, in his selfishness and jealousy, stood ready to watch his brother, to criticize every action, and to accuse him for the least deficiency. He would detect every mistake, and make the most of every wrong act. Thus he would seek to justify his own unforgiving spirit. Many today are doing the same thing. While the soul is making its very first struggles against a flood of temptations, they stand by, stubborn, self-willed, complaining, accusing. They may claim to be children of God, but they are acting out the spirit of Satan. By their attitude toward their brethren, these accusers place themselves where God cannot give them the light of His countenance.

Many are constantly questioning, "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?" But "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:6-8.

This is the service that God has chosen--"to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke, . . . and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh." Isa. 58:6, 7. When you see yourselves as sinners saved only by the love of your heavenly Father, you will have tender pity for others who are suffering in sin. You will no longer meet misery and repentance with jealousy and censure.

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When the ice of selfishness is melted from your hearts, you will be in sympathy with God, and will share His joy in the saving of the lost.
It is true that you claim to be a child of God; but if this claim be true, it is "thy brother" that was "dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." He is bound to you by the closest ties; for God recognizes him as a son. Deny your relationship to him, and you show that you are but a hireling in the household, not a child in the family of God.

Though you will not join in the greeting to the lost, the joy will go on, the restored one will have his place by the Father's side and in the Father's work. He that is forgiven much, the same loves much. But you will be in the darkness without. For "he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:8.

 

I can't believe there are so many takes on this!
I've always thought (and was probably taught) that the elder son is the picture of those of us who are saved and don't stray, but work faithfully in the kingdom for many years. When we see the fuss made over those dramatic stories of repentence and returning to the Lord, we tend to get jealous and wonder if our work has been noticed at all. But the Father assures us that our work is indeed noticed and reminds us of our place in the Kingdom to come.