In the parable of the prodigal son, the older brother complains that he’s been slighted by his father. Rather than rejoicing when his younger brother comes back home, he’s angry: 

“The older 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

The recognition the older brother thinks he deserves hasn’t materialized and he feels cheated.  He’d been dutiful while his younger brother was irresponsible around home; then when his brother had left,  he’d remained faithful while his brother brought shame to his father’s name. The father had evenly divided the estate between him and his brother, but this isn’t important to the elder brother.  His laser focus is on the unfairness of his brother being celebrated for returning in humiliation while his own steady behavior is apparently being taken for granted. We learn a lot about the Father from his response to the older brother.

The Father Is Patient
The father responds with incredible patience to his son’s entitled complaints.  The older brother is not only complaining about lack of recognition for his “model” behavior. It seems he resents any joy the father takes in the younger son’s return. Hypothetically,  consider the older son’s reaction if the father had a feast to honor both brothers – I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be good enough for the older brother either. Why would there be a celebration for the brother who returned home, tail dragging?  Nothing short of leaving the younger son with a permanent demotion in status would suit him. Jesus often spoke fiercely to the Pharisees when they complained about fairness. Here, the father speaks gently to the older brother.  He loves his son in spite of his proud and envious attitude.  

The Father Respects Freedom of Choice
Rather than going point by point through the son’s list of complaints, the father simply states:

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’” Luke 15:31

The father’s response simply gives it so much power. The father would have been fully justified if he had pointed out this brother’s bad attitude, his transactional calculations, and the dishonor he was doing to his father. The father could have shown the older brother the door. Instead, he quietly reminds the older brother of the access he has to himself and to all his possessions. While this could be seen as a reprimand, I take it as respect for the older brother’s free will. The father is not shaming his son; he is not trying to persuade him; he is not offering up an apology or positive spin on events. He is simply stating the truth about his relationship to his son, and allowing the son to choose his own response. 

The Father’s Resources Are Unlimited
The father in this parable is generous and has plenty of resources. While it might seem that anyone would want a father like this, one wonders if the older brother would rather live in a world of scarcity. Just think about the possibilities: If resources were scarce, there might be only one fatted calf to kill, and the older brother could proudly claim it was his by right. If there wasn’t enough to go around, the older brother could argue that his younger brother had violated the commandment to honor his father, had permanently damaged the father’s reputation and threatened his well being. If the father didn’t have such a willingness to share his resources, perhaps the younger brother might never have been able to leave the family home, or might not have been welcomed back had he left. The older brother wasn’t content with having a relationship with the father and access to all his wealth. He wanted more than his younger brother could have. That can only happen in a world where there’s not enough provision and love to go around.

Application
Run through the story of the prodigal son in your mind, considering some of the interpretations suggested in this devotional. Imagine that the parable continued. How would the story go?   Imagine yourself in the place of the older brother. How would you respond to the father?  What would you like to change in your response?   Let yourself be vulnerable and open to God’s voice.   Here’s a song to meditate on during your time. 

“turn around” by Matt Maher (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7CMdcPub5A)


by Sherry Sommer

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