The Prodigal and Identity Part III: (Luke 15:21–32)
Verse 12 What is very interesting here is that is says the property was divided between “them,” plural.
- Which means that the older son also received his share.
Verse 25 The word used here for music is used only here in the entire NT.
- The word is “symphonia” and refers to band music and perhaps singing.
- The word for “dancing” here also occurs only here in the entire NT.
Verse 26 The word used here for servant is not the usual word for servant or slave but a word used for a young person even a child servant, or a young non-family member.
- The verb structure is also one of ongoing nature, he is really quizzing the servant.
Verse 27 This calf would have been chosen and raised in a special way for a very special purpose like an upcoming wedding or the Day of Atonement feast.
Verse 28a Some have suggested that the older brother may have been angry because he feared further division of the estate.
- The older brother stays outside the house and cannot bring himself to come in the house and celebrate his younger brother’s return. While the younger brother is in the house getting all the attention.
- The one who is prodigal has now changed.
- What the older brother thinks he has, he gives up on his own as the result of his fit of jealousy, misunderstanding of the Father and lack of identity.
Verse 28b Here again the father takes the initiative and comes out to the older brother just like he ran to meet the younger brother when he was still a long way off.
- The verb structure here is that the father made repeated pleadings to the older brother for him to come in.
- Notice the very different emotions and reaction between the three, the repentant prodigal, the joy of the father, and the jealous anger and self righteousness of the older brother.
- It’s their responses to the Father’s mercy that are different.
Verse 29 The older brother’s response really starts to show that self-righteousness as he tries to defend his position by relating how faithful he has been and making comparisons.
- His comment about the goat here shows that he feels like his faithfulness went unnoticed and unrewarded.
- The comparison between the goat and the fattened calf is like the difference between a fast-food-burger and a seven-course meal.
Two key issues here.
- First, Self righteous attitude. He has no right to feel self righteous here.
- He was doing what was expected.
- Jesus teaches on this in Luke 17:7
- Second, the thinking that he is entitled to something, a reward, because of His righteous behavior.
Verse 30 The elder brother’s complaint continues but now turns from his own hurt feelings to attacking the father’s gracious treatment of the prodigal son.
- Notice how quick the older brother is to point out the sin in the younger brother’s life while ignoring his own self-righteous attitude.
Verse 31 Remember this is a parable about the Father more than it is the sons.
- The Father’s gracious and mercy filled response is what is important here.
- Unlike the older brother’s rather terse and rude address here the father uses a term of great affection and endearment with “my son.”
- But I think the “everything I have” is the real key here.
- The word translated as “everything” is really the word “all” and is emphatic here and stands in contrast to the “never gave me” back in verse 29.
- The father’s generosity toward the younger son doesn’t in any way diminishes the older brother’s status.
Verse 32 The Father reminds him that the young brother is indeed a brother, not just some distant stranger.
- If the older brother refuses to repent and come inside and join the celebration he stands to lose what he is trying to protect.