T H E P R O D I G A L S O N , PA R T 2

THE OLDER BROTHER

Luke 15:25-32

REL ATED SCRIP TURES ST U DY F O R S E R M O N F R O M 8 . 2 0 . 23

Luke 15:1-2 | John 3:1-15 | 2 Corinthians 5:21

SUMMARY
As Jesus told the Parable of the Prodigal Son, it’s difficult to imagine people not making the connection
between his comparison of “tax collectors and sinners” and the “scribes and Pharisees” as depicted by the
younger and older brothers, respectively. And if any in the crowd make this connection, it would be of little
surprise to know that the older brother does all the right things, just as the scribes and Pharisees do. The
scribes and Pharisees “stay home” and make a living off knowing the law and the practices of the
temple—they are model citizens. However, Jesus begins to paint the older brother in a negative light. The
older brother doesn’t even try to hide his disappointment over the younger brother’s return; his brother
received his share of the inheritance, so any additional gifts to him ultimately come at the older brother’s
expense. So, upon the younger brother’s return, the older brother refuses to enter the house and partake.
Defiantly, the older brother elevates his own righteousness as a mechanism to earn the father’s favor; “Look
these many years I have served you . . .” What Jesus reveals is not that this is a parable about a lost brother
and a brother who never left; instead, it’s a parable about two lost brothers. Like the younger brother, the
father must pursue the older brother, who refused to come in. The younger brother is lost and arrives at a
place of understanding his need for the father, whereas the older brother is lost but doesn’t realize it. He
believes his own work earns his father’s favor, failing to realize—just as it is with our Heavenly Father—that
sinners can’t earn the Father’s love; he loves us because he is good. This parable also teaches us that Jesus
is the true and better Older Brother who gives his own inheritance for the sake of his wayward brothers and
sisters, and he does so joyfully. Because of his sacrifice, we have God’s favor.

GROUP QUESTIONS

Share something that surprises, encourages, or troubles you from the sermon or your direct reading of
Luke 15:25-32.

How does the older brother engage in self-justifying behavior? Do we ever act similarly to God? How
so?

The parable reveals that there are two kinds of “lost people,” those who are like the younger brother,
and those who are like the older brother. Which type of lost people do you find yourself around most
often? How do you talk about Jesus to the different kinds of lost people?

If there’s one thing Jesus would want you to walk away believing and receiving as a result of this portion
of Scripture, what is that thing?

C L O S E I N P R AY E R
As you pray, be sure to include today’s themes in what you bring before God.