Two brothers in need of grace

(Notes from Sunday’s message)

Are you an younger brother or an older brother when it comes to sin?

Younger brothers sin

• openly
• Spectacularly
• Scandalously

Older brothers sin 

• Hypocritically
• Acceptably
• Privately

There are two lost sons

Lost Younger Son

• Lost physically
• Outwardly a mess
• Visible actions

Lost Older Son

• Lost emotionally
• Inwardly a mess
• Invisible attitudes

The attitudes of the older son

Luke 15:11-12

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

• The older son learns of his brother’s insult but doesn’t protest or seek to reconcile his younger brother with his father.

Luke 15:25-27
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 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.’

• The older son learns of his father’s joy, but won’t join the party.

Luke 15:28a
But he was angry and refused to go in.

• The older son publicly disgraces his father

Luke 15:28b
His father came out and entreated him,

• The older son experiences the father’s grace

Luke 15:29
but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

• The first condemnation: “You’ve badly mistreated me; I deserve better than this!”

Luke 15:30
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

• The second condemnation: “you’ve foolishly honored him! He deserves far different from this!”

Luke 15:31-32
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

• The father responds with grace and love and acceptance and joy for both sons

(Note the structure of the parable, but the absence of a balancing closing verse.)

The Older brother comes (25-26)

Your brother is safe. A feast (27)

A father comes out to reconcile (28)

First complaint: how you treat me (29)

Second complaint: how you treat him (30)

A father tries to reconcile (31)

Your brother is safe. A feast (32)

(No closing verse to balance the chasm)

Why does Jesus leave the story open-ended?

Why no v. 33?

Jesus leaves the Pharisees with the question of how to respond? Will they respond to his grace?

Of the two brothers:

• Who has sinned the greater?
• Whose is the worse sin?

They both sin;

they both break their father’s heart;

they both need grace!

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