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The father of the Prodigal Son ran to meet him when it appeared that he was coming home. His joy could not be contained! As he saw his son yet a great way off, he “...ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” His compassion was manifested in mercy that he was obviously all too glad to extend to his long lost son. The result was a great celebration at the fathers behest. “'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15.20-24).

Please recall that when we gave an overview of this great parable, the father had two sons. The younger of the two was the one who returned after paying the high price of low living. But, what of the older son? What place does he have in this story, a story that is intended to demonstrate how far God's mercy and grace are freely extended to all who would come to Him? We now turn our attention to the older son.

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But he was angry and would not go in.” (Luke 15.25-28a). It is readily apparent that there was a tremendous difference in the attitude of the older son and the attitude that the father possessed. The father was moved with compassion, but the older son was moved with anger!

Let this picture sink in for a few seconds. The father is beside himself with joy over the return of his son. His joy eclipses the wrongs that the younger son had done; for all practical purposes it was if he had never been away! But wait; it was even better than that; it was as if his son had died and had been restored to life! Overwhelming joy flooded the man's soul to the point that nothing in the world could ruin this moment. Nothing but one thing, that is. The next event in the parable is as poignant as the events concerning the younger son!

“Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15.28b-32).

When the older son refused to join in the celebration, the actions of the father are extraordinarily noteworthy. The text says that he “...came out and pleaded with him.” “It was right” he said, “that we should make merry.” By implication, he was saying that it was wrong for the older brother not to join the festivities. The text says he pleaded with him. There is a hidden treasure in this word that is revealed by noticing that it is in the imperfect tense. Literally it means that he pleaded with him over and over again; he would not take no for an answer!

How far does God's mercy extend? To the sinner who is angry because others are not sinners like him! Inexhaustible and indescribable; His mercy endures forever! (see Psalm 136; continued)

Questions:

1. Why would the older brother not come into the house?

2. How does it appear that the older brother would have wanted his returning brother to have been treated?

3. What moved the father to go out and talk to the older brother?

4. How does this parable demonstrate that God desires mercy and not sacrifice?

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