God Loves You When You Won’t Love Him

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. 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 15:25–32

Out in the field, diligently supervising his father’s business, is the older son. He does not witness his brother’s return. But as he comes home at the end of the day, he hears the music coming from the house and questions one of the servants.

The servant reports, “Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf” (Luke 15:27). They are having a party! But the older brother bristles with resentment and anger and refuses to attend (v. 28). He even refuses to call his younger brother a brother. In speaking with his father, he refers to his brother as “this son of yours” (v. 30). I remember reading somewhere that once you meet the older son, it is easier to understand why the younger son wanted to leave home. For all his good works, he doesn’t come across as someone we’d enjoy knowing.

It’s easy to think this older boy was treated unfairly. I used to think that myself—that the older brother was angry because the younger brother got his inheritance, and he didn’t get his. But go back to verse 12, and you will see that the father divided his inheritance to both sons. So the older brother was the owner of two-thirds of his father’s substance. No wonder his father said, “All that I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). It really was!

In verse 29 the older son reveals his heart with these words: “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time.” You can almost see the fire in his eyes and hear the indignation in his voice as he compares his perfect behavior to the irresponsibility of his brother. “Dad, I’ve been a perfect son. I’ve done everything you’ve told me to do.” With every bitter word he reveals what a proud, self-righteous man he is.