It is now we realize that there are two lost sons, and only one has been found. All along, the older brother was as lost as the younger! As the younger son returns home from the far country of rebellion and licentiousness, the older son remains in the far country of smug self-satisfaction and resentment. Jesus said that the older brother would not even go into the house to join in the celebration.

The lostness of the older son is much harder to identify than that of the younger. After all, he does all the right things. He is obedient, dutiful, law-abiding, and hardworking. People respect him, admire him, praise him, and likely consider him a model son. Outwardly, the older son is faultless. But when confronted by his father’s joy at the return of his younger brother, a dark power erupts in him and boils to the surface. Suddenly there emerges a resentful, proud, unkind, selfish person. The older son is lost because he has based his relationship with his brother and father on his own obedience rather than his father’s love. As a result, he is alienated from both.

Remarkably, the father responds tenderly and with deep sympathy for the older son. He reassures him of his love, reminds him of the treasures he possesses, and even begs him to join the party for his brother! We would understand if the father threw up his hands in disgust and resignation. Is there anything more frustrating than a proud, pouting, self-righteous soul? But he doesn’t. Instead, he continues to love his son even when his son won’t love him.

As far as we know, the older son never responds to the father’s love. By all appearances, his heart remains as hard as stone.

One Last Question

And there we have it—the greatest short story ever told, a story that people never tire of hearing. I certainly never tire of preaching it. It gives so many answers—and yet it leaves us with one last question.

Jesus, who spoke in short parables and quick, galvanizing truths, surely had something on His mind when He told the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. What was it? What stirred the heart of God’s Son to deliver this masterpiece?

It’s worth taking one more look at this passage to find out.

Luke, we find, gives us no more than a two-verse introduction to the telling of this tale. But those two verses suggest all we need to know: “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them’ ” (Luke 15:1–2).

Jesus was surrounded by people with great needs, people hungry physically and spiritually; people eager to hear His teaching. But He could also look up to the fringe of the crowd, and His eyes would fall on a separate group. The Pharisees and scribes watched impassively and disapprovingly, eager to find fault.