Who is God like? Vv. 25-28- The father used many means to try and convince his older son to come inside. To try and receive his two sons on the same day was very hard and possibly embarrassing. With earnest persuasion he quiets the complaints of his older son. This is like God our father. What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 25-28- The older son did not enter the house that was having a celebration. He could not accept his younger brother who encroached on his rights and could not stand his father’s great love. The older son held his possessions and his contentment higher than the dignity of his father and the return of his brother. Vv. 29, 30- The older son claimed that his relationship with his father was the same as that of a slave and a master and pointed out his father’s unfairness. He did not once call his father, “father” and even called his brother “your son” and thus scorned his familial relations. He justified his stance by exaggerating his brother’s mistake saying, “he squandered your property with prostitutes.” His body was inside but his heart was outside. Outwardly he was obedient but inwardly he was disobedient. He did not budge when his father tried to meet and reason with him, nor did he hide his wickedness. Vv. 31, 32- Even though the older brother was with his father, he was ungrateful and inwardly harbored complaints against him. He considered his position more important than his brother who returned alive and so his father’s joy did not result in his happiness. If the joy of God in heaven cannot become my happiness then all the things that I pursue will become a cause of concern for the father
Forgive me for being with the father but not enjoying him.
