The objective of this lesson: To stress the need to repent even if we "stay at home"
This lesson will focus on verses 25 through 32 in our text. Most of us are familiar with the story and emphasis in verses 11-24--in fact, that is the only part of the parable with which some people are familiar. The young man who came to his senses had earlier left home. The second prodigal son, the older son, never left home.
Make it clear to your students that this lesson will focus on the older brother who stayed at home.
When the younger son found the courage to repent and return in a penitent attitude, the older son was dutifully working in the field. While the younger son was away squandering his inheritance doing wicked things, the older son stayed at home, took care of Dad, took care of "the place," and in general kept things together. When it came time for the older son to "head for the house" from the field, he heard sounds he was unaccustomed to hearing--sounds of celebration including music and dancing.
The younger son definitely left home and did things he should not have done. The older son stayed home and did the things he should have done. The contrast in this story between good and evil does not focus on responsible behavior and irresponsible behavior. This story focuses on the need for compassion in godliness.
It is very likely that his father's continual concern for his younger son was no secret to the older son. Likely there were occasions when he saw his father look longingly down the road for the son who left. How frustrating it must have been to the older son not to be able to do enough to make his father forget the son who left! Was it not enough that he was there, and his father could depend on him to stay and be responsible? Was it not enough that the father had one son who refused to think only of himself?
Focus your students on the frustration the older son must have felt. The godly person will not allow frustration to control his emotions.
He had one of the servants explain to him what was happening. When he was informed that his brother had returned safely and in good health, he was not happy! Instead, he reacted negatively to his brother's return. He was angry and refused to go to the house to share in his father's joy or to welcome his brother.
He felt no sense of joy in the return of his brother. It is easy to feel people deserve their consequences for poor behavior.
When the father became aware that the older son had not returned to the house, he went to locate him. When the father found him, he begged the older son to come to the house and celebrate.
The father wanted the older son to feel what he felt. God wants His children to feel what He feels.
The older son's response must have cut the father's heart deeply. "For years I have been faithful [loyal] to you. I never refused to do anything you asked. Yet, you never gave me as much as a baby goat to encourage me to celebrate with my friends [he was as selfish as the son who left!]. However, when your son [not my brother] returns after wasting your money on prostitutes, you honor him by killing the fattened calf! [Hear the attempt to separate the father from his son?]
The older son had a problem with selfishness just as surely as the younger son had when he left home. The older son made the mistake of thinking good behavior is the same thing as love. "If I behaved well, you should have felt the love and responded."
The father's response is powerful and insightful. "Son, you always have been with me [which did not mean the father took him for granted]. Everything I have belongs to you [your brother did not return to take away your inheritance]. The only appropriate response to your brother's [he is your brother even if you refuse to claim him] return is celebration. To us he was dead, and now he has returned to be alive [he learned his lesson--having a caring family is more valuable than indulging the flesh in temporary pleasures]. He was lost [useless]. Now he is found [useful]."
Godly living is not a competition! We are not trying to outdo each other! We are seeking to encourage each other! We all are sinners! People of faith in Jesus Christ are blessed by God's forgiveness and grace! They rejoice when others are blessed by the same forgiveness and grace. No one belongs to God because he/she is good--all belong to God because they are forgiven.
How did the older son respond? We do not know. The parable ended. The jury was out--a verdict had not been reached.
This was a pointed call to the Jews to rejoice when sinful people responded with a return to God!
It was extremely difficult for Jewish people to rejoice in the salvation of and God's interest in people who were not Jews or Jewish converts. They felt if God saved gentiles outside of Judaism, it in some way diminished those who were Jews and as such devoted to God for generations (see Romans 2:28-3:8; 9:4-5; 11:1; Galatians 3:23-29). They failed to see Israel as a means to God's objective and thought they were the objective--they were enough for God!
The issue of gentile salvation was a huge matter in the early church. If you care to be reminded how big the issue was, refresh your memory of Acts 15:1-35.
Paul said, "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ..." (1 Timothy 1:15) His personal experience confirmed Jesus' words in Mark 2:17, "And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners," and Jesus' actions in Luke 15:2, "Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'"
Long before Jesus Christ, God showed a huge concern for sinful people (Genesis 12:3; Jonah; Isaiah 42:6). Jesus' mission was to call people back to God.
To those words we might say a hearty Amen until we read Luke 15:7 ("I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance") and Luke 15:10 ("In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents"). Or perhaps we read Jesus' parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1-16 when the laborers who worked very little time were paid as much as the laborers who worked all day.
It is easy for us to be jealous! It is easy for us to think we are enough to satisfy God's concern for people!
Does that seem fair? More celebration in heaven over the repentance of one sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance? The concept of the same pay for everyone?
It is easy for us to think God is unfair! Remember Romans 9:19-33?
It is fine to help sinners as long as they are "out there" and we are "in here;" as long as "we" are the dominant influence and "they" are the minority influence; as long as "we" are in charge. Is it not the purpose of the church to build walls around the righteous to protect them from the influences of those who do not have the righteous people's background?
Sometimes we become so concerned about the church and its future that we create the impression God cannot take care of His own kingdom. The future of the church does not depend on "us" but on God and His purposes! We need to exert extreme care not to manufacture and substitute our concerns for God's eternal purposes.
Why are we so afraid? Is not the influence of righteousness more powerful than evil's intents? Have we, like first century Jews, changed God's intentions? Have we forgotten how important saving sinners is to God? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
God is at work--actively! It is not "up to us." We are servants, not architects and kings!
For Thought and Discussion
The second prodigal son was the older son who never left home.
Allow someone in class to tell the story.
The father went to locate the older son.
He revealed his resentment of his younger brother, his jealousy of his younger brother, and his selfishness.
He understood what the younger son's return meant to the son and the family. He rejoiced that one who was dead was now alive, that one who was lost was now found.
They had difficulty understanding God's great desire to bring salvation to gentiles without gentiles becoming proselytes.
It is too easy for Christians to become (a) jealous of God's great concern for the lost and (b) to think that we are enough to satisfy God's concern for people.
The answer to this will be as individual as the students in your class.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 10