The Parables of 4 Lost Prodigals      Luke 15:1-32

The Third and Fourth Prodigals: the Two Lost Sons. (continued)

Luke 15:25-26 “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

“Now his elder son was in the field.”

We had almost forgotten about the fourth prodigal son! The older son is not to be understood to be the Jews in general, but the Scribes and the Pharisees who stood in opposition to the publicans and sinners that came to Jesus. This is good news to all of God’s people who live in this low ground of sin and sorrow is that Jesus is “a friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34).

If there is one single word that sums up the attitude that was the Scribes and Pharisees it’s the word hypocrite. We heard this word a lot, but do we really know what it means? This word hypocrite has come up in this study three times thus far, and I think that it’s high time that we paused to briefly look at this word. A hypocrite is understood to be a person who is a pretender, a fraud and a deceiver. The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines a hypocrite as “someone who feigns to be what he is not; one who has a form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, when he is destitute of true religion.”

We notice that the older son is said to be “in the field.” Notice that he is not said to be in the father’s house. This is important, and is usually only briefly, if at all, mentioned by most Bible scholars. Remember that the father is now in the house, along with his repentant son, and the servants in the house. But the older son is not there is he? He’s “in the field.”

What is the significance of the “field?” The answer if found in that the Greek word used here for “field” is ag-ros', from which we get our English ward agriculture, and it can refer either to cultivated or uncultivated land.

Here Jesus is making a contrast between the father’s house and the field of the world. How do we know this? Well because Jesus uses the same word referring to the field in Matthew 13:24-25 regarding the tares, He said, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” And then later in Matthew 13:38-39 when His disciples asked Him to declare the meaning of the parable to which Jesus said, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.”

In seeing then that the parable here shows that the Gentile’s and publicans and sinners are pictured in the young son, and the older son is understood to be the Scribes and Pharisees who may or may not be born-again, but are certainly carnally minded or concerned about the flesh and its lustful desires, and are under the influence of the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

In John 8:44-45 Jesus points to this fact about them saying, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”

So here is the older brother, the Scribes and Pharisees. And even though they displayed an outward appearance of sobriety and morality they were in a state of nature and unregeneracy. They were worldly, living every day under the influence of the god of the world; consumed with the things of the world, with the honours, riches, and profits of it; and though he was a Jew according to the flesh, yet was in the field of the world. This elder son was in the field of a works salvation system, bound under the law, working in an effort to obtain righteousness, life, and eternal salvation, which is totally opposed to the grace and mercy of God. Such belief comes from ignorance, as Paul said in Romans 10:1-3 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

“And as he came and drew nigh to the house.”

Did you notice that he does come close, but he does not go in? He only made advances toward his father’s house. The house here is the Lord’s house, it’s a wonderful picture of the visible church kingdom. Like the elder son, the Pharisees and the Sadducees had come to hear the preached word and submit to the baptism of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:7 to which he said “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” On the surface they seemed to want to do the work of baptism, but not to submit themselves to Christ in a spiritual way. In fact they did all that they could possibly do to hinder others, especially the publicans and sinners.

The scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:13, like the elder son, were “hypocrites! For” says Jesus “ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

“He heard music and dancing.”

The literal rendering is that he heard “the voices of many singing.” By music it is not the instrumental music as many suppose, but preaching of the gospel by the ministers of Christ. This is very much in keeping with Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Those who sing this song are the true servants of Christ and in Revelation 14:3-5 “they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

These faithful servants sang the song of the gospel showing the love of God, and the righteousness of Christ, and His peace, pardon, and salvation. As with music there is harmony, agreement and accord; the gospel does not contradict itself, it does not give an uncertain sound, it is not yea and nay, it, like “all the promises of God” in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The gospel is charming and delights the heart; it is the sound that sings forth the love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It sings the song of free and sovereign grace and mercy, it sings of the liberty of God’s children, of reconciliation, forgiveness of sin, of righteousness and eternal life. In the same way that music is powerful, so too gospel is effective to those who are quickened by the Spirit of God to draw them to Christ; to charm and comfort them. Thus “dancing” here pictures the great expressions of joy that those that hear the gospel “song” as those in Acts 2:41, 42 who when “Then they that had “gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” And as the Philippian Jailor and his whole family in Acts 16:34 as he “rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”

“And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.”

Now the elder brother, like the Scribes and Pharisees, “heard” the sound of the “heard music and dancing,” but did not know the true meaning of it, nor to enjoy its sweetness, nor would they put it into practice in their lives; yes they heard the words, but did not understand it, their eyes were blinded, and their hearts were hardened; they “entered not in” themselves, “and them that were entering in” they “hindered” (Luke 11:52).

“And he called one of the servants.”

Notice that the elder son still remained outside and does not go into the house and ask of his father? Instead he asked one of his father’s servants, as the Scribes and Pharisees often did when they were offended by Christ, as we see in Matthew 9:10, 11 “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”

“And asked what these things meant.”

The problem with self-righteous people is that they think that they are more noble, more instructed, and therefore more educated than those to who they come into contact with. The truth is that they were willingly ignorant and hindered by their own self-conceited, proud and vain hearts, and were ignorant, especially concerning the truths of the gospel of Christ, and His kingdom church; they do not understand them, nor do they desire to know them. They’re self-conceit blinded them from the truth that “we all,” all of fallen mankind in Adam “are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6); they are diluted into believing that righteousness can be obtained before God by works of the flesh. They do not understand that it was God’s choice in election to eternal life, irrespective of works, in the covenant of grace before the world began, by the sacrificial death of the Lamb of God that was given to redeem them all to a just and holy God. To their ears the sounds of rejoicing is a strange and foreign sound. Their rejoicing is only in themselves and in their own works and duties; but as for true solid spiritual joy, they intermeddle not with it, nor know they what it means.

Luke 15:27 “And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.”

“And he said unto him, Thy brother is come.”

These two men were blood related brothers. They both shared together the same father. They both had the same nature; they were of the same county and people. Now the younger brother has returned again to his home, to their father’s house; not with an attitude of righteousness and worthiness of person, but as a sinner, as one is unworthy to be called his father’s son; poor, unworthy, bankrupt, hungry, naked and ready to die.

“And thy father hath killed the fatted calf.”

The “fatted calf” is a picture of the death of Christ. The Father gave the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ keep the whole law for His children, to suffer, bleed, and dies to pay for their sins. This is the focus of all that were in the father’s house!

Isaiah 53:1-6 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

“Because he hath received him safe and sound.”

All parents who love their children fully understand the joy of the father at the safe return of a child! This same Greek word is translated here “received” signifies the recovery and enjoyment of anything that was lost and is now found. Remember the lost sheep? Remember the lost silver coin? In both parables there is great rejoicing!

In the fall of Adam all of his seed fell with him into sin and death! But as a result of the death, and resurrection of Christ, through His irresistible grace in calling, they are all found, received, and enjoyed again! Now the younger son was found alive! And his father took him in his arms again! This is a picture of all of God’s elect that the Father as put into the arms of Christ! He is their surety, their security, their safety! He has redeemed them by His own precious blood, they are brought by Him to His Father, and they come to the Father only by Him! And they are all received by the Father from the hands of the Spirit, who convinces them their son and causes them to believe in Christ, and witness their adoption in their hearts; by which they are now able to come to the Father crying “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). And by the power of the Holy Spirit of divine grace causes them to be willing to devote themselves to the service of Christ in His kingdom church as disciples!

There is only one Greek word that is translated into the three English words “safe and sound.” The younger prodigal son was in a “far country” of sin; and after “a mighty famine” left him starving; the nature of man according to the flesh is corrupted by sin, and by practice leaves them guilty of actual transgressions, which deserves death; and yet they are preserved, redeemed and safe in Christ, so that the law cannot hold them, nor can sin (or anything else) condemn them, nor is Satan able to destroy them: and his father “received him safe and sound.”

Being convicted by the law that God had written in his heart (Romans 2:15) he came to himself, and in true repentance for his sin parted with his own self-righteousness, was now clothed in his father’s best robe, receives him into his house which is a matter of joy and an occasion for all the music, dancing and feasting.

Luke 15:28 “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.”

“And he was angry, and would not go in.”

This seems strange and particularly unreasonable to us as we remember from verse 12 that the father had previously “divided unto them his living.” The truth is that both of his sons, the younger and the old prodigal son had received what was divided to them. And both sons having received “his living” were at liberty to dispose of it as they pleased.

Here the elder son is “angry” and refused to enter into the father’s house to welcome his younger brother. He was angry at the fact that the “fatted calf” was killed, this is a picture of the preaching of the crucified Christ, and of free and full sovereign salvation by Him, which was very displeasing to those who are self-righteous in their own eyes. They Scribes and Pharisees, and all those who embrace a works system of eternal salvation, become angry that such salvation should be free, and that election should be by grace alone apart from any works of men. That justification should be given (and not offered) freely by the grace and mercy of God. That pardon for sin should be only according to the riches of God’s grace, and not by works; and that such grace should be given by God only as He chooses to redeem, that He should choose some and not others seems to them to be unfair, and does not give everyone an equal chance at salvation. That all men are not “invited” by the gospel, or by the Holy Spirit, and that salvation should be full and complete, that nothing can be added to it, or nothing can be taken away from it.

He would not go into his father’s house, or to partake of the feast, nor into the kingdom church! The Scribes and Pharisees had shut it up to themselves, and others; they had rejected the promised Messiah that had been foretold them in the scriptures. Not only did they reject Him, but they tried to discredit His teachings.

The elder brother was not just upset, no, he had an unjustified deep-seated wrath!

Matthew 5:21-24 “ Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

“Therefore came his father out, and entreated him.”

Remember how we noted in verse 12 that the younger prodigal son insulted his father by saying, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me,” indicating that he did not want to live under his authority; that he wished that his father was dead? Now we have the elder prodigal son as he refuses to join the feast that his father has called for. This is nothing less than a public insult, and thus the father goes out to him.

It is very difficult for us to understand and fully appreciate in the so-called modern culture in which we live today. It would have been a shock by everyone that was in the house to suddenly see the host of such a feast suddenly rush out of the room (as I am certain that he did,) and to deliberately leave his invited guests, to have humiliated himself before everyone to run out into the fields to try to reconcile with his older son.

The Greek word used here for “entreated” is par-ak-al-eh'-o which means to call someone to stand near to. The prefix “para” means to come alongside of, creating a picture of the father asking his son to stand alongside him. Contrast this with the calling of the servant to the elder son from verse 26, “he called one of the servants.” The Greek word for “servant” here is pros-kal-eh'-om-ahee which refers to a slave boy or girl with utter contempt for their station, and viewing them as an inferior.

His father did not come out in anger or judgment, but in the way of ministering to his son with his words; the Jews had indeed rejected it, it was to come to them first.

Romans 9:1-5 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

The kingdom was first given to the Jews, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:4, 5).

God had sent them prophets, whom they mistreated and killed, and lastly He sent them His only begotten Son; whom they hated, rejected! And yet the ministry of the word, by His disciples, continued a while to them; which shows the condescending goodness and grace of God, and His patience and longsuffering towards them.

Jesus declared that the privilege of possession of the kingdom was coming to an end saying, “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

Did this come to pass? It most certainly did! In Acts 13:46 “Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” You see Paul and Barnabas had preaching in the synagogue in Antioch and almost the whole city turned out to hear them. Well, this caused great sense of jealousy among the Jews that were there, and “they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming” (Acts 13:44, 45).

And there was an immediate effect! As we read on in Acts 13:48,49 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”

Luke 15:29 “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”

“And he answering, said to his father”

Let’s understand sometime very important about this part of the passage, the elder son is still the father’s son, he does not lose his identity! Yes, he is in the field of the world, and not residing in his father’s house, he is indeed living the life of a prodigal son!

“Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment”

The first this that we notice here is his attitude of self-righteousness. This is reflected in a parable that Jesus gave to people who “which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” in Luke 18:9-14. He said, “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Beloved this is the prodigal elder son!

Then He continues saying, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” And this is the repentant prodigal son!

And Jesus declared “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

When we live our lived under the law, which is nothing less than a works system of salvation. It’s still the law no matter what kind of label people put on it. For example if someone says “you are saved by grace” and then tells you that you have to exercise your will or to say all you have to do is to believe, or receive, accept, or be baptized, etc., it is a works system, and grace is discounted, and therefore is the law. The apostle Paul shines a light on this very thing in Romans 11:5, 6 saying “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

Let me be blunt, if you have to do even one thing to receive grace, to receive Christ, even to move your littlest finger, you are doing work, and you are under the law! And it really doesn’t matter in the least how good you feel about what you are doing!

“And yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”

The question that we are forced to ask is what did the elder son do with the “living” that his father gave him? Remember verse 12 that “he divided unto them his living?” and yet he is jealous of his brother? Do you see the problem?

The prodigal elder son, like the Scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites. He had also spent all that he had received too. Now the elder son is saying that he had never received any favour in proportion to the services he had done; and so he now charges his father with ingratitude.

Luke 15:30 “But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

“As soon as this thy son was come”

Notice first that the elder prodigal son refuses to even acknowledge the relationship that he has to his own brother? His father had received the younger repentant prodigal son, and forgave all the offence against him. To the elder prodigal son it was offense to him that his father should have taken the fatted calf to be killed for the younger brother. This is a picture of the resentment that the Scribes and Pharisees had for the fact that God had dared to send anyone to preach to the Gentiles, much less to “publicans and sinners!”

It isn’t had to miss the words of utter contempt that the elder prodigal son has for his brother, and his father. He said, “THIS THY SON! He wouldn’t lower himself to to even say his name; and at the same time he bitterly reproaches his loving father for his tender love for his once undutiful but now penitent, child! Never was there a more striking instance of petty malice, or more unjustifiable disregard of a father’s conduct and will

“Which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

He charges the younger brother rightly, for it is certain that he had been guilty, and foolish, and ungrateful and that he had squandered all the “living” that his father had given him. This was a charge, but notice that it is not against the younger son, it’s against his father?

The truth is that in the view of the father the penitent son was more important than all of the property that he owned; and our heavenly Father owns all that there is, and we are more important, more loved that all other things in creation! In fact He sent His Son to suffer, bleed and die for us! But the elder prodigal son sees the action of the father as folly!

Jesus put it this way in Matthew 6:28-30 “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

And again in Luke 12:24-28 He says, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

He then points to what the attitude of this and all prodigal children should be, He said, “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:29-31).

Luke 15:31 “And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”

“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”

That Almighty God for eternal security! Salvation is based on grace, and grace alone, not on any works on the part of God’s children! And thank God for this wonderful truth that He has revealed to us in His word of scripture!

Did you notice that the father does not disown his son! The older prodigal son; like the younger prodigal son was a son in the beginning, in the middle and at the end. They were both his sons when the younger prodigal was in the “far country” of sin! And they are both his sons as he was returning home again! And they are both now, and forever more his sons!

Yes, they are his sons! And in both cases they were missing the fellowship of their father in His house, with their family! But the younger prodigal repented and returned home again, but the elder prodigal “would not go in!” He would not lose his eternal salvation, but would lose the blessings and fellowship with His father! Least we miss the lesson here regarding our lives in the here and now, we need to understand that this has to do with our worship and service to Jesus as His disciples in His kingdom church.

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