What does the elder brother's attitude reveal about self-righteousness in our lives? Setting the Scene - Luke 15 unfolds three parables that climax with the prodigal son’s homecoming. - The older brother surfaces in Luke 15:25-32, highlighting another lostness—one of the heart rather than location. - Luke 15:30 records his protest: “But when this son of yours returns after squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!” A Snapshot of the Elder Brother’s Complaint - He distances himself from his sibling: “this son of yours,” not “my brother.” - He spotlights the younger’s sins while ignoring his own. - He measures the father’s goodness by personal merit: years of service, obedience, and the absence of overt rebellion. - His anger reveals resentment toward grace poured out on another. The Roots of Self-Righteousness Exposed - Pride: Isaiah 64:6 reminds that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags,” yet self-trust resists that verdict. - Comparison: Galatians 6:4 warns believers to test their own work, not size themselves against others. - Entitlement: Romans 4:4 notes that wages counted as due, not grace, shift the relationship from family to contract. - Loveless obedience: Revelation 2:2-4 speaks of labor devoid of first love; service alone does not equate to intimacy. Symptoms We See in Ourselves Today • Resentment when others receive blessings we “deserved.” • Reluctance to rejoice in repentant sinners, instead rehearsing their failures. • Service for God colored by the need for recognition. • Distance in worship—present in body, yet hearts remain outside the celebration (Luke 15:28). • Speech that labels fellow believers by past sins rather than new identities. The Gospel Remedy - Philippians 3:8-9: finding righteousness not in the law but “through faith in Christ.” - Luke 18:9-14: the tax collector’s humble cry, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” receives justification, contrasting the Pharisee’s self-confidence. - Romans 3:23-24: all have sinned, all are justified freely by grace. - Ephesians 2:8-9: salvation is “the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Living in Grateful Sonship - Celebrate grace daily, remembering the Father’s lavish welcome toward all repentant children. - Replace comparison with compassion, viewing fellow believers as siblings equally loved. - Serve from acceptance, not for acceptance—Galatians 2:20 shows identity rooted in Christ’s finished work. - Cultivate joy in others’ restoration, reflecting the Father’s heart rather than the elder brother’s scowl. |
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