The Pendulum Effect
The Gospel is opposed to
Younger both schemes of living
Brother Elder Brother
Person
“Bad” because both underminePerson
“Good”
Irreligious
Law-breaker relationship. Religious
Law-keeper
Liberal Conservative
“There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord. One is by breaking all the
moral laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws
and being very, very good.” -Tim Keller in The Prodigal God
The Context
Luke 15:1-2 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were
all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and
the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them.”
Isaiah 57:19 Peace, peace, to the far and to the near
and I will heal him.
Emily & Ben
A Story of a Younger Sister & an Elder Brother
Once upon a time…
…they lived happily ever after.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Luke 15:25-28a 25"Now his elder son was in the field, and
as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what
these things meant.27And he said to him, 'Your brother has
come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he
has received him back safe and sound.'
28But he was angry and refused to go in.
Why was he angry?
The Elder Son Spat on Relationship…
…with his Father.
In a nearby field yet relationally distant “Close, but no
cigar.”
The Father desires steadfast love, not sacrifice, the
intimate knowledge of the Father rather than burnt
offerings. Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13 & 12:7
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is
far from me…” Mark 7:6
Sin is not just wrongdoing. Sin is breaking relationship with
the Father.
The elder brother spat on relationship
with his younger brother.
The Heart of an Elder Brother
Luke 18:10-12 Luke 18:10-12 Contextualized
10"Two men went up into the temple 10"Two men went up into the house
to pray, one a Pharisee and the to pray, one an elder son and the
other a tax collector. 11The other a younger son. 11The elder
Pharisee, standing by himself, son, standing by himself,
prayed thus: 'God, I thank you prayed thus: 'Father, I thank you
that I am not like other men, that I am not like my younger
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or brother, squandering your
even like this tax collector. 12 I wealth, sleeping around,
fast twice a week; I give tithes of probably drugs and alcohol and
all that I get.' at the end of his rope. 12 I work
overtime; I bring honor to this
household.'
The Father Poured out Mercy
Luke 15:28b His father came out and
entreated him…
Absorbs his shame and humiliation.
Shows mercy not giving him what he deserves.
Is patient, entreating him to join the party.
…but he answered his Father…
“Look at my résumé!” (a.k.a. scheming)
Luke 15:29-30 29but he answered his father, 'Look, these
many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your
command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I
might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours
came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you
“…there was a deep, black, wordless
killed the fattened calf for him!'
conviction in him that the way to avoid Jesus
The younger brother’s scheme is to blatantly ask for his Father’s
was to avoid sin.”
wealth and then go do his own thing. The elder brother’s
–Hazel Motes character in Flannery O’Connor’s novel Wise Blood
scheme is to subtly earn his Father’s wealth and then go do his
own thing.
“Careful obedience to God’s law may serve as a strategy for
rebelling against God.” –Tim Keller in The Prodigal God
The Nearest One is Furthest Away
The elder son is worse than lost.
Blind to his arrogance and self-righteousness. “He who is forgiven
little, loves little.” Luke 7:47
Satisfied with his current life. “Prostitutes are in no danger of
finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to
God: the proud, the avaricious (extremely greedy), the self-
righteous, are in the danger.” –C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain
Accusatory of his Father. Despises his Father.
Exaggerates his little brother’s sins. Despises his brother.
Ungrateful for what he has.
Set in his ways. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Destructive to himself and others.
You know you’re an elder brother if…
…you think, “I should read my Bible more. I should go to church
more. I should give more money. I should pray more. I should… I
should… I should…”
Guilt-driven and Compliant
…you won’t have a beer or smoke a cigar but yet you’ll destroy
your health through eating too much and not exercising…and then
look down your nose at folks who drink or smoke.
Goody Two-Shoes yet Hypocritical
…you are very disciplined or wish you were disciplined. When you
keep a spiritual discipline for 24 hours you feel pretty righteous and
better than folks…then you stop your discipline within 48 hours.
Disciplined…kinda (Religious)
You know you’re an elder brother if…
…you have an impeccable house and can throw a great party but it
stresses you out and you can’t actually engage with people at your
home…and you complain about how messy your house is when
everyone knows it’s perfect.
Image-Driven (Success/Approval)
…you hear about how well a co-worker, classmate or friend is doing
in their job and think, “Man, why am I not doing that well?” Or you
hear how a co-worker, classmate or friend is struggling and think,
“Man, I wouldn’t have those problems.”
Comparison-Driven and Competitive
…you don’t know any younger brothers.
Disengaged
You know you’re an elder brother if…
…you have strong views on the evils of homosexuality…but have no
gay friends.
Passionate but not Compassionate; Opinionated without Love
…you celebrated when hearing of the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Vengeful and Ungrateful
…you are a firstborn.
Actual Elder Brother or Sister
Don’t worry, the Father’s grace abounds for elder brothers too!
Grace abounds for elder brothers
'Son, you are
always with me,
and all that is The elder son’s standing in the family
mine is
yours. 32It was is not based on his merit. His identity
fitting to as a son is secured at the Father’s
celebrate and be
glad, for this
expense. Jesus, the True Elder
your brother was Brother, paid the Father’s fortune so
dead, and is we can be secure in His family. This
alive; he was
lost, and is is the Gospel.
found.'"
Hope for the elder brother is
reconciliation with his Father…and
with his younger brother.
Hope for the younger brother is
reconciliation with his Father…and
with his elder brother.
The Family of God is elder and younger
brothers continually being reconciled to
the Father and each other at the
Father’s expense.
Will you join the party?
And the elder
son entered the
house, and
joined in the
festive banquet,
and was
reconciled to his
brother and
father. And the
father rejoiced
with the two
sons he had
found and
brought to life.