Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Grace in Focus Articles
→
Q&A

Q&A

March 1, 2017 by Kenneth Yates in Grace in Focus Articles

Who Is the Elder Brother?

Q:

After reading Luke 15 over and over, I’m still sure the prodigal son is a believer returning to fellowship with Christ. But the identity of the elder son honestly confuses me.

First, Jesus is telling the parable to the Pharisees who looked to their own self-righteousness. Could the elder son be referring to them?

Second, the elder son is in-fact, a son, and is “ever with me [the father], and all that I have is thine.” Doesn’t that mean he is a believer?

Putting those ideas together—is Jesus talking about a believer who is like the Pharisees (Gal 3:3)? Or is the elder son someone who isn’t a true believer and is relying on his moral fiber?

I feel like I am answering my own question with my second point, but at the same time, given the audience Jesus is speaking to, I’m still a little befuddled. I look forward to your response.

~K.C., Wyoming

A:

What an outstanding question. Since the Pharisees are mentioned in Luke 15:2, it is easy to conclude they are the audience the parable is addressing. Nevertheless, it is crystal clear that Luke 15 involves truths about believers. Why?

The lost sheep and the lost coin already belonged to the owner, the way a believer already belongs to God. They did not become the owner’s sheep or coin, the way an unbeliever becomes a child of God.

Likewise, the lost son was already a son before he became a prodigal, indicating he was already regenerate. Even the older brother is a “brother” of the lost son (see v 32). Jesus is not describing the unbelieving Pharisees by the Father’s words “you have always been with me and all that is mine is yours” (15:31). That is not true of unbelievers. Hence, the older son is an example of a believer.

That is also evident from the audience of the parables. Although, as you point out, the Pharisees are mentioned, they are not the primary audience. Chapter 14 ends with a discussion on discipleship (14:26-35), with the warning not to lose your “flavor” (v 34). Jesus is talking to believers and wants them to “hear” (14:35). It is these believers who come to “listen” to Him (15:1). He is speaking to “them” (15:3). Only a believer can lose his “flavor” by not following Christ. The parables in chapter 15 describes such “lost” believers.

The point is, a believer can indeed lose his “seasoning” by straying from the Lord. In that case, the Lord desires a return to fellowship. When such a believer returns, there is rejoicing in heaven. And note, this is not a reference to rejoicing in heaven when an unbeliever comes to faith, but when a believer comes back into fellowship.

All believers should have the same attitude of rejoicing when that happens. However, not all actually do. Some resent the return of such a “backslidden” believer into fellowship with God, and therefore act like the older brother. We resent God’s grace towards others. That should not be.

We could probably also say that such an unforgiving believer is acting like the Pharisees in 15:2, since they couldn’t believe that Jesus would eat (have fellowship) with nasty sinners. An unforgiving/unaccepting believer is like that—he can’t believe that God would want a wayward Christian to return to fellowship with Him.

But the parables give a clear illustration of the heart of God in this matter. Returning to fellowship is a time of divine rejoicing, not bitterness.

~Ken Yates

____________________

Send questions to questions@faithalone.org

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Ken_Y

by Kenneth Yates

Ken Yates (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Editor of the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society and GES’s East Coast and International speaker. His latest book is Hebrews: Partners with Christ.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube