Luk 15:31-32 | KingComments | STEP | The father does not defend himself against the reproaches of his older son. He also does not defend his younger son against the charges of his older son. He also has patience with his older son and acts in grace. The Lord Jesus addresses the Pharisees and the scribes. He also wants to have them inside, in the house of the Father. That is why He tells how the father reacts. The father shows to his older son what he has. What the father says also applies to the whole people of Israel toward God. The father calls him ‘son’ to emphasize the intimate relationship. He also points out to him the place of blessing close to him, a place that has always been his share. Finally, the father reminds him that everything he owns, also belongs to him. This is the place that the Jew took under the law. It is also the same position taken by every unconverted person in professing Christianity who tries to live a religious life and walks according to the flesh. That is exactly how the natural men in our continent think and speak. The Jews undoubtedly had the most important place, the only place God claimed on earth. All other lands God had given to the children of men, but He had reserved His land for Israel. He had brought them to Himself by an external redemption and put them under the law. The same is true in principle of every human being who is full of his own righteousness. He tries in his own way to do good and serve God, while he is insensitive to the truth that he needs mercy and redemptive grace. The father tells his older son that there is reason for joy and celebration, namely the return of his brother. He wishes his older son to share in it. But only those who have become the object of God’s searching and receiving love share in that joy. Such a person sees that God Himself rejoices in the joy of grace and shares it with others. “And indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” ( ). The father, like the servant before him, speaks about his younger son as “brother” of his older son. He emphasizes it by saying “this brother of yours”. The older son has neither an eye nor a heart for the fact that it’s about someone who is in the same relationship with his father as he is. God does not tolerate that the real relationships between them are denied. Therefore, the final judgment on Jews comes not only because of their gross ingratitude to God, but also because of their aversion to the grace He has shown to poor Gentiles in their misery and sin. This is powerfully expressed by the apostle Paul ( ). They could not bear that others, those dogs from the nations, would hear the gospel of grace. They were so proud of the law that they despised grace for themselves.

‏ Luke 15:31-32

An Urgent Appeal

The father does not defend himself against the reproaches of his older son. He also does not defend his younger son against the charges of his older son. He also has patience with his older son and acts in grace. The Lord Jesus addresses the Pharisees and the scribes. He also wants to have them inside, in the house of the Father. That is why He tells how the father reacts.

The father shows to his older son what he has. What the father says also applies to the whole people of Israel toward God. The father calls him ‘son’ to emphasize the intimate relationship. He also points out to him the place of blessing close to him, a place that has always been his share. Finally, the father reminds him that everything he owns, also belongs to him. This is the place that the Jew took under the law.

It is also the same position taken by every unconverted person in professing Christianity who tries to live a religious life and walks according to the flesh. That is exactly how the natural men in our continent think and speak. The Jews undoubtedly had the most important place, the only place God claimed on earth. All other lands God had given to the children of men, but He had reserved His land for Israel. He had brought them to Himself by an external redemption and put them under the law.

The same is true in principle of every human being who is full of his own righteousness. He tries in his own way to do good and serve God, while he is insensitive to the truth that he needs mercy and redemptive grace.

The father tells his older son that there is reason for joy and celebration, namely the return of his brother. He wishes his older son to share in it. But only those who have become the object of God’s searching and receiving love share in that joy. Such a person sees that God Himself rejoices in the joy of grace and shares it with others. “And indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1Jn 1:3). The father, like the servant before him, speaks about his younger son as “brother” of his older son. He emphasizes it by saying “this brother of yours”.

The older son has neither an eye nor a heart for the fact that it’s about someone who is in the same relationship with his father as he is. God does not tolerate that the real relationships between them are denied. Therefore, the final judgment on Jews comes not only because of their gross ingratitude to God, but also because of their aversion to the grace He has shown to poor Gentiles in their misery and sin. This is powerfully expressed by the apostle Paul (1Thes 2:16). They could not bear that others, those dogs from the nations, would hear the gospel of grace. They were so proud of the law that they despised grace for themselves.