"The Two Brothers"

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his propertybetween them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything… …Luke 15:11-32

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’… …Luke 15:11-32

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’… …Luke 15:11-32

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32

Opposite can be defined as a person or thing that is totally different from or the reverse of someone or

something else.

What we want to study today is the contrast between the reactions of the elder brother and his younger brother to

the kindness of their Father.

There are a few similarities between the brothers…

1. Their love for their Father was displaced by their choices.

The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Luke 15:12

"Respect for one's father is paramount; the younger son's request for his inheritance from a still-healthy patriarch

constitutes an unthinkable offense. It amounts to saying, "I wish you were dead.”

Kenneth Bailey

All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Luke 15:29

"Dad, look at me! I am important and my identity is all about what I do for you and how my performance makes

me feel about myself."

"Too often we desire God's gifts apart from Himself. ‘A far country’ is not far in actual distance, but in the

alienation of the heart. You may be living in a Christian home, and yet be in a ‘far country’. Sin is a waste. A ‘far

country’ is always swept by famine, because our soul was made for God and cannot live on husks. Neither things nor people can really appease our hunger if we

are away from God."

F.B. Meyer

He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls. Psalm 106:15

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. I John 2:15-16

2. They both lost the line of communication with their father.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country... Luke 15:13

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. Luke 15:25

"When the Father becomes merely a means to an end instead of the end, we begin the transition into the far

country."

David Ravenhill

There is a danger of being faithful to our field (ministry, vocation, family), yet walk disconnected from our Father.

Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22-23

"Far too many men and women of God have sought Him for his wealth independently of the Father himself. They have achieved some measure of gifting and anointing, only to eventually derive more satisfaction from their

gifting and ministry. Than from the very one who gave it to them in the first place."

David Ravenhill

"No amount of activity in the King's service can make up for the neglect of the King himself."

Robert Murray McCheyne

You have persevered and have endured hardship for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have left your first love. Revelation 2:3-4

"The number one temptation we face as believers is to draw back from pursuing God's heart."

Mike Bickle

The difference between the two brothers lies in how they respond to

the Father’s kindness:

How the brothers respond to the Father's kindness reveal some of the dissimilarities between the brothers:

3. The Father pursues both sons to give them access to himself.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

The Father's kiss is not a response to the Son's repentance but the action that brings it about.

God is waiting and watching for us TODAY when we don’t feel connected, when we are struggling and don’t

know why, when we are inadvertently avoiding God because we haven’t faced our emotions or our disillusions or whatever we are dealing with.

The son said to him, 'Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Luke 15:21

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. Luke 15:28

Younger Son • Condemnation • Shame • Humbles himself • Receives from the Father

Older Son • Anger/critical spirit • Self-righteousness/judgement • Self-pity/Entitled • Refuses to go with the Father