Understanding the Prodigal: Beyond Rebellion to Self-Righteousness
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Risen Church. Today, we continue our mini-series "Home Sweet Home," focusing on the parable of the prodigal son. This parable is often misunderstood as being solely about the younger, wasteful son. However, it actually addresses two prodigal sons—both the younger and the older—each squandering their sonship in different ways. Last week, we delved into the younger son's story, who openly rebelled and squandered his inheritance. Today, we turn our attention to the older brother, who, despite his outward obedience, harbors resentment and entitlement, making him equally lost.
The older brother's story is a cautionary tale for those who believe they are righteous through their own efforts. He stayed home, followed the rules, and yet felt entitled to rewards from his father. His anger and resentment reveal a heart far from God, despite his physical proximity. This older brother syndrome is sneaky and hard to diagnose in oneself, but it manifests in joylessness, entitlement, and a transactional view of our relationship with God.
Jesus uses this parable to expose the dangers of both overt rebellion and hidden self-righteousness. The heart of the gospel is not about shame, condemnation, or comparison but about the lavish love of God, humility, redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Both sons are invited to come home—not just physically but spiritually and relationally.
The older brother's anger and entitlement are symptoms of a deeper issue: a lack of understanding of his true identity as a son. He sees his relationship with his father as transactional, not covenantal. He believes he has earned his father's blessings through his good behavior, missing the point that everything the father has is already his. This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts for signs of older brother syndrome and to seek a deeper, more joyful relationship with God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Hidden Danger of Self-Righteousness: The older brother's story warns us about the hidden dangers of self-righteousness. Outward obedience can mask a heart full of resentment and entitlement. True sonship is not about earning God's favor but about living in a loving, covenantal relationship with Him. [03:31]
2. Joylessness as a Symptom: One of the most glaring symptoms of older brother syndrome is joylessness. When we struggle to delight in God and receive His delight in us, it indicates that self-righteousness and entitlement have taken root in our hearts. Joy in Christ is the antidote to this syndrome. [08:32]
3. The Power of Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful antidote to resentment and entitlement. You cannot be both resentful and grateful at the same time. Cultivating a heart of thanksgiving helps us to focus on God's goodness and dispels the bitterness that can take root in our hearts. [51:50]
4. Transactional vs. Covenantal Relationships: The older brother viewed his relationship with his father as transactional, believing he had earned blessings through his good behavior. In contrast, a covenantal relationship is based on love, trust, and mutual commitment. Understanding this difference is crucial for a healthy spiritual life. [30:37]
5. God's Lavish Love: The parable highlights God's lavish love for both the rebellious and the self-righteous. The father runs to embrace the younger son and pleads with the older son to join the celebration. This love is not based on our performance but on our identity as His children. [06:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:46] - Introduction to the Parable
[03:31] - The Hidden Danger of Self-Righteousness
[05:07] - Diagnosing Older Brother Syndrome
[06:53] - The Heart of Gospel Community
[08:32] - Joylessness as a Symptom
[10:08] - Understanding Sonship
[11:56] - Context of Luke 15
[13:24] - The Younger Son's Rebellion
[16:28] - God's Perspective on the Lost
[18:18] - Jesus' Invitation to Sinners
[19:56] - Are You Angry with God?
[21:31] - Entitlement and Envy
[22:55] - What is God Asking You to Ask For?
[24:11] - The Need for a Physician
[25:50] - The Older Brother's Anger
[27:31] - Taking Offense vs. Suffering Injustice
[29:09] - The Father's Response
[30:37] - Transactional vs. Covenantal Relationships
[32:01] - Projected Assumptions
[33:37] - The Spirit of Entitlement
[36:02] - Legitimate Needs and Sin
[37:33] - God's Good Gifts
[38:59] - The Father's Invitation
[40:54] - Partnership and Joy with the Father
[42:20] - The Heart of the Father
[43:47] - Celebrating the Lost Coming Home
[45:09] - The Gospel Invitation
[46:56] - Honest Conversations with God
[48:38] - What is God Asking You to Ask For?
[50:03] - Leaning into Sonship
[51:50] - The Power of Gratitude
[53:26] - The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son
2. Mark 2:17 - "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
3. Psalm 73:1-4 - "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key differences between the younger and older brothers in the parable of the prodigal son? ([01:46])
2. How does the older brother react when he learns about the celebration for his younger brother's return? ([25:50])
3. What does the father say to the older brother to remind him of his true identity and relationship? ([38:59])
4. According to the sermon, what are some symptoms of "older brother syndrome"? ([05:07])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the older brother feel entitled to his father's blessings, and how does this reflect a transactional view of his relationship with his father? ([30:37])
2. How does joylessness serve as a symptom of self-righteousness and entitlement in one's spiritual life? ([08:32])
3. What does the father's response to the older brother's anger reveal about God's love and grace? ([38:59])
4. How does the concept of sonship in the sermon challenge our understanding of our relationship with God? ([10:08])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt entitled to something from God. How did that affect your relationship with Him? ([22:55])
2. The sermon mentions that joy in Christ is the antidote to self-righteousness and entitlement. What practical steps can you take to cultivate joy in your daily life? ([08:32])
3. How can you practice gratitude to combat feelings of resentment and entitlement? Share specific ways you can incorporate thanksgiving into your prayer life. ([51:50])
4. Are there areas in your life where you view your relationship with God as transactional rather than covenantal? How can you shift your perspective to see it as a loving, covenantal relationship? ([30:37])
5. The sermon challenges us to ask God for what we need. What is one specific thing you feel God is asking you to ask for? How can you approach Him with this request? ([22:55])
6. How can you identify and address any signs of "older brother syndrome" in your own heart? What steps can you take to ensure your relationship with God is based on love and trust rather than performance? ([05:07])
7. Reflect on the father's lavish love for both sons in the parable. How can you extend that same love and grace to others in your life, especially those who may have wronged you? ([06:53])
Devotional
Day 1: The Hidden Danger of Self-Righteousness
Description: The story of the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son serves as a stark warning about the hidden dangers of self-righteousness. Outward obedience and rule-following can often mask a heart full of resentment and entitlement. The older brother believed he had earned his father's favor through his good behavior, but his anger and resentment revealed a heart far from God. True sonship is not about earning God's favor but about living in a loving, covenantal relationship with Him. This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts for signs of self-righteousness and to seek a deeper, more joyful relationship with God. [03:31]
Luke 18:9-14 (ESV): "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 'Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get." But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.'"
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt entitled to God's blessings because of your good behavior. How can you shift your perspective to see your relationship with God as covenantal rather than transactional?
Day 2: Joylessness as a Symptom
Description: One of the most glaring symptoms of older brother syndrome is joylessness. When we struggle to delight in God and receive His delight in us, it indicates that self-righteousness and entitlement have taken root in our hearts. The older brother's lack of joy in his father's presence and his resentment towards his younger brother's celebration reveal a heart that is not aligned with God's love and grace. Joy in Christ is the antidote to this syndrome, as it helps us to focus on God's goodness and dispels the bitterness that can take root in our hearts. [08:32]
Psalm 51:12 (ESV): "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on your current level of joy in your relationship with God. What steps can you take today to cultivate a heart of joy and gratitude in Christ?
Day 3: The Power of Gratitude
Description: Gratitude is a powerful antidote to resentment and entitlement. The older brother's resentment towards his younger brother and his father stemmed from a lack of gratitude for what he already had. He failed to recognize that everything his father had was already his. Cultivating a heart of thanksgiving helps us to focus on God's goodness and dispels the bitterness that can take root in our hearts. You cannot be both resentful and grateful at the same time. By practicing gratitude, we can shift our focus from what we lack to the abundant blessings we have in Christ. [51:50]
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV): "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Take a moment to list three things you are grateful for today. How can you make gratitude a daily practice to combat feelings of resentment and entitlement?
Day 4: Transactional vs. Covenantal Relationships
Description: The older brother viewed his relationship with his father as transactional, believing he had earned blessings through his good behavior. This transactional mindset led to feelings of entitlement and resentment when things did not go as he expected. In contrast, a covenantal relationship is based on love, trust, and mutual commitment. Understanding this difference is crucial for a healthy spiritual life. A covenantal relationship with God is not about earning His favor but about living in a loving, committed relationship with Him, where His love and grace are freely given and received. [30:37]
Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with God. Do you see it as transactional or covenantal? What changes can you make to embrace a more covenantal relationship with Him?
Day 5: God's Lavish Love
Description: The parable of the prodigal son highlights God's lavish love for both the rebellious and the self-righteous. The father runs to embrace the younger son upon his return and pleads with the older son to join the celebration. This love is not based on our performance but on our identity as His children. God's love is extravagant and unconditional, inviting us to come home not just physically but spiritually and relationally. Both sons are invited to experience the fullness of their father's love, regardless of their past actions. [06:53]
Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV): "May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How have you experienced God's lavish love in your life? Take a moment to thank Him for His unconditional love and consider how you can share that love with others today.
Quotes
1. "The heart of real gospel community is not about shame or condemnation or comparison. It's about the lavish love of God, humility, redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Honest humility of our stance, where we are, where we stand before God so that we can and will come home. It's about coming home to your Father. And it's about coming home to your family. Not just in shame, but as a beloved son." [06:53] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So again, this is not about labeling people or shaming people. It's about discerning when these attitudes are starting to grip your own heart so that you can be rid of them. So that you can fully receive and then operate even out of that identity in Christ, that sonship. And at the very least, we want to hear the wisdom in this parable to guard against these sort of temptations that can steal your joy and your sonship in Christ." [08:32] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus never hung out with sinners to condone their sin, but to invite them to leave it. To die to it. And that invitation is for you and me. To humbly come just as you are, but to receive his help, to be transformed into who he says you are. This is what Jesus provides for us. Jesus was inviting them to be made new, just like the father offers in this parable." [18:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You'll have no desire for a doctor until you realize you need one. Jesus is the great physician. Amen. And it's not like you come and you get saved and you're all good and you don't have any struggles anymore because you are self-righteous and all blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. No. Coming to him is realizing that you need him all the time. And he's so good. And he's gracious. And he loves you. And he gives you the joy and humility to walk with him as sons and daughters in the midst of it all. And he gives you a new identity." [24:11] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The older brother spirit is a spirit of entitlement. God, you owe me. You owe me. God, you owe me. You owe me. And envy, it's comparing, it's criticizing, it's judging, it's blaming, and it's bitter. And ultimately, it's all aimed at God. Question two, what do you feel entitled to that God has not provided? Better job, better life, better health, better wealth. Again, all sin, hear this, is an attempt to fill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way." [36:02] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The antidote to the older brother syndrome is thanksgiving. As Tim Keller called it, it's the expulsive power of a new affection. Behold, how great he is and how good he is, who he is, and therefore, whose you are. We don't just stop loving the things of this world. You can't. Your heart's going to be too prone to it. You start loving him, and he'll press it all out because he's redeeming the counterfeit." [53:26] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "This is the gospel that God became a man and he lived the life we couldn't live and he died the death we deserve to die. He took the condemnation that we could not pay. He took the penalty we could not pay and he paid it at the cross. It was eternal damnation for us. It brings eternal life now for us through Christ who conquered that barrier. And he paved the way through the resurrection, conquering death and the grave, paving the way through the resurrection to eternal life." [45:09] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The antidote is joy. The antidote is gratitude. The antidote is receiving your sonship. You cannot be both resentful and grateful at the same time. Can't happen. I dare you. Try it. You can't. Your gratitude's going to crush the resentment every time. Every time. You cannot be angry and thankful at the same time. You can't." [51:50] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "When you live as an heir of the kingdom, you'll actually even work harder than anyone to expand and grow the kingdom. Not because you're trying to earn something, but because you've tapped into the heart of God for the kingdom. And you realize he cares about this even more than I do. And I really care about this. And he cares about me in the midst of it because you love what the father loves. It's not about entitlement. It's about stewardship." [40:54] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Jesus is inviting us to be made new, just like the father offers in this parable. But these religious people, they don't like it, man. They've missed the heart of God. And so not only have they missed the heart for the younger brother, but also for themselves, who are just as lost, even more so because they don't even know it." [18:18] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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