3 Lessons From the Elder
Brother
Why We All Need Forgiveness
to Change Our Hearts
By Charles F. Stanley
January 23, 2019
The 15th chapter of Luke
contains three separate stories—a man with 100 sheep who lost one, a woman who
lost a coin, and a father who lost his youngest son. In each case, when the
sheep, coin, and son were found, there was great rejoicing.
But in the story of the
Prodigal Son (Luke 15:25-32), the older son was not rejoicing. He was just like
the scribes and Pharisees who considered themselves righteous. They faithfully
attended synagogue every Sabbath, prided themselves on keeping the Law, and
looked down on the sinners and tax collectors.
In the same way, we too may
be critical of people who live a sinful lifestyle and make a mess of their
lives. Therefore, let’s learn some valuable lessons from the attitude of the
older brother before becoming too critical of other people’s sins.
There are two pig pens in this story. The
obvious one is in a far-off country where the Prodigal Son ended up as a result
of his wasteful, foolish choices. But the obedient older brother was in a hog
pen at home because of his sinful attitudes. He thought he was pious because of
his external obedience to his father, but in his heart he was wallowing in a
pig pen of resentful, self-righteous attitudes.
We can be in a far country without
realizing it. A far-off country is anywhere we choose to go outside of God’s
will. The prodigal left home to go where he could live as he pleased without
any restrictions, but although the older brother stayed home physically, he was
still in a far-off country because his heart was filled with antagonistic
attitudes. Even though he’d remained with his family, he was miserable and
separated from them emotionally. One brother was feeding on pods for pigs, but
the other one had a heart full of unforgiveness, jealousy, and bitter
resentment toward his brother and father.
The path of freedom from the hog pens of
life is paved with repentance and surrender to the will of the Father. The
condition of our hearts is not revealed so much by outward religious behavior
but by our attitude toward people and God. The scribes and Pharisees resented
Jesus for welcoming sinners who desired forgiveness, but in reality, they were
in a worse condition because they refused to recognize the sinfulness of their
hearts, and therefore, saw no need to seek forgiveness from God. If we want out
of the pig pens of life, we must be willing to admit our sin and come to Jesus
for the forgiveness of both our sinful behaviors and attitudes.
Have you ever found yourself
unexpectedly in the hog pen of unforgiveness and resentment? The good news is
that God joyfully welcomes us into His arms, too, when we repent of our sinful
actions and attitudes. Turn to Him and enjoy the blessings of His abundant
grace and love today.
