The Bible study group I belong to does a series called Thankful Thursday. This is my take on one story. You may totally disagree and that okay.

My thankfulness today is the ability to learn. The Bible is the word of God. Sin and human nature tends to bend us in ways the word of God didn’t want us to go. This is one of my many learning experiences.

Sam’s sermon Sunday was about the lessons we can learn from the parable of “The Prodigal Son.” From a religious stand point, I’m so very happy God will take us into his loving arms even after we have made such a mess out of life.

I want to look at the oldest son. Luke 15: 29-32 – 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

From an Earthly standpoint; being the oldest and having such a big difference in how my sister and I were raised, this parable makes me mad every time I read it.

I’ve been digging a little deeper (for me).

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

Shew buddy. Am I a Pharisee because I understand the hard feelings this older brother feels? Because I want to hug the oldest and whisper in his ear, “he probably has donovanosis and his junks gonna rot off.”

Jesus surrounded himself with sinners. And here he’s preaching to the Pharisees and the teachers of law who are so lofty they think their poo doesn’t stink. And who looks down their noses at us sinners.

25: the oldest son was in the field. Why was he in the field? He was working. He worked for his father.

While the father was happy that his son was home safe and sound. The oldest brother was angry. He would not go in the house. He made his father come to him. He removes himself from the household.

29 “Lo these many years I have serve thee.” He has removed himself as a son and categorizes himself as a slave (servant). You can serve someone and be obedient and not love them. Service to God and obedience to God isn’t a bad thing. However, we need to – KJV “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” Psalms 100:2

29..”gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.” The youngest son isn’t making merry with his friends. He’s with his father and the household. Who has welcomed him home with open arms of love.

30 “But as soon as this thy son was come.” The oldest doesn’t refer to his brother as such, but ‘thy son’.

The oldest son never refers to himself in the dialog as a son to the man.

31 The father refers to this son as “son”. Trying to show the oldest that the father doesn’t see him as a slave but his son.

32 “thy brother” the father is trying to bring the son back into the mindset that this is his brother. Not just the father’s other son.

Everything that the youngest son did at the beginning, the oldest is doing now. Removing himself from everyone that he is attached to.

In every way the oldest son removes himself from his family. Anger can do that. Bitterness can do that. Real or perceived hurts can do that.

The Pharisees where angry that Jesus was welcoming of sinners. Just as the oldest son was angry that his father welcomed the youngest home.

This is a spiritual story. All about God. We humans shouldn’t (this human shouldn’t try to apply this parable) to my life in an Earthly parent way. This is God’s story about love and acceptance. Not Chico’ Mom’s story about the differences in child rearing.

Catholic Production: The Prodigal Sons Older Brother

The Bible