Luke 15:25-32 25Now his older son was in the field, and as he was coming he drew near to the house; he heard music and dancing. 26And calling one of the servants he asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back healthy.’ 28But he was angry and refused to go in.
The parable makes a big shift in verse 25 with the reaction of the older son. This son was out doing what a good son should have been doing: working hard in the field. He was contributing to the family good. He was in for a big surprise when he got back home and heard a party happening. He had not been invited or informed of any celebration. The household was of substantial size to have servants. The servant’s report sums up the previous verses about the return of the younger son.
The response has three parts, each with additional meaning and possible implications for the older son. The return of the brother marked the restoration of the family. An older brother in a situation like this might be surprised and begin to feel a bit jealous because he was the oldest and bound for leadership in the family. He would also receive the greatest inheritance and responsibility. The younger brother had taken a share of the inheritance before the father passed away and also did not contribute to the work anymore. The older son had to pick up the extra work.
The second statement about killing the special calf made the spark of jealousy grow. This calf was saved for very special occasions, like a Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham. Why was there such a celebration for a prodigal son who wasted his money and rejected the family? The third statement was also surprising because the father accepted the younger son back. There was no discipline or shame involved to put this son “back in his place.” The use of the word healthy (hygiainonta) is surprising. We get the word “hygiene” from this word. The son was likely anything but clean and healthy. He was likely starving and dirty after working with pigs. The father did not care about what the son looked or smelled like. All he wanted was his son back home. The health may not have been physical but more spiritual in that the son confessed, repented, and returned in humility.
Each one of these statements increased the older brother’s anger, which probably came from jealousy and self-righteousness. His attitude was the same as the Pharisees and other religious Jews who criticized Jesus for eating with sinners and tax collectors. Jesus represented God’s attitude to sinners who repent. The older brother refused to accept his brother back because of his anger, jealousy, and sense of superiority.
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