The Sins of the Elder Brother

Pastor David Reagan
Antioch Baptist Church
11/30/2003

Sermon Recordings:

16K RealAudio:		Listen Now or Download
32K MP3:		Listen Now or Download

(To listen to audio on the web, you must have a RealMedia or MP3 player installed on your computer. Free versions of these programs can be downloaded from real.com and winamp.com.)

Scripture References:

• Luke 15:11-13, 25-32

Sermon Notes:

As an introduction, consider the good qualities of the elder brother:

1. He was loyal (v. 11-12); he stayed with his father when the younger brother left home to party
2. He was industrious (v. 25); when the younger brother returns home, he is working in the field
3. He is faithful (v. 29); he served without fail for many years; he could be counted on to be there
4. He was righteous (v. 29); he did not transgress the commandment of the father
   
   So, why do we have such a negative picture of the elder brother? He seems to have all the qualities that make for a faithful, upright church member. Yet, like the church of Ephesus in Revelation, chapter two, a church that was faithful in works and true in doctrine, the Lord has somewhat against him because he has left his first love (Revelation 2:4). And like this church, he needs to remember from whence he has fallen, repent, and do the first works (Revelation 2:5). Those of you who are here today and feel secure in your faithfulness to God, will you search your heart and see if there be any wickedness in you that needs to be surrendered to the Lord?
   

1. SPIRITUAL DULLNESS (15:25-26) -- "asked what these things meant"
   
   
   1. He Was Not Spiritually Blind (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
   2. But He Was Spiritually Dull
      
      
      1. He did not recognize the revival when it came
      2. Like Eli, he missed the spiritual significance of what was happening (1 Samuel 1:9-15)
      3. Like the Galatians, he was trying to achieve perfection by the flesh (Galatians 3:3)
         
         
2. ANGER (15:28) -- "he was angry"
   
   
   1. He Had Reserved His Anger For Many Years (v. 29)
      
      
      1. He had developed the root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)
      2. When a glass is tipped, nothing can come out that is not already in the glass
         
         
      3. He Was Sure of the Righteousness of His Anger
         
         
         1. He was not the one who had transgressed (v. 29)
         2. Like Jonah, he felt he did well to be angry (Jonah 4:5-11)
            
            
3. BROKEN FELLOWSHIP (15:28) -- "would not go in"
   
   
   1. In Breaking Fellowship With His Brother, He Lost Fellowship With the Father (1 John 1:3; 4:20-21)
      
      
      1. His breaking of fellowship was a willful act ' "he would not"
      2. The younger son broke away from the father's house; the elder brother broke fellowship in the father's house
      3. He made the father come to him
         
         
      4. Broken Fellowship Was the First Result of Man's Original Sin (Genesis 3:8); it is a sign that more is wrong in your life
         
         
4. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS (15:29) -- "these many years do I serve thee:
   
   
   1. He Saw Himself Righteous in Comparison to His Brother
      
      
      1. This is the only way we can see ourselves righteous
      2. This is the sin of the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14)
         
         
      3. He Failed to See His Own Sinfulness; compare this with the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:18; 1 Timothy 1:15)
         
         
5. JEALOUSY (15:29-30) -- "thou never gavest me a kid"
   
   
   1. He Compared Lives (John 21:20-22; 2 Corinthians 10:12)
      
      
   2. He Compared Rewards (Matthew 20:1-15)
      
      
   3. He Found Reason to Complain
      
      
      1. You never even gave me a kid
      2. You gave my brother the fatted calf
         
         
6. UNTHANKFULNESS (15:31) -- "all that I have is thine"
   
   
   1. He Lost the Joy of Being With the Father
      
      
   2. He Discounted the Blessings That Were His (1 Corinthians 3:21-23)
      
      
7. SELFISHNESS (15:32) -- "this thy brother was dead, and is alive again"
   
   
   1. He Had No Joy in His Brother's Return; consider the joy over the found sheep (v. 3-7)
      
      
   2. His Thoughts Were Only of Himself (Psalm 10:4)