Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday to you.

Today we continue with part two of our devotion on the parable Jesus shared in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15—the parable of the prodigal son and his brother. We’re going to revisit what we read last week and then move forward with the rest of the parable.

So let’s open our Bibles to Luke 15, beginning in verse 11:

Then Jesus said, *“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country. And there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father.

But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.”*

And now, here’s where we pick up for our devotion today, beginning in verse 25:

*“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’

Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’

Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”*

We so often spend our time focusing on the prodigal son—the younger one who squandered his inheritance, came to his senses, repented, and returned to his father. But today, let’s reflect on the other brother—the elder son.

He had done everything right. He obeyed his father’s commands. He worked hard. Yet when the celebration began for his brother, he refused to join in. He sat outside, angry and bitter.

Aren’t we sometimes like this older brother? We’ve grown up in the faith. We’ve been brought to the waters of baptism, raised in the church, and sought to live under God’s Word. Then we see sinners repent, and heaven rejoices over them. And in our hearts, we sometimes ask: “How is that fair? They did nothing to earn it!”

And so we sit back, grumbling, refusing to join the celebration.

But notice: just as the father ran to embrace the prodigal son, he also went out to the older son. He pleaded with him, inviting him to come in and rejoice. The parable never tells us if the elder brother joined the feast. It leaves us with a question: will we?

You and I are blessed. Many of us have never known life apart from God as our Father. We’ve been spared the pain of wandering far off into dissolute living. But still, we are called—like the elder son—to enter the feast and rejoice with those who repent.

We’re invited not because of our works, our deeds, or our obedience, but by the mercy of God. Through the blood of Jesus Christ—the Lamb who was slain for all—we are all welcomed to the same eternal feast.

So when you hear of a brother or sister who has strayed but returned, don’t sit outside pouting. Don’t withhold your joy. Instead, come to the celebration. Rejoice that the Father has redeemed them—just as He has redeemed you.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You for making Yourself known to us. For those of us who have never known a time without You as our Father, give us humble hearts to see what a gift this truly is. Remind us that we too are saved only by Your mercy and grace.

Help us to celebrate when others repent and return to You. Keep us from pride or resentment. Instead, fill us with joy that more brothers and sisters are joining in the feast of Your Kingdom. Use us to share the good news so that many more may be invited to the eternal banquet.

We thank You and praise You, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Until we gather again to worship our Lord and Savior this Sunday, may you have a blessed week, sharing the good news that we are saved by the grace of God alone. God bless you.

Pastor Malinak