Good stuff. I would make a couple of observations.
The older bro is not left out, but we are left hanging. Does, or doesn't he go in? Doesn't say. The people are left hanging to choose who are they going to be? How will they handle the gift (Jesus), or the inheritance of eternal life? What will they do with Jesus? Squander him, whoring after other Gods as they did when they were the prodigal Israel taken to Babylon?
Then there is a literary undertone of this text to Exodus 32. God said to Moses, "your people" whom you brought out of Egypt. God is going to bring justice. The "teachers" know these undertones and Jesus is setting them up. Moses in Exodus 32 responds to God "your people" you brought out of Egypt. Moses is the Christ like Messiah, Deliver, Pleasing, Meek, standing in the gap. The Older bro says, "This son of yours", making a statement of "justice" to the father, in "anger" about this scandal. Jesus flipped the script. The Father says back, "this brother of yours", received grace, and needs to make a choice to join the family. Remember, the older son compared his keeping his father's commands as a chattel "slave" would do, and not even a “hired hand”, and an indentured servant, as the younger bro did. Jesus's undertones in this story scream very loud to the Jews and leaders who are listening, that we don't catch in our culture.
PS, I’m a Wesleyan pastor and not in the Reformed camp.
Good stuff. I would make a couple of observations.
The older bro is not left out, but we are left hanging. Does, or doesn't he go in? Doesn't say. The people are left hanging to choose who are they going to be? How will they handle the gift (Jesus), or the inheritance of eternal life? What will they do with Jesus? Squander him, whoring after other Gods as they did when they were the prodigal Israel taken to Babylon?
Then there is a literary undertone of this text to Exodus 32. God said to Moses, "your people" whom you brought out of Egypt. God is going to bring justice. The "teachers" know these undertones and Jesus is setting them up. Moses in Exodus 32 responds to God "your people" you brought out of Egypt. Moses is the Christ like Messiah, Deliver, Pleasing, Meek, standing in the gap. The Older bro says, "This son of yours", making a statement of "justice" to the father, in "anger" about this scandal. Jesus flipped the script. The Father says back, "this brother of yours", received grace, and needs to make a choice to join the family. Remember, the older son compared his keeping his father's commands as a chattel "slave" would do, and not even a “hired hand”, and an indentured servant, as the younger bro did. Jesus's undertones in this story scream very loud to the Jews and leaders who are listening, that we don't catch in our culture.
PS, I’m a Wesleyan pastor and not in the Reformed camp.