Prodigal Part II - The Elder Brother

Prodigal Pt. 2 -  The Elder Brother (Luke 15:11-32)

• Luke 15:11-32 (ESV)

• Religious self-righteousness is even more dangerous than rebellious unrighteousness.

• 1. Because it gives us an inflated view of self.

• Luke 15:29 (ESV)

• “A cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute.” - C.S. Lewis

• 2. Because it gives us a deflated view of self.

• Luke 15:30 (ESV)

• Jesus said to [the religious leaders],  “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.” - Matthew 21:31b

• 3. Because it gives us a conflated view of God.

• “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” - Jonathan Edwards

• “We will never stop being younger brothers or elder brothers until we acknowledge our need, rest by faith, and gaze in wonder at the work of our true elder brother, Jesus Christ.” - Tim Keller, The Prodigal God

• “The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins." - Charles Spurgeon

Works Cited/Further Reading

• The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
• A Tale of Two Sons by John MacArthur
• One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian
• New Morning Mercies by Paul Tripp
• The ESV Study Bible