What is the moral significance of the incident of the Elder Son?
I. It is, some writers tell us, to mark the contrast between the narrow, merciless heart of the self-righteous man, as compared with the comprehensive, all-forgiving love of our heavenly Father. He who had been most sinned against he whose the property had been which a profligate son had wasted was ready to forgive; the other, far less injured, had only words of discontent and anger for his father's large-hearted mercy. It is possible that this contrast was intended, but I am sure it is not the principal purpose of the incident.
II. To determine what that significance really is, let us consider in the first place what the series of parables would be without it. Let us suppose that this series ended with the loving even enthusiastic reception of the younger son a this father's house. Might not the thought then be suggested. "If it be true that a profligate who repents is more pleasing in the sight of God than one who has led a consistently virtuous life, is it not better that I should do as this young man did? "This was the thought which passed through the mind of the elder son. The father's reply seems to have been intended to correct an erroneous inference which might, not unnaturally, be drawn, and which the elder son did actually draw. It is in its tone rather soothing than reproachful, meant to correct a mistake, and so to remove the anger which this mistake had caused; but not, as far as I can see, condemning the anger as at all unreasonable under the mistake. The Author of these parables foresaw that men might draw from them the false but not unnatural inference, that God prefers deep sinfulness, followed by true repentance, to a continuance in welldoing. To prevent such a mistake, this very objection is put into the mouth of the elder son. And in the reply of the father is fixed the true position of the repentant sinner. He is received with forgiveness, with welcome, with joy; but he does not take, in the estimation of his heavenly Father, the place of him "who by patient continuance in welldoing seeks for glory and honour and immortality."
J. H. Jellett, The Elder Son and Other Sermons,p. 1.
References: Luke 15:31. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 375; Sermons from Lent to Passiontide,p. 451; J. Ferrier, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxxii., p. 211; G. Matheson, Moments on the Mount,p. 115.Luke 15:32. J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,10th series, p. 86. E. Cooper, Practical Sermons,vol. iii., p. 178. Luke 15 A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 27; F. D. Maurice, The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven,p. 233.Luke 16:1. J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes,2nd series, p. 18. Luke 16:1-8. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 346; Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 377; C. Kingsley, Town and Country Sermons,p. 356. Luke 16:1-9. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i, p. 345.Luke 16:1-10. H. Calderwood, The Parables,p. 266; A. B. Bruce, The Parabolic Teaching of Christ,p. 355.Luke 16:1-12. Homiletic Quarterly,p. 503; Ibid.,vol. vi., p. 34; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 19; R. C. Trench, Notes on the Parables,p. 427.