The Prodigal God: Younger Brother vs. Older Brother

Writing II-1st Younger blood comrade Sin vs. Older Brother Sin Luke 1511-32 is one of the most famous parables in the Bible. It is the parable of the debauched son. This parable is ab erupt a son who runs a substance with his inheritance, wastes on the whole of it, and then comes back home to his finds open arms. Tim Keller goes much(prenominal) in depth into this parable with his track record The Prodigal God. In this book, Keller compares the cardinal sons sins, two chums, each of whom represents a different commission to be disaffect from God, and a different way to seek adoption into the Kingdom of enlightenment (9).Through turn out the book, comparisons can be made between the jr. brothers sin and the fourth-year brothers sin. The younger brother was egotistic and cute his inheritance immediately so that he can go party. The fourth-year brother follows all of the rules to fascinate things and doesnt want his brother to come back. Throughout The Prodigal God, comparison can made between the two brothers sin in that twain of their intentions are selfish and they both want control. Tim Kellers book is more than just discussing the parable of the prodigal son.While the tradition seems to focus more on the younger brother and his sins, Keller goes more depth with the older brother and his faults, Most readings of this parable have saturated on the flight and return of the younger brother-the Prodigal Son. That misses the real meaning of the story, however, because there are two brothers, each of whom represents a different way to be alienated from God, and a different way to seek acceptance into the Kingdom of heaven (9). The first way that the older brother and the younger brothers sins are convertible is that both of their intentions are selfish.With the younger brother, he wanted his inheritance early so he could go and party. The young man humiliates his family and lives a self-indulgent, dissolute life. He is totally out of control. He is alienated from his fuss. (39) This behavior showed he wanted freedom for himself and that he was impatient. Keller goes on to say that the younger brother suasion of his relationship with his father as unimportant and he only wanted him for his possessions. He says that once he got timeworn of the relationship, he basically said that he was tired of it and he wanted out.Even though the older brother is different, his sins are up to now of the same context. He come afters all of his fathers rules so that he appears to be a good son, yet he is only doing these things to have a bun in the oven advantage of his father so that he can get what he wants. Elder brothers obey God to get things. They dont obey God to get God himself- in order to resemble him, come him, know him, and delight in him. So religious and clean masses can be avoiding Jesus as Savior and Lord as much as younger brothers say they dont count in God and define right and wrong for themselves (49).The s econd way in which the younger brothers and the older brothers sins are similar is that they both want control. There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord. One is by breaking all the honorable laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good. (50) Both brothers sought to control the father. The younger brother wants the inheritance to have control over his own life. He wanted to make his own decisions and have unfettered control of his portion of wealth. (41) The younger brother felt he could handle is life without any help, just now he needed earthly treasures so that he could feel powerful. The older brother is keeping all of the rules so that he can get his way with his father. Elder brothers do good to others, but not out of delight in deeds themselves, or for the love of the people or the pleasure of God (70). The older brother feels his obedience should keep his father obligated to him. When his father offers the y ounger brother forgiveness and a feast, the older brother is angry because he has lost control over his father.The obedience the older brother kept for so many years seems to be futile. It is impossible to forgive someone if you feel superior to him or her. (63) When looked at more closely, the younger brother and older brother show an unanticipated similarity in their sins throughout the parable of the prodigal son. Keller states in his book The Prodigal God that the goal of this book is to lay the essentials of the gospel, and to either break in or reassure the message of both this story and the gospel. This parable is thought of as one of the best readings in the Bible to help someone grasp the understanding of Gods love.