Luke 15:11-32

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”

Abraham Lincoln

Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 of the prodigal son tells the story of a grace-filled father, a wayward son, and a resentful brother. Consider the elder brother’s perspective on the departure and return of his younger brother.  Little brother had taken off with his prematurely obtained portion of their father’s estate. Elder brother is angered not by little brother’s return, but by his father’s response to that return. If the father had accepted little brother back on his stated terms of “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men," elder brother might have thought, “fair enough.” To receive him back as a son—and as a son with honors and privileges—that was too much, it was painfully unfair. The eldest son was not seeing his little brother through the eyes of grace, but through the eyes of justice.  The eldest son’s perspective is  “comparison accounting”: spiritual and moral accounting that is precise and accurate and one-dimensional. It is an accounting that does not allow for another to pay for the price of justice.  It terms for you and I to understand, this philosophy dictates that we become clean before, and without, Calvary.  Comparison accounting records actions but not attitude, deeds but not heart. Debits and credits are made and paid through works alone.  According to the eldest son’s one-dimensional accounting system, it was entirely unjust for his father to show favor to little brother before he had at least “made good” his debt through restitution. Receiving him coolly as a slave would have been just (if not totally denying him). Embracing and giving gifts and celebrating the return of someone with an impossible debt seemed shockingly unjust, weak, and inconsistent. Comparison accounting has never, and will never, make the acquaintance of grace.  God’s accounting is not limited to one dimension: He records action and attitude, deed and heart, works and motivation. In Jesus’ parable, both sons were in the red in their father’s books. The eldest son displayed right actions, but his deeds were motivated by duty not by honor and love: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders”. The younger son—in the midst of his wanderings—discovered the connection between rebellion and misery and stumbled upon a truth that the eldest could not comprehend: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son”. While you and I may be able at times to judge a situation or a brother or sister from the father’s perspective, how often does your grace outweigh your justice?  God operates on a system where His grace overpowers the penalty that should rightfully be paid. To the resentful eldest the father spoke tender truth and showed concern. To the broken youngest the father opened his arms and called for celebration.  Grace rises to greet sincere and sober estimations of our sinfulness.