In today’s text, Jesus offers hope for the older son in the parable of the prodigal—representing those who are religious yet spiritually lost. Though outwardly moral and devoted, the religious often remain unsaved. They paint themselves with the colors of service and virtue, yet their hearts are marked by self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and a fixation on external traditions rather than inward transformation. Still, God extends hope even to them—the hope of escaping final judgment through his compassion, his promise of salvation by faith alone, and his joy over the lost who are found.
God’s Compassion for the Religious
God’s heart is tender, even toward the self-righteous. As long as there is life, redemption remains possible. In verse 31, the father calls the older son “son,” a translation of the Greek huios, which conveys deep affection, sympathy, and pity. This same word appears in Luke 16:25, where Abraham compassionately addresses the rich man. The repetition underscores God’s compassion toward those who seem furthest from grace. His mercy offers the religious another chance to repent and believe.
Christians, therefore, are called to share this same compassion by clearly presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ—the only source of true hope and salvation. Through the gospel, even those bound by legalism can experience freedom and forgiveness.
The Promise of Salvation Through Faith Alone
God’s promise of salvation rests entirely on faith in him. This promise holds both present and future dimensions: forgiveness now, and the hope of eternal glory to come. God’s promises are rooted in his unchanging nature and perfect faithfulness—when he speaks, he fulfills.
In the parable, the father reminds the older son that “all that I have is yours.” This represents the blessings of God’s covenant offered to Israel and, by extension, to all who believe. Yet many religious people fail to recognize these blessings. They strive for acceptance through performance, not realizing that God’s grace has already been extended. Their ingratitude blinds them to the fullness of God’s promise.
The Religious Misunderstanding of Salvation
The tragedy of religion without relationship is that it mistakes service for salvation. The elder son points to his years of labor and obedience as evidence of his worthiness, yet he remains estranged from his father. This mirrors the heart of the religious person who seeks to earn God’s favor through moral effort.
Such striving breeds self-righteousness, not forgiveness. Because they have not received grace, the religious cannot extend it to others. In verse 31, the father gently invites his son into personal relationship through faith—a call the religious often resist, preferring to labor in vain rather than rest in grace.
Faith and Inner Transformation
True faith is more than belief—it is the reception of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, resulting in an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. Those who receive Christ walk daily with him in loving obedience, not out of duty but devotion. This promise of personal relationship is available to all, even the most hardened religious heart. Faith in the gospel is the only path to forgiveness and salvation—the only hope of true life.
God’s Joy in Redemption
God’s greatest glory is revealed in redemption. Jesus declares, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7), and again, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
In every act of redemption, God’s justice, mercy, and love shine together in perfect harmony. Heaven rejoices because salvation magnifies God’s character. Christians, too, should rejoice, recognizing that every person’s greatest need is salvation through faith in Christ. Once enslaved by sin and separated from God, believers have been redeemed and set free by his power.
The elder son, however, could not comprehend this joy. Spiritually dead, he could not understand the miracle before him—that his brother, once lost, was now found; once dead, was now alive (v. 32).
God’s Relentless Pursuit of the Lost
God’s pursuit of sinners is relentless and rooted in eternal love. “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when hearts grow cold and consciences harden, the Holy Spirit continues to stir and awaken the lost. Christ’s ongoing intercession before the Father reveals God’s active pursuit—he does not wait for sinners to come to him but initiates redemption himself.
God patiently calls for repentance, as Peter reminds us: “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). His compassion precedes our turning, and his love endures even in our rebellion.
A Call to Examine Our Hearts
This passage invites believers to examine their own hearts. Do we still find joy in God and his word? When our delight in him fades, we risk becoming like the elder son—religious but distant, busy in service yet barren in love.
When serving becomes mere duty, knowledge turns cold, and worship loses its truth. True worship flows from a heart anchored in God’s word and shaped by faith, not emotion. To avoid falling into empty religiosity, we must daily fight to love Christ, walk by faith, and depend on prayer. Only then can our service be joyful, our worship sincere, and our relationship with God alive.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
Leave a comment