Whose Fatted Calf Was It?

The story of the Prodigal Son has interesting details.  

First, the parable is directed to the Scribes and Pharisees who complain that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Second, when the younger son asks for his inheritance, he's treating his father as if he's already dead. And a bit later, that same son has to feed the swine when he runs out of money…a horrible thing for a Jew to do.

Third, the older son is reminded that everything the father has, now belongs to him.  

It’s that last detail that infuriates the older brother, Why? Because it means that the fatted calf belonged to him! 

We also aren’t told whether the older brother went into the party or not. Jesus probably wants each of us to decide what we would do. So…if you were the older brother, what would you have done?    

As you grapple with that question, here’s some truth.  Sometimes we’re like the younger brother. And sometimes we’re like the older brother. And sometimes we’re like the father too…waiting for his children to come home…including the Scribes and the Pharisees. What a great story!