Sermon Tone Analysis

The Pharisee in Me

Tonight I want to expand a little on the parable that we talked about this morning, only tonight I want to focus more on the older brother.

I wonder if we see any of ourselves in the older brother’s attitude?

It seems like I can see some of that in me.

The reason Jesus placed the older brother in this parable was to contrast to the Pharisee’s their attitude in spite of the repentant sinners.

Remember that at the beginning of this chapter, the Pharisees were grumbling in verse 2. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So it makes perfect sense that Jesus would reveal their sinful hearts and attitude with a comparison to themselves in this parable.

Self-righteousness is an oxymoron

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The implication here made by the older brother is that he is righteous and always has been righteous.

He is saying to the father that surely he deserves more than the younger brother because the younger brother has been everything but righteous.

And on the surface that would seem correct, right?

I mean, he says that he has never disobeyed, and served all these years.

And we see what the younger brother did and the difference in their behavior is obvious.

However, we see something a little deeper in the heart of the older son.

We see an unforgiving spirit coming from an unforgiven soul.

We see a bitter, angry heart of unforgiveness that can only come from a person that hasn’t been forgiven of their sins.

Self righteousness “fosters the sinful human illusions of sinlessness, sufficiency, and freedom.”

Let’s look at another parable to illustrate this older brother’s heart condition.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Here again we see a contrast of two.

Two men.

Two different attitudes about their sin.

Two different outcomes of salvation.

Can’t you see the younger son and the older son in this parable also?

Isn’t that what the older brother said “I’ve been good all my life!

I’ve never done anything wrong!

I’m not going to celebrate or even call this guy my brother anymore!”

You see here the penitent sinner and the self-righteous snob.

They both deserve hell, but one is truly repentant for his sin.

(ESV)

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Self-righteousness is an illusion.

It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

Self-righteousness is an illusion.

It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Self-righteousness is an illusion.

It’s an illusion that says “I’m good enough as I am, I don’t need God”

Listen folks..

There is nobody so bad they can’t be saved, and nobody so good they don’t need to be saved.

We see this also described in Matthew 23:27-28

That is a fact.

You may think that your sins are better than someone else’s sins.