As a coin has two faces, so the story of the lost son has two sides: the older son remained with his father faithful, hardworking, submissive, and godly. He worked in the field by the sweat of his brow, and did not surrender to ease and laziness at home. In the example of the elder son, Christ refers to the Jews of the Old Testament, who kept the law diligently, and served God with pains, determination, and godliness to gain paradise. But when Christ saved the adulterers and sinners, without gaining salvation through their good deeds, the Pharisees complained greatly.
As the elder son came back in the evening, tired from his work in the field, he suddenly heard noise, music, and dancing, and was astonished for no party or wedding were expected in the house. But when he heard that those things happened because his young brother returned, and his father received him gladly and joyfully, and invited all the house to rejoice and become merry, he showed his displeasure, flamed up with rage, and demanded in his heart that the prodigal be condemned, refused, and consumed, for he had impaired the family’s reputation. He was bitter over receiving his brother in that manner without any condition or punishment, which he regarded as an injustice. He probably thought in his heart: "How I wish I could bring that thief into my field to teach him toil and labor that he may forget his lusts and ease." The professing son hated the merciful father and all those who participated in the joy. So he disobediently did not enter the house, and separated himself from his Lord.
Then the strange thing that is the second miracle of the golden chapter happened. The father remained merciful to the hard lawyer, and did not refuse him. He arose that night, and went to his obstinate son who kept away from him. He spoke to him with kindness, and tried to win his heart, and fill it with love toward his returning brother.
But the angry professor complained sharply against his father. He did not call him "father" any further, but began his speech with "I", showing his empty ego, claiming his rights, and bringing into view his worthiness, seeing nothing but his illusory uprightness, and making himself a measure for everyone. He did not observe that his returning brother who was lost became righteous, whereas he the faithful and godly turned, through his disobedience, into a falling, ungrateful, lost one. Then the angry one did not call his returning brother "brother", but threw the evil word "this son of yours" in his father’s face, "I have nothing to do with this adulterer and criminal, for I am clean, and he is adulterous. You have polluted our house by receiving this criminal. You have killed the most valuable calf in our field for this beggar. I the content and humble have enjoyed nothing, living cheerlessly and brokenheartedly, and now you become merry and rejoice.
The heart of the father was probably troubled by the harsh words of his son who stroke his joyful heart as if with a hammer. But in his holy patience, the wise father wished also for the deliverance of his older son, and endeavored to gain his love. He did not call him mutinous, obstinate, or rebellious, but called him, "son", which is the kindest word a father says to his child. He wanted to break his hatred with this kind call. Furthermore, he proved that he did not speak only out of passion, but in the meanings of truth, saying, "You are always with me." There is no greater than this word, which God says to man. Immediately the father went on saying, "All that I have is yours." Arise O heart! Worship O soul! God does not say to you disobedient, "Depart from me, you cursed." But he provides you with all his riches, rights, power, and future developments. That is all yours. All that is God’s is yours and more. This statement from the mouth of God means: I am yours for love’s sake. I am to you as a father is to his child.
Dear brother, if you did not recognize yet who God is in the New Testament, read the whole story (from v. 11 to v. 31) once again, and pray that you may know that God does not only teach himself to the righteous, but also gives himself to the lost, the sinful, the hardhearted professors to the same extent, for God is love, and his rich mercy is endless.
The father continued his speech to his turning away son: "Whether you understand or not, we must celebrate the return of your brother. Today, this means to you that every man is your brother. He must turn to God, and you must partake of communicating the gospel of salvation to others. Every sinner who repents is like a dead man who rises from the dead, and every sinful who becomes renewed by the word of the Holy Spirit is more important than the angels, for God has found a child in him. Today, waves of joy and gladness are spread all around the world, for millions of people are repenting and born again. Do you enjoy with us, or complain in your problems?