iv The Elder Brother. 37 



the Prodigal himself. The story of his sins and his 

 misfortunes is repeated in every age and in every 

 country ; and to those who heard, whether Pharisees 

 or publicans, he represented the "sinners," by 

 receiving and eating with whom Christ scandalised 

 the Pharisees. But what are we to make of the elder 

 brother, who had remained at home with his father 

 all the time of the Prodigal's absence ; and when the 

 Prodigal returned, and was received by his father 

 with honour and festivity, was so angry and sullen 

 that he would not enter the house ? 



It is not likely the Pharisees had any difficulty in 

 perceiving that Christ meant this as a condemnation 

 of their position. But to many modern readers it 

 seems to be perplexing : they probably think the 

 conversation where the father justifies himself to 

 his elder son for receiving the returned prodigal 

 with rejoicing, is meant only to heighten the effect 

 of the whole. If, however, we were now to read it 

 for the first time, it would not heighten the effect ; 

 and it may be suspected that those who think so, 

 would in reality like the parable better if it ended 

 with the reception of the Prodigal by the father. 



There is, no doubt, a difficulty about the way 

 in which we are to understand the character of the 

 elder brother. He is usually taken to represent the 

 Pharisees, and he appears to be introduced solely for 

 rebuke and warning ; yet the father's saying, " Son, 

 thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine," 

 describes a state of privilege and blessing equal to the 



