In the story of the Prodigal Son, why is it that the older brother seems to hate the prodigal son?

Question

Like he doesn't want him back or something. What made him hate his brother?

Answer 1

jealousy

he felt that he had worked hard for his father and had earned his place of honour, when the younger one ran away and squandered his...

the point is, that the younger had repented and returned, thus really making his dad happy.
there was no need for the older to be jealous, because I'm sure dad has more than enough to go around.... that's what jealously does - takes our focus off of what is good for everyone.

blessings :)

Answer 2

Hello Office G,

The Older son despised his brother because he left the farm and went out to see the World whereas he stayed home help his father with the farming.

When the older brother return his father kill the fattest calf and had a big party for his return home, now the younger brother felt like he was the one who stay with his father and did all the work around the farm, and his father never threw a party for him.

However; his father was looking at things Thur the eyes of Christ. Parents know there children, and that father did not have to worry about his younger son, because all thought he was the youngest he knew the youngest child had more wisdom then his oldest child.

It was obvious to him that the youngest son did not need much supervision; because to the father his youngest son was already making wise decision.

Answer 3

Because he resents the fact that unlike his brother he has never left his Father's house and took off with his inheritance money and wasted it all on sinful living and he is very resentful jealous and upset that his low life brother has returned to his Father's house even as humbled as he is just desiring to be a servant of his Father but what happens he is completely restored as his son. All of this is a example of the Love of God the Father who is in the forgiving and restoration business. The older brother is typical of many religious people who are critical of sinners or those that have down and out and have failed God in some way or another and while claiming to " have never left the house" or "I have been a church member for 40 years" they are found to be totally empty of the Love of God and are not content unless they are holding someones past against them. They may be religious
but not genuine christians the bible calls them clouds that can hold no water Notice as he is on his way back home what does he see but the Father looking for him from afar off! Reminds me of a verse from a song that says" He was there all the time, he was there all the time, waiting patiently in line he was there all the time. Anytime we can help a christian recover from a fall we should do so no matter what that person has done we should all be in the forgiving and restoration business.

Answer 4

The younger brother asked for his inheritance, and then left his father's house, spent all his inheritance, and came crawling back to his father. The older brother was upset because of all this time he had been faithfully serving his father. When the father saw the prodigal coming back, he rejoiced, gave him a ring and expensive garments, and threw a big party. The older brother resented this because he had been quietly serving all this time while the younger brother was out recklessly spending all his father's money. Understandable, but the lesson Jesus taught is to be likened to one who has spent all their lives serving the Lord, and one who has spent all their lives living in sin, and the Lord will rejoice over that sinner who repents all the more.

Answer 5

He was jealous of his younger brother and the way that their father accepted him back unconditionally, even though the younger son had wasted his share of the estate on wild living. The older brother had stayed home and done all that the father had asked of him. He felt that his father was being unfair by throwing a celebration when he'd never even been given a calf to celebrate with his friends.

Some people think that it is a parable of the religious people such as the Pharisees who couldn't accept that sinners would receive salvation just as much as they would. They'd done all the right things from a religious standpoint, and they couldn't deal with the fact that prostitutes and tax collectors were being accepted into the Kingdom of God.

Answer 6

Gal 4:29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

It is an allegory of the Old and New covenants.
It is a picture of the flesh(trying to please God with good works) verses the Spirit - Which is accepting the grace of God - the Father's love demonstrated by the death of Christ on the cross. This theme is throughout the entire bible starting with Cain and Abel - also seen with Sarah and Hagar- Ishmael and Isaac. The older brother represents self righteous works based religion that resents the grace and blessing that comes upon those born of the Spirit apart from good works. Because good works are self exalting and faith is God exalting.

Answer 7

It's like this. There is one brother who just runs off--doing everything he isn't suppose to do. He is drinking and gambling and entertaining women. It's like Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll. He was an ancient rock star.

The other brother is doing everything right. He stays home and takes care of his parents. He wakes up every morning and plows the field. He works all day long. Goes to bed exhausted and wakes up and does it again. He does all this out of loyalty to his parents and honoring God in everything he does.

Then finally the younger brother blows all his money and comes home and says "Hey bro I'm here to mooch off of you for a bit cause I'm broke again" and the dad is so thrilled, slaughtering the best animal for a huge feast and celebration.

Of course he is angry. He is disrespecful, spendthrift and violates all the rules and the parents act like they are so happy to have that kid back. But the child that was respectful, followed the rules, and worked his butt off--doesn't get any celebration for doing the right thing.

Answer 8

It's typical human resentment and sibling rivalry. The older has worked his butt off and followed his father's wishes and had a life of labor and responsibility while the younger ran off and squandered everything. Then the father throws a celebration when the younger returns. Naturally, the older one feels some resentment.

Answer 9

The older brother in this story is very much like religious people who try their best to earn God's approval, and then are offended when God extends mercy and reconciliation to repentant sinners, like the younger brother in the story.
The sad part of the story is that the older brother, although he was outwardly obedient, really did not understand his father's heart.

Answer 10

Clearly, the prodigal was not the only one in Jesus’ parable who had a problem. “Both the sons here sketched are lost,” says one reference work, “the one through the unrighteousness that degrades him, the other through the self-righteousness which blinds him.” Note that the prodigal’s brother not only refused to rejoice but also “became wrathful.” The Greek root for “wrath” suggests, not so much an outburst of anger, but an abiding condition of the mind. Apparently, the prodigal’s brother harbored a deep-seated resentment, so he felt it was inappropriate to celebrate the return of someone who should never have left home in the first place.

The prodigal’s brother well represents those who resented the compassion and attention that Jesus accorded sinners. These self-righteous ones were not touched by Jesus’ mercy; neither did they reflect the joy in heaven that arises when a sinner is forgiven. Instead, Jesus’ mercy provoked their wrath, and they began “thinking wicked things” in their hearts. (Matthew 9:2-4) On one occasion the anger of some Pharisees was so intense that they summoned a man whom Jesus had healed and then “threw him out” of the synagogue—apparently expelling him! (John 9:22, 34) Like the prodigal’s brother, who was “unwilling to go in,” the Jewish religious leaders balked when they had opportunity to “rejoice with people who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15) Jesus further exposed their wicked reasoning as he continued his parable.

With these words, the prodigal’s brother made it clear that he had missed the true meaning of sonship. He served his father much the way an employee serves his employer. As he told his father: “I have slaved for you.” True, this eldest son had never left home or transgressed his father’s commandment. But was his obedience motivated by love? Did he find real joy in serving his father, or had he instead drifted into smug complacency, believing himself to be a good son simply because he performed his duties “in the field”? If he was truly a devoted son, why did he fail to reflect his father’s mind? When given opportunity to show mercy to his brother, why was there no room for compassion in his heart? —Compare Psalm 50:20-22.

The Jewish religious leaders resembled this older son. They believed that they were loyal to God because they strictly adhered to a code of laws. Granted, obedience is vital. (1 Samuel 15:22) But their overemphasis on works turned worship of God into a bookish routine, a mere shell of devotion with no true spirituality. Their minds were obsessed with traditions. Their hearts were loveless. Why, they regarded common folk like the dirt beneath their feet, even contemptuously referring to them as “accursed people.” (John 7:49) Really, how could God be impressed with the works of such leaders when their hearts were far removed from him?—Matthew 15:7, 8.

Jesus told the Pharisees to “go . . . and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6) Their priorities were confused, for without mercy all their sacrifices would be worthless. This is indeed a serious matter, for the Bible states that the “merciless” are counted among those viewed by God as “deserving of death.” (Romans 1:31, 32) Not surprisingly, therefore, Jesus said that as a class the religious leaders were destined for everlasting destruction. Evidently, their mercilessness contributed largely to their meriting this judgment. (Matthew 23:33) But perhaps individuals from this class could be reached. In the conclusion of his parable, Jesus strove to readjust the thinking of such Jews through the words of the father to his older son.