“大儿子却生气，不肯进去;他父亲就出来劝他”(路15:28)。{FH.128.1}
请注意比喻中的要点。大儿子从田里回来了，听见欢乐的声音，就问是怎么回事;得知他兄弟回来了，肥牛犊也宰了，为要预备筵席，大儿子就暴露出心中的自私、骄傲、嫉妒与恶毒。他觉得恩待浪子对他来说乃是一种侮辱。父亲出来劝他，但他没有以正确的眼光看待这事，也不愿因兄弟的失而复得而与父亲一同欢喜快乐。他要父亲明白，要是他是父亲，就不会接受这个儿子回来。他忘了那可怜的浪子是他的亲兄弟。他粗鲁地对父亲讲话，指控他待自己不公平，竟向一个浪费了他产业的人施恩。他对父亲说浪子是“你这个儿子。”然而尽管他有这一切不孝的行为，轻蔑傲慢的言语表情，父亲还是耐心温柔地对待他。……{FH.128.2}
大儿子最终认识到自己不配有这么仁慈体贴的父亲了吗?他终于明白虽然他兄弟行了恶，但仍是他的兄弟，他们的关系并没有改变吗?他因自己嫉妒而后悔，并求父亲饶恕自己这样当面误表他了吗?{FH.128.3}
用这个大儿子的行为来描述不悔改不相信的以色列人是多么贴切啊!他们不肯承认税吏和罪人是他们的兄弟，需要饶恕他们，寻找他们，为他们作工;不要丢弃他们，任他们灭亡，而要引他们得到永生!这个比喻是多么美好啊，它说明每一个悔改的罪人都会受到天父的欢迎!天上的众生会多么喜乐地看到人回到他们天父的家里啊!罪人不会遭受任何责备，任何嘲笑，谁也不会提出他们的不配。所需要的就是痛悔。诗人说：“祢本不喜爱祭物，若喜爱，我就献上;燔祭，祢也不喜悦。上帝所要的祭就是忧伤的灵;上帝啊，忧伤痛悔的心，祢必不轻看”(诗51:16,17)。——《时兆》，1894年1月29日。{FH.128.4}
The Older Brother, April 26
But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.?Luke 15:28.?{FH 128.1}[1]
Mark the points in the parable. The elder brother coming from the field, hearing the sound of rejoicing, inquires what it all means, and is told of the return of his brother, and how the fatted calf has been killed to provide for the feast. Then is revealed in the elder brother selfishness, pride, envy, and malignity. He feels that favor to the prodigal is an insult to himself, and the father remonstrates with him, but he will not look upon the matter in the right light, nor will he unite with the father in rejoicing that the lost is found. He gives the father to understand that, had he been in the father’s place, he would not have received the son back, and forgets that the poor prodigal is his own brother. He speaks with disrespect to his father, charging him with injustice to himself while he shows favor to one who has wasted his living. He speaks of the prodigal to his father as “this thy son.” Yet notwithstanding all this unfilial conduct, his expressions of contempt and arrogance, the father deals patiently and tenderly with him....?{FH 128.2}[2]
Did the elder son finally come to see his unworthiness of so kind and considerate a father? Did he come to see that, though his brother had done wickedly, he was his brother still, that their relationship had not altered? And did he repent of his jealousy, and ask his father’s forgiveness for so misrepresenting him to his face??{FH 128.3}[3]
How true a representation was the action of this elder son of unrepenting and unbelieving Israel, who refused to acknowledge that the publicans and sinners were their brethren, who should be forgiven and should be sought for, labored for, and not left to perish, but led to have everlasting life! How beautiful is this parable as it illustrates the welcome that every repentant soul will receive from the heavenly Father! With what joy will the heavenly intelligences rejoice to see souls returning to their Father’s house! The sinners will meet with no reproach, no taunt, no reminder of their unworthiness. All that is required is penitence. The psalmist says, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”—Signs of the Times, January 29, 1894.?{FH 128.4}[4]
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