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The Jaundiced Eye - part 2 of 3 (KJV-unless otherwise specified) Luke-Chapter 15 When the Pharisees and the scribes muttered about Jesus’ accepting, welcoming and even eating with sinners, they provided Him with a perfect introduction for the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. For the once-lost but now-found sheep, an object of material value, the religious leaders would have no difficulty in accepting the invitation to rejoice with the owner. But when the comparison was made to rejoicing over “one wicked person who repents – [that is,] changes his mind, abhorring his errors and misdeeds, and determines to enter upon a better course of life – than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance,” {v 7 Amp}, their jaundiced eye of self-righteousness took offense. For rescue of the lost coin, they could likewise rejoice, but not “over one (especially) wicked person who repents – changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways with abhorrence for his past sins” {v 10 Amp}. By contrasting the prodigal son who humbly returned from his squandered life with the elder brother who had remained at home but refused to forgive, is Jesus not asking, “Whose is the jaundiced eye?” Presumptuously unwilling to wait until the appointed time when he would be equipped to handle Father’s inheritance, the younger son demanded that portion to which he knew he was entitled. Unaware that current possession does not guarantee future success or that the granting of his request would bring leanness into his soul before it brought him to himself, he “gathered all together, and took his journey” {v 13}. Notice that the journey was of “his” making, not Father’s. “He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich, and knows not that want will come upon him” {Pro 28:22 Amp}. Refusing to cease from his own wisdom, the younger son set his eyes upon riches which were destined to make themselves wings and fly away {Pro 23:4-5}. By focusing on the riches and reward of external inheritance rather than on the blessing of Father’s presence and relationship, this son asked amiss and then consumed his temporary gain upon his own lusts (pleasures) {James 4:3}. By the time he “came to himself” {v 17}, amid the famine and the feeding of swine, his prideful and independent spirit finally broken, the prodigal determined to humble himself by returning to Father to repent of his sin and to confess his unworthiness as a son. “Was he truly willing to become a servant in Father’s household?” the reader asks. The parable indicates that he was; for had any portion of his prideful and self-assured nature remained, he would have interpreted Father’s love and acceptance as an excuse not to carry through with his intended confession and repentance. The test of the son’s sincerity is confirmed by humble performance. During the younger son’s absence, the elder son had remained at home with Father, working in the fields. But when he learned that Father was holding a celebration in honor of the prodigal’s return, the elder brother “was angry – with deep-seated wrath – and resolved not to go in” {v 28 Amp}. That the anger was “deep-seated” reveals its extensive festering. How long had that anger burned? Since childhood perhaps? Did it arise from seeds of what the elder considered preferential treatment even then? We are not told. Father, rather than berating and condemning the elder son, pleaded with him not to exclude himself from the family. But instead of celebrating his brother’s return, the elder’s long-seething anger erupted, betraying his lack of unity with Father’s heart. In his own way, the elder revealed that he, too, valued external rewards and acknowledgement more than relationship with Father. That the elder chose to alienate himself from Father’s family is obvious. Stubbornly, he remained outside Father’s house, refusing to take part in the celebration of which he judged his brother undeserving. Even refusing to acknowledge the prodigal as his brother, he becoming accusatory with Father: “But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” {v 30}. The elder’s reference to the “fatted calf” may have further fueled the ire within, for the term means “that [wheat-] fattened calf” {v 30 Amp}, indicating that the elder’s labor had provided food for the calf which was now being wasted on the undeserving son. In a self-righteousness outburst, he blatantly contrasts his own loyalty, dedication, labor and obedience to Father against that of the prodigal’s failure. Through acknowledging his own sinful condition and humbly returning to Father in repentance, the younger son died and was resurrected. But will the elder son acknowledge the sinfulness of his own heart, repent and return to Father’s house? Will his obedience and service arise from loving relationship with Father rather than from promise of future rewards? “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” {Mark 9:47}. Would the elder pluck out his own jaundiced and offensive eye? We are not told. Will we? Paul advises, “So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are (now hidden) in darkness, and disclose and expose the (secret) aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his (due) commendation from God” {I Cor 4:5}. -Ruth French August Newsletter 2002 | Be Comforted | Fear Factor part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal August 2001 | Keeping Honor part 2 of 2 | Jaundiced Eye part 2 of 3
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Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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