so, his own merit rather than their father's mercy?
The elder son is a stinker. It's like he gets a CC logon and trolls his Hebrew roots or works salvation,
Luke 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
Is he not relying on and boasting of his works, seems to love his clique, but not seeming to love his brother or father, find joy in the father's joy, in his brother's return to well being? Maybe a dead, heartless Pharisee lurking in there, the usual suspects?
Then,
Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
The older son should see he's privileged and fine, only he cannot see, in his self righteousness, "but for the grace of God go I." He has no appreciation the father also blessed and loved him, always, and been good to him, doesn't even recognize the love of his father that naturally loves his younger brother, also, and he doesn't want anybody else to partake of what he sees as his privileges, his kingdom, to the exclusion of other sinful "rabble." The older son perceives he puts his pants on differently, would even deign to tell the father who and how he should love. Sort of like a Pharisee, again?
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
The older brother is the picture of a loveless Pharisee, high on himself and his dead works, I believe our Lord sending the message of the inner man that's dead.
But this story is making me hungry, going to go slay the fatted sandwich!