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I agree with Bruce. It is apparently obvious to the listeners that the older brother out in the darkness refusing to come into his father's house to celebrate is the Pharisee.
I also believe that Christ left the Parable open ended for a reason. A character in a Parable is neither reprobate nor elect - they are characters in a Parable. There were some Pharisees that persecuted Christians that later became Christians.
I see this as a warning to the Pharisees (or those like them).
Incidentally, I loved MacArthur's series on this as well and have used some elements from it to point out the very powerful aspects of the Gospel with respect to undeserved inheritance on several occassions.
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