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the role of the lukan parables in terms of the purpose of luke's gospel

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. 127<br />

The fa<strong>the</strong>r leaves <strong>the</strong> decision to jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> celebrations <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> his elder son, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> open-ended conclusion makes <strong>the</strong> audience reflect on <strong>the</strong> outcome too. The open-end <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> parable functions as an <strong>in</strong>vitation for <strong>the</strong> hearers to take <strong>the</strong> same attitude toward s<strong>in</strong>ners<br />

as <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r, who feels compassion and love toward <strong>the</strong> younger son.<br />

6-4-3. The Interpretation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parable<br />

There is a great deal <strong>of</strong> suggestions with regard to background to read <strong>the</strong> parable. First <strong>of</strong> all,<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OT background, it <strong>in</strong>cludes Jacob’s reception (Genesis 33), Joseph’s<br />

elevation and his reception <strong>of</strong> his bo<strong>the</strong>rs (Genesis 42 and 45), commands regard<strong>in</strong>g<br />

rebellious sons (Deuteronomy 21:18-21), Psalm 23 and 103, Jeremiah 31:10-20, 1K<strong>in</strong>gs 8:47-<br />

51, Hosea. 11:1-9, and so forth.<br />

Bailey claims that Jesus’ three <strong>parables</strong> <strong>in</strong> Luke 15 can be expla<strong>in</strong>ed through Psalm 23,<br />

128 Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,<br />

seek<strong>in</strong>g thirteen common motifs between <strong>the</strong> three <strong>parables</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Psalm.<br />

he argues that Jesus here retold Jacob’s story, draw<strong>in</strong>g out fifteen similarities between <strong>the</strong><br />

parable and Jacob story. 129 On <strong>the</strong> one hand, Drury f<strong>in</strong>ds parallels between <strong>the</strong> parable and<br />

Joseph’s story <strong>in</strong> Genesis 41, 42 and 45, particularly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> scene regard<strong>in</strong>g fam<strong>in</strong>e. He also<br />

sees it <strong>in</strong> that Joseph rushed to meet his approach<strong>in</strong>g fa<strong>the</strong>r Israel and threw his arms around<br />

his neck <strong>in</strong> contrast to Luke’s scene, and <strong>in</strong> Joseph’s elevation with Pharaoh’s r<strong>in</strong>g and f<strong>in</strong>e<br />

clo<strong>the</strong>s and his reception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se bro<strong>the</strong>rs. 130 On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>in</strong> connection with Deut<br />

32:6-26, Derrett suggests that <strong>the</strong> parable may plausibly be regarded as a sermon on Deut<br />

32:6-26 and elaborated through <strong>the</strong> aid <strong>of</strong> Deuteronomy 21-22. 131 With regard to Jeremiah<br />

31:18-20, N.T. Wright contends that <strong>the</strong> background <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parable is Jeremiah 31:18-20<br />

which is about exile and repentance <strong>of</strong> Israel as God’s dear son. For him <strong>the</strong> parable portrays<br />

<strong>the</strong> exile and <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> Israel, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> younger son represents Israel return<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

exile and <strong>the</strong> elder son <strong>the</strong> mixed multitude resist<strong>in</strong>g Israel’s return. 132<br />

See<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fact that all<br />

127. T. Corlett, “This Bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Yours,” ExpTim 100 (1988), 216.<br />

128. Bailey, F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Lost, 11, 194-212.<br />

129. Bailey, “Jacob and <strong>the</strong> Prodigal Son: A New Identity Story: A Comparison between <strong>the</strong> Parable <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Prodigal Son and Gen. 27-35,” Theological Review 18 (1997), 54-72. He, <strong>in</strong> a recent work, displays three<br />

elements as <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> comparison and contrast between two stories as follows: Dramatic content that is<br />

nearly identical, dramatic content that is reused with some changes and radical reversals. Bailey, Jacob and<br />

Prodigal: How Jesus retold Israel’s story (Ill<strong>in</strong>ois: InterVarsity Press, 2003). 132.<br />

130. Drury, The Parables <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gospels, 144.<br />

131. Derrett, “The Parable <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prodigal Son,” 100-101.<br />

132. N.T. Wright, Jesus and <strong>the</strong> Victory <strong>of</strong> God, vol. 2 <strong>of</strong> Christian Orig<strong>in</strong>s and <strong>the</strong> Question <strong>of</strong> God<br />

86

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