For ecclesiastical ' discipline ' see art. CHURCH.
H. BiSSEKER.
DISCOURSE.— No attempt is here made to dis- cuss in all its bearings the general tlieme of the discourses of Jesus. His 'Teaching, Parables, Sermon on the Jlount, etc., receive attention in special articles. All tliat is here undertaken is to mention in some sort of classification all the discourses, and to append a brief outline of their principal characteristics.
i. Classification and Mention. — The diffi- culties of any attempt at classifying the discourses of our Lord are apparent at a glance. They arise alike from the forms in which the discourses are recorded and from their character and contents. Considering the fact that our Lord did not write anything, or even cause His discourses to be exactly reported ; considering, too, the great variety of occasions which called forth His utter- ances, and His own easy freedom and mastery of method in dealing with these occasions ; consider- ing, further, the difl'erences in length, form, con- tents, and yet the cross-similarities and repetitions which the discourses exhibit, we see at once that a scientific and satisfactory classification is impos- sible. Yec there are obvious advantages for study in mentioning the discourses in sonie sort of orderly way. For our purpose it will not be necessary to take account of critical questions concerning the differences between the Fourth Gospel and the Synoptics, or between the Synoptics themselves, or to pay attention to matters of harmony and chronology, though under each grouping the com- monly accepted order of events is followed. The classification proposed runs upon the general prin- ciple of audiences, and groups the discourses according as they were delivered to (1) individuals, (2) a select few, or (3) the public. Subdivisions will be apparent under these geneial heads.
1. Interviews with individuals. — Leaving out colloquies with particular persons in presence of others, there are to be mentioned under this head only (1) the discourse with Nicodemus on Re- generation (Jn 3'"-'), and (2) the discourse with the woman of Samaria on Worship and Salvation (4=-=").
2. Talks with a few. — These may be subdivided as follows: (1) Discourses with others than the disciples. At these we cannot be sure of the absence of disciples, but their presence is not stated or certainly implied, and the words were not specially addressed to them. To this class belong : the discourse on Forgiveness, \vith tlic ]i:tralile of the Two Debtors, given at the house ..f SiiiH.n tlie Pharisee (Lk 7""-'^") ; the beginnin- cf Ibr disccmrse on Tradition (eating with unwashen liands), though
later ' he called the multitudes,' ' and the disciples came unto him ' (Mt 15'"-", Mk 7'""") ; the De- nunciation of the Pharisees and Lawyers at the house of a chief Pharisee (Lk IP'"'") ; tlie discourse at another Pharisee's house, where He discussed Modcsly, <;iving Feasts, and spoke the parable of the (uciit Feast and Excuses (Lk ll'--^) ; finally, the discourse at the house of Zacchseus, W'ith the parable of the Pounds (Lk 19'"^).
(2) Discourses with the disciples and others. Here the audience consisted in part of the dis- ciples and in part of others, the presence of botli classes being either distinctly stated or clearly implied. As to the numliers present, the circum- stances seem to restrict thorn somewhat, though it is difl[icult to say just to wliat extent, and therefore howfarthcso sliould be n-jnr.Inl as iniiprrly public
l',-isting(Mt:ii'-i', Mk -J' . I.k :, - ) ; tbi. response to object urs on SabiMlh l )\.^ry. :,,)■;• (Mt 12'-», Mk 2--=8, Lk ti'-'') ; respond.- :,lio„t hollowing Him (Mt S'^-'^^LkO"-"-) ; response to I h,. bn^yor about Eternal Life, and jjarableof the ( looil Saiii;iriian(Lk 10^'*"", cf. v.=^) ; on Divorce (Mt 1!1'-'-, Mk lu--'=) ; response to the Rich Young Kulcr, with discourse on the Perils of Wealth and on Forsaking All and Follow- ing Him (Mt Iflu-so, Mk 10"-^', Lk IS'^-so); the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Mt 201-16) ; response to the request of certain Greeks, with remarks on His Death and Glory (Jn 12™"^). Other discourses of the last Passover week seem to have been given in presence of the crowd, though directly addressed to smaller groups.
(3) Discourses with the disciples alone. These contain some of the most notable of our Lord's utterances. In some cases others than the Twelve were present, but usually the audience was all, or a portion of, the Apostles. It will not be necessary to observe this distinction in the enumeration. This group of discourses may be subdivided into two kinds. («) Short occasional discourses: the explanation of tlie Parable of tlie Tares, with the short parables that follow (Mt 13'"-=-) ; tlie caution against Pharisaic Leaven (Mt IC'-, Mk 8"-^') ; remarks about His Church upon Peter's confession (Mt 16"-=», Mk 8"-», Lk 9i»-=') ; the immediately following discourse on His Death and on Self- Denial (Mt 16='-^, Mk 831-9', Lk 9==-°-') ; talk after the Transfiguration (Mt 17°"'^ Mk Q^-'^) ; a second foretelling of His Death and Resurrection (Mt 17--- 23, Mk 9»-32, Lk 9«-'^); discourses at the Mission and Return of the Seventy (Lk 10'"") ; teaching as to Prayer, with parable of the Friend at Midnight (Lk 11'-'=); parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk 16'-'^) ; teaching as to Oflences, Faith, Service (Lk 17'-"') ; third prediction of His Death and Resurrection (Mt 20"-^^ Mk lO^--'', Lk IS'^-^) ; talk about Faith suggested by the Withered Fig- tree (Mt 21="--2, Mk ll^'-^") ; talk following the Washing of the Disciples' Feet (Jn 13'=-™) ; institu- tion of the Lord's Supper (Mt 26='i-=», Mk U^-^, Lk 22'9- =») ; after the resurrection, talk with the Two Disriplrs nn tlie way to Emmaus (Lk 24"-") ; witli llie A|K. :| ., Thomas absent (Lk 24s«-« Jn 20''''- ) : 1. 1 Ik -li'ii ome of the Apostles at the Sea of (kdikr i.lii jl-- ); the Great Commission (Mt 28"'-'").— (/<) Extended discourses. Probably some of those mentioned in the preceding group were longer in reality than in report. But of the longer dis- courses with the chosen few we have the following : the Mission and Instruction of the Twelve (Mt 10'-^ Mk 6'-i3, Lk 91-8) ; on Humility, Oflences, Forgiveness (Mt 18'-=>5, Mk 9'3-6i, Lk g"-"") ; dis- course on the Mount of Olives on His Second Coming and the Final Judgment (Mt 24. 25, M k 1 3, Lk 21'-^) ; the Farewell Discourse and Prayer (Jn 14-17).