Places

These include: ‘the mountain; the lakeside; the synagogue in Nazareth, also in Capernaum and in many other towns and cities; the Mount of Olives, from which the Lament over Jerusalem was uttered; Bethesda, in Jerusalem; private homes; the open country; and the Temple.’

Occasions

‘Among such occasions are: The sight of the multitudes; a question asked by one of the crowd, receiving a longer answer than usual; a criticism passed upon some wonderful work of healing done; the sending forth of the twelve, and also of the seventy; the calumny that he had a devil, requiring refutation; the synagogue service on the Sabbath day; the departure of the messengers of John; the charge that he cast out devils by the prince of devils; the demand for a sign; a question from the disciples, requiring a full answer, concerning, say, the meaning of one of the parables, though only disciples heard such explanations.’

Audiences

‘Regularly some of the twelve disciples were present, though what makes his discourse “public” is that others than the twelve disciples heard him at some length on a given theme. These others were at times some of his followers, the apostles; or more or less sympathetic men, women, and children from the neighboring towns or even countries; or at times hostile critics from Jerusalem; or assembled guests at a social dinner. His audiences thus were groups mixed in various ways, from the standpoints of social standing, sex, sympathy with him, and age.’

Themes

A sample:

• His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:1-15)
• His conversation with the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well (John 4:1-26)
• His address in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
• The sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29)
• Charge of the apostles (Matthew 10:1-42)
• He pronounced the doom on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Matthew 11:20-24)
• Discourse after healing the infirm man at Bethesda (John 5:1-47)
• He defended his disciples after they plucked the corn on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:1-19)
• He defended himself when the Pharisees accused Him of being in collusion with Baalzebub, the prince of devils, announcing to them that attributing his works to this source was a sin against the Holy Spirit that would never be forgiven (Matthew 12:23-32 Mark 3:22-30)
• The discourse on the Bread of life (John 6:25-61)
• He discussed internal purity (Matthew 15:1-20)
• He emphasized the necessity to forgive injuries (Matthew 18:21-35)
• The discourse at the feast of tabernacles (John 7:1-44)
• He condemned the accusers of the woman who was taken in adultery (John 8:1-11)
• He declared himself to be the shepherd of the sheep (John 10:1-42)
• He denounced his contemporaries for their wickedness (Luke 11:29-36)
• He discussed humility (Luke 14:7-14)
• He marked out the way to everlasting life (Matthew 19:27-30)
• He predicted his sufferings (Matthew 19:17-19)
• He denounced the Pharisees with great severity (Matthew 23:1-36)
• He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-35)
• His words of comfort to his disciples (John 14:1-16:33)
• His wonderful prayer (John 17:1-26)
• His remarks on the way to Gethsemane (Matthew 26:31-36)
• The last and great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)

(Source)

Characteristics

‘Are they interesting? profound? original? authoritative? serious? practical? formal? academic? convincing? persuasive? self-conscious? full of variety? monotonous? personal? direct? self-assertive? novel? thoughtful? searching? scientific? artistic? literary? social? moral? spiritual? entertaining? amusing? diverting? simple? uplifting? transforming? intellectual? emotional? truthful? gracious?’

Effects

‘How did they affect his disciples? the multitudes of common people? the religious leaders? the Nazareth synagogue congregation? those sent by the Pharisees to take him? Why did the common people hear him gladly? Why did his would-be captors testify: “Never man spake like this man”? (John 7: 46.) Why did great multitudes follow him after the Sermon on the Mount? What so amazed and angered the Nazareth group? Why were the Pharisees offended?’

Lessons

How would we seek to imitate the Master Teacher?

‘What would be our preparation? In what places would we be willing to speak? Before what groups? Under what circumstances? Upon what great themes would we speak? Would these themes be problems near to or remote from the lives of those addressed? Would we repeat the old or herald the new? In what manner would we speak? Would we be rather prophets or priests? Would we trim the truth to suit? Would we at times antagonize? Would we “cry aloud and spare not”?’

Based (except where indicated) on Horne, Herman. Teaching Techniques of Jesus, ch. 10.