Jesus in Christianity

===Discourses===
{{See also|Five Discourses of Matthew|Sermon on the Mount|Beatitudes}}
[[File:Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles.jpg|thumb|Jesus' ''[[Farewell Discourse]]'' to his eleven remaining disciples after the [[Last Supper]], from the ''[[Maestà (Duccio)|Maestà]]'' by [[Duccio]]]]
The gospels include several discourses by Jesus on specific occasions, such as the [[Farewell discourse]] delivered after the [[Last Supper]], the night before his Crucifixion.<ref name=Gail142 >O'Day, Gail R., Susan Hylen. ''John (Westminster Bible Companion)''  Westminster John Knox Press, 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-664-25260-1}}, Chapter 15: The Farewell Discourse, pages 142-168</ref> Although some of the teachings of Jesus are reported as taking place within the formal atmosphere of a synagogue (e.g., in {{Bibleverse|Matthew|4:23|KJV
}}) many  of the discourses are more like conversations than formal lectures.<ref name=Howick7 >Howick, E. Keith. ''The Sermons of Jesus the Messiah''. WindRiver Publishing, 2003. {{ISBN|978-1-886249-02-8}} pp. 7-9</ref>

The [[Gospel of Matthew]] has a structured set of sermons, often grouped as the [[Five Discourses of Matthew]] which present many of the key teachings of Jesus.<ref name=Cradle194 >Köstenberger, Andreas J.L. Scott Kellum, Charles L. Quarles. ''The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament''. B&H Academic, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-8054-4365-3}}. pp. 194-196</ref><ref name=Keener37 >Keener, Craig S. ''The Gospel of Matthew''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-6498-7}}. pp. 37-38</ref> Each of the five discourses has some parallel passages in the [[Gospel of Mark]] or the [[Gospel of Luke]].<ref name=RTFrance >France, R.T. ''The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament)''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-2501-8}}. p.9</ref> The five discourses in Matthew begin with the [[Sermon on the Mount]], which encapsulates many of the moral teaching of Jesus and which is one of the best known and most quoted elements of the New Testament.<ref name=Howick7 /><ref name="ReferenceA">Vaught, Carl G. ''The Sermon on the Mount: a Theological Investigation''. Baylor University Press; 2nd edition, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-918954-76-3}}. pp. xi-xiv</ref> The Sermon on the Mount includes the ''[[Beatitudes]]'' which describe the character of the people of the [[Kingdom of God]], expressed as "blessings".<ref>"Beatitudes." F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor). ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0192802903}}</ref> The Beatitudes focus on love and humility rather than force and exaction and echo the key ideals of Jesus' teachings on spirituality and compassion.<ref name=Haste >Hastings, James. ''A Dictionary Of The Bible''. Oxford University Press, USA; 3rd Revised edition, 2005. {{ISBN|1-4102-1730-2}} pp.15-19</ref><ref name=Peace >Jegen, Carol Frances. ''Jesus the Peacemaker''. Sheed & Ward,  1986. {{ISBN|0-934134-36-7}}. pp. 68-71</ref><ref name=Synop >Majerník Ján, Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt. ''The Synoptics: Matthew, Mark, Luke''. Sheed & Ward, 2005. {{ISBN|1-931018-31-6}}, pp.63-68</ref> The other discourses in Matthew include the ''Missionary Discourse'' in [[Matthew 10]] and the ''Discourse on the Church'' in [[Matthew 18]], providing instructions to the disciples and laying the foundation of the codes of conduct for the anticipated community of followers.<ref name=Toussaint >Toussaint, Stanley D. ''Behold the King: A Study of Matthew''. Kregel Academic & Professional, 2005. {{ISBN|0-8254-3845-4}}. pp.215-216</ref><ref>Jensen, Richard A. ''Preaching Matthew's Gospel''. CSS Publishing Company, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-7880-1221-1}}. pp. 25 & 158</ref><ref>Chouinard, Larry. ''Matthew (The College Press NIV Commentary)''. College Press Publishing Company, 1997. {{ISBN|0-89900-628-0}}. p.321</ref>