The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel for the Feast of All Saints, Matthew 5:1–12, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
I. An instruction for Christ’s disciples, that they, even though they will have a miserable appearance before the world, nevertheless are blessed before God. (v. 1–12)
Annotated Text
1. Now when He (Christ) saw the people (that they followed Him in heaps), He went up on a mountain (situated not far from the Sea of Galilee, Mark 3:7, 13) and sat down (in a somewhat elevated place), and His disciples came to Him (stood around Him).
2. And * He opened His mouth (He began to speak concerning high important matters deliberately and frankly), and spoke to them and said:
* Luke 6:20ff.
3. Blessèd are those (it is well for those), * who are spiritually poor ** (who recognize their spiritual poverty, that they lack the righteousness which counts before God, Romans 3:23, 25, and seek it only in and with Me through true faith), for the Kingdom of Heaven (heavenly joy and eternal life) are theirs (because they believe in me, they have eternal life, John 3:36, 1 John 5:13, and are blessèd in hope, Romans 8:24).
* Isaiah 57:15 (Revelation 3:17)
** Greek: Or, “Blessèd are the poor in the Spirit.” See Matthew 11:5; Luke 6:20, 24, which referred to the disciples of Christ, that even though they poor, saddened, miserable, and despised, they nevertheless ought to be certain that they are nevertheless blessèd in their God and have His gracious protection as well as a special gracious reward.
4. Blessèd are those, * who bear grief (who feel their spiritual poverty and misery in their hearts, that they have merited God’s wrath, as well as temporal and eternal punishment, and therefore are sorrowful, 2 Corinthians 7:10, and pray to God in faithful humility for grace and forgiveness of sins), for they shall be comforted (inwardly through the Word of the Gospel and through the Spirit of comfort).
* Psalm 126:5; Isaiah 61:2; Luke 6:21 (Matthew 11:5, 28)
5. Blessèd are the meek (who are neither hot-tempered nor hungry for revenge, nor who repay evil for evil, but rather overcome evil with good, Romans 12:17, 21), for they will * inherit the earth (they will not only have their livelihood with good rest according to God’s good pleasure, but also will inherit the new heaven and the new earth someday, Isaiah 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1. Luther: “The world supposes to possess the earth and to protect that which is theirs when they exercise force, but Christ teaches that one possesses the earth with meekness”).
* Psalm 25:13, 37:11; Isaiah 60;21.
6. Blessèd are those * who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness (who have a heartfelt yearning desire for the true fully valid righteousness, which is the righteousness of faith in Christ and not the righteousness of works), for they shall be satisfied (richly fed in their soul; they shall obtain that same righteousness after which they have hungered and there in eternal life will be satisfied with all heavenly goods, so that they may neither hunger nor thirst eternally, Psalm 36:9, Revelation 7:16).
* Luke 6:21 (Isaiah 55:1; Psalm 17:15; John 6:35)
7. Blessèd are the * merciful (who allow the need of the neighbor to go to their heart and serve him according to all their ability), for they will (on the other hand) obtain mercy (not only with men, but rather also with God the Lord Himself).
* Proverbs 21:21; James 2:13
8. Blessèd are those * who are pure of heart (whose heart has been purified through faith in Christ, Acts 15:9, and who is minded toward God without hypocrisy and falsehood), for they will see God (they will see God someday face to face in heavenly joy, 1 Corinthians 13:2).
* Psalm 51:12; 1 John 3:2–3 (Psalm 24:4; Psalm 15:2)
9. Blessed are the * peacemakers (who not only live peaceably for themselves and who yield their right for the sake of the maintenance of peace, but rather also those who establish peace among others who have fallen into disunity. Luther: “The peacemakers are more that the peaceable, namely, they are those who make, promote, and maintain peace among others, as Christ has made peace for us with God”), for they will be called God’s children (be recognized as God’s children because they are minded as their heavenly Father, who is a God of peace and who delights in love, peace, and unity, Romans 15:33, 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20).
* Hebrews 12:14; James 3:18
10. Blessèd are those who for the sake of * righteousness (for the sake of the truth and for the sake of the steadfast confession of the Gospel) are persecuted, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (see v. 3).
* 1 Peter 3:14 (2 Timothy 2:12)
11. Blessèd are you, * when men shame you (when private persons slander and blaspheme you) and persecute you (when those who sit in public offices drive you out into misery, take away your possessions and goods, and even also seek after your life) and speak all kinds of evil against you (in that judges and witnesses attribute terrible vices and evil deeds to you before the court) on My account (for the sake of My name and My Word) **, when they lie about it (since it is nevertheless not true what they say of you).
* Luke 6:22; 1 Peter 4:14 (Proverbs 22:4)
** It is something other when a man is punished for the sake of his wickedness, see Jeremiah 2:19; Psalm 32:10.
12. Be joyful and comforted (do not become fainthearted over it, but rather take courage, indeed, rejoice over it from your heart, leap and spring for joy, that you have been counted worthy to suffer shame and hardship for My sake), you will be well rewarded in heaven (it will be repaid to you bountifully in that life, yet not from merit, but from pure grace, Romans 8:18), for (such is not something new, but rather) * in this way they had persecuted the prophets who were before you (in whom the promise of the gracious reward has already been fulfilled).
* James 5:10 (Acts 7:52; James 1:2)
Useful Applications
I. DOCTRINE: That those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ are blessèd people and will have a great reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. (v. 10–12)
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 