Time after Pentecost · Year A
All Saints' Day
November 1, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
The narrative introduction to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (5:1–2) indicates that Jesus’ disciples are the more focused audience of the sermon, with the crowds as recipients who, in a sense, listen in (7:28–29). The first segment of the sermon (5:3–16) focuses on a description of Jesus’ followers as they begin experiencing the arrival of God’s kingdom; Jesus’ commands to his followers do not begin until 5:17 (see the sidebar “Outline for the Sermon on the Mount”). The beatitudes (5:3–12) indicate the great reversals that God’s kingdom is bringing about and will usher in. These blessings will be enacted in Jesus’ healing ministry (chaps. 8–9). A contrasting set of woes will be spoken in chapter 23. The beatitudes along with the description of Jesus’ followers as salt and light, emphasizing their missional purpose, set the tone for the rest of the Sermon on the Mount by introducing themes of covenant faithfulness and the inauguration of God’s kingdom.
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Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 5:1-12 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary reading the Beatitudes as the shape of the blessed communion of saints.
Matthew 5:1-12 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on blessing that tells the truth about hardship while giving reason to hope.
Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of each Beatitude and the blessings it announces.
Matthew 5 Resources Precept Austin
An inductive study hub gathering word studies and many commentators on the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse from the opening of the Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Matthew 5:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing, including the blessing word makarios.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Matthew for the setting of the Sermon on the Mount.
Overview: Matthew 1-13 BibleProject
An animated overview of the first half of Matthew and its teaching on the kingdom.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why are the Beatitudes read on All Saints?
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) describe the character of the people of God, the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, and pronounce them blessed. On All Saints they name the communion of the faithful of every age, joined to the great multitude of Revelation 7.
When is All Saints observed?
All Saints’ Day is November 1 (often transferred to the following Sunday). In Year A the Revised Common Lectionary appoints Matthew 5:1–12 with Revelation 7:9–17 and 1 John 3:1–3.
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