Pentecost Season · All Saints · Year A
Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes
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 on this All Saints Gospel by a named seminary scholar.
Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the blessings that open the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:1-12 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the Beatitudes as words of hope and challenge.
Matthew 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the blessings and their promises.
Matthew 5:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.
Background & Word Study
Matthew 5 (Matthew Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading of the Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the word for blessed.
Enter the Bible: Matthew Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Matthew for the setting of the Sermon on the Mount.
Gospel of Matthew Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Matthew that frames its portrait of the kingdom and its people.
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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