St Matthew Chapter V : Verses 1-12
Contents
- Matt. v. 1-12 (Douay-Rheims text) & Latin text (Vulgate)
- Notes on text
Matt. v. 1-12
 |
| He taught them. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum. |
Videns autem Jesus turbas, ascendit in montem, et cum sedisset, accesserunt ad eum discipuli ejus,
2 And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
et aperiens os suum docebat eos dicens :
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beati pauperes spiritu : quoniam ipsorum est regnum cælorum.
4 Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Beati mites : quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram.
5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Beati qui lugent : quoniam ipsi consolabuntur.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam : quoniam ipsi saturabuntur.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Beati misericordes : quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur.
8 Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Beati mundo corde : quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
Beati pacifici : quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur.
10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam : quoniam ipsorum est regnum cælorum.
11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
Beati estis cum maledixerint vobis, et persecuti vos fuerint, et dixerint omne malum adversum vos mentientes, propter me :
12 Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
gaudete, et exsultate, quoniam merces vestra copiosa est in cælis. Sic enim persecuti sunt prophetas, qui fuerunt ante vos.
Notes
Note. — The Annotations on the Sermon on the Mount which follow are based on the more generally accepted opinion that both St Matthew and St Luke relate one and the same discourse.
1. seeing the multitudes. Those referred to in iv. 25. They were assembled to hear him and to he healed of their diseases.
he went up into a mountain. Not necessarily a mountain, τὸ ὄρος, the Greek word used, often meant the hilly region, as opposed to the level ground (τόπος πεδινός ).
 |
| Horns of Hattin. Postcard, 1925. |
Contrasts between the promulgation of the Old Law and the New.
The Old Law (of fear). The New Law (of love)
Given by angels (Heb. ii. 2). Given by Christ.
Written on stone tables. Written on men’s hearts : cf. Jer. xxxi. 33
Addressed to slaves. Addressed to sons.
Began with terrors. Began with blessings.
Threatened punishments. Promised rewards.
Promulgated while it thundered and lightened. Promulgated in peaceful surroundings.
when he was set down. The attitude of a teacher. Cf. The Scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. A ll things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do (infra, xxiii. 2, 3).
his disciples came unto him. They had previously assembled round Him in obedience to His command. When day was come he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them, whom also he named Apostles (St Luke vi. 13).
2. opening his mouth. This is a Hebraism denoting the beginning of a solemn and authoritative discourse or message, — e g., cf. And behold, as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my lips : then I opened my mouth and spoke (Dan. x. 16). Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus (Acts viii. 35). He who spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets (Heb. i. 1) now instructs His people Himself, and in them, all their posterity, by promulgating the Messianic and Christian code of duty.
3. Blessed. From the initial word in Latin “beati,” these eight sayings of our Lord derive the names of “ Beatitudes.” The word blessed is repeated eight times. “ Seven is the number of rest after labour, Eight is the number of blessedness and glory after rest. The eight Beatitudes afford a glimpse of the eternal blessedness, which will be consummated in the beatific vision of God.”
are the poor in spirit. St Luke omits the words in spirit and he gives only four of the Beatitudes, to which are added four corresponding woes.
By “ poor,” commentators understand —
(а) Those who have given up all for Christ.(b) Those who bear poverty patiently.(c) The rich who are not attached to wealth.(d) The spiritually poor, who are meek and humble of heart.
“ He adds, in spirit, that thou mayest understand humility, not penury” (St Jer.). How strangely these words must have sounded in the ears of those who looked on poverty as one of the greatest curses and misfortunes, and who, under the rule of the Messias, expected to enjoy all temporal blessings.
is the kingdom of heaven. Peace on earth and heaven hereafter. Note the word is, for even here below the kingdom of heaven is within us if we lead Christian lives.
4. Blessed are the meek, — i.e. those who restrain anger, and who bear earthly losses patiently. This disposition enables them to accept all that happens as coming directly from the hand of God, or indirectly through human agents. Cf. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away : as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done ; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job i. 21).
Note. — In the Greek MSS. this Beatitude stands third.
they shall possess the land, — i.e. heaven, the land of the living ; earth is the land of the dying. Cf. I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. xxvi. 13). But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in the abundance of peace (Ps. xxxvi. 11). Some commentators explain these words with reference to the perfect control of their passions which the meek shall attain, or to the power they acquire by their meekness over the hearts of their fellows.
5. Blessed are they that mourn. In the Greek MSS. this Beatitude stands second. St Luke gives. Blessed are ye that weep now. The Fathers explain this passage as referring to those who lament their own sins and those of their neighbours, and who endure the trials of life in a spirit of resignation to the will of God.
they shall be comforted. In heaven, where God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes : and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away (Apoc. xxi.4). Even on earth they shall be consoled, for the Messias is come to be the consolation of Israel and the Paraclete, i.e. the Comforter, is given to those who mourn in a Christian spirit.
“Wherefore if thou wouldst be comforted, mourn. And think not this a hard saying. For when God comforts, though all sorrows then had come upon thee by thousands like snowflakes, thou wilt surmount them all” (St Jn. Chrys.). The apostles confirmed our Lord’s doctrine by their own experience. Cf. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: as needy, yet enriching many : as having nothing, and possessing all things (ii. Cor. vi. 10).
6. hunger and thirst after justice. This refers to those who are zealous for the better gifts (1 Cor. xii. 31) ; to those who seek first the kingdom, of God and his justice. In St Luke we read “ now ” after “ justice: ” For the use of the metaphor, cf. As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after thee, O God (Ps. xli. 2).
shall have their fill. They shall have abundant graces on earth, and shall enjoy the beatific vision hereafter (see also St John iv. 13, vi. 35, vii. 37).
7. Blessed are the merciful, — i.e. those who are compassionate and kind, and who endeavour to relieve the wants of others in need of their assistance. This Beatitude concerns the active side of the Christian life.
Note. — The Jews were stern and hardhearted towards those who suffered, since they believed that all misfortunes were signs of God’s displeasure. Cf. his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? (St John ix. 2).
shall obtain mercy. They shall obtain mercy from God, both on earth and in the next world. The same doctrine is inculcated in the Lord’s Prayer, and the negative aspect of this truth is found in St James ii. 13 : For judgment without mercy, to him that hath not done mercy, and mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
8. Blessed are the clean of heart. Blessed are those who are purified from all sin. David speaks of this blessedness : Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered (Ps. xxxi. 1).
they shall see God. They shall enjoy the beatific vision. At the last day the wicked will see Christ as man, but they will not enjoy the happiness of seeing God.
“ If the damned could see for an instant the face of God, the pains of hell would come to an end ” (St Aug.). Contemplative souls who are advanced in the spiritual life enjoy this privilege in a certain sense on earth, inasmuch as they see God in His works and in His word. This Beatitude has special reference to the contemplative aspect of the Christian life.
9. the peacemakers, — i.e. those who are at peace with God and man, and who strive to reconcile God with man, and men with their fellows. Here we have the apostolic or mixed aspect of the Christian life.
The Messias was called the Prince of Peace (Is. ix. 6), and it befits His followers to be peacemakers. Cf. Therefore let us follow after the things that are of peace (Rom. xiv. 19).
shall he called. Lit. “ shall be and shall be known to be ” (κληθήσονται.)
the children of God. Peacemakers resemble God, and therefore they merit to be called His sons.
10. that suffer persecution. Better, “ who have been persecuted ” (οἱ δεδιωγμένοι). “ Those who are harassed, hunted, spoiled. The term is properly used of wild beasts pursued by hunters, or of any enemy, or of any malefactor in flight” (Wetstein).
for justice’ sake. These words are explained by a passage from St Mark’s gospel : For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it : and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel shall save it (viii. 35). St Peter re-echoes his Master’s words : But if also you suffer any thing for justice’ sake, blessed are ye (1 St Peter iii. 14).
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The persecuted for justice are promised the same reward as the poor in spirit. To both classes, for all temporal losses full compensation is promised hereafter.
11. Blessed are ye. These words are addressed to the disciples.
when they shall revile you, etc.
Note the steps — reviling, i.e. . . . mockery, contempt.
persecuting . . . ill-treatment and oppression,
calumniating . . . deliberate lies.
The parallel passage in St Luke runs : Blessed shall you he when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake (vi. 22). Jesus suffered all these things at the hands of His enemies.
untruly. Note the condition of the reward — the accusations must be false. Some Greek MSS. omit this word, but St Jerome accepts it in the Vulgate.
for my sake. This is the source of merit, not the mere fact of having suffered (as St Augustine says, “ Non enim ista perpeti fructuosum est, sed ista pro Christi nomine .... tolerare ”)
12. Be glad and rejoice. St Luke uses a stronger expression, leap for joy (ςκιρτήςατε ). The apostles obeyed their Master’s commands to the letter. And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus (Acts V. 41).
they persecuted the prophets. The treatment of the prophets by the Jewish nation is illustrated by the following examples : —
(a) Elias was persecuted by Jezabel, who also killed the prophets of the Lord (3 Kings xviii. 4).
(b) Micheas was imprisoned by Achab (3 Kings xxii. 27).
(c) Hanani was imprisoned by Asa (2 Paralip. xvi. 10).
(d) Jeremias was put in the stocks (Jer. xx. 2).
(e) Isaias was cut asunder (a tradition) (see also Heb. xi. 34-40).
Note. — In all the Beatitudes the suffering is temporary, external, and literal, while the reward promised is eternal, spiritual, and figurative.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
No comments:
Post a Comment