Homily by S. Augustine, Bishop: On the Sermon on the Mount Bk. 1 Ch. 1 (All Saints)

 

 

IF the question is asked, what the mountain means, it may well be understood as meaning the greater precepts of righteousness; for there were lesser ones which were given to the Jews. Yet it is one God who, by means of his holy prophets and servants, according to a thoroughly arranged distribution of times, gave the lesser precepts to a people who as yet required to be bound by fear: and who, by means of his Son, gave the greater ones to a people whom it had now become suitable to set free by love. Moreover, when the lesser are given to the lesser, and the greater to the greater, they are given by him who alone knows how to present to the human race the medicine suited to the occasion

NOR is it surprising that the greater precepts are given for the kingdom of heaven, and the lesser for an earthly kingdom, by that one and the same God who made heaven and earth. With respect, then, to the righteousness which is greater, it is said by the prophet: Thy righteousness stands like the strong mountains. And this may well mean that the One Master alone fit to teach matters of so great importance teaches on a mountain.

THEN he teaches sitting, as pertains to the dignity of the instructor's office; and his disciples come to him, in order that they might be nearer in body for hearing his words, as they also approached in spirit to carry out his precepts. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying. The circumlocution before us, which runs: And he opened his mouth, perhaps gracefully intimates by the mere pause that the sermon will be somewhat longer than usual, unless, perchance, it should not be without meaning, that now he is said to have opened his own mouth, whereas under the old law he was accustomed to open the mouths of the prophets.

WHAT, then, does he say? Blessed are the poor in spirit: for to them the kingdom of heaven. We read in Scripture concerning temporal things: All is vanity and presumption of spirit; but presumption of spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, since the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written: Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest. But who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as though swelled out with wind? And hence that expression of the Apostle: Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. And the poor in spirit are rightly understood here as meaning the humble and Godfearing, that is, those who have not a spirit which puffs up.