The protestant’s favorite Saint,Saint Augustine sees things the same way as what you’re saying as well
“”The beginning, then, of this sermon is introduced as follows: “And when He saw the great multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM: and He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying.” If it 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, through 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, through His Son, gave the greater ones to a people whom it had now become suitable to set free by love.””
-Saint Augustine ;sermon on the mount book 1
SFA: The protestant’s favorite Saint
And which protestant would that be? :)
Saint Augustine sees things the same way as what you’re saying as well
Actually SFA, the part you emphasized ("his disciples came unto him") was simply the quote from St. Matthew's Gospel, so it doesn't really say anything about +Augustine's view. Here is +Augustine from the same book you cited, preceding the quote you provided:
Since, therefore, He has not simply said, "Whosoever hears my words," but has made an addition, saying, "Whosoever hears these words of mine," He has sufficiently indicated, as I think, that these sayings which He uttered on the mount so perfectly guide the life of those who may be willing to live according to them, that they may justly be compared to one building upon a rock.
Also, here's what +John Chrysostom had to say in his Homily XV on the Gospel of St. Matthew:
But when thou hearest that He taught them, do not think of Him as discoursing with His disciples only, but rather with all through them.
For since the multitude was such as a multitude ever is, and consisted moreover of such as creep on the ground, He withdraws the choir of His disciples, and makes His discourse unto them: in His conversation with them providing that the rest also, who were yet very far from the level of His sayings, might find His lesson of self-denial no longer grievous unto them. Of which indeed both Luke gave intimation, when he said, that He directed His words unto them: and Matthew too, clearly declaring the same, wrote, “His disciples came unto Him, and He taught them.” For thus the others also were sure to be more eagerly attentive to Him, than they would have been, had He addressed Himself unto all.
Whence then doth He begin? and what kind of foundations of His new polity doth He lay for us?
Let us hearken with strict attention unto what is said. For though it was spoken unto them, it was written for the sake also of all men afterwards. And accordingly on this account, though He had His disciples in His mind in His public preaching, yet unto them He limits not His sayings, but applies all His words of blessing without restriction. Thus He said not, “Blessed are ye, if ye become poor,” but “Blessed are the poor.” And I may add that even if He had spoken of them, the advice would still be common to all. For so, when He saith, “Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” He is discoursing not with them only, but also, through them, with all the world. And in pronouncing them blessed, who are persecuted, and chased, and suffer all intolerable things; not for them only, but also for all who arrive at the same excellency, He weaves His crown.
Yes, Christ was addressing his disciples. But he did so that all might hear, including the attending multitudes, and even those of us who read His words to this very day.
Clearly, He wasn't speaking to the crowd. He spoke to His disciples and to Christian generations to come.
St. Augustine is revered by the Reformation followers up to and only up to the point where, in his heretical years, he embraced thoughts that are and were unacceptable to the Church.
It is poison to them that St. Augustine is considered one of the greatest Church Fathers, so the portions of his life and his theological developments are ignored as if they never existed.