Bede

But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

“For like the flower of the grass, he will pass away. The flower of the grass delights both the sense of smell and sight, but swiftly loses the grace of its charm and sweetness.”

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

“That we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Lest we imagine that by saying, "He begot us," we become what He is, this demonstrates that a certain preeminence is granted to us in creation by this adoption.”

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

“But let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak. Hence, he instructs the listener with moral precepts.”

But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

“Do not the rich oppress you by power, and drag you into courts? Do they not blaspheme the honorable name which was invoked upon you? Here he shows more clearly who are the rich, concerning whose humiliation and destruction he previously disputed.”

If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

“If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures: You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.”

For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

“But mercy exalts over judgment. For as the one condemned in God's judgment will grieve who did not show mercy, so the one who did will rejoice and exult when rewarded. Alternatively: Mercy exalts over judgment. It is not said: Mercy overcomes judgment.”

What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

“What will it profit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? And so on. Here he discusses the works of mercy more extensively, so that he might console those he had strongly frightened with knowledge preceding, by reminding them…”

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

“In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

“Do you not know that you shall receive greater judgment? For as he who ministers well acquires a good degree for himself, so also he who, being unlearned, tries to usurp the office of teaching, who does not sincerely announce Christ, would deserve a greater…”

Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

“Behold, even ships, though they are so great, and are driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

“However, no man can tame the tongue. This sentence can be correctly understood in two ways: both that none of the good teachers can tame the tongues of those who neglect to restrain themselves from foolish prattling, and that there is no speaker who does…”

Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

“This is not the wisdom descending from above, but earthly, unspiritual, demonic. And Paul says that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.”

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

“Where there is jealousy and contention, there is inconstancy and every wrongful work. With all, he says, guard your heart, for from it comes life.”

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

“Judging without hypocrisy. This virtue is as much used properly by pure wisdom as contentious and blasphemous wisdom entirely lacks it.”

Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?

“Do you think that the Scripture says uselessly? Namely, that Scripture which, restraining the faithful from the society of evildoers, thus speaks through Moses: You shall not make a covenant with them, nor with their gods.”

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

“But who are you to judge your neighbor? He condemns the recklessness of the one who delights in judging his neighbor without taking care to consider the state of his own frailty and the uncertainties of his temporal life.”

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

“You have stored up wrath for yourselves in the last days. Because, having neglected the nakedness or hunger of the poor, you rejoiced in storing up treasures of money for yourselves, now, not having foreseen it, you have accumulated the wrath of the eternal Judge…”

Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.

“Behold, the wages of the workers who have reaped your fields, which were withheld by you, cry out. How great is the iniquity of the proud, who, although they have sufficient wealth, not only disdain to welcome and refresh the poor coming everywhere, but also…”

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

“And let them pray over him, anointing him, etc. We read that the apostles did this in the Gospel, and now the custom of the Church holds that the sick are anointed with consecrated oil by the presbyters, and are healed with accompanying prayer.”

Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

“And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, etc. Therefore, he prayed once and before and after, and this one Elijah obtained such great and mighty things; how much more, then, is the frequent prayer of many righteous people worth?”