John Chrysostom

If He says, "Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed," let us reflect that there is that which He requires of us also. True, it is the praise of His glory to save those that are enemies, but those who, after being made friends, continue His friends. So that if they were to return back to their former state of enmity, all were vain and to no purpose. …

Homilies On Ephesians 2 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

If we regard the sentence passed on him [the serpent] to be in the nature of a condemnation, God did not condemn the serpent in order to cause injury to humans. He pointed out what was to happen in the future. … What we are to expect can in some measure be gathered from our knowledge of what has been written: "Whoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify, and he that despises me shall be despised." God brings to pass what is good, not what is evil, as his words can teach you that he confers glory and disregards punishment. …

On Paradise, 15.74 ↗

Jerome

A pearl will shine in the midst of squalor, and a gem … will sparkle in the mire. This is what the Lord promised when he said, "Those who honor me I will honor." Others may understand this of the future when sorrow shall be turned into joy and when, although the world shall pass away, the saints shall receive a crown which shall never pass. But I for my part see that the promises made to the saints are fulfilled even in this present life.

Letter 66.7 ↗

Gregory the Dialogist

29. As if striking with an open and fitting meaning, he says: You honored your sons, so that you might eat the firstfruits of every sacrifice; but therefore the rights of the firstfruits are taken from you, because those who were honored were unworthy. For what does it mean to say: "Far be it from me that your house should minister in my sight," except: I cast you down from that summit to which the rights of the firstfruits were owed? …

Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 2, Chapter 2 ↗