James 4:8
Verse
Context
Drawing Near to God
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God - Approach Him, in the name of Jesus, by faith and prayer, and he will draw nigh to you - he will meet you at your coming. When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us. The delicacy and beauty of these expressions are, I think, but seldom noted. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners - This I think to be the beginning of a new address, and to different persons; and should have formed the commencement of a new verse. Let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil learn to do well. Washing or cleansing the hands was a token of innocence and purity. Purify your hearts - Separate yourselves from the world, and consecrate yourselves to God: this is the true notion of sanctification. We have often seen that to sanctify signifies to separate a thing or person from profane or common use, and consecrate it or him to God. This is the true notion of קדש kadash, in Hebrew, and ἁγιαζω in Greek. The person or thing thus consecrated or separated is considered to be holy, and to be God's property; and then God hallows it to himself. There are, therefore, two things implied in a man's sanctification: 1. That he separates himself from evil ways and evil companions, and devotes himself to God. 2. That God separates guilt from his conscience, and sin from his soul, and thus makes him internally and externally holy. This double sanctification is well expressed in Sohar, Levit. fol. 33, col. 132, on the words, be ye holy, for I the Lord am holy: אותו מלמעלה ארס מקדש עצמו מלמטה מקישין, a man sanctifies himself on the earth, and then he is sanctified from heaven. As a man is a sinner, he must have his hands cleansed from wicked works; as he is double-minded, he must have his heart sanctified. Sanctification belongs to the heart, because of pollution of mind; cleansing belongs to the hands, because of sinful acts. See the note on Jam 1:8, for the signification of double-minded.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God--So "cleave unto Him," Deu 30:20, namely, by prayerfully (Jam 4:2-3) "resisting Satan," who would oppose our access to God. he will draw nigh--propitious. Cleanse . . . hands--the outward instruments of action. None but the clean-handed can ascend into the hill of the Lord (justified through Christ, who alone was perfectly so, and as such "ascended" thither). purify . . . hearts--literally "make chaste" of your spiritual adultery (Jam 4:4, that is, worldliness) "your hearts": the inward source of all impurity. double-minded--divided between God and the world. The "double-minded" is at fault in heart; the sinner in his hands likewise.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you,.... This must be understood consistently with the perfection of God's immensity and omnipresence: the saints draw nigh to God when they present their bodies in his sanctuary; when they tread in his courts, and attend his ordinances; where they always find it good for them to draw nigh unto him; and blessed is the man that approaches to him in faith and fear: they draw nigh to him when they come to the throne of his grace, for grace and mercy to help them; when they draw near to him in prayer with true hearts, and lift them up with their hands to God; when in the exercise of faith and hope they enter within the vail, and come up even to his seat; and lay hold on him as their covenant God and Father; and he draws nigh to them by granting them his gracious presence, by communicating his love to them, by applying the blessings of his grace, by helping them in times of need and distress, and by protecting them from their enemies; the contrary to which is expressed by standing afar off from them. Now this is not to be understood as if men could first draw nigh to God, before he draws nigh to them; for as God first loves, so he first moves; he takes the first step, and, in conversion, turns and draws men to himself; though this does not respect first conversion, but after acts in consequence of it; nor is it to be considered as a condition of the grace and favour of God, in drawing nigh to his people, but is expressive of what is their duty, and an encouragement to it: cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded; the persons addressed are not the profane men of the world, but sinners in Zion, formal professors, hypocritical persons; who speak with a double tongue to men, and who draw nigh to God with their mouths, but not with their hearts; who halt between two opinions, and are unstable in all their ways: cleansing of their hands and hearts denotes the purity of outward conversation, and of the inward affections; and supposes impurity both of flesh and spirit, that the body and all its members, the soul and all its powers and faculties, are unclean; and yet not that men have a power to cleanse themselves, either from the filth of an external conversation, or from inward pollution of the heart; though a man attempts the one, he fails in it; and who can say he has done the other? Job 9:30. This is not to be done by ceremonial ablutions, moral services, or evangelical ordinances; this is God's work only, as appears from his promises to cleanse his people from their sins, by sprinkling clean water upon them; from the end of Christ's shedding his blood, and the efficacy of it; and from the prayers of the saints, that God would wash them thoroughly from their iniquity, and cleanse them from their sin, and create clean hearts in them: and yet such exhortations are not in vain, since they may be useful to convince men of their pollution, who are pure in their own eyes, as these hypocritical, nominal professors, might be; and to bring them to a sense of their inability to cleanse themselves, and of the necessity of being cleansed elsewhere; and to lead them to inquire after the proper means of cleansing, and so to the fountain of Christ's blood, which only cleanses from all sin.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:8 Come close to God: This is the language of friendship (2:23) and loyalty (1:6-8). • Wash your hands . . . purify your hearts: The language of ceremonial cleansing is applied to the inner purity of one’s intentions (cp. Mark 7:1-23).
James 4:8
Drawing Near to God
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
A Craving for the Presence - Part 1
By David Wilkerson58K30:14PSA 42:1ISA 55:6MAT 6:25MAT 6:33PHP 4:19HEB 11:6JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of craving the presence of the Lord amidst challenging times, highlighting the need to prioritize seeking God's presence over solely relying on His provision. It draws parallels to the story of the children of Israel in the wilderness, warning against becoming complacent or bored even when experiencing God's miraculous provision. The speaker shares personal experiences from a trip to Israel, reflecting on the significance of having a dedicated 'craving room' for intimate communion with God.
A Man of God
By Leonard Ravenhill32K1:52:292CH 7:14PSA 85:6PSA 119:105MAT 11:28ACT 1:14ACT 2:11TH 5:17HEB 10:25JAS 4:8This sermon reflects on a 70-year journey of faith, witnessing various church tragedies and worldly events, yet remaining steadfast by looking up to Jesus, reading the Word, and following the paths of faith. It emphasizes coming to Jesus in times of weariness and emptiness, seeking His grace and zeal to inspire and revive the heart. The importance of prayer, revival, and the presence of God in the midst of believers' gatherings is highlighted, drawing from historical revivals like the Welsh and Shangtung revivals.
"Where Are the Praying People?"
By David Wilkerson22K01:432CH 7:14PSA 51:10PRO 4:23MAT 5:81CO 10:132CO 6:17EPH 5:111TI 4:12JAS 4:81PE 5:8This sermon emphasizes the speaker's strong desire to remain separate from the sinful influences of the world, committing to prayer, Bible reading, and standing against immorality. The urgency to address the moral decline within churches and society, calling for a return to genuine faith and purity, especially in the face of prevalent sins like pornography. The plea for God to raise up voices of righteousness and intercessors to combat the spiritual apathy and compromise that is leading a generation astray.
A Powerful Warning - Lest We Forget the Message
By David Wilkerson14K09:272CH 7:14PSA 27:8PSA 119:11PRO 28:13JER 29:13MAT 24:44EPH 6:18HEB 4:16JAS 4:81PE 5:8This sermon emphasizes the urgency of taking the Word of God seriously and being prepared for His soon coming. It calls for a return to intimacy with Christ, dependence on God, and seeking His face diligently. The speaker warns against compromise, distractions, and the pursuit of worldly desires, urging a focus on God alone. The message stresses the importance of prayer, seeking God in good times, and waging war against sin to be prepared for spiritual battles.
A Touch From God (Full)
By David Wilkerson12K45:28EXO 33:72CH 7:14PSA 27:8PSA 51:10PSA 65:4ISA 40:31ISA 55:61CO 3:16HEB 10:22JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God's presence and being willing to fully surrender to Him, leaving behind defilement and busyness. It highlights the need for a deep hunger for God, a willingness to go to the mountain in prayer, and a call to come out of places of defilement to experience God's touch and presence in a transformative way.
A Craving for the Presence - Part 2
By David Wilkerson12K27:17EXO 33:15DEU 4:29PSA 27:8PSA 42:1PSA 105:4ISA 55:6MAT 6:33PHP 3:10HEB 11:6JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of craving and seeking the presence of the Lord in our lives, rather than just relying on legal contracts or promises. It highlights the need for a deep, intimate relationship with God, where His presence is cherished above all else, even in times of hardship and uncertainty. The message calls for a genuine desire to know Jesus and experience His glory, urging believers to have a craving heart for the Lord.
Christ Lord and Master
By Oswald J. Smith10K1:02:52Lordship Of Jesus ChristMAT 6:33ACT 1:8ROM 8:28EPH 5:19PHP 4:13JAS 4:81JN 1:7In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the blessings and grace that God has bestowed upon the church and its members. They also mention the success of their television ministry in reaching and impacting people's lives. The speaker then leads the congregation in a hymn and encourages them to sing more enthusiastically. They emphasize the importance of walking in the light and having fellowship with one another through the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. The sermon concludes with a prayer for the sick and a request to remember those who have passed away.
A Salute to Those Who Stayed With It
By David Wilkerson8.0K36:541SA 30:24PSA 51:10ISA 6:8ACT 1:81CO 12:181CO 13:1EPH 4:3PHP 4:7JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing the diverse callings within the body of Christ. Using the story of David and his army in 1 Samuel 30, it highlights the significance of both those who go to battle and those who stay behind 'with the stuff.' The message encourages individuals to be faithful in their unique callings, whether it be in missions, prayer, giving, or other roles, and to trust that God will reward each according to their faithfulness.
Intimacy With God
By J. Oswald Sanders7.9K37:59Intimacy With GodEXO 33:7EXO 33:18EXO 34:6PSA 27:8MAT 6:33JAS 4:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spending time alone with God. He uses the example of Moses, who spent six days alone with God on the mountain and became radiant as a result. The speaker suggests that our lack of closeness to God may be due to not prioritizing time with Him. He challenges the audience to be willing to pay the price of spending time with God in order to experience intimacy with Him.
A Touch From God - Part 1
By David Wilkerson7.8K09:01JDG 2:181SA 12:101SA 15:281SA 16:7PSA 65:4ISA 6:8JER 29:13ACT 13:22JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly, especially in times of turmoil and fear. It highlights the need for individuals to hunger for more of God's presence and to be open to His touch, leading to transformation and revival. The speaker urges the audience not to miss any service and shares powerful testimonies of God's protection and provision. The message focuses on God's plan to touch and use individuals to bring about change and revival in chaotic times.
Worship - Then Prayer - Part 2
By Leonard Ravenhill7.4K33:28Worship1KI 18:362CH 7:14PSA 24:4PRO 4:23MAT 6:33JAS 4:81PE 1:15In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time with God over worldly distractions. He criticizes the tendency to spend hours watching TV shows but not dedicating enough time to prayer. The preacher also shares personal anecdotes about his own family and the impact of his ministry on their lives. He highlights the need for personal revival and warns against relying on external appearances of spirituality. Additionally, he mentions a story about a girl praying fervently for her family's salvation and expresses his desire to see genuine, passionate believers who are willing to sacrifice for their faith.
John Baptist , the Fire of God - Part 1
By Leonard Ravenhill6.9K42:48RevivalJohn The BaptistBaptism Of The Holy SpiritPSA 51:10ISA 6:8MAL 3:1MAT 3:11LUK 3:16JHN 3:30ACT 1:81TH 5:19HEB 12:29JAS 4:8Leonard Ravenhill passionately preaches about John the Baptist as a fiery messenger of God, emphasizing the need for personal revival and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire. He calls for believers to seek God earnestly, to break down the walls of unbelief and doubt in their lives, and to be consumed by the divine fire of God. Ravenhill highlights the urgency of the hour, urging the church to awaken to its calling and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, as John the Baptist was, to prepare the way for the Lord. He stresses that true revival comes not from programs or strategies but from a deep, intimate relationship with God that ignites a passion for holiness and repentance. The preacher concludes with a call to action, encouraging the congregation to respond to God's invitation and to seek His presence above all else.
Call No Man Common or Unclean
By David Wilkerson6.1K53:45DivisionDEU 31:6MAT 6:33ACT 10:9ACT 10:28ACT 10:34HEB 13:8JAS 4:8In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Peter in Acts 10, starting at verse 9. Peter goes up to pray and becomes hungry, but while waiting for food, he falls into a trance and sees a vision of a sheet descending from heaven. The sheet contains all kinds of animals, including those considered unclean by Jewish law. A voice tells Peter to kill and eat, but Peter refuses, stating that he has never eaten anything common or unclean. The voice then tells Peter that God has declared these animals clean, and this message is repeated three times. The preacher emphasizes the importance of not labeling people as common or unclean based on societal judgments, and instead, recognizing that God has cleansed and sanctified people from all nations and backgrounds.
Audio Sermon: Seeking God
By Hans R. Waldvogel5.5K15:102CH 15:2PSA 27:8PSA 105:4PRO 4:23JER 29:13MAT 6:33MAT 7:7PHP 3:8HEB 11:6JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking and finding God with our whole hearts, highlighting the transformative power of truly knowing God. It challenges listeners to not settle for superficial blessings or experiences but to press through to a deep, intimate relationship with God. The speaker urges a dedicated pursuit of God, drawing from biblical examples like the woman searching for a lost coin and the need for ministers and believers to truly know the Lord in their service.
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire-I Interview: Jim Cymbala
By Jim Cymbala5.0K13:47InterviewPSA 37:4JER 33:3MAT 6:33PHP 4:61TH 5:17JAS 4:81PE 5:7In this video, Harold Harper introduces an interview with Pastor Jim Symbola of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The pastor's church has grown from a small congregation to a thriving community that makes a significant impact in the New York area. The church's success is attributed to the pastor's vision for prayer and the congregation's commitment to it. The interview highlights the power of prayer and the role it played in preparing the church to minister in the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy.
Jehovah Raphi-the Lord That Heals
By David Wilkerson5.0K1:01:00Names Of GodEXO 34:6EZK 7:2EZK 7:6MAT 6:33HEB 10:26JAS 4:8REV 19:11In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that there is something of God that will not let go of us. He speaks of God's love, mercy, and compassion, and how He sends His servants to bring healing. However, there comes a point when God must apply discipline and judgment. The preacher references the book of Ezekiel, where God warns the people of Israel that the end has come and He will judge them for their abominations. The sermon concludes with a call to know God intimately and to seek forgiveness and cleansing from bitterness.
"We Don't Know God!"
By Leonard Ravenhill4.9K08:12PSA 85:6JER 9:23JHN 17:3ACT 4:31JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of truly knowing God, highlighting how many people may know about God but not truly know Him intimately. It shares stories of past revivals and the powerful presence of God that transformed lives, contrasting it with the lack of spiritual fervor and depth in modern times. The message calls for a return to fervent prayer, deep intimacy with God, and a hunger for revival that can set hearts on fire for God.
With God All Things Are Possible
By David Wilkerson4.8K1:02:46PSA 34:18PSA 51:10PSA 51:17PSA 116:1JER 30:17LUK 1:37JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the message of hope and restoration for those who feel they have fallen too far from God's grace. It highlights the power of God's love and compassion to reach even the most broken and desperate hearts, encouraging individuals to cry out to God for forgiveness and restoration. The speaker shares stories of individuals who felt beyond hope but were ultimately restored by God's mercy and grace, illustrating that with God, nothing is impossible.
Losing the Anointing - Part 1 (High Quality)
By David Wilkerson4.6K29:15PSA 32:5ISA 61:1JER 29:13MAT 16:24LUK 9:23ACT 3:192CO 3:17PHP 3:10JAS 4:81JN 1:9This sermon emphasizes the freedom from guilt of the past through surrendering to God, trading shackles for a glorious song. It highlights the importance of seeking the anointing of God, the cost of maintaining it, and the need for a deep, personal relationship with God to experience His transformative power.
(John - Part 26): Jesus Walking on Water
By A.W. Tozer4.4K56:22ExpositionalPSA 46:10MAT 14:23MRK 1:35LUK 5:161TH 5:17JAS 4:81PE 5:7In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that according to the Bible, human society is lost and under divine sentence. He highlights the powerful influence and magnetic attraction that society has over individuals. The preacher also mentions the need for believers to frequently retire from society in order to break its hold on their lives and to come back as masters, not slaves. The sermon emphasizes the importance of conversion and being born again in Christ Jesus to overcome the corrupting power of society.
You're Changing
By David Wilkerson4.3K05:57JOS 1:9PSA 51:10MAT 6:332CO 13:5JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing spiritual decline and the subtle changes that can lead believers away from God. It challenges listeners to examine their hearts, repent, and seek a deeper relationship with God, urging them to prioritize spiritual fervor over worldly distractions. The message calls for a return to genuine passion for God, a burden for the lost, and a commitment to fervent prayer and seeking God's face.
Garland, Texas - the Welsh Revival of 1904-05
By J. Edwin Orr4.0K22:54PSA 85:6JOL 2:28MAT 5:14ACT 2:17JAS 4:8This sermon delves into the remarkable Welsh Revival of 1904, focusing on the pivotal role of Evan Roberts and the powerful movement of God's Spirit that transformed lives and communities. It highlights the prayerful beginnings, the impact on individuals and society, and the lasting legacy of revival that extended beyond Wales to influence regions like the United States.
Losing the Anointing - Part 2 (High Quality)
By David Wilkerson3.9K29:182CH 7:14NEH 1:4PSA 27:8ISA 55:6DAN 10:12MAT 7:7ACT 3:19HEB 11:6JAS 4:8REV 3:20This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking a fresh anointing from God, recounting personal experiences of revival and the need for a renewed passion for ministry. The speaker shares about the challenges faced in ministry, the call to intimacy with Christ, and the necessity of perseverance and seeking God's face for a new anointing to fulfill one's purpose.
A Touch From God - Part 3
By David Wilkerson3.7K09:08EXO 33:7PSA 25:5PSA 27:8PSA 37:7PSA 62:5PSA 130:5ISA 40:31LAM 3:25HEB 11:6JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of waiting on the Lord and seeking His presence, highlighting the consequences of spiritual adultery and the need to come out from places of defilement to experience God's power and authority. It underscores the vital difference God's presence makes in a congregation and the necessity of prioritizing intimacy with Him above all else.
"Weep and You Weep Alone"
By Leonard Ravenhill3.6K00:26PSA 34:18PSA 51:17MAT 5:4JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the contrast between worldly joy and the depth of spiritual connection with God through weeping and humility. It highlights the importance of genuine emotional expression in the church community and the profound experience of being close to the heart of God, as seen in a powerful Friday night prayer meeting where God's presence brought humility and brokenness.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God - Approach Him, in the name of Jesus, by faith and prayer, and he will draw nigh to you - he will meet you at your coming. When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us. The delicacy and beauty of these expressions are, I think, but seldom noted. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners - This I think to be the beginning of a new address, and to different persons; and should have formed the commencement of a new verse. Let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil learn to do well. Washing or cleansing the hands was a token of innocence and purity. Purify your hearts - Separate yourselves from the world, and consecrate yourselves to God: this is the true notion of sanctification. We have often seen that to sanctify signifies to separate a thing or person from profane or common use, and consecrate it or him to God. This is the true notion of קדש kadash, in Hebrew, and ἁγιαζω in Greek. The person or thing thus consecrated or separated is considered to be holy, and to be God's property; and then God hallows it to himself. There are, therefore, two things implied in a man's sanctification: 1. That he separates himself from evil ways and evil companions, and devotes himself to God. 2. That God separates guilt from his conscience, and sin from his soul, and thus makes him internally and externally holy. This double sanctification is well expressed in Sohar, Levit. fol. 33, col. 132, on the words, be ye holy, for I the Lord am holy: אותו מלמעלה ארס מקדש עצמו מלמטה מקישין, a man sanctifies himself on the earth, and then he is sanctified from heaven. As a man is a sinner, he must have his hands cleansed from wicked works; as he is double-minded, he must have his heart sanctified. Sanctification belongs to the heart, because of pollution of mind; cleansing belongs to the hands, because of sinful acts. See the note on Jam 1:8, for the signification of double-minded.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God--So "cleave unto Him," Deu 30:20, namely, by prayerfully (Jam 4:2-3) "resisting Satan," who would oppose our access to God. he will draw nigh--propitious. Cleanse . . . hands--the outward instruments of action. None but the clean-handed can ascend into the hill of the Lord (justified through Christ, who alone was perfectly so, and as such "ascended" thither). purify . . . hearts--literally "make chaste" of your spiritual adultery (Jam 4:4, that is, worldliness) "your hearts": the inward source of all impurity. double-minded--divided between God and the world. The "double-minded" is at fault in heart; the sinner in his hands likewise.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you,.... This must be understood consistently with the perfection of God's immensity and omnipresence: the saints draw nigh to God when they present their bodies in his sanctuary; when they tread in his courts, and attend his ordinances; where they always find it good for them to draw nigh unto him; and blessed is the man that approaches to him in faith and fear: they draw nigh to him when they come to the throne of his grace, for grace and mercy to help them; when they draw near to him in prayer with true hearts, and lift them up with their hands to God; when in the exercise of faith and hope they enter within the vail, and come up even to his seat; and lay hold on him as their covenant God and Father; and he draws nigh to them by granting them his gracious presence, by communicating his love to them, by applying the blessings of his grace, by helping them in times of need and distress, and by protecting them from their enemies; the contrary to which is expressed by standing afar off from them. Now this is not to be understood as if men could first draw nigh to God, before he draws nigh to them; for as God first loves, so he first moves; he takes the first step, and, in conversion, turns and draws men to himself; though this does not respect first conversion, but after acts in consequence of it; nor is it to be considered as a condition of the grace and favour of God, in drawing nigh to his people, but is expressive of what is their duty, and an encouragement to it: cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded; the persons addressed are not the profane men of the world, but sinners in Zion, formal professors, hypocritical persons; who speak with a double tongue to men, and who draw nigh to God with their mouths, but not with their hearts; who halt between two opinions, and are unstable in all their ways: cleansing of their hands and hearts denotes the purity of outward conversation, and of the inward affections; and supposes impurity both of flesh and spirit, that the body and all its members, the soul and all its powers and faculties, are unclean; and yet not that men have a power to cleanse themselves, either from the filth of an external conversation, or from inward pollution of the heart; though a man attempts the one, he fails in it; and who can say he has done the other? Job 9:30. This is not to be done by ceremonial ablutions, moral services, or evangelical ordinances; this is God's work only, as appears from his promises to cleanse his people from their sins, by sprinkling clean water upon them; from the end of Christ's shedding his blood, and the efficacy of it; and from the prayers of the saints, that God would wash them thoroughly from their iniquity, and cleanse them from their sin, and create clean hearts in them: and yet such exhortations are not in vain, since they may be useful to convince men of their pollution, who are pure in their own eyes, as these hypocritical, nominal professors, might be; and to bring them to a sense of their inability to cleanse themselves, and of the necessity of being cleansed elsewhere; and to lead them to inquire after the proper means of cleansing, and so to the fountain of Christ's blood, which only cleanses from all sin.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:8 Come close to God: This is the language of friendship (2:23) and loyalty (1:6-8). • Wash your hands . . . purify your hearts: The language of ceremonial cleansing is applied to the inner purity of one’s intentions (cp. Mark 7:1-23).