James 4:8 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Ver. 8. Draw nigh to God] viz. In duty, and he will draw nigh to you in mercy. Sanctify him, Leviticus 10:3, and he will satisfy you, Psalms 91:16. The very Turks are remorseless to those that bear up, but they receive humiliation with much sweetness.

Cleanse your hands] For there is no coming near God, Joshua 24:19. The very heathens knew this; and had therefore their coena pura before their solemn sacrifices; and the sacrificers were appointed to purify themselves some days before. (Godw. Antiq. Demosth.) We wash our hands every day; but, when to dine with some great man, we scour them with balls. God will be sanctified in all them that draw nigh to him, Leviticus 10:3, he will be served like himself, he will be no loser by us.

Ye double minded] Ye that have your hearts divided between two, and as it were cloven asunder. Out with the corruption that cleaveth to your hearts; and then there will be a constancy and an evenness in your mouths and manners.

James 4:8

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.