4:8

Draw close to God: This inspired invitation shows that Jehovah God wants to have a close personal relationship with his earthly children. (Compare Joh 4:23; Ac 17:26, 27.) When James wrote his letter, the concept of close friendship with Jehovah was not new. (Ps 25:14; 65:4; 73:28) Jehovah has always invited his people to draw close to him through prayer. (De 4:7; Ps 145:18) Jesus, by means of his example and his teachings, drew people even closer to his Father by offering them the clearest possible picture of Him. (Mt 11:27; Joh 1:18; 14:9; 15:15) Further, Christ’s sacrifice and his service as High Priest allow his followers to have their sins completely forgiven and to approach Jehovah freely. (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 4:14-16) Jesus assured his followers that Jehovah wants to befriend them, that He has real affection for those who put faith in His Son. (Joh 16:27) The apostle Paul likewise taught Christians the vital goal of “drawing near to God,” which they could do by meditating on the hope He provides. (Heb 7:19) James’ readers could respond to the invitation to draw close to Jehovah by praying to him, by studying his Word, and by associating with his worshippers. (Jas 1:5, 6, 25; 5:13-16) Their every prayer, their every meditation on Jehovah and his Word, would help to strengthen that friendship. As they reflected appreciatively on Jehovah’s love and other qualities, their thinking would begin to harmonize with his thoughts, their heart would be purified, and they would be filled with a desire to please him as their dearest Friend.​—Ps 19:14; 26:2; 86:11; 104:34; 139:23.

and he will draw close to you: James offers his readers the comforting assurance that humans who make the effort to draw close to Jehovah will be met with a positive, loving response. Jehovah promises to listen when such ones call on him, to guide and protect them, and to blot out their sins. (De 4:7; Ps 91:14; Ac 3:19) All, including those who have grown weak and have become involved in wrong practices, can turn to God and seek his help, confident that he will respond mercifully. (Compare Zec 1:3; Mal 3:7.) James’ wording in this verse does not imply that God cares about humans only after they take the initiative to draw close to him. From the very beginning, it was Jehovah who took the initiative to show love to all humans. (Ac 14:16, 17; 17:24, 26, 27; 1Jo 4:10, 19) When humans respond to that love, seeking God’s guidance, favor, and forgiveness, he draws even closer to them.​—Compare Joh 6:44.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners: James does not direct this strong counsel and correction to every Christian. He has been addressing Christians who had grown weak in their faith, even likening them to “adulteresses” because they sought friendship with the world. (Jas 4:4 and study note) Many were giving in to their “fleshly desires,” which led them to engage in divisive fighting within the congregation. (Jas 4:1 and study note) Such expressions as “clean hands” or “innocent hands” were often used figuratively in the Hebrew Scriptures to represent righteous, pure conduct and actions. (Job 17:9; Ps 18:20, 24; 24:3, 4; 2Sa 22:21 and ftn.) Therefore, the counsel “cleanse your hands” meant that such sinners needed to change course and adjust their way of life in order to regain a clean standing with God and Christ.​—Compare Isa 1:15, 16.

purify your hearts: The expression “your hearts” refers to the inner person, including thoughts and motives. (See study note on 1Ti 1:5.) In order to purify his heart, an indecisive Christian needs to work hard at protecting his relationship with Jehovah. He needs to shield his own mind and heart by eliminating whatever might corrupt his thinking. (1Jo 3:3) If he purifies his heart in that way, he will be exclusively devoted to Jehovah. (1Ki 8:61 and ftn.; Ps 51:10; Jer 32:39; Mt 5:8 and study note) His hands, or good actions, will then be in harmony with his clean heart, or pure motives. The imagery of hands along with the heart is also used elsewhere in the Scriptures to refer to the inner person and his actions.​—Job 31:7, 27; Ps 24:4; 58:2; 73:13; Pr 6:17, 18.

you indecisive ones: In referring to some Christians as “indecisive ones,” James uses a word that literally means “two-souled,” and it could also be rendered “double-minded.” (Compare 1Ki 18:21.) Such Christians were claiming to pursue friendship with God and Christ while clinging to the thinking and attitudes of the world.​—Compare study note on Jas 1:8.