John 13:14

14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet.

John 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:14

If I then your Lord and Master
Christ argues from these titles and characters, which his disciples rightly gave him, and from what he had done to them, though he stood in such a superior relation to them, to their duty one towards another; that since, says he, I

have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet:
by which he does not mean barely, that they should perform this single action; but as this was an instance of humility and condescension, and doing a good office to strangers and travellers, and was afterwards an expression of love to the saints, see ( 1 Timothy 5:10 ) , so he would teach them hereby, to behave in a spirit of humility and condescension to one another, to do every kind and good office, and by love to serve one another in all things.

John 13:14 In-Context

12 After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?

13 You call me `Rabbi' and `Lord,' and you are right, because I am.

14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet.

15 For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.

16 Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him.