John 13:7

7 Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou dost not know now, but thou shalt know hereafter.

John 13:7 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:7

Jesus answered and said unto him
Christ replies,

what I do, thou knowest not now:
Peter knew that he was about to wash his feet, and the rest of his disciples, but he did not know the meaning and mystery of it, what Christ designed by it, and what instruction they were to receive from it,

but thou shalt know hereafter;
as he did, when he had performed this service, and explained it to him. This may teach us, under dark providences, the meaning of which is not yet known by us, to wait the Lord's own time, to make things clear and plain to us, and in the mean time patiently submit to the divine will.

John 13:7 In-Context

5 then he pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded.

6 He comes therefore to Simon Peter; and *he* says to him, Lord, dost thou wash *my* feet?

7 Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou dost not know now, but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter says to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me.

9 Simon Peter says to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Footnotes

• [a]. The first 'know' is conscious, the second objective: see Note, 1Cor. 8.1.