Simon Peter saith unto him
Being convinced of his mistake in not submitting to Christ,
fearing he should he deprived of communion with him, than which
nothing was more desirable to him, or more highly esteemed of by
him, says,
Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my
head;
which shows the sense he had of the general pollution of his
nature, and the need he stood in particularly of having his feet,
hands, and head washed both as a minister, and a believer. By his
"feet" may be meant, either the grace of faith, which is the foot
of the soul, by which it goes to Christ, and walks on in him, and
was not without its imperfections; or the affections of the mind,
which are that to the soul, as feet are to the body; and when
they move right, move heavenward, Godward, and Christward; but
sometimes they are inordinate, and cleave to the things of this
world: or the outward life and conversation is meant, which is
attended with daily infirmities; and each of these need washing
in the blood of Christ. His "hands" may design all his actions,
works, services, duties, and performances, the hand being the
instrument of action; and not only the hands of wicked men, but
even of saints, need washing, their best righteousnesses being as
filthy rags. By his "head" may be meant doctrines and principles
imbibed in the mind, and expressed by the lips, which were not
free from mistake and pollution, and needed purging and
cleansing; for the disciples were not as yet clear from the
prejudices of the Jewish nation, especially relating to the
nature of the Messiah's kingdom.