What is washing the feet in the bible

232. Who instituted this ordinance? 

Christ (John 13:1-17). 

239. Do we read of feet washing before this event? 

Yes, as a service we read of it in Genesis 18:4; 19:2, and several other places. As a ceremony, it is 

spoken of in Exodus 30:17-21 and Exodus 40:30-32. 

234. What is the difference between feet washing as a service and feet washing as a ceremony? 

As a service it was taken up as a voluntary custom without command or punishment for nonobservance. 

As a ceremony it was instituted by divine authority, and ordered to be observed “that ye die not.” {Lev. 

 8:3} 

235. Which of these does the feet washing mentioned in John 13 resemble? 

The latter. 

236. In what respects? 

It was instituted by divine authority and a reward offered for its observance. 

237. What conclusion do we therefore arrive at? 

That the washing of the saints’ feet is a Christian ceremony which all Christians should practice. 

238. Does not this simply teach humility, and the duty of Christians to serve one another; such as dusting 

clothes, blacking shoes, etc.? 

This ceremony teaches humility and Christian service in the same way that the communion teaches a 

memory of the suffering and death of Christ. The symbol must be kept up that the principles for which it 

 stands may not be forgotten. 

239. What was Christ’s reply when Peter refused to have his feet washed? 

“If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v. 8). 

240. Was this an old custom? 

No. (1) Christ was serving as the head of the Church, not the host of a social company, and therefore 

owed them no service. (2) They had no custom of “rising from supper” to wash feet. (3) Had this been 

an old custom Peter would have known it (v. 7). (4) It was distinctly a ceremony. 

241. Was it for cleanliness? 

No. (vs. 10, 11). 

242. What did Christ say that makes us think that this ceremony is obligatory upon all Christians? 

“If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v. 8). “Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (v. 14). 

 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (v. 15). “If ye know these 

things, happy are ye if ye do them (v. 17). 

243. “I believe this is a command; but since my Church does not keep it am I not excusable in not 

keeping it?” 

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). 

244. Are there not some people who observe this command hypocritically? 

An abuse of a good thing is no argument against its use. Which is the worst, hypocrisy or disobedience? 

By the grace of God, we need not be guilty of either. 

245. But most of the intelligent people tell us we need not observe this. “We ought to obey God rather 

than men” (Acts5:29). 

246. How may I know what I ought to do? 

Read John 13:1-17, and do what it says. 

247. How did Christ remind us of our duty? 

“Ye ought to wash one another’s feet” (v. 14) 

248. Why did He wash His disciples’ feet? 

“I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you” (v. 15). 

249. What encouragement is given to the obedient? 

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (v. 17).250. Is the subject ever mentioned in the epistles?

It is mentioned once (1 Timothy5:10). 

251. Is not the fact that it is there mentioned in connection with a number of good works an evidence 

that it is simply a good work and not a Christian ceremony? 

It could not have been simply a good work, or it would not have said “saints’ feet.” It would have been 

“strangers feet”, “the needy’s feet,” or some other term showing that it was a general act, and not simply 

confined to “saints.” That word makes it Positive that Paul referred to the same Christian ceremony 

which Christ instituted. 

252. What other evidence have we that this command should still be observed? It is one of the “all 

things” which our Saviour included in the Great Commission.