John 13:1-15 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:8

Peter saith unto him, thou shall never wash my feet ,.... Before he had behaved with modesty, but now with obstinacy and perverseness; and though these expressions might arise from great reverence to Christ, yet they were wrong and rashly spoken. Peter ought to have been satisfied with Christ's reply, and have submitted, since though he then did not know the reason of such surprising conduct, he should hereafter. In order therefore to bring him to a compliance, Jesus answered him, if I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:9

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:10

Jesus saith to him, he that is washed ,.... Not he that is baptized; for every such person is not wholly clean, but he who is regenerated by the Spirit of God, or rather, who is washed in the blood of Christ: such an one "is clean every whit"; is all over clean; not that he has no sin in him, nor commits any; but as he is washed in the blood of Christ, and justified by his righteousness, he is wholly and entirely clean in the sight of God; for he is justified from all things he could not be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:11

For he knew who should betray him ,.... That is, Jesus, as Beza's ancient copy, and the Syriac and Persic versions read. This he knew from the beginning; not only from the beginning of his ministry, when he chose his twelve apostles, but from the beginning of time, yea, from everlasting; this being fixed by the determinate counsel of God, which he, as the omniscient God, was privy to: he knew what preparations were making, and how things were then working, in order to bring it about; he knew... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:12

So after he had washed their feet ,.... Not Peter's only, but the rest of the disciples also: some have thought, that he washed only the feet of some of them, and not all; but it seems, by this expression, that he performed this service to each of them: and when he had gone through it with everyone of them: and had taken his garments , and put them on, and was sat down again ; at the table with his disciples, supper not being yet ended; when having done his work as a servant, he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:13

Ye call me Master and Lord ,.... רבי , and מר , "Master" and "Lord", were dignified titles among the Jews, which they frequently F25 Vid. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1. Derech Erets, c. 6. fol. 18. 2. gave to their doctors and men of learning, and are often to be met with in their writings: hence the disciples called Christ by these names, not out of flattery, but reverence of him, and esteem for him; nor are they blamed, but commended for it: and ye say well, for so I am ; though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:15

For I have given you an example ,.... Christ is an example to his people, in many things; not in his miraculous performances and mediatorial work, but in the exercise of grace, of meekness, humility, love, patience, and the like; and in the discharge of duty, in submission to ordinances, and in attending on them; and in the several duties, both to them that are without, and to them that are within; and also in his sufferings and death; not that he died merely as an example, but likewise in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 13:1

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew, etc. - Or, as some translate, Now Jesus having known, before the feast of the passover, that his hour was come, etc. The supper mentioned in John 13:2 ; is supposed to have been that on the Thursday evening, when the feast of the passover began; and though, in our common translation, this passage seems to place the supper before that feast, yet, according to the amended translation, what is here said is consistent with what we read in... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 13:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 13:1

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