John 13:14

If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

If {G1487} I {G1473} then {G3767}, your Lord {G2962} and {G2532} Master {G1320}, have washed {G3538} your {G5216} feet {G4228}; ye {G5210} also {G2532} ought {G3784} to wash {G3538} one another's {G240} feet {G4228}.

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

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Commentary

Context of John 13:14

This verse is part of a pivotal moment during the Last Supper, hours before Jesus' crucifixion. The disciples had just finished a meal, and Jesus, knowing His time had come to depart from the world to the Father (John 13:1), performed an astonishing act: He washed His disciples' feet. This was a task typically reserved for the lowest servant in a household, especially in a culture where dusty roads made foot washing a common and necessary courtesy for guests. The disciples themselves had recently been preoccupied with arguments about who would be the greatest among them (Luke 22:24), making Jesus' humble act a profound and challenging lesson.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Humility in Leadership: The most striking theme is the unparalleled humility of Jesus. As "Lord and Master" (Greek: ho kurios kai ho didaskalos), He holds ultimate authority and wisdom, yet He stoops to perform the lowliest service. This redefines leadership not as power or prestige, but as selfless devotion to others.
  • Mutual Service: The command "ye also ought to wash one another's feet" extends Jesus' example to all His followers. It's a call to reciprocal, humble service within the community of believers, breaking down pride and self-importance.
  • Imitation of Christ: Jesus explicitly states in the following verse that He has given them an example to follow (John 13:15). This act symbolizes the core of Christian discipleship: living out the love and humility demonstrated by Christ Himself.
  • Love in Action: The foot washing is a powerful expression of Jesus' enduring love for His disciples, even to the point of laying down His life. It teaches that true love is active, practical, and willing to serve others in tangible ways.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Lord and Master" (Greek: ho kurios kai ho didaskalos) emphasizes Jesus' dual role as both divine authority and revered teacher. His actions carry the weight of both His divine nature and His direct instruction. The word "ought" (Greek: opheilō) signifies a moral obligation or debt. It's not merely a suggestion but a duty or a fitting response to the example set by Christ, indicating a strong imperative for believers to emulate His servant heart.

Practical Application

While some Christian traditions practice literal foot washing as a religious ordinance, the primary application of John 13:14 for a general audience is symbolic and spiritual. It calls believers to:

  • Embrace Humility: Actively seek opportunities to serve others, especially in ways that might be considered inconvenient, unnoticed, or beneath one's perceived status.
  • Prioritize Others' Needs: Put the needs and well-being of fellow believers and even strangers above one's own comfort or preferences.
  • Break Down Barriers: Challenge pride and hierarchy within relationships and communities, fostering an environment where everyone is willing to serve and be served.
  • Live Out Love: Translate love from a feeling into concrete acts of service, remembering that true Christian love is expressed through humble action, just as Christ came not to be served, but to serve.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that genuine faith is demonstrated not by asserting authority, but by embodying the selfless, serving spirit of Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 5:5 (18 votes)

    ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

  • Acts 20:35 (16 votes)

    I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

  • Luke 22:26 (14 votes)

    But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

  • Luke 22:27 (14 votes)

    For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

  • Galatians 5:13 (13 votes)

    ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

  • Romans 12:16 (12 votes)

    [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

  • 1 Peter 4:1 (10 votes)

    ¶ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;