1 Now before the feast of the Passeouer, when Iesus knew that his houre was come, that he should depart out of this world vnto the Father, hauing loued his owne which were in the world, he loued them vnto the end.
2 And supper being ended (the deuill hauing now put into the heart of Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne to betray him.)
3 Iesus knowing that the Father had giuen all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God:
4 He riseth from supper, and layed aside his garments, and tooke a towell, and girded himselfe.
5 After that, he powreth water into a bason, and beganne to wash the disciples feete, and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girded.
6 Then commeth he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith vnto him, Lord, doest thou wash my feete?
7 Iesus answered, and said vnto him, What I doe, thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know heereafter.
8 Peter saith vnto him, Thou shalt neuer wash my feete. Iesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith vnto him, Lord, not my feete only, but also my hands, and my head.
10 Iesus saith to him, He that is washed, needeth not, saue to wash his feet, but is cleane euery whit: and ye are cleane, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him, therefore said he, Ye are not all cleane.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set downe againe, he said vnto them, Know ye what I haue done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say well: for so I am.
14 If I then your Lord and Master haue washed your feete, yee also ought to wash one anothers feete.
15 For I haue giuen you an example, that yee should doe, as I haue done to you.
16 Uerily, verily I say vnto you, the seruant is not greater then his lord, neither he that is sent, greater then hee that sent him.
17 If yee know these things, happy are ye if ye doe them.
18 ¶ I speake not of you all, I know whom I haue chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with mee, hath lift vp his heele against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to passe, yee may beleeue that I am he.
20 Uerily, verily I say vnto you, he that receiueth whomsoeuer I send, receiueth me: and he that receiueth me, receiueth him that sent me.
21 When Iesus had thus sayd, hee was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Uerily, verily I say vnto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom hee spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Iesus bosome one of his disciples, whom Iesus loued.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckened to him, that he should aske who it should be of whom he spake.
25 Hee then lying on Iesus breast, saith vnto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Iesus answered, Hee it is to whom I shall giue a soppe, when I haue dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gaue it to Iudas Iscariot the sonne of Simon.
27 And after the soppe, Satan entred into him, Then said Iesus vnto him, That thou doest, doe quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew, for what intent he spake this vnto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Iudas had the bagge, that Iesus had sayd vnto him, Buy those things that wee haue need of against the feast: or that he should giue some thing to the poore.
30 He then hauing receiued the sop, went immediatly out: and it was night.
31 ¶ Therefore when hee was gone out, Iesus sayd, Now is the Sonne of man glorified: and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorifie him in himselfe, and shall straightway glorifie him.
33 Litle children, yet a litle while I am with you. Ye shall seeke mee, and as I said vnto the Iewes, whither I go, ye cannot come: so now I say to you.
34 A new commandement I giue vnto you, That yee loue one another, as I haue loued you, that yee also loue one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if yee haue loue one to another.
36 ¶ Simon Peter sayd vnto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Iesus answered him, Whither I goe, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37 Peter said vnto him, Lord, why can not I follow thee now? I will lay downe my life for thy sake.
38 Iesus answered him, Wilt thou lay downe thy life for my sake? Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, the Cocke shall not crow, til thou hast denied me thrise.
Christ washes the disciples' feet. (1-17) The treachery of Judas foretold. (18-30) Christ commands the disciples to love one another. (31-38)1-17 Our Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them, and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. We know not when our hour will come, therefore what we have to do in constant preparation for it, ought never to be undone. What way of access the devil has to men's hearts we cannot tell. But some sins are so exceedingly sinful, and there is so little temptation to them from the world and the flesh, that it is plain they are directly from Satan. Jesus washed his disciples' feet, that he might teach us to think nothing below us, wherein we may promote God's glory, and the good of our brethren. We must address ourselves to duty, and must lay aside every thing that would hinder us in what we have to do. Christ washed his disciples' feet, that he might signify to them the value of spiritual washing, and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin. Our Lord Jesus does many things of which even his own disciples do not for the present know the meaning, but they shall know afterward. We see in the end what was the kindness from events which seemed most cross. And it is not humility, but unbelief, to put away the offers of the gospel, as if too rich to be made to us, or too good news to be true. All those, and those only, who are spiritually washed by Christ, have a part in Christ. All whom Christ owns and saves, he justifies and sanctifies. Peter more than submits; he begs to be washed by Christ. How earnest he is for the purifying grace of the Lord Jesus, and the full effect of it, even upon his hands and head! Those who truly desire to be sanctified, desire to be sanctified throughout, to have the whole man, with all its parts and powers, made pure. The true believer is thus washed when he receives Christ for his salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who through grace are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet; to cleanse themselves from daily guilt, and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us the more cautious. From yesterday's pardon, we should be strengthened against this day's temptation. And when hypocrites are discovered, it should be no surprise or cause of stumbling to us. Observe the lesson Christ here taught. Duties are mutual; we must both accept help from our brethren, and afford help to our brethren. When we see our Master serving, we cannot but see how ill it becomes us to domineer. And the same love which led Christ to ransom and reconcile his disciples when enemies, still influences him.
18-30 Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.
31-35 Christ had been glorified in many miracles he wrought, yet he speaks of his being glorified now in his sufferings, as if that were more than all his other glories in his humbled state. Satisfaction was thereby made for the wrong done to God by the sin of man. We cannot now follow our Lord to his heavenly happiness, but if we truly believe in him, we shall follow him hereafter; meanwhile we must wait his time, and do his work. Before Christ left the disciples, he would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other for Christ's sake, and according to his example, seeking what might benefit others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated by one soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general notice any of Christ's words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the followers of Christ do not show love one to another, they give cause to suspect their sincerity.
36-38 What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped, while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better than we know ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves, and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.