1Jesus washeth his disciples' feet, and exhorteth them to follow his example of humility and charity: 18he foretelleth the treachery of Judas, and pointeth him out to John by a token: 31he speaketh of his glorification as near at hand, and commandeth his disciples to love one another: 36he forewarneth Peter that he shall thrice deny him.
1NOW 1before thea feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should 2depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them 3unto the end.
1 Namely, the evening before His suffering and death. For, Christ kept the passover at the right time, according to God’s institution, but the Jews adjourned at that time to the following day. See the reason hereof the annotation at Mat. 26 on verse 20.
a Mat. 26:2; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1.
2 Namely, by His death, resurrection, and ascension.
3 Namely, of His life; or, without ceasing, John 17:12.
2And 4supper being ended, theb devil having now 5put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
4 That is, the meal in which the paschal lamb was eaten by them, so that they still sat at the table, which was not yet taken away, verse 12. After which meal Christ afterwards instituted and held His Supper. See Luke 22:15, etc. Others translate it, when the supper was kept.
b verse 27; Luke 22:3.
5 Gr. cast.
3Jesus knowing thatc the Father had given all things 6into his hands, andd that he was come from God, and went to God;
c Mat. 11:27; John 3:35.
6 That is, put in His power, Mat. 28:18.
d John 16:28.
4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his 7garments; and took a towel, and 8girded himself.
7 Namely, upper garments, as this word is often taken. See Mat. 5:40; Luke 6:29.
8 Namely, to be the more ready for this service, and to dry their feet with this towel. Thus servants used to serve their lords. See Luke 17:8.
5After that he 9poureth water into a 10bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.e
9 Gr. cast.
10 Or, washing vessel.
e secure with a belt or band, encircle*
6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dostf11thou wash my feet?
f Mat. 3:14.
11 Namely, Who art my Lord and Master. Although he speaks this out of reverence, yet there is ignorance also mingled with it, seeing Christ will have us obey Him, even though it seems to us that He commands some strange thing.
7Jesus answered and said unto him, 12What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know 13hereafter.
12 That is, why I do this.
13 Namely, when I shall have declared it unto you, as He does in verses 13, 14.
8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt 14never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, 15If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
14 That is, I will never permit that.
15Christ takes occasion from the external washing to speak of the spiritual washing or cleansing away of sins by His blood and Spirit, 1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:5; 1 John 1:7, 8, as He at other times takes such similar opportunities.
9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10Jesus saith to him, 16He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: andg ye are 17clean, but not all.
16Christ teaches here that, as they, who have washed their whole body in the hot baths, must also afterwards wash their feet; so also His disciples, being inwardly washed by His blood and Spirit, must also outwardly cleanse their actions and their ways.
g John 15:3.
17 That is, cleansed by Me from sin and the dominion of the same, Rom. 6:11, 12.
11Forh he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
h John 6:64.
12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye 18what I have done to you?
18 That is, to what end I have done this?
13Yei call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I 19am.
i Mat. 23:8, 10; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:3; Philip. 2:11.
19 Namely, in truth.
14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; yej also ought to wash one another’s 20feet.
j Gal. 6:1, 2.
20 That is, to show preferably, if necessary, all sorts of services of love to each other, also those which are otherwise done by the least, but not to use the same as a sacrament; as this is not Christ’s aim here.
15Fork I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
k 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6.
16Verily, verily, I say unto you, Thel servant is not greater than his lord; neither he 21that is sent greater than he that sent him.
l Mat. 10:24; Luke 6:40; John 15:20.
21 Or, one who is sent. Gr. apostolos.
17If ye know 22these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
22 Namely, which I have taught you by Mine own example, as love, humility, mutual obligingness.
18¶I speak not 23of you all: I know whom I have 24chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, 25Hem that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his 26heel against me.
23 Namely, that you all shall observe it; for, Judas would not do it, as this follows.
24 Namely, to eternal salvation, Eph. 1:4.
25 That is, he who is daily at My table, and converses with Me.
m Psalm 41:9; Mat. 26:23; 1 John 2:19.
26 That is, has set himself against Me as an enemy. See the annotation at Psalm 41 on verse 9.
19Nown I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe 27that I am he.
n John 14:29; 16:4.
27 Namely, the true Messiah and Son of God, Who knows all things beforehand.
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoevero I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
o Mat. 10:40; Luke 10:16.
21Whenp Jesus had thus said, he was troubled 28in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
p Mat. 26:21; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; Acts 1:17; 1 John 2:19.
28 That is, in His mind, by the consideration of the treason of Judas as well as of the punishment which would therefore come upon him.
22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23Nowq there 29was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, 30whom Jesus loved.
q John 20:2; 21:7, 20.
29 Gr. was reclining, namely, after the manner of the ancients who sat not at the table as we do, but leaned on couches on their elbows, so that John, reclining next to Christ, could conveniently bend his head towards Christ’s breast.
30 That is, John, whom Christ particularly loved; he describes it thus himself John 21:20, 24.
24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25He then 31lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
31 That is, bending his head towards Christ’s breast, to understand quietly and secretly, who the traitor would be.
26Jesus 32answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
32 Namely, softly to John alone, as appears in verse 28.
27And 33after the sop Satan entered into him. 34Then said Jesus unto him, That thou 35doest, do quickly.
33 Namely, received by Judas.
34 That is, from now on completely possessed him, to execute his treason, which he had before, by the instigation of the devil, promised to the chief priests. See verse 2; Luke 22:3.
35 That is, intends to do. By these words Christ would not command that Judas should go forward in his treason, but thereby gives to understand that his treason was known to Him, and that He was willing to suffer this. See similar phrase Rev. 22:11.
28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29For some of them thought, 36becauser Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of 37against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
36 That is, received, kept, and spend the money, which was given to Christ by godly women and others, for the maintenance of Himself and His disciples, Luke 8:3.
r John 12:6.
37 That is, for provision to hold out the feast further.
30He then having received the sop 38went immediately out: and it was night.
38 Namely, to the chief priests and captains, to put the treachery into action.
31¶Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, 39Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
39 That is, the time is now near that I, by My suffering and death, shall bring to nought the devil and death, and afterwards enter into My glory.
3240If God be glorified 41in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, ands shall straightway glorify him.
40 Or, Forasmuch as.
41 That is, by Him. See hereof the 2nd annotation on John 17 on verse 1.
s John 12:23; 17:1.
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Yet shall 42seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, 43Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I 44say to you.
t John 7:34; 8:21.
42 That is, long for My presence.
43 Namely, into heaven, whither I shall ascend within a short time after My death and resurrection.
44 Namely, that you, at this time, cannot go hither with Me. See verse 36; John 8:21.
34 Au45new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
u Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:39; John 15:12; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thes. 4:9; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:23; 4:21.
45 That is, recently declared and confirmed by Me, by My doctrine and example of My singular love, John 15:13; for, the same command was also in the Old Testament. See 1 John 2:7, 8; 2 John verse 5.
35Byv this shall all men know that ye are 46my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
v 1 John 2:5; 4:20.
46 That is, My right and true disciples, whom I acknowledge for such.
36¶Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; butw thou shalt 47follow me 48afterwards.
w John 21:18; 2 Peter 1:14.
47 Namely, by a similar death into My glory, John 21:19.
48 Namely, when you shall have finished your course and ministry, and shall be stronger in the faith.
37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? Ix will lay down my life for thy sake.
x Mat. 26:33; Mark 14:29; Luke 22:33.
38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily,y verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not 49crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
y Mat. 26:34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34.
49 That is, shall not have finished his crowing this night. See Mat. 26:34; Mark 14:30.