Is Footwashing in the New Testament a Command or Just Symbolic?
1) Direct Answer
It is a command to be practiced by believers. It is not merely symbolic, though it carries a spiritual meaning. Footwashing is a New Testament ordinance tied to the Lord’s Supper.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet… I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you… If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14–15, 17).
- He explained the spiritual meaning—cleansing in our daily walk—yet still told them to do it (John 13:8–10).
- The early church continued it: a faithful widow is described as one who “washed the saints’ feet” (1 Timothy 5:10).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Jesus didn’t say, “Think about what I did,” but, “Do as I have done to you.” That’s a command.
- If it were only cultural, the Holy Spirit would not have stamped it in the church record as a mark of faithful service (1 Timothy 5:10).
- Like water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, it is both meaningful and to be literally observed. The act expresses humility, fellowship, and the reminder that the Lord keeps us clean in our daily walk—but He still told us to do it.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the Bible ties blessing to obedience: “Happy are ye if ye do them.” So we keep it because the Lord said so. It’s not three ideas or traditions—it’s one simple command: wash one another’s feet.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Blind Bartimaeus
54-0402 §9
So then, they... The Shunammite woman went to Elisha, and Elisha took this staff, sent it by Gehazi, and said, "Lay it upon the child." Now, Elisha knew that whatever he touched, when he had the anointing of the Spirit on him, that it was blessed. And I think that's what Paul did, and that's what the people saw. It wasn't Paul, it was God on Paul, and just a token, or a symbol of faith, you see. And so, they'd taken from his body handkerchiefs and aprons, and diseases went from the people. What is that? What would...
Seals 3: The First Seal
63-0318 §69
It thundered as soon as the Lamb struck back the Seal. And what did it reveal? Not all of itself. First it's with God, next it's in a symbol, then it's revealed, three things, see. It's coming forth from the throne. First it can't be seen, heard, or nothing. It's sealed up. The Lamb's blood paid the price. It thundered when He spoke it out. And when He did, a white horse rider started out. And it still was a symbol.
God has a Provided Way
54-0404E §53
Another beautiful type, quickly: I just happened to think, in the book of Ruth. Many of you run over the top of that book, not thinking what it is. That's one of the most greatest stories in there, of a type of Christ, in all the Old Testament. In the first chapter of the book of Ruth, Naomi... The word Naomi, means "pleasant." She, her husband, and her two sons, left Palestine: type of the church. And they left Palestine, went over into the land of Moab. And there they homesteaded, out of the homeland. That's a sy...
Just once more, Lord
63-1201E §20
What did they see? A little boy leading a blind man out to the middle of the floor, in the celebration of the fish god, Dagon. The lad led this stumbling, blind bulk of flesh, blind, to the post, and stood him by the side of the post, to make sport. So this is Samson, a man that was an outstanding servant of God, now he stands there, humiliated, blind, weakened, a disgrace. It's a picture of a demoralized, sunken generation. It's a picture of a nation that's lost its hold with God. It's a picture of a church that's...
Communion
62-0204 §32
Now, the thing is, that, on this communing, we find out that there was a foot washing and things associated with that, also, to wash our feet, as a symbol of the cleanliness of the Holy Spirit. Now, then there must be a mutual feeling. If you are at edge with your host, then you cannot commune. No, you can't do it, because you're disagreeing with him. But if you are in agreement, then you can commune. So that's the way it is when we come to the Lord's table, we've got to be in agreement with His Word, see. We must...