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.
Israel and the Church: Israel in the homeland
53-0329 §26
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Jubilee Year
54-1003E §25
Now, if you'll notice, in symbol, that jubilee year repeats now again. Every so often there is a revival strikes the land. Just a great Welsh revival, it closed not long ago. The people... We might go and have Billy Grahams and Oral Roberts all over the land, everywhere. And no matter how much we try, how great we try to organize our people together and band them, it takes God to bring a revival. No matter... We're trying to have a Christian Businessmen's organization. That's good. Now they're trying to have a inte...
Communion
65-1212 §9
...d, "I never did take it, Brother Branham. I don't understand what it is." Said, "I've been taught the other side." I said, "But remember, we will admit that St. Paul set it in order in the early Christian church. They went from chur... from house to house, broke the bread with singleness of heart, and so forth. Now," I said, "he did put it in the church. Galatians 1:8, he said, 'If an angel from heaven comes and says anything else, let it be accursed,' you see---the same one that had them to be rebaptized again fro...
Communion
65-1212 §11
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Questions and Answers
59-0628E §33
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