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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Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
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
(Now, just a moment longer.) Now, in the Old Testament when the sacrifice was made a statute or an ordinance... And so is water baptism an ordinance, so is feet-washing an ordinance, so is the Lord's supper an ordinance. "Blessed is he that does all of His ordinances, keeps all of His statutes, all of His commandments, that he might have a right to enter into the tree of life." Now, notice in this now, that in that first ... when it was first an ordinance of God to bring a sacrifice to the church, and ... to the te...
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §33
Now, Paul, in 1st Corinthians we could also read the 11th chapter, where we use here for a communion... I might read it so it might be able to help you, 1st Corinthians the 11th chapter. Listen at Paul speaking now, 23rd verse. For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night ... he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, and eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: do this in remembrance of me. After the sam...
The Seal of God
54-0514 §31
Now, we find out that the first thing that ever raised up to form any form of the beast, at all, or... The beast means a "power." We went through all the symbols and everything, last night, to prove that the beast was a power. And it did not come out of Russia. It come out of Rome. That's right. It came from Rome. And it was not, it was not a group of men. It was not a political organization. It was a religious institution. It was a church that set on seven hills, with one man who had controlling power over all the...
The choosing of a Bride
65-0429E §73
When they got out from under the cars, and everything, and come back over, said, "If that hit you, there wouldn't be a greasy spot." I said, "It wasn't... It was Him. He was talking to me. God speaks by a whirlwind, see. And there was that same pillar of fire that you see on the pictures, standing there. And when it went up, they said "What is it?" I said, "Judgment is striking the West Coast." Second day from that, Alaska like to have sunk. See, it struck once there, the first blow, where the... You have to do som...