To wash the feet of those who visit one’s house is an Eastern custom. In our country, where habits of life are so different from those of the Bible lands, we merely accept the meaning of the act, and seek to apply its significance to our souls.
Unshod feet, the shoes taken off, implies reverence to the person before whom the inferior may stand, and the washing of the feet is a mark of courtesy and kindness, and also a witness that the dust contracted by one’s steps is removed.
“Thou gavest Me no water for My feet” (Luke 7:4444And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (Luke 7:44)), said our gracious Lord to the Pharisee who had invited Him to be his guest! Simon, the host, had neglected the first courtesy to his Guest, and his lack of attention to Jesus was inscribed not only on the Lord’s heart, but is written in the word of God. Let us take heed how we treat our Master!
The priests who entered Jehovah’s house— the tabernacle of the wilderness—were constrained to wash their feet before so doing. No dust of the way was permissible upon the feet of those who entered the holy precincts of God’s dwelling. Holiness becomes God’s house forever, and we cannot dwell in truth in His presence with unconfessed sin upon our souls―the washing of our feet is requisite.
Christians well know that communion with each other in the things of God is impossible if they have ill-feelings towards one another, and the Lord has bidden us observe His holy example in the washing of His disciples’ feet. He was the Host; they were assembled around Him at the Passover feast when He laid aside His garments, took water, and washed their feet. He humbled Himself to the servant’s place, for He is so great that He is lowly of heart, and so full of grace that He loves to serve. Then, having fulfilled His service, He took again His garments, and sat down with His disciples, and taught them to do to one another as He had done to them.
Now, as we are actuated by His spirit, and are followers of Him, indeed, we, too, shall be able to do, in our measure, what He did on that occasion. Washing the feet does not signify finding of fault, but the removal of that which is evil, and the Lord lays the burden of this removal upon those who humble themselves after His example to serve their fellow disciples.
True greatness can afford to stoop, while pride ever holds up its head, and pride is a sign of littleness. Happy are those Christian who are like Christ!