John 13:7

John 13:7-11 . Jesus said, What I do thou knowest not now — Thou dost not now know what I intend by this action, but thou shalt know hereafter, a declaration which we may apply on many occasions, for many of his works (whether of creation, providence, or grace) are now great mysteries to us, and known to us, either not at all, or very imperfectly. It is sufficient that we can love and obey now, and that we shall know hereafter what now appears mysterious to us, and what we cannot comprehend. Peter saith, Thou shalt never wash my feet — Words rashly and sinfully spoken. Jesus answered — And by his answer caused him to change his mind, and retract what he had uttered; for when the mistake of his understanding was rectified, the corrupt resolution of his will was soon altered. Jesus answered, If I wash thee not — If thou dost not submit to my will; thou hast no part with me — Thou art not my disciple. In a more general sense the clause may mean, If I do not wash thee from the guilt of thy past sins in my blood, and purify thee from the power and pollution of sin, and all the depravity of thy mind and heart by my Spirit, thou canst have no communion with me, nor any share in the blessings of my kingdom. Peter saith, Lord, not my feet only, &c. — Being now convinced that he had spoken rashly, and that the washing intended was an act of Christ’s authority and grace, he readily consents to it, having before refused it, because it seemed only to be an act of Christ’s humiliation.

As if he had said, Lord, if this washing be necessary, in order to my having a part with thee, and be an emblem, or token thereof, I most gladly acquiesce in it, and am not only heartily willing, but desirous, that thou shouldest wash my whole person, not my feet only, or the defilement I may contract while I am endeavouring to walk in the way of duty, but all my executive and intellectual powers; yea, that I may be sanctified throughout, body, soul, and spirit, and that my whole man may be dedicated to, and employed in, thy service. Jesus — Willing to lay hold on an expression which gave him an opportunity of pursuing a useful thought; saith to him further, He that is washed — Greek, λελουμενος , he that hath been bathed, whose whole body hath been washed in water; needeth not — After that, to wash any part thereof, except his feet — Which, in coming out of the bath, may have been defiled. As the αποδυτηριον , says Clarius, or room in which they dressed themselves after bathing, was different from that in which they bathed, their feet might be so soiled in walking from one to the other, as to make it necessary immediately to wash them again. Or, as Dr.

John 13:7 . This was a right impulse and honourable to Peter; and therefore Jesus treats it tenderly. ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ … μετὰ ταῦτα , “what I am doing thou dost not at present comprehend, but thou shalt learn as soon as I am finished”. The pronouns are emphatic, that Peter may understand that Jesus may have much to do which the disciple cannot comprehend. The first requisite in a disciple or follower is absolute trust in the wisdom of his Master. μετὰ ταῦτα refers to the immediate future; see John 13:12 , where the explanation of the action is given. [ οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν ἐρεῖ , Euthymius.]

Knowest - shalt know (οἷδας - γνώσῃ) The A.V. ignores the distinction between the two words. "Thou knowest not" (οὐκ οἶδας), of absolute and complete knowledge. Thou shalt learn or perceive (γνώσῃ), of knowledge gained by experience. See on John 2:24. Hereafter (μετὰ ταῦτα) Literally, after these things.

7. Jesus answered and said … What I do thou knowest not now—that is, Such condescension does need explanation; it is fitted to astonish. but thou shall know hereafter—afterwards, meaning presently; though viewed as a general maxim, applicable to all dark sayings in God's Word, and dark doings in God's providence, these words are full of consolation.

Our Lord, seeing Peter’s general design good, though he mistook as to this particular act, tells him, that at present he did not understand his counsel and design in this action, but it should be more intelligible unto him afterwards; as indeed he made it by his discourse upon this his act of humiliation, John 13:13-16 .

7 . What I do thou knowest not ] Here both pronouns are emphatic and are opposed. Peter’s question implied that he knew, while Christ did not know, what He was doing: Christ tells him that the very reverse of this is the fact. On ‘now’ see note on John 16:31 . hereafter ] Literally, after these things ( John 3:22 , John 5:1 ; John 5:14 , John 6:1 , John 7:1 , John 19:38 ). ‘Hereafter’ conveys a wrong impression, as if it referred to the remote future. Had this been intended the words used for ‘now’ and ‘afterwards’ in John 13:36 would probably have been employed here. The reference probably is to the explanation of this symbolical action given in John 13:12-17 . This seems clear from the opening words ( John 13:12 ), ‘ Know ye what I have done to you?’—all the more so, because it is the same word for ‘know’ as here for ‘thou shalt know’ ( ginôskein ); whereas the Greek for ‘thou knowest’ in this verse is a different and more general word ( oidas ): ‘what I am doing, thou knowest not just now, but thou shalt recognise presently.’ See notes on John 7:26 and John 8:55 .

John 13:7 . Ὅ , what ) A most evident axiom.— οὐκ — ἄρτι — δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα ) A similar sentiment occurs, John 13:36 , “Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now, but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.”— μετὰ ταῦτα , hereafter ) See John 13:12 , “So after He had washed their feet, etc., He said, Know ye what I have done to you?” (so that in this view the words, γνώσῃ , γινώσκετε , thou shalt know , John 13:7 , and know ye , John 13:12 , have a most close connection): also John 13:17 , “If ye know these things, happy are ye, if ye do them;” or even Luke 12:37 , “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself , and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them .” The fulfilment is not merely hereafter , but begins at once, even more speedily than the promise seems to indicate.

(7) What I do thou knowest not now. —Here both pronouns are emphatic, and convey a rebuke to Peter. His words had almost implied that the Lord’s .act was wholly out of place, as of one who knew not what he was doing. The opposite was really the case. “What I do thou knowest not now.” But thou shalt know hereafter—i.e., in the teaching which is to follow (John 13:13-17). The word rendered “hereafter” is different from that rendered “afterwards” in John 13:36. The precise meaning is “after these things.” The sense, then, is “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt come to know presently.” (Comp. John 13:17.)