John 13:8 (WEB)
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
Catechism · 1
“Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 13:1-17; 34-35.
Fathers and councils · 39
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus II.7Book II
“…wash the feet of each disciple, and rebuked him who was unwilling to allow them to be washed, with the words, “Except I wash thee, thou hast no part with Me?”” — editor's note: John xiii. 8.
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Ambrose of Milan
“Thou saidst to Peter when he excused himself from having his feet washed by Thee: “If I wash not thy feet, thou wilt have no part with Me.”” — editor's note: S. John xiii. 8.
Read the whole comment“When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said: “Thou shalt never wash my feet.”” — editor's note: S. John xiii. 8.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XVII.9Conference XVII
“For the former, because he departed from his expressed determination which he had as it were confirmed with an oath saying “Thou shalt never wash my feet,” gained an immortal partnership with Christ, whereas he would certainly have been cut off from the grace of this blessedness, if he had clung obstinately to his…” — editor's note: S. John xiii. 8.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…when He was speaking of strength, he added, “He is girded:” that thou mayest remember how thy God was girded in humility, when He washed His disciples’ feet. …After He had washed their feet, again He sat down; He said unto them, “Ye call me Lord and Master: and ye say well; for so I am.” — editor's note: John xiii. 4–15.
Read the whole comment“And now, in that, when about to go forth unto His Passion, He washed the feet of His disciples, and most openly taught them to do for their fellow-disciples and fellow-servants this, which He their Lord and Master had done for them; how greatly did He commend humility?” — editor's note: John xiii. 1–17
Read the whole comment“Now it is that the blessed Peter gets that promise fulfilled: for he had been put off when, in the midst of his trembling and asserting, “Thou shalt never wash my feet,” he received the answer, “What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter” (vers.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“On this account He had said to the blessed Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou shall have no part with me.”” — editor's note: Chap. xiii. 8.
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John Chrysostom
“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“On the contrary, when Christ desired to wash his feet, he said, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” ( Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For so he too would have forbidden Him to wash his feet, but when he had heard, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter,” and “thou hast no part with me,”he speedily withdrew from his determination, and went over to the contrary.” — editor's note: John xiii. 7, 8.
Read the whole comment“…He saying, “Thus it becometh us,”and this same Peter too, forbidding Him to wash his feet, by the words, “Thou hast no part with me, unless I wash thy feet;”even so here too He restrained him by the mention of the opposite, and by the severity of the reproof repressed his fear of suffering.” — editor's note: John xiii. 8.
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Tertullian
“…the cup of water offered to a poor (child); recruits His strength at a well; walks over the water; willingly crosses the sea; ministers water to His disciples.” — editor's note: John xiii. 1–12.
Read the whole comment“Others make the suggestion (forced enough, clearly “that the apostles then served the turn of baptism when in their little ship, were sprinkled and covered with the waves: that Peter himself also was immersed enough when he walked on the sea.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 24; xiv. 28, 29. [Our author seems to allow that sprinkling is baptism, but not Christian baptism: a very curious passage. Compare the…
Read the whole comment“If, also, He exercised no right of power even over His own followers, to whom He discharged menial ministry; if, in short, though conscious of His own kingdom, He shrank back from being made a king, He in the fullest manner gave His own an example for turning coldly…” — editor's note: See John xiii. 1–17.
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Catena Aurea on John
- OrigenCatena Aurea on John
As a physician, who has many sick under his care, begins with those who want his attention most; so Christ, in washing His disciples’ feet, begins with the most unclean, and so comes at last to Peter, who needed the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
What is the meaning of Thou and my feet? It is better to think than speak of this; lest one should fail in explaining adequately what might have been rightly conceived.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Though Peter was the first of the Apostles, yet it is possible that the traitor petulantly placed himself above him; and that this may be the reason, why our Lord first began to wash, and then cometh to Peter.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
It is plain that our Lord did not wash Peter first, but none other of the disciples would have attempted to be washed before him.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Some one will ask why none of them prevented Him, except Peter, this being a sign not of want of love, but of reverence. The reason seems to be, that He washed the traitor first, and came next to Peter, and that the…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: All the rest put out their feet, certain that so great a one would not want to wash them without reason: but Peter, looking only to the thing itself, and seeing nothing beyond it, refused out of reverence to…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: We must not suppose that Peter was afraid and refused, when the others had willingly and gladly submitted to the washing. Our Lord did not go through the others first, and to the first of the Apostles…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
i. e. How useful a lesson of humility it teaches thee, and how directly this virtue leads to God.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Or our Lord insinuates that this is a mystery. By washing and wiping, He made beautiful the feet of those who were to preach glad tidings, (Is. 52:7.) and to walk on that way of which He tells them, I am the way.…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
He did not refuse, because our Lord’s act was above his understanding, but he could not bear to see Him bending at his feet: Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt not wash my feel for ever; i. e. I will never suffer it:…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
This is an instance, that a man may say a thing with a good intention, and yet ignorantly to His hurt. Peter, ignorant of our Lord’s deep meaning, at first, as if in doubt, says mildly, Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
If I wash thee not, He says, though it was only his feet that He was going to wash, just as we say, Thou treadest on me; though it is only our foot that is trodden on.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Let those who refuse to allegorize these and like passages, say how it is probable that he who out of reverence for Jesus said, Thou shalt never wash my feet, would have had no part with the Son of God; as if not…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He does not say on what account He performs this act of washing, but only threatens him. For Peter was not persuaded by the first answer: Thou shalt know hereafter: he did not say, Teach me then that I may submit.…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
This saying we may use against those who make hasty and indiscreet resolutions. By shewing them, that if they adhere to these, they will have no part with Jesus, we disengage them from such resolves; even though they…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But he, agitated by fear and love, dreaded more the being denied Christ, than the seeing Him at His feet: Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Jesus was unwilling to wash hands, and despised what was said of Him in this respect: Thy disciples wash not their hands when they eat bread. (Matt. 15:2) And He did not wish the head to be submerged, in which was…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Clean all except the feet. The whole of a man is washed in baptism, not excepting his feet; but living in the world afterwards, we tread upon the earth. Those human affections then, without which we cannot live in…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
It was impossible that the lowest parts and extremities of a soul should escape defilement, even in one perfect as far as man can be; and many, even after baptism, are covered up to their head with the dust of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
From what is here said, we understand that Peter was already baptized. Indeed that He baptized by His disciples, shews that His disciples must have been baptized, either with John’s baptism, or, which is more…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
And ye are clean, but not all: what this means the Evangelist immediately explains: For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, Ye are not all clean.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on John
Ye are clean, refers to the eleven; but not all, to Judas. He was unclean, first, because he cared not for the poor, but was a thief; secondly, because the devil had put it into his heart to betray Christ. Christ…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or, the disciples when washed had only to have their feet washed; because while man lives in this world, he contracts himself with earth, by means of his human affections, which are as it were his feet.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: When He calls them clean, you must not suppose that they were delivered from sin before the victim was offered. He means cleanness in respect of knowledge; for they were now delivered from Jewish error.
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Cross-references · 26
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 83.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 58.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in On the Mysteries Chapter 6.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 58.
Cited together in On the Mysteries Chapter 6.
Cited together in On the Mysteries Chapter 6.
Cited together in On the Mysteries Chapter 6.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 58.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 58.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 58.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Origen on John 13:6–11 (7) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Concerning Repentance I.7.
Cited together in Against Celsus II.7.