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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Washing
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The high priest's whole body was washed at his consecration (; ); also on the day of atonement. The priests' hands and feet alone were washed in the daily tabernacle ministrations (-20). So Christians are once for all wholly "bathed" (leloumenoi) in regeneration which is their consecration; and daily wash away their soils of hand and foot contracted in walking through this defiling world (, Greek "he that has been bathed needs not save to wash (nipsasthai) his feet, but is clean all over": ; -23; ). The clothes of him who led away the scape-goat, and of the priest who offered the red heifer, were washed (; ).
The Pharisaic washings of hands before eating, and of the whole body after being in the market (-4), turned attention off from the spirit of the law, which aimed at teaching inward purity, to a mere outward purification. In the sultry and dusty East water for the feet was provided for the guests (; ). The Lord Jesus by washing His disciples' feet taught our need of His cleansing, and His great humility whereby that cleansing was effected (compare ; ). The sandals, without stockings, could not keep out dust from the feet; hence washing them was usual before either dining or sleeping (). Again, the usage of thrusting the hand into a common dish rendered cleansing of the hand indispensable before eating. It was only when perverted into a self righteous ritual that our Lord protested against it (; ).