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Summary
- In the Bible a host offered guests water to wash their feet, and washing another person’s feet was a servant’s task (Genesis 18:4; 1 Samuel 25:41).
- Aaron and the priests had to wash their hands and feet before they served at the tabernacle and the altar (Exodus 30:19–21).
- Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, Judas’s too, at the Last Supper the night before he died (John 13:1–12).
- He told Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me,” and told the disciples to wash one another’s feet as he had washed theirs (John 13:8, 14–15).
- The name Maundy Thursday comes from “Mandatum novum,” the Latin opening of the new commandment in John 13:34.
- Since 2016 the Catholic Holy Thursday rite may include men and women among those whose feet are washed.
- Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of the Brethren, Free Will Baptists and the Church of God (Cleveland) wash feet alongside the Lord’s Supper.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- The Holy Bible, King James Version, via BibleGateway: Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Exodus 30:18–21; Judges 19:21; 1 Samuel 25:41; Luke 7:36–50; 22:24–27; 13:1–17, 34; 1 Timothy 5:10. biblegateway.com
- Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishmael, Tractate Nezikin 1, on Exodus 21:2, trans. Shraga Silverstein. Sefaria
- Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John 55, 56 and 58, trans. John Gibb and James Innes (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1888). 55, 56, 58
- Augustine of Hippo, Letter 55, to Januarius, section 33, trans. J. G. Cunningham (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1886). New Advent
- Ambrose of Milan, On the Mysteries 6.31–33, trans. H. de Romestin (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1896). New Advent
- Ambrose of Milan, On the Sacraments 3.1.4–5, trans. T. Thompson, ed. J. H. Srawley (SPCK, 1950). PDF
- Herbert Thurston, “Washing of Feet and Hands,” Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 15 (1912). New Advent
- Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Decree In Missa in Cena Domini, 6 January 2016. vatican.va
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, “Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!” (12 April 2012). uocofusa.org
- Church of the Brethren, “Practices: Love feast and communion; Feetwashing.” brethren.org
- Seventh-day Adventist Church, “What Is the Lord’s Supper and Why Does It Matter?” and Fundamental Belief 16. adventist.org
- General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 21st edition (2022), Communion Service and Notes. PDF
- National Association of Free Will Baptists, Treatise of the Faith and Practices (2026 edition). nafwb.org
- Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), Declaration of Faith. churchofgod.org
- Mennonite Church USA, Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, Article 13: Foot Washing. mennoniteusa.org
- “Washing of the Saints Feet,” Primitive Baptist article (14 April 2013). primitivebaptistsermons.org
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Holy Thursday Mandatum” (2016), quoting the Roman Missal, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, nos. 10–11. usccb.org
- The Church of England, “Fact file: What is Maundy Thursday?” (4 April 2023). churchofengland.org
- The United Methodist Book of Worship, “A Service of Worship for Holy Thursday Evening.” umcdiscipleship.org
- Flint River Primitive Baptist Church, Statement of Faith, Article 9. flintriverpbc.org
- History of Pilgrim’s Rest Primitive Baptist Church, with its articles of faith. trackingyourroots.com
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