John 13:9 Commentary - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

1) "Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord," (legei auto Simon Petros kurie) "Simon Peter replied directly to him, Lord," eagerly, with fervor, when the real meaning of washing dawned on him. It was an "whole-soul" outburst, as when he drew the sword in Gethsemane, then fled, cursed, denied the Lord later that same evening, though he had said, I will never deny thee, 1Jn 1:8-9.

2) "Not my feet only," (me tous podas mou monon) "Not only my feet;- Don't stop there, with your real cleansing or washing, with my feet only, for it is my whole being that needs cleansing from sin, Rom 3:9-19; Rom 3:23. Both his protest, and his yielding, came from love, Joh 21:15-17.

3) "But also my hands and my head." (alla kai tas cheiras kai ten kephalen) "But also you may wash the hands and head of me," admitting that he needed cleansing from sin, from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, after he had reasoned with the Lord, Isa 1:4-6; Isa 1:18. His whole soul, mind, body, and capacity of thinking needed cleansing, and he finally realized it.