I’m enjoying exploring these recent priestly commands of Torah in this journey to discover the 613 commandments in the New Testament. It really begins to show how the Apostles extended the plain meaning of the text into the sphere of the disciples of Jesus. This continues to prove true with the 24th positive commandment of Scripture as counted by Maimonides.
P24 – For a priest to sanctify his hands and feet at the time of service [in the Temple], as Exodus 30:19 states: “And Aaron and his sons will wash….”[1]
I was stuck on this one – again. I was doing my research, but I wasn’t finding anything that included the washing of the hands and then, I asked my brilliant wife. The command naturally elicits the imagery of our High Priest washing the feet of His disciples. It doesn’t include Him washing the hands though. Earlene was kind enough to remind me of Peter’s words:
John 13:9 (TLV)
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Master, then not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”
Yeshua explained to Peter that those who had already bathed did not need to wash again, indicating that it was only his feet that required washing. Earlene’s reminder proved to be an insightful trigger that helped me connect the pieces together. As a result, I can now see how this command is referenced in the Apostolic Writings, as John alludes to it in a story he shares.
As I continue to discover these things in the New Testament, I feel it’s important to remind myself and any readers following along that there’s a literal understanding and requirement to be carried out by this command. When the Temple is eventually rebuilt on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, the Aaronic Priesthood will need to follow this commandment by bathing their hands and feet before participating in the Temple services. It’s crucial to acknowledge and respect this literal understanding, and not to minimize or ignore its significance.
Although there’s a literal understanding of this commandment, it’s also important to recognize that the heart of Scripture often goes beyond a surface reading. Yeshua’s ministry offered something to the world that brought a new revelation to His instructions. He often referred to the Torah in His teachings and practices that He passed on to His disciples. It’s clear that P24 is no exception.
I see two possible ways to meet the requirements of P24, either separately or together. The first way is through the immersion of John, in which all of Yeshua’s disciples participated (Acts 1:21-22). It’s possible that this was the “bath” that Yeshua referred to:
John 13:10 (TLV)
10 Yeshua said to him, “He who has bathed has no need to wash, except the feet; he is completely clean. And you all are clean, though not every one.”
After their immersion, all of Yeshua’s disciples were considered clean. However, they still needed to have their feet washed. In Jewish interpretation, as well as in the literal reading of the commandment, it’s clear that the washing was required for both hands and feet. This is where the second opportunity comes into play.
In the midst of the Passover Seder, Jesus got up to wash the Disciples feet as related by John:
John 13:4 (TLV)
4 So He gets up from the meal and lays aside His outer garment; and taking a towel, He wrapped it around His waist.
I’m not certain when all the traditions of a Passover Seder were established, but I have a thought about it. My suspicion is that Yeshua may have risen from His place after the Urchatz[2] hand washing, but before the Rachatz[3] hand washing, given the passing of the Matza to Judas several verses later. If my hypothesis is correct, then the hand washing would have already been performed. Yeshua could have then proceeded to perform the foot washing that was required by the commandment.
It’s worth noting that I’m using this text as a prophetic allusion or midrash on the literal commandment. Allow me to elaborate on my case to help you understand how I arrived at this conclusion. Earlene’s reminder of Peter’s words is relevant to my argument.
Although there are many references to things that the Disciples did not yet understand, I suspect that Peter may have comprehended the prophetic actions taking place during this event that Yeshua was performing. As per God’s instructions in Exodus 19:6, His people are meant to be a Kingdom of Priests. Peter took offense at the High Priest washing the feet of the common priests, which led him to ask, “Will you wash my feet?” When Yeshua explained that without this act, Peter would have no part with Him, Peter then requested the inclusion of his hands and head.
If Peter was looking toward the “Kingdom of Priests” understanding, it would be reasonable to assume that he would consider the broader cultural context of the commandments, especially after traveling with our High Priests for three years. A reference in the Sefer HaChinukh provides some insight into why Peter included his head.
And that the commandment is ideally to wash the face, the hands and the feet in the morning; that it is a commandment to sanctify with the water of the basin[4]
To me, this reference from the Sefer HaChinukh helps to explain Peter’s request to Yeshua: “If you’re sanctifying my feet, then please do the same for my hands and head.”
In addition to this, the disciples were dining with their King. In the cultural context of the time, it was customary for a servant in the presence of a king to wash their hands. This cultural understanding may also have contributed to Peter’s reaction:
Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and their feet with the water from this basin.” This was a standard procedure, observed by people who ventured into the presence of their king’s table in order to perform valet services there.[5]
The story continues if you desire to do the research. Many Jewish sources allude heavily to these same ideas and they include that the laver that dispensed the cleansing had twelve faucets which certainly made me think of the twelve disciples that Jesus sent out into the nations to spread the news of the Kingdom. Twelve proverbial faucets to dispense the Water of Life.
Leviticus 8:6 (ESV)
6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.