What does "wash their hands and feet" symbolize in a believer's daily life? Setting the Scene in Exodus 30 “Make a bronze basin for washing, with its stand of bronze, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister … they must wash with water, so that they will not die.” (Exodus 30:18-20) Why the Priests Washed • Hands: the instruments of service • Feet: the path of daily walk • Location: between altar (sacrifice) and tent (fellowship) — cleansing stood between forgiveness and communion • Frequency: “whenever” they served — ongoing, not one-time Translating the Picture into Daily Life • Cleansing after conversion – The altar pictures the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:10). – The basin shows continual cleansing needed afterward (1 John 1:7). • Readiness for service – Hands washed = pure motives and actions (Psalm 24:3-4). – Feet washed = holy walk and choices (Ephesians 4:1). • Awareness of God’s presence – Priests dared not rush into the tent without washing; believers guard reverence in worship (Hebrews 12:28). Jesus Deepens the Image (John 13) “Jesus … poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” (John 13:5) • Peter was already “clean” (saved) but still needed his feet washed (John 13:10). • The Lord models humble, regular cleansing for fellowship (John 13:8). Practical Applications Today Daily “hand and foot” washing can look like: • Confession of specific sins (1 John 1:9) • Renouncing defilement picked up in the world (James 1:27) • Renewed surrender of plans and paths to God (Romans 12:1-2) • Scripture’s cleansing influence (Ephesians 5:26) • Spirit-led self-examination before serving or worshiping (Psalm 139:23-24) Key Takeaways • Salvation is settled at the altar; sanctification is sustained at the basin. • Cleansing is not optional—God ties it to life and death seriousness (Exodus 30:20-21). • Hands and feet remind us that both what we do and where we go matter to God. • The Lord Himself graciously provides the water, invites us to use it, and even stoops to wash us when we come. |
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