John 13:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Simon Peter saith, &c.— St. Peter, understanding Christ's words literally, supposed thathis being washed was necessary to his partaking with him in the felicity of his reign: he desired therefore that not his feet only, but also his hands and his head, that is, his whole body might be washed. Jesus said, "He that is washed, or rather, he who has been bathed,—Ο λελουμενος, — need not, after that, wash any part of his body, except his feet, which, in coming out of the bath may have been dirtied." This he said in allusion to their custom of bathing themselves before the supper, and with a design to teach us, that converted persons have still need to watch over all their words and actions, and to wash by faith in the atoning Blood, even for everysin of infirmity: for that our Saviour spoke of a spiritual washing is evident from his adding, and ye are clean, but not all. "Ye are men of holy and virtuous dispositions; only ye are not all of you so." This was so direct an application to the conscience of Judas, that he could not but be convinced that our Lord knew the inmost recesses of his mind; and if he had not been exceedingly obdurate, was sufficient to have prevented him from putting his infamous sordid project into practice. Some have observed, that Judas didnot decline the honour of having his feet washed, as Peter did,—and have considered it as an instance of his pride: but, if the discourse between Christ and Peter happened before he came to Judas, it had been indecent for Judas to renew an objection which had just been over-ruled; and, if Christ came to Judas before Peter, he might be unwilling to be the first to dispute the point, lest Christ should confound him byinquiring, whether he declined it from a consciousness of any peculiar unworthiness. Guilt naturally suggests such suspicions and precautions.