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The DEEP

Rules of Hierarchy

Not here.

John 13:6–11

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

Peter doesn’t understand. He thinks Jesus needs their feet to be clean. But if that was the issue, Jesus would have done this earlier. Jesus’s purpose is teaching, not cleaning.

Peter also objects to their leader doing such a menial task. To Peter, Jesus washing their feet isn’t just surprising; it’s wrong. It violates society’s rules of hierarchy.

That makes Jesus’s point. That hierarchy mentality has no place in the kingdom of heaven.


A hierarchy mentality can be the Achilles’ heel of a church.

“The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints.” — Abigail Van Buren

For example, church leaders should not be selected based on their station in society. There are only a few qualifications related to secular life at all.

A bishop then must be blameless, … Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. — 1 Timothy 3:2a, 7

Paul goes on to list similar qualifications for deacons, but they aren’t about money, education, or status. Actually, one is about money, but not in a positive way.

Likewise deacons must be reverent, … not greedy for money. — 1 Timothy 3:8

While it’s okay for a deacon or elder to be wealthy, highly educated, or successful, it’s not okay for the leadership of a church to be chosen exclusively from people of high station.

The apostles certainly weren’t.


These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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