Foot Theology

When my daughter was learning a little New Testament Greek in homeschool, we had vocabulary lists that noted how many times each Greek word was used in the New Testament. We were surprised to see that the Greek word for foot (πούς, pous) is used 93 times. Just for fun, we compared this to how many times a number of other words were used and jokingly decided that feet must be exceedingly important to understanding theology. Below are some Greek words which are used in the New Testament less often than feet.

The Greek word for:

peace (92x)

apostle (81x) (12x less than feet!)

baptize (80x) (As a Baptist pastor, this one stings a bit!)

head (76x) (Just because it holds your brain apparently doesn’t make your head worthy of more frequent mention than your feet!)

eternal (71x)

Jerusalem (62x)

joy (60x)

teacher (58x)

hope (54x)

wisdom (51x) (Wisdom is mentioned 42x less than feet, but on the bright side we can gain wisdom by considering what the Bible says about feet!)

temple (46x)

Many more examples of words which surprisingly are used less often than “foot” could be given. If you’re curious, you can find a list here.

Obviously, the importance of a word/topic cannot really be measured merely by counting how many times a certain word is used in the New Testament. Still, I became curious about why the word for foot/feet was used so often. As I looked through the 93 uses of foot, I found that feet are used to illustrate a number of truths which are important to our Christian faith. So, getting serious, here are seven important truths connected to the word “foot”.

#1 When we’re desperate, we can find mercy and help at the feet of Jesus.

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. (Matthew 15:30 NIV)

Over and over again, in the New Testament we find people with desperate needs being placed or placing themselves at Jesus’s feet. And over and over gain Jesus shows them mercy and gives them help.

We all need mercy. We often find ourselves in desperate need of God’s help. And the place to find it is still at the feet of Jesus. We get down on our knees or on our faces, or if we are too weak for that we lie in our beds, and we cry out to Jesus for help, strength, guidance, forgiveness, or whatever else we need. When we humbly place ourselves at His feet we can know that we, too, will find Him merciful.

2. Our feet are intended to carry us to others who need to hear His truth and experience His love.

Jesus shows us mercy and gives us grace. He doesn’t want us to keep this good news to ourselves. One of the reasons God gave us feet is so that we can go and tell others the good news about salvation. Sometimes God asks us to walk across the street to share His love and truth. Other times, He wants us to walk onto airplanes travel across oceans.

Whether near or far, we should always be ready to share God’s good news (see Ephesians 6:15).

3.  Feet teach us about teamwork.

The task of going and making disciples for Jesus is not something we are called to do as isolated individuals. God calls us to work together as a team. Paul used the different parts of our bodies, including our feet, to illustrate the importance of teamwork in doing God’s work:

Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. (1 Corinthians 12:14-15 CSB17)

Because we are all united in the Body of Christ, in addition to working together, we care for each other. If one of us hurts, we all hurt. When we stub a toe, our whole body reacts!

4. Everything will be placed under the feet of Christ

The Old Testament verse most quoted and alluded to in the New Testament is this one:

The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1 NIV)

Some of the places where Psalm 110:1 is quoted or alluded to in the New Testament include: Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20-23; Hebrews 1:13, 2:8 10:13.

Jesus is already Lord of all. He is currently seated at the right hand of His Heavenly Father. However, during this current age God is patiently allowing many people and fallen angels to live in rebellion against Christ. This situation is temporary. Soon, all those who have refused to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior in this life will be forcefully subjected to His judgment. The end result of this will be their destruction (Philippians 3:19).

Because of our relationship to Christ, there is a sense in which our ancient enemy will also be crushed under our own feet:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20 NIV)

5. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.

Jesus knew He was destined to rule over all. He is the King of Kings. And yet, this mighty King showed us humble love in action by washing His disciples’ feet the night before He was crucified. And let’s not forget that He commands us to follow His example of humble service:

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. (John 13:14-15 CSB17)

Has there ever been a greater act of love? Just one:

“. . . he showed them his hands and feet.” (Lk. 24:40 CSB17)

6. These truths should lead us to worship at His feet.

We worship at His feet figuratively now. One day soon we will join multitudes of the redeemed and the mighty angels and will fall before the feet of Jesus in worship.

In the meantime, we work to spread His good news and we sing His praises in the midst of this dark world.

7.  Putting our feet in stocks can’t stop our worship or the spread of the gospel.

They put the feet of Paul and Silas in stocks. But Paul and Silas kept praising God. The other prisoners heard this praise. And after God sent an earthquake to free them, the jailer and his household were also saved and became joyful worshipers of Christ.

The world can sometimes put our feet in figurative stocks. We face much opposition and many difficulties as we work to share the good news.  But all the opposition, persecution, and difficulties are ultimately used by God to further His loving purposes and increase His worship.

Conclusion

The New Testament uses a lowly part of our bodies – our feet! – to teach important Christian truths. We learn that we can find mercy at the feet of Jesus. We are called to use our own feet to carry the good news to others. This involves teamwork, as illustrated by the way our feet work in harmony with the  other parts of our body. One day soon, all the enemies of Christ will be crushed under His feet. He is a mighty King, yet He modeled humble, serving love by washing his disciples’ feet and allowing His own holy feet to be nailed to a cross. All of this leads us to worship at His feet. The world may sometimes put our feet in stocks, but God uses even this to spread His gospel and bring more praise to Himself.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .