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Verse

John 13:17

ESV If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
NIV Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
NASB If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
CSB If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
NLT Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
KJV If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
NKJV If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

What does John 13:17 mean?

Several places in Scripture explain that people are only held accountable for what they know and understand. However, people are held absolutely accountable. Nature and human experience provide more than enough evidence for people to acknowledge the basic existence of God (Romans 1:18–29; Psalm 19:1). Those who sincerely seek after God will find Him (Matthew 7:7–8). There are fine points on which even sincere people can be wrong (John 9:40–41)—and obvious points on which the well-informed can be stubborn (John 5:39–40).

In other words, God does not require a person to know everything, but He expects everything a person knows to be obeyed. The same applies to the teaching Jesus has given over the last few verses. By washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus has destroyed any claims a person can have to be "too good" to humbly serve others. Human nature vainly says lesser tasks are for lesser people, and the lowly should serve the superior. Jesus' teaching by example is that humility and service are the obligation of all Christians. Those who understand this are blessed by obeying it.
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