John 21:14-19
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): To the careful Bible reader, who remembers the Apostle’s thrice-repeated denial of Christ, the passage cannot fail to be a deeply interesting portion of Scripture.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): Our blessed Lord was full of compassion towards Peter, after his shameful dereliction of duty: He looked upon him with pity—and restored him publicly to his office, from which he had fallen. But in what manner did he restore him?
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): “When they had dined,” Jesus took Peter apart to let in upon his soul the light of truth, so that by it he might discern the root from where all his failure had sprung. That root was self-confidence which had led him to place himself above his fellow-disciples. This root had to be exposed.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): Mark carefully how the Lord began: not with a reproach, still less a word of condemnation, nor even with a “Why did you deny Me?” but “Lovest thou me more than these?”
H. A. IRONSIDE (1876-1951): Remember what Simon had said on the night of the betrayal, before they went out to the Garden. “Master, though all men forsake Thee, yet will I not.” He was saying practically, I love Him more than all the rest of them. “Lovest thou me more than these?” I think Christ pointed to John and James and Thomas and the rest of them. And Peter answered, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): The second and third Christ put this question, He left out the comparison “more than these,” because Peter, in his answer, modestly left it out, not willing to compare himself with his brethren, much less to prefer himself before them.
A. W. PINK: Yet, observe that the Lord did not now address him as “Peter,” but “Simon, son of Jonas.” This is not without its significance. “Simon” was his original name, and stands in contrast from the new name which the Lord had given him: “And when Jesus beheld him, he said, thou art Simon the son of Jonas: that shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone,” John 1:42. The way in which the Lord now addressed His disciple intentionally called into question the “Peter.” Christ would here remind him of his entire past as a natural man, and especially that his fall had originated in “Simon” and not “Peter!”
J. C. RYLE: This mode of address, thrice repeated in this remarkable conversation, is only used by our Lord on this occasion, and when Peter first came to Him.
A. W. PINK: On one other occasion did the Lord address him as “Simon, son of Jonah,” and that was in Matthew 16:17, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon son of Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” But note that the Lord is quick to add, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” Thus this first word of the Lord to His disciple in John 21:15 was designed to pointedly remind him of his glorious confession, which would serve to make him the more sensitive of his late and awful denial.
J. C. RYLE: There are little nice distinctions in the original Greek in the words that are used, which the English language cannot convey. But they deserve notice, and are not without meaning. Three times we find Him saying, “Feed” my flock: once, “Feed my lambs;” and twice, my “sheep.” Can we doubt that this thrice-repeated charge was full of deep meaning?
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): “Feed My lambs”—that is, instruct such as are truly gracious, but young in years. It is very remarkable that the Greek word used here for “Feed My lambs” is very different from the word employed in the precept, “Feed My sheep.” The second “feed” means exercise the office of a shepherd—rule, regulate, lead, manage them, do all that a shepherd has to do towards a flock. But this first “feed” does not include all that: it means distinctly to feed—namely, instructing children in the faith.
J. C. RYLE: Two different Greek words are used to express our one word “love.”
MATTHEW HENRY: In the first two enquiries, the Greek word is Agapas me—‘Dost thou retain a kindness for me?’ In answer Peter uses another word, more emphatic, Philō se—‘I love thee dearly.’ In putting the question the last time, Christ uses that same word: ‘And dost thou indeed love me dearly?’
C. H. MACKINTOSH: This was a pointed and strong question, and it went right to the very bottom of Peter’s heart.
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (347-407): Peter was grieved, fearing Christ saw something in his heart which he saw not himself, that might lead to another fall—that Christ was about to tell him of it, as He had before predicted his denial.
A. W. PINK: That Peter was “grieved” does not mean he was offended at the Lord because He repeated His question, but it signifies that he was touched to the quick, was deeply sorrowful, as he recalled his threefold denial. It is parallel with his “weeping bitterly” in Luke 22:62.
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): When our dear Lord questioned Peter, He said not, ‘Art thou wise, learned, and eloquent?’ He said not, ‘Art thou clear, and sound, and orthodox?’ but this only, “Lovest thou me?” An answer to this was sufficient then; why not now?
C. H. SPURGEON: Here is a lesson for all who would be pastors of Christ’s flock. The first necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ, the second necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ, and the third necessity of a true pastor is love to Christ. A man who does not love the great Shepherd cannot properly feed either His sheep or lambs.
J. C. RYLE: Our Lord, like a skillful physician, stirred up this grief intentionally. He intended to prick the Apostle’s conscience, to teach him a solemn lesson. For another thing, Peter uses stronger language when he appeals to our Lord’s knowledge of his heart. “Lord,” he says, “Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee.”
A. W. PINK: What marvelous grace was this! Not only does the Lord accept Peter’s appeal to His omniscience, but He gives here a blessed commission.
MATTHEW HENRY: This word, “Follow me,” was a further confirmation of his restoration to his Master’s favour, and to his apostleship; for “Follow me” was the first call, Matthew 4:18,19. And it was an explication of the prediction of his sufferings, which perhaps Peter at first did not fully understand, till Christ gave him that key to it, Follow me—“Expect to be treated as I have been, and to tread the same bloody path that I have trodden; for the disciple is not greater than his Lord.” It was to excite him to, and encourage him in faithfulness and diligence in his work as an apostle…He girded up the loins of his mind to the service.
A. W. PINK: See how He comforted and strengthened him.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): That Peter might be prepared to endure it.
