So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” (v.15): When our LORD asked Peter if he loved Him, He used the strongest word for ‘love’ [agape]. Our LORD Jesus asked Peter if he loved HIM with the same everlasting love, that God the Father has always loved His Son, and His elect in Him from eternity, John 17:23.
“He saith unto him, Yea, LORD; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” (v.16):Although in our translation it appears that Peter answered with the same word ‘love,’ in the original it is rather the word ‘phileo,’ describing the love between friends. Rightly so, he could not bring himself to answer that He loved the LORD Jesus with a love above that of the other disciples, nor with the same eternal LOVE of God in Christ for him, even though He is worthy of such love, and such love He commands of His own, Matthew 22:37. The LORD did not scold Peter for his hesitancy, but simply instructs him to feed His lambs. The LORD here is tenderly bringing Peter to acknowledge his own weakness of love for Christ as he ought, having himself just a few days earlier denied the LORD on the eve of His crucifixion, in spite of his boldness in declaring he never would. This explains the reason our LORD asked the question the way He did, ‘lovest thou me MORE THAN THESE?’ (Matthew 26:34) “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” How true are the words for any of us, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall,”1 Corinthians 10:12.
“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.” (v.16):Our LORD asked Peter the same question a second time, with the only difference being, ‘Feed my sheep’ (rather than ‘lambs,’ as previously asked). Sheep here is a reference to all those that the Father had given Christ (John 10:27-28) for whom Peter, with all of his weakness would be called upon to nourish through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, as evidenced throughout the book of Acts. These were to be both the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and His other sheep among the Gentiles, whom the Father had given Him, and for whom He paid the price, John 10:14-16.
“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.” (v.17):Here a third time our LORD repeats the question, only this time uses the word that Peter used, ‘phileo', that of a friend. He asks, ‘Peter, do you love me even with the love of a friend?’ Christ called Himself the friend of sinners, and therefore draws out of Peter that confession of loving HIM, as the friend of sinners. By asking 3 times, He is doubtless causing Peter to remember the same amount of times that Peter had denied Him (Luke 22:60-61). However, our LORD does not do this to scold Peter but tenderly remind him that except for our LORD keeping him, or any of His own, none would stand, Luke 22:32. Even as after Peter had denied the LORD 3 times, and the LORD looked on him and Peter wept bitterly, Luke 22:62, so here, Peter was grieved (greatly sorrowful), John 21:17. Such was the preparation of heart of Peter by our LORD for the ministry of preaching and overseeing Christ’s sheep. He was to feed the LORD’s sheep, by the LORD’s strength, by the LORD’S Word alone, The matter of preaching the Gospel is not taught in a school but by the Spirit. It’s not of men but unto God be the glory alone.
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