John 21:15

¶ 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.

So {G3767} when {G3753} they had dined {G709}, Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} to Simon {G4613} Peter {G4074}, Simon {G4613}, son of Jonas {G2495}, lovest thou {G25} me {G3165} more than {G4119} these {G5130}? He saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Yea {G3483}, Lord {G2962}; thou {G4771} knowest {G1492} that {G3754} I love {G5368} thee {G4571}. He saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Feed {G1006} my {G3450} lambs {G721}.

After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim‘on Kefa, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, 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.

Commentary

John 21:15 marks a deeply significant and tender interaction between the resurrected Jesus and Simon Peter, initiating Peter's restoration and recommissioning after his earlier denials. This verse sets the stage for a three-fold dialogue centered on love and the call to service.

Context

This poignant scene takes place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Tiberias), following a miraculous catch of fish and a breakfast shared by Jesus and His disciples. It is Jesus' third recorded post-resurrection appearance to the group. The immediate backdrop to this conversation is Simon Peter's painful triple denial of Jesus before the crucifixion. Jesus' questions are designed to address this failure directly, offering grace and a path to renewed purpose rather than condemnation.

Key Themes

  • Restoration and Forgiveness: Jesus does not begin with rebuke but with a question of love, offering Peter a chance to reaffirm his devotion. This mirrors Peter's three denials, providing a powerful picture of divine grace and restoration for those who have stumbled.
  • Love as the Foundation for Service: Jesus' initial question, "lovest thou me more than these?", probes the depth and priority of Peter's affection. This highlights that genuine love for Christ is the essential prerequisite for all meaningful Christian service and leadership.
  • Pastoral Commission: The command "Feed my lambs" is a direct charge to Peter. It signifies a shepherd's role, emphasizing the vital importance of nurturing, protecting, and spiritually caring for the vulnerable and newest members of Christ's flock. This foundational call to care for the church is central to Christian discipleship.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version translates the Greek word for "love" consistently as "lovest," but the original text reveals a subtle yet significant distinction. In this first question, Jesus asks Peter, "agapao (ἀγαπάω) me more than these?" This refers to a divine, unconditional, and self-sacrificial love. Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo (φιλέω) thee." Phileo signifies a strong brotherly affection, fondness, or friendship. Peter's response indicates his genuine human affection, acknowledging his present capacity for love, which is less than the divine standard Jesus initially presented. This sets up the following verses where Jesus adapts His questions to Peter's expressed love.

Practical Application

John 21:15 offers profound lessons for believers today. It underscores the incredible truth that God's grace is sufficient to restore us even after significant failures, provided we turn to Him with genuine repentance and love. For all Christians, it emphasizes that our service to God and others must flow from a sincere and growing love for Jesus Christ. The command to "feed my lambs" is a timeless call to pastoral care and spiritual nourishment, reminding us of our collective responsibility to nurture and guide those new in faith, the vulnerable, and those in need of spiritual guidance within the church family.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to the Gospel of John: Jesus the Son of God John, the Beloved Disciple: The Apostle of Love All the "Johns" in the New Testament The 12 Disciples: Who Were They? The Deity of Christ: Biblical Evidence

Cross-References

  • 1 John 4:19

    We love him, because he first loved us.

  • Isaiah 40:11

    He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

  • Romans 15:1

    ¶ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • 1 Peter 5:1

    ¶ The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

  • 1 Peter 5:4

    And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
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