John 21:22

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.

Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, If {G1437} I will {G2309} that he {G846} tarry {G3306} till {G2193} I come {G2064}, what {G5101} is that to {G4314} thee {G4571}? follow {G190} thou {G4771} me {G3427}.

Yeshua said to him, “If I want him to stay on until I come, what is it to you? You, follow me!”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

John 21:22 features a direct, pivotal exchange between Jesus and Peter, occurring after Jesus has reinstated Peter and foretold his future martyrdom. This verse addresses a common human tendency to compare oneself or to be overly concerned with the path of others, redirecting focus back to personal obedience to Christ.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' third post-resurrection appearance to His disciples, specifically at the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee). Prior to this, Jesus had a profound conversation with Peter, asking him three times, "Lovest thou me?" and commissioning him to "Feed my sheep". After foretelling Peter's eventual martyrdom (John 21:18), Peter turns and sees "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (traditionally John) following them. Out of curiosity or concern, Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus' response in verse 22 is a gentle but firm rebuke and a powerful redirection.

Key Themes

  • Individual Discipleship: Jesus makes it clear that each believer's path and destiny are uniquely determined by God. Peter's calling was distinct from John's, and neither was to be compared.
  • Focus on Christ, Not Others: The core message is to concentrate on one's own relationship and obedience to Jesus, rather than being distracted by the lives, roles, or destinies of fellow believers. This prevents envy, judgment, or misplaced concern.
  • God's Sovereignty: Jesus emphasizes His sovereign will ("If I will that he tarry till I come") over the lives of His disciples. No one's fate is outside of His divine plan.
  • The Call to Follow: The definitive command, "follow thou me," underscores the primary duty of every disciple: personal, unwavering allegiance to Jesus Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "tarry till I come" has been the subject of much discussion. In the original Greek, ean auton thelo menein heos erchomai, it literally means "if I wish him to remain until I come." This does not imply that John would not die, but rather refers to his longevity compared to Peter's immediate martyrdom. As John 21:23 clarifies, the rumor among the brethren was that John would not die, but Jesus' words were conditional ("If I will") and referred to His return, whether in a spiritual sense or at His second coming (Revelation 1:7).

The rhetorical question, "what [is that] to thee?" (Greek: ti pros se?), is a sharp yet loving challenge, designed to cut through Peter's distraction and refocus him on his personal commission.

Practical Application

John 21:22 offers timeless wisdom for believers today. It reminds us not to fall into the trap of comparison—whether it's comparing spiritual gifts, callings, successes, or perceived failures with others. Our journey with Christ is personal and unique. Instead of looking sideways, we are called to look upward and forward, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting His sovereign plan for our lives, and diligently pursuing the path He has laid out for us. The command "follow thou me" remains the ultimate and most important directive for every follower of Christ.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 9:1

    ¶ And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

  • Matthew 16:27

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

  • Matthew 16:28

    Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:5

    Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

  • Revelation 2:25

    But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.

  • Matthew 24:44

    Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

  • John 21:19

    This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

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