John 21 15

John 21:15 kjv

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.

John 21:15 nkjv

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

John 21:15 niv

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

John 21:15 esv

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

John 21:15 nlt

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

John 21 verses

John 21 15 Meaning

After a shared meal by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus directly addresses Simon Peter, initiating a profound dialogue. Jesus repeatedly questions Peter's love for Him and, upon Peter's affirmation, commissions him to care for His followers. This exchange serves as a crucial act of Peter's restoration and recommissioning to pastoral ministry, directly contrasting his triple denial of Jesus. The focus shifts from Peter's personal failings to his foundational love for Christ, which is then made the basis for his service and care for the Christian community, symbolized as sheep and lambs.

John 21 15 Context

John chapter 21 occurs after Jesus' resurrection, serving as a significant epilogue to John's Gospel. The chapter details Jesus' third post-resurrection appearance to a group of disciples (Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two others) by the Sea of Tiberias, following a night of unsuccessful fishing. Jesus miraculously guides them to a massive catch, a moment reminiscent of Peter's initial call (Lk 5:1-11). After this, they share a breakfast Jesus prepared. The events immediately prior—the disciples returning to fishing and the meal with the resurrected Jesus—set the stage for Jesus' focused, personal interaction with Peter. This dialogue directly addresses Peter's threefold denial of Jesus (Jn 18), providing an opportunity for repentance, restoration, and reaffirmation of his love and call to ministry. Historically, shepherding was a vital role, often associated with kingship and leadership, making the command to "feed my lambs/sheep" deeply meaningful for the nascent Christian community and its leaders.

John 21 15 Word analysis

• So when they had dined: Establishes the setting immediately after a meal provided by Jesus, emphasizing fellowship and intimacy as a precursor to spiritual instruction and restoration. This meal highlights Jesus' humanity and provision.
• Jesus saith to Simon Peter: A direct address, singling out Peter. This signals the profound, personal nature of the impending conversation, focusing entirely on him among the disciples.
• Simon, son of Jonas: Jesus uses Peter's birth name rather than "Peter" (meaning "Rock"). This may signify a temporary return to his foundational, pre-disciple identity, underscoring his human vulnerability and failure, or subtly evoking his initial call where he was first given the name Cephas/Peter (Jn 1:42). It strips away the conferred authority and places him squarely on a personal, human level.
• Lovest thou me more than these?: The central question.
  • "Lovest" (ἀγαπᾷς - agapâs): This is the first of two Greek words for love used in this passage. Agapao denotes a deep, self-sacrificial, divine, unconditional love that chooses to act for the good of the beloved. Jesus is asking for the highest form of love.
  • "me": The direct object of love is Jesus himself. The basis of Christian service and leadership is a personal, passionate love for Christ.
  • "more than these?": This ambiguous phrase is interpreted in various ways by scholars:
    1. "More than these other disciples love me?" (recalling Peter's earlier boast, Mt 26:33).
    2. "More than you love these other disciples?" (prioritizing Jesus above human relationships).
    3. "More than you love these fishing boats/equipment or this fishing way of life?" (requiring renunciation of worldly livelihood for ministry).The ambiguity is likely intentional, probing Peter's ultimate allegiance.
• He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: A humble, affirmative response.
• thou knowest that I love thee. Peter appeals to Jesus' omniscient knowledge, recognizing that Jesus sees his true heart.
  • "love" (φιλῶ - philō): This is the other Greek word for love, derived from phileo. Phileo denotes brotherly affection, fondness, or a deep emotional attachment. Peter responds with phileo rather than agapao, avoiding the boastfulness of his past, and possibly expressing a more human, relatable affection in contrast to Jesus' divine expectation, or recognizing his capacity for love currently falls short of agape after his recent failures. He cannot claim agape yet in his humbled state.
  • "thou knowest": A key aspect of Peter's response. He doesn't assert his love based on his own feelings or actions (which recently failed him), but on Jesus' intimate knowledge of his heart. This shows humility and reliance on Jesus' discernment.
• Feed my lambs. The first of Jesus' three commands.
  • "Feed" (βόσκε - boske): An imperative verb meaning "to pasture," "to graze," "to tend." This implies providing sustenance, leading, and caring for.
  • "my lambs" (ἀρνία μου - arnia mou): Lambs symbolize the young, vulnerable, or immature members of the flock. This specific imagery emphasizes a call to nurture, protect, and care for the newest or weakest believers. This charge highlights the pastor's responsibility to nourish and disciple those under their care, pointing to a shepherd-like role.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter": This phrase sets the tone of a post-resurrection intimate encounter. The transition from physical nourishment (the meal) to spiritual nourishment (the dialogue) is smooth, implying that true sustenance comes from Christ himself, enabling future ministry.
• "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?": The triple naming of Peter, using his full birth name, before asking the intense question of agape love, underscores the gravity and the personal depth of the interrogation. The "more than these" probes Peter's entire allegiance system—disciples, fishing, himself—calling for Jesus to be his supreme affection and priority.
• "He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.": Peter's response is both affirmation and humility. By not claiming agape love for himself but affirming phileo and relying on Jesus' knowledge, he demonstrates a newfound realism and dependence on Jesus' understanding rather than his own strength or perception. This signifies growth from his previous self-confidence.
• "Feed my lambs.": This immediate commission, following the affirmation of phileo love, connects Peter's inner affection to external action. The command to "feed" (βόσκε - boske) points to providing both physical and spiritual sustenance. The choice of "lambs" (arnia) emphasizes the vulnerability of new believers and the gentle care required of a true shepherd. This initial command highlights nurturing and protecting the most susceptible within the Christian community, setting a foundational pastoral responsibility.

John 21 15 Bonus section

The deliberate use of two distinct Greek words for "love" (agapao and phileo) in this passage has generated extensive scholarly discussion. While some argue they are largely interchangeable in Johannine literature, their specific placement here seems significant. Jesus initially probes for the higher, divine agape love, questioning Peter's supreme devotion (first two questions). Peter consistently responds with phileo, indicating his deep affection but perhaps a conscious refusal to overstate his love as agape, recalling his past failure and boastfulness. Interestingly, in the third question, Jesus switches to phileo when asking Peter, meeting him where he is, showing compassion and understanding his current capacity. Peter is grieved because Jesus asks him for phileo the third time, understanding that Jesus knew his heart fully and was perhaps probing the limits of even his phileo love or confirming its sincerity after his previous failures. This nuanced exchange highlights Jesus' condescension and acceptance of Peter's earnest, humbled affection as sufficient grounds for ministry. Ultimately, both agape and phileo in this context demand selfless care for Christ's body. The commands to "feed" (βόσκε - boske) and "tend" (ποίμαινε - poimaine - in verse 16) broaden the scope of pastoral duty from merely providing food to overall shepherd leadership and governance, applicable not only to Peter but to all called to leadership within Christ's church. The threefold nature of the interaction deliberately mirrors Peter's threefold denial, symbolizing a complete and personal restoration by Christ himself.

John 21 15 Commentary

John 21:15 encapsulates a pivotal moment of restoration for Simon Peter and a foundational lesson for all Christian leadership. Following Peter's triple denial of Jesus, this scene orchestrated by the resurrected Lord provides a symmetrical reversal. Jesus thrice asks Peter, "Lovest thou me?" and three times commissions him, "Feed my lambs/sheep." The heart of the dialogue hinges on Peter's love for Jesus (agape vs. phileo), linking personal devotion directly to pastoral service. Jesus initiates with agapao, the divine, self-sacrificial love, questioning Peter's deepest commitment and possibly his boast of loving Jesus more than others. Peter, now humbled, responds with phileo, expressing a genuine but perhaps more human affection, and relies on Jesus' knowledge of his heart. This shows Peter's repentance and dependence, rather than self-assertion. Each affirmation of love is immediately followed by a divine commission: "Feed my lambs." This underscores that ministry—especially pastoral care for the most vulnerable members of the church—springs directly from a genuine, albeit humbled, love for Jesus Christ. The sequence signifies that true service to Christ's flock is not about ability or former status, but about a sincere, submissive love for the Shepherd. Peter's reinstatement affirms God's grace in forgiving failures and recommissioning even flawed individuals for vital service in His kingdom.