Charles Ellicott Commentary John 21:15

"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." — John 21:15 (ASV)

Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas.—The better text here and in John 21:16-17 is, Simon, son of John. The contrast between the name the Evangelist uses for Peter and the name the Lord uses to address him at once strikes us as significant, especially because it appears in a context containing several significant verbal contrasts. Our Lord’s words seem to address him as one who had fallen from the steadfastness of the Rock-man and had been true to his natural name rather than his apostolic name. (Compare the note on John 1:42 and Matthew 16:17.)

Lovest thou me more than these?—i.e., than these disciples who are present here with you. It seems unnecessary to add this explanation, but quite a few English notes on this verse explain the word “these” as referring to the fish, or the boats and nets, as though the question was, “Do you love Me more than your worldly calling? Are you willing to give up all for Me?” The obvious reference is to Peter’s own comparison of himself with others in the confidence of love which he thought could never fail. (Mark 14:29.)

The thrice-asked question has been generally understood to have special force in the restoration of him who had thrice denied his Lord, and now thrice declares his love for Him, and is thrice entrusted with a work for Him; and we feel that this interpretation gives a natural meaning to the emphasis of these verses.

It may not be fanciful to trace significance even in the external circumstances under which the question was asked. By the side of the lake, after casting his net into the sea, Peter had first been called to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). The lake, the very spot on the shore, the nets, the boat—all would bring back to his mind in all their fullness the thoughts of the day that had been the turning point of his life.

By the side of the “fire of coals” (see the note on John 18:18, the only other place where the word occurs), he had denied his Lord. As his eye rested upon the “fire of coals” before him, and he was conscious of the presence of the Lord, who knows all things (John 21:17), burning thoughts of penitence and shame may have come to his mind, and these may have been the true preparation for the words that follow.

Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.—Peter uses a less strong expression for love than that which our Lord had used. The question seems to ask, “Do you, in the full determination of the will, in profound reverence and devotion, love Me?” The answer seems to say, “You know me; I dare not now declare this fixed determination of the will, but in the fullness of personal affection I dare answer, and You know that even in my denials it was true, ‘I love You.’”

He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.—More exactly, little lambs.