Charles Ellicott Commentary John 21:16

"He saith to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep." — John 21:16 (ASV)

He says to him again the second time.—The question is repeated in exactly the same form, except that our Lord does not continue the comparison more than these. He uses the same word for the higher, more intellectual love, and Peter replies by the same declaration of personal attachment, and the same appeal to his Master’s knowledge of him.

Feed my sheep.—Better, be a shepherd of My sheep. The Vatican and Paris manuscripts read “little sheep” here, and in the following verse. (See Note there.)