Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
John 21:15
Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? At the close
of the feast, the Lord turned to Peter with this question, one that he
repeated twice. On the night of the betrayal, when Christ intimated
that his disciples would forsake him in the trial he was about to
suffer, Peter spoke up and asserted that though all others forsook him
he would never forsake him. What Christ had said might be true of the
rest, but he was so loving, faithful and true, that he would die for
him. Yet before the cock crow of the next morning he had thrice denied
that he knew Jesus, even with his oaths. Such was the collapse of the
confident disciple who "loved the Master better than these" other
disciples. Since that fall, Christ had met with Peter among the rest
of the disciples, but had not referred to this subject, but now has
come the time for a restoration of Peter. Hence, he probes him with the
question,
Lovest thou me more than these? That question would at once recall
to Peter his boastful claim, his awful fall, and would pierce him to
the heart. He no longer claims that he is the truest of the apostolic
band, does not even affirm confidently, but answers, "Thou knowest my
heart; thou knowest that I love thee". Then said the Savior, "Feed my
lambs".
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 26:75
John 21:15
John 21:16
1 Peter 5:2
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