15 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. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. Christ puts Peter upon a threefold profession of his love unto him, answerable to his threefold denial of him: his threefold denial required a threefold confession. True repentance ought, and will be as eminent in the fruit and effects of it, as the saint’s fall hath been. A threefold denial of Christ shall be attended with a threefold profession of love unto him.
Observe, 2. The solemn question put by our Saviour unto Peter: Lovest thou me? Lovest thou me more than these? That is, more than thy occupation and employment, more than thy nets and fishing boats? If so, leave them, and wholly employ thyself in feeding my sheep and lambs. Or, more than these? that is, more than the rest of my disciples. Dost thou love me more than thou lovest these? Or, more than they love me? If so, evidence the sincerity of thy love to me by thy care of mine.
Thence note, that ministers who are called to take care of Christ’s flock, had need of much love to Jesus Crhist, and great compassion for souls; by which they will be animated and fortified to go through with the labours and difficulties, as well as to encounter the dangers and sufferings, which do accompany their calling. Simon, lovest thou me? Feed my flock.
Note farther, that the surest argument and best evidence of a minister’s love to Jesus Christ, is his conscientious care to feed, that is, to teach, instruct, and govern, the whole flock of Christ; lambs and sheep, weak and strong: the feeblest in the fold were purchased by the great Shepherd. And if he judged them worth his blood, well may we judge them worth our sweat.
Note again, that such as would be faithful in their ministerial charge, ought to look upon their people as committed to them by Christ himself, as loved of him, and committed to their care by him, and for which they must be accountable to him. Christ calls them three times over, his lambs and his sheep, and as often charges Peter to feed them.
Observe next, Peter’s threefold answer to Christ’s question: Simon, lovest thou me more than these? Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
Where note, 1. The great modesty of Peter in his reply. Lovest thou me more than these? says Christ; Peter replies, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He doth not say, Lord! I love thee above them all, and before them all: here is no boasting now. Once it was said that Peter vaunted, though all men forsake thee, yet will not I; but now his fall had taught him humility; he boasts not of his love above others, and makes no comparison with others, but only ranks himself among the true lovers of Christ: Lord, I love thee.
Note, 2. The evidence that Peter gives of his sincere love to Christ: he dares appeal to Christ himself, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; yea, Thou art omniscient, the all-knowing and heart-searching God, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I love thee.
O! it is a blessed thing, when we can and dare appeal to God’s knowledge; and it is matter of high consolation to know that God knoweth our sincerity and love unto him, and he knoweth and approveth us as such. Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.
Note lastly, from these words, Lord, thou knowest all things, an argument of Christ’s divinity. He that knows all things, and particularly the hearts of all men, is God, 1 Kings 8:29 but so doth Christ, if St. Peter’s testimony here be true; saying, Lord, thou knowest all things, that is, say the Socinians, very many things; but this would have destroyed St. Peter’s argument at once; for it follows not that Christ knew the sincerity of Peter’s heart, unless he knew the secrets of all hearts; and if he knew the secrets of all hearts, he is really God.