What is the meaning of John 21:15-17?

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21:15. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

21:16. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

21:17. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

What is the meaning of this passage?

Does this have to do with anything regarding Matthew 16:18-19?
 
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I’m going to assume you know what it means when the passage mentions Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him three times, and Peter being sincerely hurt by this. When Jesus responds, “Feed my sheep,” he is referring to Peter being the future first leader of the Church, and sharing his love for Jesus with the rest of the Church, “feeding” them the Good News. Just as Jesus has been referred to as the good shepherd of the Church, his flock, this is what he is referring to now.
 
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Well, we are the lambs and the sheep. Peter became our Shepherd.

You know the mustard seed parable.

It all started by planting a tiny mustard seed. It grew strong. It’s branches provided shelter.

Mustard seed and tree is the growth of Faith and the Church.

Yes Peter is the rock Jesus builds His Church on.
 
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All of the above, plus…
Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus asks three times if Peter loves him.
 
niall said:
I’m going to assume you know what it means when the passage mentions Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him three times, and Peter being sincerely hurt by this.
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The key to understanding this passage is realizing that, in the Greek, Jesus doesn’t ask “do you love me?” identically (as it appears in English translation). Peter’s ‘hurt’ proceeds from the interplay between the precise question asked and the precise answer given. 😉
 
This was my understanding given a sermon by a priest. Peter denied Jesus 3 x thus Jesus asks Peter do you love me 3x. Something symbolic is meant by that but I don’t recall the rest.

Interesting question though, to get thoughts on a this passage.

God bless.
 
The first two times in original Greek, Jesus uses the word “agape” which means unconditional love, and Peter responds with “phileo” which indicates a brotherly or friendship love (less love than agape). Jesus is trying to stress that Peter needs to love Him more and love unconditionally. The third time, Jesus uses the word phileo and Peter responds, hurt, with “phileo”; he’s just said twice before he loves, phileo, Jesus, so it’s like, why are you asking yet again when I just said I did?

Jess by asking 3 times is mirroring Peter’s 3 denials, emphasizing that Peter really needs to take note of the need to love Jesus and take care of the “sheep” Jesus will entrust to him, and also suggesting Peter needs to love more unconditionally (agape ) which got a bit lost in translation.
 
A lot of good points in the above post.

I just wanted to expand on what Tis_Bearself posted.

The distinction in the words used for love shows us that Jesus is desiring a complete and heroic love from Peter, but Jesus shows that He is willing, at the end of the conversation, to settle, at this time, for Peter’s friendship.

I really like verse 18 though, it sums up the story nicely. When ever I read Jesus saying Truly, truly (Amen, amen) I slow down and concentrate, because those are the words Jesus used when He is say PAY ATTENTION!

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”

Jesus is telling Peter here, you might have denied me three times. I’m going away now and you might not think you are capable of feeding and tending my flock. And at this time you might not believe you are capable of heroic love. However, I have faith in you and I am entrusting you with my flock because by the end I know you will love me with all you heart and be willing to lay down your life and never deny me again.

Deep, deep stuff in John’s Gospel is my favorite of the 4 gospels.

God bless
 
I like to read these conversations between Jesus and Peter sometimes like they were bro buddies in a movie.
Jesus: “Hey, Simon. Do you love me unconditionally?”

Peter: “You know I love you like a brother, man.”

Jesus: “Feed my lambs.”

(5 minutes later)

Jesus: “Simon, I mean, do you love me unconditionally. Like in a self-sacrificing way? More than just ordinary friendship love?”

Peter: "What you talking 'bout, unconditionally? I love you like my best friend, you’re like my own brother, you know? "

Jesus: “Feed my lambs…”

(A little while later)

Jesus: “Hey Simon, so you love me like a brother, then?”

Peter: “Jesus, man what are you on about, I already told you twice not 5 minutes ago I love you like my own brother! You’re my best friend, and you know it. Why do you keep asking me this stuff? Do you think I don’t love you or what? You can’t possibly think that, you always know what I’m thinking and you know I love you for real.”

Jesus: “Feed my sheep…I’m telling you that there are going to be some heavy duty bad things you’ll have to go through taking care of my people. When you were younger you didn’t have to worry about this stuff, but when you get older, you’re going to face a lot of oppression from my haters. So you have to love me a lot and make yourself ready for what’s coming. Come on, let’s head back.”
 
Hi, Joe!

That is my own personal observation!

Not only that but we see the selection of Cephas, again, over the other Disciples:

Consider what is being asked and what is being delegated. But I prefer a different version:
15 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.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (St. John 21)
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  1. Feed my Lambs (these I believe are the other 11)
  2. Take care of my Lambs (the Body of Apostles, as the Church)
  3. Feed my Sheep (the Body of the Apostles and the Believers, as the Church)
Now, I now it may seem petty… but did you noticed how Jesus is asking Cephas not if he Loves Him but does he Love Him more than the rest?

This is the Commitment from the Leader:
25 But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. 26 It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister: 27 And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. 28 Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. (St. Matthew 20)
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St. Peter is not to lord Jesus’ Authority over the Church; rather, he is to Serve the Church, the Body of Christ.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Thanks for your interpretation! Is this passage another example of Peter’s legitimacy as Pope?
 
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Oh wow! 😮 I’d never heard of yours and @Tis_Bearself’s expanding on the different kinds of love Jesus was referring to, that we aren’t able to perceive reading English. It’s funny to think that so many of us are missing the real reason behind Peter’s distress in their exchange. I’m pleasantly surprised to have learned something more on a thread where I initially came to help answer the original question.
 
I didn’t know about it myself till the last time it came up in the readings for Mass and our priest preached the homily on the word difference.

Things like that intrigue me too…especially since I’ve heard that reading a number of times in the past and no priest had ever explained before.
 
jcrichton said:
Now, I now it may seem petty… but did you noticed how Jesus is asking Cephas not if he Loves Him but does he Love Him more than the rest?
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I noticed the Douay had it as “do you love me more than these” but I wasn’t sure if that was true to the original Greek. I like your interpretation though.
 
jcrichton said:
did you noticed how Jesus is asking Cephas not if he Loves Him but does he Love Him more than the rest?
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Actually, it’s an open question whether the context implies “do you love me more than these [love me]?” or “do you love me more than [you love] these?” (although most interpreters presume it’s the former… 😉 )
 
Hi, Joe!

Exactly!

While we find all of the Twelve included in most everything, only Simon is singled-out through Jesus’ direct Selection and through the Gospel’s accounts.

In this particular passage we find Jesus Commanding Peter, out of his Love for Him, to Care for the Church. Nowhere else do we find a similar incident.

While it is true that we can view this passage in response to Peter’s denial of Jesus (three times), there is a specific and distinct urgency… it is not about reclaiming Jesus, but demonstrating that, if he Loves Him more than the rest, he must tend to the Flock.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Hi!

I’ve just looked up a few version on the Biblegateway:
John 21:15-17New International Version (NIV)
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
17Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
15 When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these?
John 21:15-17King James Version (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
John 21:15-17New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[a] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Yochanan 21:15-17Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
15 Then when they ate, he says to Shimon Kefa, Shimon Bar-Yochanan, do you have ahavah for me more than these?
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I’ve just discovered that they have an Orthodox Jewish Bible which uses original terms (compare “ahavah” vs. “adoni,” and the names/titles themselves)

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Hi!

Sadly, that’s the “meollo” of the interpretative skill isn’t it? (meollo–depth/important or center piece/gray matter…)

It’s similar to Jesus’ “Simon, you are Cephas/Kephas/Peter/Rock, and on that rock I will build my Church;” which some suggest that Jesus was doing some sort of Chinese acrobatic to mean on Me, Myself, and I, I will build my Church.

Why would Jesus ask Peter if he loves Him as much or more than he loves the other Disciples?

…is Peter confused about Jesus?

…are the other Disciples also the Son(s) of God to Peter?

Maran atha!

Angel
 
jcrichton said:
Why would Jesus ask Peter if he loves Him as much or more than he loves the other Disciples?
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We can’t tell for sure, based strictly on grammar. However, the two questions are distinct, and are both somewhat relevant:

“Peter, do you love me more than you love everything else in the world?” This was Peter’s problem at the time of his denial of Christ: Jesus wasn’t the #1 most important thing in the world to him – in fact, saving his own skin was! Therefore, if Christ meant his question in this sense, He’s asking Peter, “have you grown spiritually since you denied me? Are you able to put me first (and therefore, my flock first), ahead of your own welfare?”

But, what if He meant, “Peter, do you love me more than all others love me?” This question asks Peter to search his soul: is he prepared to lead the Church? Does he have an honest assessment of his capacities vis-a-vis others’, and is he ok with the fact that being named ‘leader’ doesn’t imply he’s the most holy and most wise and most skilled Christian out there? Can he lead without aggrandizing himself? It’s an important trait for any leader, and even more important for the Vicar of Christ!

So, yes – either way, it’s an important question for Peter to consider. He must not only put Christ first but also recognize his own personal limitations. 😉
 
One other factor enters into this.

In the Greek of John 21:16, Jesus uses a pretty strong word, “poimainó”. That word, commonly translated as 'tend my sheep", describes a relationship like a king to the people, or an officer to the troops.
It describes a type of ruling.

We see that again with the same work in Rev 2:27 “He will rule (poimainó) them with an iron rod.Like clay vessels will they be smashed”

And in Rev 12:5 “She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule (poimainó) all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne”

This word, then describes the role of the Papacy as Christ saw it. It is a word of both responsibility and command. The ruler is required to care for the subjects, but they are ruled by the king\officer\shepherd…
 
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