“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”
The full verse · John 21:15 · KJV
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Asked by
Jesus: the risen Lord, who had just given His disciples bread and fish on the shore (John 21:13)
Asked to
Peter: Simon Peter, who had denied Jesus three times on the night of His arrest (John 18:17, 25-27), and who had just come ashore to eat with Him (John 21:7-12)
The Scene
After breakfast on the shore of the sea of Tiberias, Jesus turns to Simon Peter, who had denied Him three times on the night of His arrest (John 18:17, 25-27; John 21:15).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionBarnes thinks Jesus was reaching back to something Peter had said. Before the crucifixion Peter had boasted, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended" (Matthew 26:33). Then he denied Jesus three times. The words "more than these" can be read two ways. Barnes notes they could mean "these things," Peter's boat and fishing gear, or the other apostles: "Lovest thou me more than these other apostles love me?" Barnes calls the second reading "probably the true sense," a gentle reminder of Peter's claim to greater devotion than the rest. Jesus also used his old name, "Simon, son of Jonas," rather than Peter; Matthew Henry thinks it was "to remind him of his extraction," his humble beginnings.
The Response
What Scripture recordsPeter answered, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee" (John 21:15). He made no comparison with the other disciples this time; he appealed to what Jesus knew. Jesus replied with a charge: "Feed my lambs." Then He asked again, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" (John 21:16).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe KJV's "son of Jonas" follows the Textus Receptus, which reads Iōna. Other Greek manuscripts read Iōannou, which is why the ESV says "son of John." Gill held that Jonas is correct, the same name as the prophet Jonah. He also notes that Jesus had called him "Simon Barjona" when Peter made his great confession of faith (Matthew 16:16-17).
Two different Greek verbs lie behind the English "love" in this verse. Jesus asks with agapaō, and Peter answers with phileō. The command "Feed" is boske, to feed or pasture, and "lambs" is arnia. Gill takes the lambs as "the younger and more tender part of the flock, weak believers."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus did not restore Peter by ignoring his denial or by lecturing him about it. He asked about love. Barnes sees Jesus reminding Peter of his earlier confidence, and Peter's answer shows the lesson had been learned: he "now made no pretensions to love superior to his brethren."
Love for Christ comes before service. Matthew Henry writes, "Those that do not truly love Christ will never truly love the souls of men." Only after Peter confessed his love did Jesus give him the work of feeding His lambs. The disciple who had failed was not set aside; he was sent to care for others.
Look Closer
How did Peter's answer differ from his earlier boast?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You asked Peter whether he loved You after he had failed You; how would You have me answer that question today?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Peter once measured his loyalty against everyone else's. When are you tempted to compare your love for God with other people's?
- Tell about a time someone gave you a fresh start after you had let them down. How did it change you?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Failure does not have to be the end of your story with Jesus. Peter denied Him three times, and Jesus still came to him, asked about his love, and gave him work to do.
Notice how Peter answered. He no longer compared himself with the others. He simply said, "thou knowest that I love thee." Love for Christ is not a contest. You can be honest about your love without claiming to be better than anyone else.
Love for Christ shows itself in caring for others. Jesus tied Peter's love to feeding His lambs. Think about who around you is young or weak in faith and needs patient care.
Scripture's own application: 1 Peter 5:2-4
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
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