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Do you love me?

John 21:15-19

15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”16He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your

hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was going to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” [ESV]

A popular interpretation

• Many find significance in the different words for ‘love’– Jesus twice used the verb agapaō– Each time Peter answered using

fileō– The third time Jesus used the verb

fileō– Peter was grieved but answered

using fileō

A popular interpretation

• This interpretation distinguishes between greater and lesser types of love– Jesus first asked Peter whether

he loved him with the greater love (using agapaō)–Peter responded that he loved

him with the lesser kind of love (using fileō)

A popular interpretation

• This interpretation distinguishes between greater and lesser types of love– Jesus then changed the

question and used the verb fileō and Peter was grieved by this change

A popular interpretation

• This interpretation has found its way into several English translations (e.g. J. B. Phillips New Testament; Amplified Bible; NIV)

• Yet there are good reasons for rejecting it

Are these technical terms?

• Many assume that Greek is more ‘precise’ than English–e.g. Some claim, “Greek has four

words for love, while English has only one”–agapē (God’s love); filia

(friendship); storgē (affection); erōs (passion)–But consider: we have words to

translate each of these terms!

Are these technical terms?

• How does John actually use these terms?

John 3:35 The Father loves (agapaō) the SonJohn 5:20 The Father loves (fileō) the Son

John 16:27 The Father himself loves (fileō) you because you have loved (fileō) me and believed…

Are these technical terms?

• How does John actually use these terms?

John 13:23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved (uses agapaō)John 19:26 The disciple whom Jesus loved (uses agapaō)John 20:2 the other disciple, the one Jesus loved (uses fileō)John 21:7, 20 The disciple whom Jesus loved (agapaō)

Are these technical terms?

• How does John actually use these terms?

John 11:5 Jesus loved (agapaō) Martha, and her sister and LazarusJohn 11:36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved (fileō) him [Lazarus]

Are these technical terms?

• How does John actually use these terms?– It appears John frequently uses them

interchangeably– John commonly uses synonyms• Consider our passage• Feed my lambs/Tend my sheep/Feed my sheep• He uses two different words for ‘know’ (v17)

Why does this matter?

• If we assume a significant difference in the words for love, the focus is on Peter’s continued failure–Once again he doesn’t measure

up– Jesus asked for the highest

commitment and Peter gave him something less

Why does this matter?

• But if we recognize these as synonyms, the emphasis changes– Jesus is intentionally and

publically restoring Peter– Jesus asks three times to

‘undo’ the triple denial (chapter 18)

Why does this matter?

• But if we recognize these as synonyms, the emphasis changes–This passage is the recommissioning

of Peter• Jesus commissions Peter to feed/tend his flock (my lambs/sheep)• This is a ‘position’ of great responsibility

What may we learn from this?

• Despite terrible failure, we can be forgiven and restored–Follow Jesus

• Despite terrible failure, we can be part of God’s kingdom building–Follow Jesus