In John 21, beginning with verse 15, Jesus began to ask Peter, "Do you love me."
The background of this interchange was this: Jesus had already been crucified and had risen from the dead. Before Jesus was crucified, Peter, as Jesus had predicted in Luke 22:34, had denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed. Afterwards, Jesus manifested Himself to the disciples and this was the third appearance.

• 15. 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, "Tend My lambs."
• 16. He said to him again 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, "Shepherd My sheep."
• 17. He 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 all things; You know that I love You."
• Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep."

 

 
 
 

I have heard this scripture expounded on many times. Most pastors will make a big point of Peter being grieved because Jesus had to ask him three times "Do you love Me?"

This is only a small thing, but that is not the case at all. If you look in the Greek text, the first and second times that Jesus asked the question, He used the word "agape." This word means charity, or benevolent love which is an unconditional God type of pure love. Peter answered with a different word, Lord you know that I love (phileo) you. This word means brotherly love.

The third time Jesus condescended to Simon Peter's level and asked "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) Me?" This is why Peter was grieved, because Jesus had to come down to his level. He could not bring himself to say "yes Lord, I love (agape) You."


---

Click "here" to return to Peripherals or Return to Main Page. 

---

---