21:15 Simon, son of John. Jesus used this name at the beginning of His solemn declaration in response to Peter’s confession (Matt. 16:17).

do you love me more than these. It is possible to construe this question in several ways. “Do you love Me more than these others love Me?”; “Do you love Me more than you love these others?”; “Do you love Me more than you love these nets and fish?” (cf. v. 3 note). The Greek verb translated “love” in Jesus’ question changes when the question is raised the third time (v. 17), and Peter’s answer has this second verb each time. Some have thought that there is a difference intended in the use of the two verbs. This is possible but not necessary, for two reasons. First, John interchanges these verbs elsewhere in His Gospel. Second, other differences of wording in this conversation do not seem to indicate a difference of purpose. For example, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep” are equivalent.

Feed my lambs. “My lambs” and “my sheep” correspond to “my church” (10:14, 26, 27; Matt. 16:18). When Peter writes to his fellow elders (1 Pet. 5:1, 2), he urges them, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you,” apparently having taken to heart the words of Jesus.