John 21:15–17
Bible Verses. Also called John 21:15-17, Feed My Sheep, Jesus Reinstates Peter, Peter's Restoration, Lovest Thou Me.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
John 21:15–17 is the passage in which the risen Jesus, on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, asks Simon Peter three times, "Lovest thou me?" and charges him, "Feed my sheep." It is frequently cited as a text about Peter's restoration and the pastoral calling.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
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Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
John 21 recounts how the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples, who were fishing, on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Many scholars regard chapter 21 as an epilogue, since John 20:31 appears to be the book's original conclusion. After they have eaten breakfast together, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Lovest thou me?" Each time Peter answers, "thou knowest that I love thee," and each time Jesus replies in turn, "Feed my lambs," "Feed my sheep," and "Feed my sheep." The scene parallels Peter's threefold denial of Jesus beside a charcoal fire on the night of Jesus' arrest (John 18). In the original Greek, the same word for "charcoal fire" is used in both scenes.
Interpretation
- Restoration reading: The three questions retrace the three denials, and Jesus, rather than rebuking Peter, forgives him and reinstates him as a disciple. This interpretation is widely accepted across many denominations.
- Commissioning reading: Because the confession of love leads directly to the care of the flock, this reading holds that the shepherd's office flows from love for Christ.
- Verb-distinction reading: In the Greek text, Jesus' first two questions use agapaō, while his third question and Peter's answers use phileō. Some interpreters find significance in this difference, whereas many scholars, noting that the Gospel of John uses the two verbs interchangeably, regard it as merely a stylistic variation.
Debates and Issues
The Catholic Church cites this passage, together with Matthew 16:18–19, as evidence that Peter was appointed shepherd of the whole Church, and connects it with papal primacy (the teaching that the pope holds supreme authority in the Church). Protestants generally read the passage as concerning Peter's personal restoration and commission and do not take it to imply an office passed on to successors.
The phrase "more than these" is also interpreted in different ways. Some read it as "more than the other disciples love me," while others read it as "more than these things" (the boat, the nets, and Peter's former livelihood).
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean churches, "Feed my sheep" is reportedly a frequent sermon text at ordination services and installation services for pastors. Sermons there also commonly introduce the distinction between agapē and phileō. Because Korean Bible translations usually render both Greek verbs with the same word for "to love," the difference between the verbs in the original text is not visible in those translations.
Related Passages
See also 8
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