Are We Feeding and Tending? (John 21:15-17)

Lesson #339

At the end of the previous lesson it was mentioned that we would come back to the following verses to consider expressions containing love and also look at the meaning of lambs and sheep that Jesus told Peter to care for. “When 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.” He 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.” 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15 – 17 ESV).

When Jesus asked Peter the first time if he loved him he used the word “agapao” and Peter responded with the word “philo”. The definition for “agapao” given by the Strong’s Concordance is: “agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 John 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 John 4:8,16).” “Phileo”, given by Peter in response, is defined in the Strong’s Concordance as: “philéō (from 5384 /phílos, "affectionate friendship") – properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship.” Jesus is asking Peter if he is willing to live through him, obeying his will through his power. Thinking about his betrayal, Peter responds with love limited to intimate friendship.

Jesus repeats his question and Peter responds with the same answer. After Peters’ first response, Jesus said to go and feed his lambs, but this time he tells Peter to go and tend his sheep. The third time Jesus asks the question he uses the word “phileis” for love, which has the same definition as “phileo”. Peter responds the same and Jesus tells him to feed his sheep. The three love questions asked yield three commands: “Feed my lambs”, “Tend my sheep”, and “Feed my sheep”.

What is the difference between lambs and sheep in the commands Jesus gives Peter? Lambs and sheep are the same animal but different in age; a lamb is a young sheep, usually under the age of 12 months. Insight on these two words, lamb and sheep, can be obtained from Isaiah 53:7 (NLT): “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” A lamb is slaughtered for its tender meat, but the larger older sheep provides wool for making clothing.

The commands that were given to Peter are also given to us. We need to stop and evaluate how well we are doing at feeding and tending.

Prayer

Father, I believe the commands given by Jesus to feed and tend assume that we are spiritually mature enough to know how to properly feed and tend. Having grown up on a farm around animals I know how important this is. Father, it seems that we should “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB) and as we grow as his workman we have a greater responsibility to feed and tend. Father, how much better life would be if we were obedient to these commands.