“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.”
My Notes
What Does John 21:17 Mean?
The third time Jesus asks Peter if he loves him — and Peter is grieved. The repetition mirrors the three denials. Each question undoes one layer of betrayal. And Peter's response deepens: Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
"Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time" — the grief is not from the question itself but from the repetition. Three times. The number burns because it matches the denials. The wound is being touched precisely where it was inflicted.
"Thou knowest all things" — Peter stops defending himself. He stops making claims about his love. He appeals to the only one who can see the truth of his heart. Lord, you know everything. You know me better than I know myself.
"Feed my sheep" — the commission remains unchanged. Three questions. Three commands. Love and service are linked. Your love for Jesus is expressed through feeding his people. The restoration is complete — and the assignment is given.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does Jesus ask three times — and why does the repetition grieve Peter?
- 2.What does Peter's appeal — 'thou knowest all things' — reveal about where he has arrived?
- 3.How is 'feed my sheep' the response to every declaration of love for Jesus?
- 4.Where has failure prepared you for a commission rather than disqualifying you?
Devotional
He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? Third time. Once for each denial. The repetition is painful because it is precise. Jesus is not asking casually. He is undoing something — one question at a time.
Peter was grieved. The grief is deep. Not anger — grief. The question hurts because Peter knows why it is being asked three times. The number is the reminder. The wound is being reopened so it can heal properly.
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Peter has no defense left. No boasts. No promises. Just this: you know. You see everything. You know my heart. And despite everything I did, you know I love you.
Feed my sheep. The response to declared love is always the same: serve. Feed the sheep. Your love for Jesus is not measured by your feelings. It is measured by your care for his people.
The restoration is complete. Three denials answered by three declarations. Three failures met by three commissions. Peter who denied is Peter who is sent. The failure did not disqualify him. The love — honest, grieved, tested — qualified him again.
If you have failed — if you have denied what you promised to uphold — this scene is your restoration. Jesus does not discard the broken. He asks them: do you love me? And then he gives them something to do.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
He saith unto him the third time,.... That by these three testimonies, out of his mouth, the thing might be established,…
The third time - It is probable that Jesus proposed this question three times because Peter had thrice denied him. Thus…
Peter was grieved - Fearing, says St. Chrysostom, lest Christ saw something in his heart which he saw not himself, and…
We have here Christ's discourse with Peter after dinner, so much of it as relates to himself, in which,
I. He examines…
the third time He had denied thrice, and must thrice affirm his love. This time Jesus makes a further concession: He not…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture