The Love Question

15 Now when they had (A)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [a](B)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend (C)My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [c]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.” He *said to him, (D)Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [e]love Me?” Peter was [f]hurt because He said to him (E)the third time, “Do you [g]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, (F)You know all things; You know that I [h]love You.” Jesus *said to him, (G)Tend My sheep.

Our Times Are in His Hand

18 Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 Now He said this, (H)indicating by (I)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He *said to him, (J)Follow Me!”

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Footnotes

  1. John 21:15 Gr agapao
  2. John 21:15 Gr phileo
  3. John 21:16 Gr agapao
  4. John 21:16 Gr phileo
  5. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  6. John 21:17 Or distressed
  7. John 21:17 Gr phileo
  8. John 21:17 Gr phileo

Jesus Speaks with Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Peter[a] told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus[b] told him, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Then he asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter[c] told him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus[d] told him, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 He asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So he told him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!”

Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep. 18 “Truly, I tell you[e] emphatically, when you were young, you would fasten your belt and go wherever you liked. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Now he said this to show by what kind of death he would glorify God.

After saying this, Jesus[f] told him, “Keep following me.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 21:15 Lit. He
  2. John 21:15 Lit. He
  3. John 21:16 Lit. He
  4. John 21:16 Lit. He
  5. John 21:18 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  6. John 21:19 Lit. he