John 21:16

“He saith unto him again the second time, etc.] Willing to have the expressions of his love repeated and confirmed; Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? he leaves out the words, “more than these”, though Nonnus expresses them; he saw Peter’s heart, and observed the modesty of his answer, and would not urge him any more in that comparative way, only required a repetition of his sincere and hearty love to him: he saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; expressing himself in the same language as before; and it is, as if he should say, Lord, what can I say more? I can say no more than I have done, and by that I abide: he saith unto him, feed my sheep; both the lost sheep of the…”

“He saith to him . . . the second time . . . lovest thou me, &c.--In this repetition of the question, though the wound was meant to be reopened, the words "more than these" are not repeated; for Christ is a tender as well as skilful Physician, and Peter's silence on that point was confession enough of his sin and folly. On Peter's repeating his protestation in the same words, our Lord rises higher in the manifestation of His restoring grace. Feed--keep. my sheep--It has been observed that the word here is studiously changed, from one signifying simply to feed, to one signifying to tend as a shepherd, denoting the abiding exercise of that vocation, and in its highest functions.”

“Feed my sheep - The word here rendered “feed,” as has been remarked, is different from the word in the previous verse. It has the sense of governing, caring for, guiding, protecting - the kind of faithful vigilance which a shepherd uses to guide his flock, and to make provision against their wants and dangers. It may be implied here that the care needed for the young in the church is to instruct them, and for those in advanced years both to instruct and govern them. My sheep - This term commonly denotes the church in general, without respect to age, John 10:0. return to 'Top of Page'”

“the second: Joh 18:17, Joh 18:25; Mat 26:72 my sheep: Joh 10:11-16, Joh 10:26, Joh 10:27; Psa 95:7, Psa 100:3; Zac 13:7; Mat 25:32; Luk 15:3-7, Luk 19:10; Act 20:28; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25 John 21:17”