John 21:16

lovest thou me? Jesus drops the -more than these," which the humbled Apostle had shrunk from answering, but retains His own word for -love." S. Peter answers exactly as before.

Feed my sheep Better, Tend, or shepherd, My sheep. The word rendered -feed" in John 21:15; John 21:17(boskein) means -supply with food." Comp. Matthew 8:30; Matthew 8:33; Mark 5:11; Mark 5:14; Luke 8:32; Luke 8:34; Luke 15:15 (the only other passages where the word occurs in N.T.) of the feeding of the herd of swine. The word used here (poimainein) means rather -be shepherd to." It is used literally Luke 17:7; 1 Corinthians 9:7; and figuratively Matthew 2:6; Act 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2. Comp. Judges 12; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15. Tending implies more of guidance and government than feeding does. The lambs, which can go no distance, scarcely require guidance, their chief need is food. The sheep require both.