17 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.



Ver. 17. Jesus saith unto him the third time] To confirm him doubtless against the consciousness of his three-fold denial, and to re-authorize him in his apostleship.



Lovest thou me?] A minister had need have his heart inflamed with a most ardent affection to Christ; for else he will never suffer that hardship devour those difficulties, and get over all those impediments that he is sure to be encumbered with. The ministry, believe it, is not an idle man’s occupation, he must preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, &c., cry in the throat ( Clamare ut Stentora vincat), lift up his voice like a trumpet, speak till he spit forth his lungs, and yet to no more purpose many times than Beda did when he preached to a heap of stones. Now this he will never do, unless the love of Christ constrain him, 2Co_5:14; cf. 1Co_16:22.



Peter was grieved] Either in remembrance of his former false play; or else, as thinking our Saviour somewhat distrusted his fidelity; or else, surely, he was as much to blame to be grieved, as David was to be angry, when God had made a breach upon Uzzah, 2Sa_6:8.



Feed my sheep] My sheep with golden fleeces, with precious souls; every soul being more worth than a world, as our Saviour reckons it, who only went to the price of it, Mat_16:26. Can that be wholesome meat then that is sauced with the blood of souls? Will it not be bitterness in the end?