"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'"(John 21:17). It is better to share a dry morsel with the Lord than to enjoy an elaborate feast with the unrighteous; but when He is at the table, those present must learn humility. We are here witnessing the most important breakfast of Peter's life, a breakfast in which the risen Jesus gently restored him after his failure. In the process, Christ's words would pierce to the depths of Peter's soul. Christ would indeed reassure him, but He would also greatly humble him before God and man. Consider Christ's three questions in order:

Christ first asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" Some believe the intended comparison to be between Christ and the fish. Peter had spent his life as a fisherman and, even in this context, had just gone fishing. He now sat with Christ after dragging to shore a large catch of fish, and fish were the main course of the meal they had just shared. If the fish are what Christ had in view, then the question was intended to compare Peter's love for Christ with his love for material possession and occupation. Christ will not allow Himself to have second place in the hearts of His followers. He has said, "whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). His majesty demands that He have preeminence; anything else is idolatry.

But it is more likely that Christ's question was testing Peter's estimation of himself in relation to the other Apostles. Peter was zealous and sincere, but he had a tendency to consider himself the greatest among his piers. On the night of Christ's arrest, he had boasted, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble" (Matt 26:33). Even in this encounter, he had plunged himself into the sea to get to Christ while all the other Apostles trailed in the boat. Did Peter still think that his devotion to Christ was the greatest? Peter's response is noteworthy and instructional. He said, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He made no comparison of his love with that of the other Apostles. We are wise when we learn not to exalt ourselves above others but shall have as our chief concern our own standing before the Lord. When tested against God's high standards, we will find enough in ourselves to lament, and the cry of the sincere heart will be, "Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner." Such a disposition is learned in the school of humility, and humility is often the product of our own personal failures. Let us learn, then, to have our chief complaint be our own failures and lack of love for the Lord. Let us learn that that there is enough in our own deficiencies to occupy our attention, and let us not boast except in the cross of Christ.

The precise words of Peter are significant. Although the English translations do not bear this out, Peter used a different word for love in his response than Christ had used in the question. The two words are sometimes used interchangeably in scripture, but their use here in close proximity likely indicates an intended contrast. To paraphrase, Christ had asked, "Do you have supreme love (Greek "Agapao") for Me more than these?" Peter responded, "Yes, Lord; You know that I have affectionate love (Greek "Phileo") for You." Peter had a holy reluctance to boast of his love. He not only avoided comparing it to others', but also avoided claiming it in the greatest degree. He did not even say, "Lord, I love You," but "Lord, You know that I love You," resting the veracity of his profession not on himself but upon the knowledge of Christ. Hearts that are properly trained before God are slow to make great claims about their love for Him. They know they possess it but are humble when they profess it. How much more after their failures?

Christ's second question was, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He phrased it in the same way as the first question but without the added comparison, "more than these." He had accepted Peter's first response, indicating that Peter had learned not to estimate himself more highly than others. This second question, then, was designed to more specifically focus on Peter's personal love for Christ. Peter answered identically to his first response. He still used a lesser word for love than Christ had used, but he clung to his response. So let us learn that we may be slow to speak of the greatness of our love but still be assured of the principle of it. We may wisely not compare our love to that of others but still confidently assert it.

Christ asked the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" This time He used the same word for love that Peter had used in his two responses. Peter was grieved. He knew that Christ never dwelled on a topic in vain, and now, Christ was not only asking a third time but also questioning Peter's love even at the level of his own profession. "Could it be that the Lord sees hypocrisy in me? Could it be that He knows that I will yet again be tested and fail? Could it be that He thinks that I do not even love Him to the degree that I have expressed it?" We too may experience times when God's Word calls into question our profession of love for Him. Those of a pure and sensitive heart may be grieved in those times, but let them know that it is needful for their growth. Let it not cause them despair but encourage them to pursue Christ further.

Let us learn from Peter's third response. He said, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." He was still bold enough to profess the sincerity of his love even after having it questioned a third time by the omniscient Lord. He was able to look into the piercing eyes that had witnessed his third denial and now profess his love a third time. He would never boast of its degree, but he was assured of its presence. Oh, Christian, learn from Peter that you can know that you love Christ! And you can know that Christ looks upon you and acknowledges your love! He may question you for your own good, but He will never reject your sincere and humble response. Your failures in your battle against sin are lamentable, but they do not disprove your love for Him. Some profess their love in hypocrisy, and to them, no comfort should come from this passage; but to you who are sincere and in need of restoration after your failures, know that He will receive your love. If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins. He does not despise you because you have not loved Him perfectly, but He delights in you because you are His child. You may sorrow that your love for Him is not deeper, but you can say from the heart, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

Had Christ questioned Peter's love in an absolute sense, he could never have answered affirmatively. Can anyone say that he has perfectly loved Him? Have any met the standard to love Him with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength? Those who truly love Christ are swift to admit that they fall short of this great commandment. Their deep desire is to perfectly keep Him as the supreme object of their affection, but how much they feel the weakness of their love! The spirit wages war against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit, and this makes them feel their need for Christ to save them from sin.

Christ answered each of Peter's confessions of love with a command to tend His flock--that is, to be a shepherd to His people. It is evident that to properly love and help others, we must first love God Himself. The first and great commandment is to love God supremely, but the second is like it--to love your neighbor as yourself. "He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20). This truth applies to all of God's people, but in this instance it is especially intended for ministers. They can never properly fulfill their calling to shepherd God's sheep until they first love God Himself. They cannot love the household until they love the head; they cannot love the children until they love the Father; they cannot love the sheep until they love the Shepherd. And their obligation to shepherd the sheep is not an option but a command, and it must result in tangible works that prove their love for God.

Notice, finally, that the restoration of Peter took place in the presence of the other disciples. Peter had sinned publicly, and Christ restored him publicly. We too must be quick to restore those who are repentant, lest they be treated as outcasts and the devil take advantage of the opportunity. Though hypocrisy must be distinguished from repentance, it must never be to the point of rejecting those who are sincere. Let us, then, be gentle and quick to restore those who are repentant, looking to ourselves, lest we too would fall into transgression.

If you would like to receive further information concerning these matters, please contact Joseph Montalto.