John 21:17

Lovest thou me? (pilei me;). This time Jesus picks up the word pilew used by Peter and challenges that. These two words are often interchanged in the N.T., but here the distinction is preserved. Peter was cut to the heart (eluphqh, first aorist passive of lupew, to grieve) because Jesus challenges this very verb, and no doubt the third question vividly reminds him of the three denials in the early morning by the fire. He repeats his love for Jesus with the plea: "Thou knowest all things." Feed my sheep (boske ta probatia). Many MSS. both here and in verse Matthew 16 read probata (sheep) instead of probatia (little sheep or lambs).