John 21

*NOTE.--Here again we dissent. See Hengstenberg, Alford, Meyer, etc.and especially Godet. Peter had boasted of a love toward Jesus superiorto that of any of the other disciples ( Matthew 26:33 ; Mark 14:29 ; John 13:37 ),and by refusing to have Jesus wash his feet, by being the first to drawa sword in his Master's defense, and even by now conspicuouslydeserting the others to swim to meet Jesus, he had endeavored to provehis boast. Jesus therefore asks him if it is indeed true that his loveis greater than that of his fellow-disciples--"Do you love me more thanthese love me"?--Philip Y. Pendleton.

21:16  He saith to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me¹? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep².

*NOTE.--Rather, "If you love me better than the others do, take theplace which I have assigned you as chief servant of the flock"( Matthew 16:18 Matthew 16:19 ; Luke 22:26 )--Philip Y. Pendleton.

21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me¹? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee². Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep³.

21:18  Verily, verily¹, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest²: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not³.

21:19  Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God¹. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me².

21:20  Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved¹ following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord², who is he that betrayeth thee?

21:21  Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do¹?

21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.

21:23  This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die¹: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?

21:24  This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true¹.

21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written¹.