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LOVEST THOU ME?

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 18.

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“LOVEST THOU ME?”

By BENJ. L. ANDERSON

BENJ. L. ANDERSON
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 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.”
It was at the sea of Tiberias that the Saviour met with His disciples the third time after His passion; and it was at this place Simon Peter received his commission. Even as Peter had denied the Saviour three times, so must he likewise confess Him three times. But let us notice more carefully Peter’s experience.
In Luke’s Gospel we read: “And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” This he did when he remembered the words of his Lord—how He had said that Peter would deny Him.
In John’s Gospel it is said that “Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?” Was Peter grieved because he was asked to confess Christ the third time, or was it because of the manner in which he was asked? Let us notice more carefully.
In the passage quoted, we find that, in the inspired language (Greek) of the Scripture, two different words are used for the word “lovest,” namely, ἀγαπᾷς and φιλεῖς. The word ἀγαπᾷς means to love with divine love; while the word φιλεῖς means with human love.
Peter had made the assertion, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended;” and he had also said, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” He is now brought to the test. Jesus, in His first interrogation to Peter, says: “Lovest thou me more than these?” The Saviour uses the word ἀγαπᾷς, meaning, Do you love me with divine love more than these love me? Peter does not now claim to have greater love for his Master than have his brethren, and does not even answer the question, but simply replies: “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Peter uses the word φιλῶ for the verb “love,” meaning only that he loved his Master with human love. Peter is then commissioned to feed the lambs of the great Shepherd.
Jesus again questions Peter the second time, but does not this time ask if he loves Him more than his brethren do, but simply asks if he loves Him with divine love (ἀγαπᾷς). Still Peter does not claim divine love for his Master, but makes reply: “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee,” using φιλῶ for the verb love. Again Peter receives a commission to feed the little sheep.
The third time the Saviour uses the same word that Peter has been using (φιλῶ), Lovest thou me with human love? Now Peter is grieved, not because he was asked the third time; but because he was asked if he loved his Master with human love, which he had already twice claimed. So Peter answers, “Lord, . . . thou knowest that I love [φιλῶ] thee.”
Although Peter had boasted of his great love for his Master,—that he would remain with the Saviour to the very last,—that though all men should forsake Him, yet he would not,—he does not now boast of any such thing; still, he is given the divine charge.
Now that Peter does not claim greater love than his brethren, the Saviour goes one step further, asking Peter if he loves Him with divine love, without comparison. Peter does not now claim even divine love, yet still he is commissioned to care for the sheep of the flock.
The Saviour ventures still another step in testing the boastful disciple, asking him if he has human love for the great Shepherd of the sheep. How wonderful!—after having been humbled, he still receives that grand and glorious charge, “Feed my sheep,” although he claims only human love for the Saviour of mankind.