Reconcilation and Instructions to Peter

John 21:14-17
This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him," Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. "Jesus said to him," Tend My sheep.
(NASB = New American Standard Bible)

I am using the NASB since it has additional insights/manuscript evidence that was either NOT available or used by the authors of the KJV (King James Version).

Examine the Phrase:
"Thou art Peter"

There has been much attention given to these verses in many commentaries. The emphasis has been placed on the aspect of Reconcilation (love) . However, I believe that the Tend/Shepherd/Tend words require additional study so that the Instructions are also understood. Below in the Red Box is the word study.

It seems to me that Jesus was giving "specific" instructions on how to tend and shepherd the soon to be church. (see Acts Chapter 1 & 2) By examining the Greek words, their strucure, and other verses in the New Testament; I post the following commentary on the instructions.

vs 15 -- Take care of the new believers by watching over them and nuturing them with the milk of the scriptures.

vs 16 -- Supervise the believers that are growing with the milk and meat of the scriptures.

vs17 -- Nuture and encouage those that are maturing and grant them freedom to fulfill their work in the ministry of the church.

You may ask, how can you make such statements?

I.
In John 5:39 Jesus states that the scriptures bear witness to Him. In Acts 17:10-13 the Jews in Berea received the teaching of the Apostles and searched the scriptures daily in order to check out whether the things that were taught were indeed true and thus many became believers in Jesus Christ. 

II.
Since the scriptures bear witness to Jesus and all scripture is given by God (2 Timothy 3:16), then all believers are to study the scriptures in order to grow in the pure milk of the word (1 Peter 2:1-2) and thus become mature in discerning good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14) This will result in a believer being equipped to be a co-worker with Christ in the work of the ministry of perfecting the saints thus building up the body of Christ - the church. (Ephesians 4:12)

III.
By applying I and II a beliver should be able to fulfill the good works that God has planned for us. (Ephesians 2:10) So, what are the good works?

Good works -- Those works that Build Up and Add To the Church (The Great Comission). Click Here to Read, "What is the purpose of the Church in the Great Comission".

Why the focus on good works?

Since believer's sin was removed by Christ's death and resurrection then a believer is not able to add to their salvation (it is a Free Gift from God). Since a believer is not judged for sin and they will only face a judgement of works in building up and adding to the body of Christ. See Green Box Below.

I now turn my attention to the Roman Catholic's Church (RCC) and its teaching about Peter being the earthly head of the church and the establishment of the doctrine of the Papacy. Even if you agree with the Catholic Church and its teaching about Peter's role in the church, you must admit that through the ages the Catholic Church has not followed through with Jesus' instructions to Peter in John 21:17.

Examine the Phrase:
"Thou art Peter"

Even today, the RCC does not encourage its "lay" members to "do the work of the ministry". This work is reserved for the "ordained ministers and priests". If Peter were alive today, he would not recognize the CC as a viable instrument in fulfilling the instructions given to him in John 21:17.

It seems to me that the RCC places extream focus on verses 16 & 17. This over-emphasis has resulted in a heirarchy of rules and commandments. This can result in believers that are stunted in their Christian growth and not able to fulfill the "good works" that are pleasing to Christ in building up and adding to the body of Christ.

When these believers appear before the judgement seat of Christ they will be without excuse for their failures in performing the good works that Christ had prepared for them.

Why do I say this?

Because it is every believer's responsibility to INVESTIGATE the scriptures and make sure that their faith, calling, and works are pure in motive and deed. Going to church for the purpose of attendance or fellowship alone is to act like a "baby". Baby means someone who has not developed beyond infancy and still needs assurance from the "rule-makers" that they are on the path to heaven. Some in the RCC refer to these believers as Cradle Catholics. (RCCB)

Cradle Catholics are those that were baptised at infancy and are told that they are partakers of the RCC's ability to get them into heaven. As the cradle babys reach a stage called confirmation, they receive additional instuctions by the "rule-makers" so as to MAINTAIN their standing in in the RCC's ability to get them to heaven. As the RCCBs reach adulthood, many forsake the CC and its teaching because the rules are so demanding and suffocating.

Click Here to Read how the RCC has changed the Biblical Peter to the Roman Peter

Examine the Phrase:
"Thou art Peter"

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Below is a Commentary from Matthew Henry
Based Mostly on the KJV

John 21:15-19
Three times Christ committed the care of his flock to Peter: Feed my lambs; feed my sheep; feed my sheep.

[1.] Those whom Christ committed to Peter's care were his lambs and his sheep. The church of Christ is his flock, which he hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28), and he is the chief shepherd of it.

In this flock some are lambs, young and tender and weak, others are sheep, grown to some strength and maturity. The Shepherd here takes care of both, and of the lambs first, for upon all occasions he showed a particular tenderness for them. He gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom. Isa 40:11.

[2.] The charge he gives him concerning them is to feed them. The word used in v. 15, 17, is boske, which strictly signifies to give them food; but the word used in v. 16 is poimaine, which signifies more largely to do all the offices of a shepherd to them: "Feed the lambs with that which is proper for them, and the sheep likewise with food convenient. The lost sheep of the house of Israel, seek and feed them, and the other sheep also which are not of this fold."

Note, It is the duty of all Christ's ministers to feed his lambs and sheep.

Feed them, that is, teach them; for the doctrine of the gospel is spiritual food. Feed them, that is, "Lead them to the green pastures, presiding in their religious assemblies, and ministering all the ordinances to them. Feed them by personal application to their respective state and case; not only lay meat before them, but feed those with it that are wilful and will not, or weak and cannot feed themselves." When Christ ascended on high, he gave pastors, left his flock with those that loved him, and would take care of them for his sake.

John 21:15-19

[3.] But why did he give this charge particularly to Peter?

Ask the advocates for the pope's supremacy, and they will tell you that Christ hereby designed to give to Peter, and therefore to his successors, and therefore to the bishops of Rome, an absolute dominion and headship over the whole Christian church as if a charge to serve the sheep gave a power to lord it over all the shepherds; whereas, it is plain, Peter himself never claimed such a power, nor did the other disciples ever own it in him.

This charge given to Peter to preach the gospel is by a strange artifice made to support the usurpation of his pretended successors, that fleece the sheep, and, instead of feeding them, feed upon them. But the particular application to Peter here was designed,

First,

To restore him to his apostleship, now that he repented of his abjuration of it, and to renew his commission, both for his own satisfaction, and for the satisfaction of his brethren. A commission given to one convicted of a crime is supposed to amount to a pardon; no doubt, this commission given to Peter was an evidence that Christ was reconciled to him else he would never have reposed such a confidence in him. Of some that have deceived us we say, "Though we forgive them, we will never trust them;" but Christ, when he forgave Peter, trusted him with the most valuable treasure he had on earth.

Secondly,

It was designed to quicken him to a diligent discharge of his office as an apostle. Peter was a man of a bold and zealous spirit, always forward to speak and act, and, lest he should be tempted to take upon him the directing of the shepherds, he is charged to feed the sheep, as he himself charges all the presbyters to do, and not to lord it over God's heritage, 1 Peter 5:2-3. If he will be doing, let him do this, and pretend no further.

Thirdly,

What Christ said to him he said to all his disciples; he charged them all, not only to be fishers of men (though that was said to Peter, Luke 5:10), by the conversion of sinners, but feeders of the flock, by the edification of saints. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

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