John Chapter 21, Verse 16
From BibleWiki
16: λεγει αυτω παλιν δευτερον σιμων ιωνα αγαπας με λεγει αυτω ναι κυριε συ οιδας οτι φιλω σε λεγει αυτω ποιμαινε τα προβατα μου
16: 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.
16: He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He
saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him:
Feed my lambs.
Feed my sheep. The word here rendered feed, as has been remarked, is different from the word in the previous verse. It has the sense of governing, caring for, guiding, protecting -- the kind of faithful vigilance which a shepherd uses to guide his flock, and to make provision against their wants and dangers. It may be implied here that the care needed for the young in the church is to instruct them, and for those in advanced years both to instruct and govern them.
My sheep. This term commonly denotes the church in general, without respect to age, John, chapter 10.
