Jesus told Peter once to “Feed my lambs” and twice to “Feed (attend) my sheep.” Was Jesus saying that older or mature Christians need more teaching, are more likely to go astray or, something else?

Question: In John 21:15-17 Jesus told Peter once to “Feed my lambs” and twice to “Feed (attend) my sheep.” Was Jesus saying that older or mature Christians need more teaching, are more likely to go astray or, something else? And why do you think He emphasized the sheep more than the lambs?

Answer: The lambs are a reference to fellow Jews. The sheep refers to the Gentiles.  It is natural to ask Peter who is being commissioned to the Gentiles to move beyond his fellow Jews. We see Peter's struggle with this when Paul confronts Peter in Galatians.  Remember John is the last gospel written and Peter's fate is well know so John is able to put these things that Jesus said together.