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.