The Reinstatement of Peter (John 21:15–23)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homily 88 (on John 21:15–23) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 14. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.xc.html

On "lovest thou Me more than these", and why the charge is laid upon Peter alone:

He was the chosen one of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, the leader of the band ... to show him that he must now be of good cheer, since the denial was done away, Jesus putteth into his hands the chief authority among the brethren; and He bringeth not forward the denial, nor reproacheth him with what had taken place, but saith, "If thou lovest Me, preside over thy brethren, and the warm love which thou didst ever manifest, and in which thou didst rejoice, show thou now; and the life which thou saidst thou wouldest lay down for Me, now give for My sheep."

On the threefold question, and the price the Lord sets upon His sheep:

But Jesus asketh him the third time, and the third time giveth him the same injunction, to show at what a price He setteth the care of His own sheep, and that this especially is a sign of love towards Him.

On "signifying by what death he should glorify God":

He said not, "Should die," but, "Should glorify God," that thou mayest learn, that to suffer for Christ, is glory and honor to the sufferer.

On "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee":

By these words teaching us not to be impatient, nor curious beyond what seemeth good to Him.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XII (on John 21:15–19) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_12_book12.htm

On the thrice-repeated confession that answers the thrice-repeated denial:

Christ succours His erring disciple, and elicits by divers questions his thrice-repeated confession, counterbalancing, as it were, his error thereby, and making his recovery as signal as his fall.

On "Feed My lambs" as the renewing of the apostleship:

by the saying of our Lord, "Feed my lambs," we must understand a renewal as it were of the apostleship, already given unto him, washing away the disgrace of his fall that came betwixt, and obliterating his faint-heartedness, that arose from human infirmity.

On the charge as a lesson for all who teach and shepherd in the Church:

instructors in religion may arrive at the knowledge that they cannot please the Chief Shepherd, that is Christ, unless they take thought for the health of the sheep of His fold, and their continuance in well-being.

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On the commission given to Peter when the meal was ended:

The dinner being ended, He commits to Peter the superintendence over the sheep of the world, not to the others.

On the difference between the lambs and the sheep:

There is a difference perhaps between lambs and sheep. The lambs are those just initiated, the sheep are the perfected.

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Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain.

On "when thou shalt be old ... another shall gird thee":

It is not easy to find any ready to pass at once from this life; and so he says to Peter, When thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hand.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractates 123–124 (on John 21:15–23) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107.iii.cxxiv.html

On the denier and lover brought at last to a perfected love:

Such was the end reached by that denier and lover; elated by his presumption, prostrated by his denial, cleansed by his weeping, approved by his confession, crowned by his suffering, this was the end he reached, to die with a perfected love for the name of Him with whom, by a perverted forwardness, he had promised to die.

On the threefold confession that answers the threefold denial:

To the threefold denial there is now appended a threefold confession, that his tongue may not yield a feebler service to love than to fear, and imminent death may not appear to have elicited more from the lips than present life. Let it be the office of love to feed the Lord's flock, if it was the signal of fear to deny the Shepherd.

On "Lovest thou me? Feed my sheep", and the shepherd who must not feed himself:

For what else mean the words, "Lovest thou me? Feed my sheep," than if it were said, If thou lovest me, think not of feeding thyself, but feed my sheep as mine, and not as thine own; seek my glory in them, and not thine own; my dominion, and not thine; my gain, and not thine

On "If I will that he tarry till I come", read of the two lives, action and contemplation:

So far as my wisdom goes, so far as I comprehend, what is it but this, Follow thou me by imitating me in the endurance of temporal evils; let him remain till I come to restore everlasting good?