Verse 1. The sea of Tiberias. Called also the Sea of Galilee, being
situated in Galilee. See Barnes "Matthew 4:18". In this place Jesus had
promised to meet them, Mark 14:28; 16:7; Matthew 26:32; 28:10. This interview
of Jesus is but just mentioned by Matthew (Matthew 28:16), and is
omitted by both Mark and Luke. This is the reason why John relates so
particularly what occurred there. Galilee was a retired place where
they would be free from danger, and was therefore a safe and convenient
situation for Jesus to meet them, in order to give them his last
instructions.
On this wise. Thus. In this manner.
Verse 2. There were together. Probably residing in the same place.
While they were waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit, they still
found it proper to be usefully employed. Their Master had been taken
away by death, and the promised Spirit had not descended on them. In
the interval---before the promised Spirit was poured upon them-- they
chose not to be idle, and therefore returned to their former
employment. It is to be remarked, also, that they had no other means
of support. While with Jesus, they were commonly supplied by the
kindness of the people; but now, when the Saviour had died, they were
cut off from this means of support, and returned to the honest labour
of their early lives. Moreover, they had been directed by the Saviour
to repair to a mountain in Galilee, where he would meet them,
Matthew 28:10. This was probably not far from the Sea of Galilee, so
that, until he came to them, they would naturally be engaged in their
old employment. Ministers of the gospel should be willing to labour, if
necessary, for their own support, and should not esteem such labour
dishonourable. God has made employment indispensable to man, and if
the field of labour is not open in one way, they should seek it in
another. If at any time the people withhold the supply of their wants,
they should be able and willing to seek support in some other honest
occupation.
{a} "Nathanael of Cana" John 1:45
{b} "the sons of Zebedee" Matthew 4:21
Verse 3. That night they caught nothing. This was so ordered in the
providence of God that the miracle which was wrought might appear more
remarkable.
Verse 4. Knew not that it was Jesus. Probably it was yet twilight,
and in the distance they could not distinctly recognize him.
{c} "knew not that it was Jesus" John 20:14
Verse 5. Children. A term of affection and friendship, 1 John 2:18.
Any meat. This word (Greek) means anything eaten with bread. It was
used by the Greeks especially to denote fish (Schleusner)
{d} "Jesus saith unto them" Luke 24:41
{1} "Children" or, "Sirs"
Verse 6. On the right side. Why the right side is mentioned is not
known. Grotius supposes that it was the side nearest the shore, where
there was less probability of taking fish. It does not appear that
they yet recognized the Lord Jesus but from some cause they had
sufficient confidence in him to make another trial. Perhaps they
judged that he was one skilled in that employment, and knew where there
was the greatest probability of success.
{e} "Cast the net on the right" Luke 5:4-7
Verse 7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved. John 13:23.
It is the Lord. He was convinced, perhaps, by the apparent miracle,
and by looking more attentively on the person of one who had been the
means of such unexpected and remarkable success.
His fisher's coat. His upper or outer garment or tunic, in
distinction from the inner garment or tunic which was worn next the skin.
In the case of Peter it may have been made of coarse materials such as
fishermen commonly wore, or such as Peter usually wore when he was
engaged in this employment. Such garments are common with men of this
occupation. This outer garment he probably had laid aside.
He was naked. He was undressed, with nothing on but the under
garment or tunic. The word does not require us to suppose a greater
degree of nakedness than this. See Barnes "Mark 14:51",
See Barnes "1 Samuel 19:24".
Did cast himself into the sea. With characteristic ardour, desirous
of meeting again his Lord, and showing his affection for him.
Verse 8. Two hundred cubits. About 350 feet, or a little more than
20 rods.
Verse 9. They saw a fire, &c. We have no knowledge whence this was
produced-- whether it was, as Grotius supposes, by a miracle, or
whether it was a place occupied by other fishermen, where they also
might cook the fish which they had caught. As no miracle is mentioned,
however, there is no reason for supposing that any existed in the
case.
Verse 10. No Barnes text on this verse.
Verse 11. An hundred and fifty and three. The number is mentioned
because it seems to have been a very unusual draught, and it was
particularly gratifying and striking to them after they had spent the
whole night and had caught nothing. This convinced them that it was
no other than the same Saviour who had so often worked wonders
before them that was now with them.
Verse 12. Come and dine. The word in the original means the meal which
is taken in the morning, or breakfast.
Verse 13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, &c. It is not said that
Jesus himself ate with them, but he gave them food. The design of
this interview seems to have been to convince them that he had truly
risen from the dead. Hence he performed a miracle before they
suspected that it was he, that there might be no room to say that they
had ascribed to him the power of the miracle through friendship and
collusion with him. The miracle was such as to satisfy them of its truth,
and was, in accordance with all his works, not for mere display, but
for utility. He remained with them, was with them at their meal,
conversed with them, and thus convinced them that he was the same Friend
who had died.
{f} "Jesus then cometh" Acts 10:41
Verse 14. The third time. See the "Harmony of the Accounts of the
Resurrection of Jesus" at the end of Matthew.
{g} "This is now the third time" John 20:19,26
Verse 15. Lovest thou me more than these? There is a slight
ambiguity here in the original, as there is in our translation. The
word these may be in the neuter gender, and refer to these
things--his boat, his fishing utensils, and his employments; or it
may be in the masculine, and refer to the apostles. In the former sense
it would mean, "Lovest thou me more than thou lovest these objects?
Art thou now willing, from love to me, to forsake all these, and go and
preach my gospel to the nations of the earth?" In the other sense,
which is probably the true sense, it would mean, "Lovest thou me more
than these other apostles love me?" In this question Jesus refers to
the profession of superior attachment to him which Peter had made
before his death (Matthew 26:33): "Though all men shall be offended
because of thee, yet will I never be offended." Comp. John 13:37.
Jesus here slightly reproves him for that confident assertion, reminds
him of his sad and painful denial, and now puts this direct and pointed
question to him to know what was the present state of his feelings.
After all that Peter had had to humble him, the Saviour inquired of
him what had been the effect on his mind, and whether it had tended
to prepare him for the arduous toils in which he was about to engage.
This question we should all put to ourselves. It is a matter of much
importance that we should ourselves know what is the effect of the
dealings of divine Providence on our hearts, and what is our present
state of feeling toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thou knowest that I love thee. Peter now made no pretensions to
love superior to his brethren. His sad denial had convinced him of the
folly of that claim; but still he could appeal to the Searcher
of the heart, and say that he knew that he loved him. Here is the
expression of a humbled soul--a soul made sensible of its weakness and
need of strength, yet with evidence of true attachment to the Saviour.
It is not the most confident pretensions that constitute the highest
proof of love to Christ; and the happiest and best state of feeling is
when we can with humility, yet with confidence, look to the Lord Jesus
and say, "Thou knowest that I love thee."
Feed my lambs. The word here rendered feed means the care
afforded by furnishing nutriment for the flock. In the next verse
there is a change in the Greek, and the word rendered feed denotes
rather the care, guidance, and protection which a shepherd extends
to his flock. By the use of both these words, it is supposed that our
Saviour intended that a shepherd was both to offer the proper food for
his flock and to govern it; or, as we express it, to exercise the
office of a pastor. The expression is taken from the office of a
shepherd, with which the office of a minister of the gospel is
frequently compared. It means, as a good shepherd provides for the
wants of his flock, so the pastor in the church is to furnish food for
the soul, or so to exhibit truth that the faith of believers may be
strengthened and their hope confirmed.
My lambs. The church is often compared to a flock. See
John 10:1-16. Here the expression my lambs undoubtedly refers
to the tender and the young in the Christian church; to those
who are young in years and in Christian experience. The Lord Jesus saw,
what has been confirmed in the experience of the church, that the
success of the gospel among men depended on the care which the ministry
would extend to those in early life. It is in obedience to this command
that Sunday-schools have been established, and no means of fulfilling
this command of the Saviour have been found so effectual as to extend
patronage to those schools. It is not merely, therefore, the
privilege, it is the solemn duty of ministers of the gospel to
countenance and patronize those schools.
{h} "more than these" Matthew 26:33,35
{i} "Feed my lambs" Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 3:15; Ezekiel 34:2-10; Acts 20:28
1 Peter 5:2,4
Verse 16. 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.
{k} "Feed my sheep" Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25
Verse 17. The third time. It is probable that Jesus proposed this
question three times because Peter had thrice denied him. Thus he
tenderly admonished him of his fault and reminded him of his sin, while
he solemnly charged him to be faithful and vigilant in the discharge of
the duties of the pastoral office. The reason why the Saviour addressed
Peter in this manner was doubtless because he had just denied him--had
given a most melancholy instance of the instability and weakness of
his faith, and of his liability to fall. As he had thus been prominent
in forsaking him, he took this occasion to give to him a special
charge, and to secure his future obedience. Hence he so administered
the charge as to remind him of his fault; and he made him so prominent
as to show the solicitude of the Saviour that henceforward he might not
be left to dishonour his high calling. This same charge, in substance,
he had on other occasions given to the apostles (Matthew 18:18), and
there is not the slightest evidence here that Christ intended, as the
Papists pretend, to give Peter any peculiar primacy or eminence in
the church. The charge to Peter arose, manifestly, from his prominent and
melancholy act in denying him, and was the kind and tender means used
by a faithful Saviour to keep him from similar acts in the future
dangers and trials of life. It is worthy of remark that the admonition
was effectual. Henceforward Peter was one of the most firm and
unwavering of all the apostles, and thus fully justified the
appellation of a rock, which the Saviour by anticipation had given
him. See Barnes "John 1:42".
{m} "thou knowest all things" John 16:30
Verse 18. When thou wast young. When in early life thou didst gird
thyself &c. The Jews, in walking or running, girded their outer
garments around them, that they might not be impeded.
See Barnes "Matthew 5:38-41".
Thou girdedst. The expression here denotes freedom. He did
as he pleased--he girded himself or not--he went or remained, as he
chose. Perhaps the expression refers rather to that time than to the
previous period of Peter's life. "Thou being young or in the rigour of
life, hast just girded thyself and come freely to the shore." In either
case the Saviour intimates that at the end of his life he would not be
thus free.
When thou shalt be old. Ancient writers say that Peter was put to
death about thirty-four years after this. His precise age at that time
is not known.
Thou shalt stretch forth thy hands. When Peter was put to death, we
are told that he requested that he might be crucified with his head
downward, saying that he who had denied his Lord as he had done was not
worthy to die as he did. This expression of Christ may intimate the
readiness of Peter thus to die. Though he was not at liberty as
when he was young, though bound by others, yet he freely stretched
out his hands on the cross, and was ready to give up his life.
Another shall gird thee. Another shall bind thee. The limbs of
persons crucified were often bound instead of being nailed,
and even the body was sometimes girded to the cross,
See Barnes "Matthew 27:35".
Carry thee, &c. Shall bear thee, or shall compel thee to go
to prison and to death, This is not said to intimate that Peter would be
unwilling to suffer martyrdom, but it stands opposed to the freedom of
his early life. Though willing when compelled to do it, yet he would
not seek it; and though he would not needlessly expose himself to it,
yet he would not shrink from it when it was the will of God.
{n} "When thou was young" John 13:36; Acts 12:3,4
{o} "shall gird thee" Acts 21:11
Verse 19. By what death, &c. In these words two things are implied:
1st. That Peter would die a violent death; and,
2nd. That his death would be such as to honour God.
The ancients say that Peter was crucified at Rome, about thirty-four
years after this, with his head downward. Clemens says that he was led
to the crucifixion with his wife, and sustained her in her sufferings
by exhorting her to remember the example of her Lord. He also adds
that he died, not as the philosophers did, but with a firm hope of
heaven, and patiently endured the pangs of the cross (Strom. vii.).
This declaration of the Saviour was doubtless continually before the
mind of Peter, and to the hour of his death he maintained the utmost
constancy and fidelity in his cause, thus justifying the appellation
which the Lord Jesus gave him--a rock.
{p} "what death" 2 Peter 1:14
{q} "Follow me" Numbers 14:24; 1 Samuel 12:20; Matthew 19:28; John 12:26
Verse 20. Which also leaned, &c. See John 13:24,25
Verse 21. What shall this man do? This question probably means,
"What death shall he die?" But it is impossible to ascertain certainly
why Peter asked this question. John was a favourite disciple, and
perhaps Peter suspected that he would have a happier lot, and not
be put to death in this manner. Peter was grieved at the question of
Jesus; he was probably deeply affected with the account of his own
approaching sufferings; and, with perhaps a mixture of grief and
envy, he asked what would be his lot. But it is possible, also,
that it was from kindness to John--a deep solicitude about him, and
a wish that he might not die in the same manner as one who had denied
his Lord. Whatever the motive was, it was a curiosity which the Lord
Jesus did not choose to gratify.
Verse 22. That he tarry. That he live. The same word is used to
express life in Philippians 1:24,25; 1 Corinthians 15:6.
Till I come. Some have supposed this to refer to the destruction of
Jerusalem; others to the day of judgment; others to signify that he
would not die a violent death; but the plain meaning is, "If I will
that he should not die at all, it is nothing to thee." In this way
the apostles evidently understood it, and hence raised a report that he
would not die. It is remarkable that John was the last of the
apostles; that he lived to nearly the close of the first century, and
then died a peaceful death at Ephesus, being the only one, as is
supposed, of the apostles who did not suffer martyrdom. The testimony
of antiquity is clear on this point; and though there have been many
idle conjectures about this passage and about the fate of John, yet
no fact of history is better attested than that John died and was buried
at Ephesus.
What is that to thee? From this passage we learn,
1st. That our main business is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd. That there are many subjects of religion on which a vain and
impertinent curiosity is exercised. All such curiosity Jesus here
reproves.
3rd. That Jesus will take care of all his true disciples, and
that we should not be unduly solicitous about them.
4th. That we should go forward to whatever he calls us--to persecution
or death--not envying the lot of any other man, and anxious only to
do the will of God.
{r} "till I come" Matthew 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 22:20
{s} "Follow thou me" John 21:19
Verse 23. Then went this saying, &c. This mistake arose very
naturally--
1st. From the words of Jesus, which might be easily misunderstood to
mean that he should not die; and,
2nd. It was probably confirmed when it was seen that John survived
all the other apostles, had escaped all the dangers of persecution,
and was leading a peaceful life at Ephesus. This mistake John deemed it
proper to correct before he died, and has thus left on record what Jesus
said and what he meant.
Verse 24. This is the disciple, &c. This proves that the beloved
disciple was John.
We know. That is, it is known; it is universally admitted. It
was so decidedly his character that he always declared the truth, that
it had become known, and was unquestioned, so that he himself might
appeal to the universal testimony in his behalf. In this case,
therefore, we have the testimony of a man whose character for nearly a
century was that of a man of truth---so much so that it had become,
in a manner, proverbial, and was put beyond a doubt. It is impossible to
believe that such a man would sit down deliberately to impose on
mankind, or to write a book which was false; and if not, then this
book is true, and that is the same as saying that Christianity is a
religion from heaven.
{t} "and we know" John 19:35; 3 John 1:12
Verse 25. Many other things. Many miracles, John 20:30. Many
discourses delivered, &c.
I suppose, &c. This is evidently the figure of speech called a
hyperbole. It is a mode of speech where the words express more
or less than is literally true. It is common among all writers; and
as the sacred writers, in recording a revelation to men, used human
language, it was proper that they should express themselves as men
ordinarily do if they wished to be understood. This figure of speech is
commonly the effect of surprise, or having the mind full of some
object, and not having words to express the ideas: at the same time, the
words convey no falsehood. The statement is to be taken as it would
be understood among the persons to whom it is addressed; and as no one
supposes that the author means to be understood literally,
so there is no deception in the case, and consequently no impeachment of
his veracity or inspiration. Thus, when Longinus said of a man that "he
was the owner of a piece of ground not larger than a Lacedaemonian
letter," no one understood him literally. He meant, evidently, a
very small piece of land, and no one would be deceived. So Virgil
says of a man, "he was so tall as to reach the stars," and means only
that he was very tall. So when John says that the world could not
contain the books that would be written if all the deeds and sayings
of Jesus were recorded, he clearly intends nothing more than that a
great many books would be required, or that it would be extremely
difficult to record them all; intimating that his life was active, that
his discourses were numerous, and that he had not pretended to give
them all, but only such as would go to establish the main point for
which he wrote--that he was the Messiah, John 20:30,31. The figure
which John uses here is not uncommon in the Scriptures,
Genesis 11:4; 15:5; Numbers 13:33; Daniel 4:20.
This gospel contains in itself the clearest proof of inspiration. It is
the work of a fisherman of Galilee, without any proof that he had any
unusual advantages. It is a connected, clear, and satisfactory
argument to establish the great truth that Jesus was the Messiah. It
was written many years after the ascension of Jesus. It contains the
record of the Saviour's profoundest discourses, of his most convincing
arguments with the Jews, and of his declarations respecting himself
and God. It contains the purest and most elevated views of God to be
found anywhere, as far exceeding all the speculations of philosophers as
the sun does the blaze of a taper. It is in the highest degree absurd to
suppose that an unlettered fisherman could have originated this book.
Anyone may be convinced of this by comparing it with what would be the
production of a man in that rank of life now. But if John has preserved
the record of what has occurred so many years before, then it shows that
he was under the divine guidance, and is himself a proof, a full and
standing proof, of the fulfillment of the promise which he has recorded--
that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth,
John 14:26. Of this book we may, in conclusion, apply the words
spoken by John respecting his vision of the future events of the
church: "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of
this book, and keep those things which are written therein, for the
time is at hand," Revelation 1:3.
{u} "And there are also" John 20:30
{v} "the world could not contain" Amos 7:10
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