John 21

John 21:1

Sea of Tiberias; the same as the sea of Galilee and the lake of Gennesaret. Matthew 4:18; Matthew 26:32; Matthew 28:10; Mark 14:28; Mark 16:7.

John 21:2

Of his disciples; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 10:2-4.

John 21:3

Our wants are to be supplied through our own voluntary and active instrumentality. Due attention to worldly concerns is required, and is acceptable to Jesus Christ. When rightly employed in secular business, men are serving him as really as when employed in religious duties, and will equally meet his approbation.

John 21:5

Meat; the word in the original means something eaten with bread, as flesh or fish.

John 21:6

For success in our worldly business we are dependent upon God; and whenever we receive earthly blessings it is from him, who openeth his hand and supplieth the wants of every living thing. Psalms 145:15-16.

John 21:7

That disciple; John.

Was naked; without his outer garment, as was common with fishermen.

John 21:8

Two hundred cubits; about twenty rods.

John 21:9

A fire of coals-fish; which had been miraculously provided by the Lord.

John 21:12

Dine; the original word was applied to a meal taken in the early part of the day.

John 21:14

The third time; the third time that he appeared to the apostles when together. When ministers of Christ follow his directions, they will have abundant evidence of the truth of all his declarations; so that in addressing others on the great concerns of salvation, they may speak of what they know, and testify to what they have seen of the manifestations of his power and grace.

John 21:15

More than these? more than the other disciples, as Peter had intimated that he did. Matthew 26:33; John 13:37.

Lambs; the tender and feeble followers of Christ the great and good Shepherd. Chap John 10:11-16.

John 21:16

Sheep; more advanced Christians.

John 21:17

Peter was grieved; the thrice repeated question reminded him of his thrice repeated denial of his Lord.

Feed; communicate spiritual instruction and take care of their souls. Acts 20:28. The most important of all qualifications for a minister of the gospel, and for the right discharge of all duties, is love to Jesus Christ; and those who possess and rightly manifest this, may expect to be rendered eminently useful to themselves and their fellow-men.

John 21:18

Girdedst thyself; he was at liberty to go and come at pleasure.

Stretch forth thy hands; in crucifixion.

Gird thee; bind thee for execution. The binding, though coming before crucifixion, is named after it.

John 21:19

Signifying; pointing out beforehand.

Follow me; in an emphatic sense, Follow me not only as my disciple, but in my crucifixion also. No ardency of devotion to the cause of Christ, and no degree of usefulness will secure his servants from great trials, or even from violent death; but no trials will come upon them except under the direction of God, and such as will best prepare them to glorify and enjoy him.

John 21:20

Whom Jesus loved; chap John 13:23-26.

John 21:21

Lord, and what shall this man do? in what way shall he die?

John 21:22

That he tarry; that he stay on the earth and not die.

Till I come; words designedly left indefinite. Our Lord’ s providential coming in the destruction of Jerusalem seems to have been referred to.

What is that to thee? it is none of thy business, nothing about which you should concern yourself. Every man should mind his own proper business; while he should be careful not to neglect his appropriate concerns, he should be equally careful not to intermeddle with the concerns of others.

John 21:23

Should not die; a tradition from the days of the apostles, which was not true.

If I will that he tarry till I come; it was the business of Christ to direct with regard to the length of John’ s life, and the manner of his death, and not the business of Peter. It would do him no good to be informed, and Christ would not encourage him in making useless inquiries.

John 21:24

This is the disciple; John, the writer of this gospel.

John 21:25

The world itself could not contain; this is a strong expression, designed to convey the idea that if all which Christ said and did were written, the books would be very many, much too numerous for the highest usefulness to men. Men may speak and write too much, even about religion. Their usefulness depends not so much on the amount of what is spoken or written, as on its fitness and propriety. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11.