"Feed my lambs," Jesus said to him.

After his renunciation of Christ, Peter, in spite of his sincere repentance, washed with tears, had to feel his sin, he had to realize that he was deprived of that trust of the Lord, without which it is impossible to be His Apostle, a preacher of His teaching. It was necessary to receive forgiveness, it was necessary to be restored to the apostolic calling, and restored by Christ Himself. That is why Jesus does not ask all the Apostles "Do you love me?" That is why He does not say to all the Apostles, "Feed My lambs," but only to Peter. The commission to shepherd the flock of Christ was given to all the Apostles; this is evident both from Jesus' previous addresses to them, and from His last words spoken before His Ascension into heaven. Therefore, if it is now given to Peter, it is only to show that he is forgiven and restored in his apostleship.

Jesus asks Peter for the second time:

Simon Jonin! Do you love Me? Now he no longer asks whether you love more than others, since he sees the deep humility of Peter. For the second time, Peter answers:

yes, Lord! You know I love you... Feed My sheep, says Christ.

The first time Jesus called His followers lambs, and the second time He called His followers sheep. In the opinion of Bishop Michael, the Lord calls the members of His spiritual Kingdom lambs from the point of view of their youth, tenderness and weakness, as newborns, who are more in need of the careful care of a pastor; He calls the members of His spiritual Kingdom sheep in their usual state, in their perfect spiritual stature (Explanatory Gospel. 3, p. 553).

For the third time, Jesus asks Peter: