If You Love Me…
New Testament Passage
If you love Me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome
1 John 5:3
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
John 21:15-17
Commentary
And yet Christ the Lord wanted to indicate how people ought to show that they love Christ. And he made it plain enough by entrusting him with his sheep. “Do you love me?” “I do.” “Feed my sheep.” All this once, all this a second time, all this a third time. Peter made no other reply than that he loved Him. The Lord asked no other question but whether he loved Him. When Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his sheep to him.
St Augustine
Questions
1. In the first two passages, it is clear that if we love God we must do His commandments. But can’t I still love Him even if/when I don’t follow His commandments?
2. When Peter confesses his love, why does Christ repeats the instruction three times? What is the link between ‘Loving God’ and ‘Feeding sheep’?