Feed My Sheep
Feed the Flock (Feed My Sheep)
Text: John 21:15–17
After his resurrection, Jesus met his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Simon Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, is now given three questions and three charges. In John 21:15, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” This question was not merely about Peter’s words, but about his affections. The phrase “more than these” likely refers to the fishing boats, nets, and the occupation Peter had returned to. Peter had gone back to what was familiar, what was comfortable, and what was carnal.
This question exposed a fundamental truth: affection determines direction. Scripture warns in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” There is nothing inherently sinful about an earthly occupation, but it becomes a problem when it interferes with a spiritual obligation. Peter was being reminded that his calling was no longer to catch fish, but to shepherd souls. The charge to care for the flock was grounded in Christ’s sacrifice. Acts 20:28 reminds pastors to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The flock belongs to Christ because he redeemed it at Calvary.
Jesus’ first command was, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). Lambs represent the young and immature believers or those newly born into the family of God. These lambs require nurturing, instruction, and patience. They must be given “the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritual growth does not happen automatically; it happens through intentional feeding. Pastors are responsible for developing the flock through teaching sound doctrine and guiding believers toward maturity. As 2 Peter 3:18 says, “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Jesus’ second command was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16). This involves shepherding, guiding, and overseeing the flock. Peter later elaborated on this responsibility in 1 Peter 5:2–3: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly… neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Shepherding involves presence, patience, oversight, willingness, humility, and ensample. A shepherd does not stand above the flock as a tyrant but walks among them as a servant. He leads by example, demonstrating godliness in conduct, faith, charity, and purity (Titus 2:7).
Jesus’ third command again was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17), but this includes defending the flock. Paul warned in Acts 20:29–30 that “grievous wolves” would enter the flock, speaking perverse things and drawing disciples after themselves. Therefore, the shepherd must watch, warn, and weep. He must watch for danger, warn against false doctrine, and weep with compassion for the souls entrusted to his care. This is not a casual responsibility.
This charge to feed the flock is not merely a job; it is a calling. Paul testified in Galatians 1:15-16 that God separated him from his mother’s womb and called him by grace. It is also a commitment. In 2 Timothy 1:13–14, Paul instructed Timothy to “hold fast the form of sound words” and guard the truth entrusted to him. Finally, it is a command. Paul charged Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
The responsibility of the shepherd is to feed, but the responsibility of the sheep is to eat. Starving sheep cannot blame the shepherd if food is placed before them, but they refuse it. Many believers today suffer from spiritual malnutrition, not because there is no food, but because they consume more of the carnal than the spiritual. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Hebrews 10:25 commands the sheep to assemble in a centralized location for the purpose of receiving spiritual nourishment and exhortation.
The question remains: What do you love more, the carnal or the spiritual? What do you feed on daily? And if Christ has placed you in a pasture where his word is faithfully taught, are you feeding, growing, and abiding, or wandering and starving? The health of the flock depends on both the faithfulness of the shepherd to feed and the sheep to eat.
Text: John 21:15–17
After his resurrection, Jesus met his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Simon Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, is now given three questions and three charges. In John 21:15, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” This question was not merely about Peter’s words, but about his affections. The phrase “more than these” likely refers to the fishing boats, nets, and the occupation Peter had returned to. Peter had gone back to what was familiar, what was comfortable, and what was carnal.
This question exposed a fundamental truth: affection determines direction. Scripture warns in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” There is nothing inherently sinful about an earthly occupation, but it becomes a problem when it interferes with a spiritual obligation. Peter was being reminded that his calling was no longer to catch fish, but to shepherd souls. The charge to care for the flock was grounded in Christ’s sacrifice. Acts 20:28 reminds pastors to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The flock belongs to Christ because he redeemed it at Calvary.
Jesus’ first command was, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). Lambs represent the young and immature believers or those newly born into the family of God. These lambs require nurturing, instruction, and patience. They must be given “the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritual growth does not happen automatically; it happens through intentional feeding. Pastors are responsible for developing the flock through teaching sound doctrine and guiding believers toward maturity. As 2 Peter 3:18 says, “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Jesus’ second command was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:16). This involves shepherding, guiding, and overseeing the flock. Peter later elaborated on this responsibility in 1 Peter 5:2–3: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly… neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Shepherding involves presence, patience, oversight, willingness, humility, and ensample. A shepherd does not stand above the flock as a tyrant but walks among them as a servant. He leads by example, demonstrating godliness in conduct, faith, charity, and purity (Titus 2:7).
Jesus’ third command again was, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17), but this includes defending the flock. Paul warned in Acts 20:29–30 that “grievous wolves” would enter the flock, speaking perverse things and drawing disciples after themselves. Therefore, the shepherd must watch, warn, and weep. He must watch for danger, warn against false doctrine, and weep with compassion for the souls entrusted to his care. This is not a casual responsibility.
This charge to feed the flock is not merely a job; it is a calling. Paul testified in Galatians 1:15-16 that God separated him from his mother’s womb and called him by grace. It is also a commitment. In 2 Timothy 1:13–14, Paul instructed Timothy to “hold fast the form of sound words” and guard the truth entrusted to him. Finally, it is a command. Paul charged Timothy before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
The responsibility of the shepherd is to feed, but the responsibility of the sheep is to eat. Starving sheep cannot blame the shepherd if food is placed before them, but they refuse it. Many believers today suffer from spiritual malnutrition, not because there is no food, but because they consume more of the carnal than the spiritual. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Hebrews 10:25 commands the sheep to assemble in a centralized location for the purpose of receiving spiritual nourishment and exhortation.
The question remains: What do you love more, the carnal or the spiritual? What do you feed on daily? And if Christ has placed you in a pasture where his word is faithfully taught, are you feeding, growing, and abiding, or wandering and starving? The health of the flock depends on both the faithfulness of the shepherd to feed and the sheep to eat.
Posted in Exhortation, Scripture, Strength, Words of God, Faithfulness, Pastor, Local Church
Posted in Faithfulness, Local Church, Sheep, Shepherd, Pastoral Care, Strength, Words of God
Posted in Faithfulness, Local Church, Sheep, Shepherd, Pastoral Care, Strength, Words of God
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