Paul requires wlien he says, ' The servant of the Lord must not strive ; but be gentle to all men.' (2 Tim. ii. 24.) All should be in gentleness : teaching in gentleness. Wherefore ? Be- cause, if gentleness be lacking, there will be no edification, no comforting, no instruction."
l^He saith... Yea, Lord...knowe8t...I love Thee.] The answer of Simon Peter in this verse is a beautiful example of sincerity and humility. He appeals to our Lord's knowledge of his heart : " I may be very defective in knowledge, faith, courage, wisdom. I am a debtor to mercy and grace above many. Yet, Lord, thou knowest that, with all my faults and infirmities, I do love Thee." He does not venture to say a word about others. He does not pretend to compare his love with that of his brethren. If he has done so in time past he will do so no more. — " I know not whether others love Thee more or less than I do. I only know my own heart ; and I feel sure that 1 love Thee."
Let UB carefully note that love to Christ is one of the sim- plest tests of a true Christian. He may not feel sure that he is converted, or that he repents or believes aright. But if he is real, he will be able to say that he loves Christ.
[He saith. ..Feed my lambs ^ Having received from Peter a public profession of his sincere love, our Lord proceeds to tell him how that love is to be shown, and to give him his commis- sion for the future. He bids him prove the reality of his love by " feeding His lambs." — When our Lord said " feed," I be- lieve He meant that Peter was to feed souls with the precious food of God's Word, to supply them with that bread of life which a man must eat or die, and to watch carefully and dili- gently over their spiritual interests, like a good shepherd watch- ing his flock. When our Lord spoke of " lambs," 1 believe He meant the least, the weakest, and feeblest members of that flock which is Flis Church. It is as though Jesus said, — ' Simon, if indeed thou dost love Me, know that the beat proof of love is to devote thyself to the great work of shepherding souls. Live for others. Care for others. Minister to others. Do good to others. Seek out and search for my sheep in this wicked world, and think it not beneath thee to attend to the wants of the feeblest among them. Herein, remember, is true love. It does not consist in talking, professing, fighting, or seeking pre-eminence over others. It is best seen in walking in my steps. I came to seek and save that which was lost. I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Go and do likewise. He loves most who is most like Me."
I cannot think that " lambs " in this place was Intended to apply to young children, as it is often interpreted. All such interpretations I regard as nothing better than pious accommo- dations. I believe that " lambs," in contradistinction to " sheep," mean those who are young and weak in spiritual experience. Peter was not to neglect and despise them because weak. Peter