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NASB | Luke 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be respectfully greeted in the market places. |
Subject: How does this vs fit your view of love? |
Bible Note: Greetings Kathy! Excellent questions! I have heard two different takes on John 21:15-17. One makes a big difference between the two words and understands the last question of Jesus to be a lowering of the question so to speak. They would generally take Peter's response to be equivalent to 'Lord, I'm your friend', rather than 'Lord, I love you.' Thus, when Jesus asks in Peter for the third time, He is in essence saying, "Are you really even my friend?" The problem with this approach is that there doesn't seem to be such a cut and dried distinction between the two words. For instance, both are used of Jesus' love for Lazarus in John 11:3 and 11:5. So, the best approach seems to be the second. It basically says that the two terms are simply synonyms and Jesus uses them for variety only. Under this approach, Peter is grieved because Jesus has asked him the same question three times. Doesn't Jesus believe that he loves Him? On interesting fact in support of this view is found in v. 17. The beginning of the verse says, 'He said to him a third time...'. Yet, if the two terms are not synonymous then Jesus only asked the last question once, not three times. Most see a parallel here between Peter's three denials of Christ. It is as if Jesus is giving him the same opportunity again. I would not have any problem with either approach, though I do think that the first if a major reach based on the linguistic evidence. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |