Feed my lambs vs feed my sheep

[tonychanyt]

After Jesus' resurrection, John 21:

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.”

The word lamb is used to refer to young/baby sheep. It symbolizes new believers.

16He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Take care of my (older) sheep or mature believers.

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Older sheep also need feeding.

Jesus asked Peter three times. To avoid monotony, he used two verbs ("feed" and "tend") and two nouns ("lambs" and "sheep") in the conversation. Basically, Jesus told Peter to feed and tend the new and old believers.