Do you love me?: These three questions and affirmations recall Peter’s three denials (18:15–18, 25–27). Jesus invited Peter to reaffirm everything he had denied.
The Greek word for love in the first two questions (agapaō) differs from the word in his third question (phileō). In each case, Peter responded with the second word (phileō). Most Greek scholars view the two words as synonyms in this situation.
The conversation Jesus had with Peter focused not on the quality of Peter’s love, but rather on Peter’s task to care for the followers of Jesus. First Peter 5:2–4 might be a meditation on these events.