"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.” 16 He 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.” 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."
John 21:15-17
Furthermore, we should notice that in addressing him our Lord called him, not Peter, not Cephas, but Simon, son of Jonas - not the Rock, but the old man. There was still a Simon there. How penetrating were our Lord's dealings with his erring disciple. Even in His tenderness and love He was faithful with him in the deepest sense. Furthermore, we see His gentle yet devastating irony in what He said: 'Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?' The phrase 'more than these' has been variously interpreted. In the famous hymn, 'Jesus calls us', it is referred to things that can distract and beguile the believer from Christ. 'Do you love Me more than you love your fishing and your nets?' But it is more likely to refer to Peter's repeated outbursts, full of self-confidence, avowing love and devotion and loyalty to Jesus above all the other disciples, and in particular to his avowal on the night of the trial (13:38, Matthew 26:33). With Peter, there was always the blustering insistence that his love was greater than the others'. 'Though all men forsake Thee, yet will I not forsake Thee'. How little he knew his heart. And with gentle irony our Lord probes and exposes this innate self-deception. We should note also, before going further, that in reference to Peter's failure, our Lord was calling in question, not his faith, or doctrine, or beliefs, but his love for Him. This is where Peter failed.