Luke 22:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

NIV: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.

NASB: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat;

CSB: "Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.

NLT: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.

KJV: And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

NKJV: And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

The account of Jesus telling Peter that he is going to deny Jesus three times is well known. Luke does something interesting with it, however. In the mirrored "chiasm" of Luke 22, this segment is placed opposite Jesus' warning that one of the disciples will betray Him. The disciples' reaction to the first warning is to discuss among themselves who it will be (Luke 22:21–23). Specifically, each man worries that it is he (Mark 14:19).

Of course, Jesus' betrayer is Judas. Yet it's important that the other eleven understand they have that potential in their hearts. Jesus now reveals how their faithlessness will manifest: Satan wants to sift all of them: the "you" is plural. Peter will not be the only one to find his faith staggered. All except Peter and John will run away when Jesus is arrested (Mark 14:50). All of them will hide when Jesus is in the tomb (John 20:19).

Peter will fall the furthest: denying that he follows Jesus where Jesus can hear. But he will also recover the most. Satan wishes to pick apart the disciples into tiny pieces, but he will find he merely separated the chaff of their weakness from the kernel of their faith. Peter will reconcile with Jesus (John 21:15–19), preach before thousands (Acts 2:14–41), be the first—with John—to be arrested (Acts 4:3), and defend the disciples' right to teach that Jesus has risen from the dead (Acts 4:19–20).

Meanwhile, Luke's use of Peter's names reveals another great irony. Here, Jesus calls him "Simon," which means "hearing" or "listening." Jesus wants "Hearing" to hear the warning, but "Peter," the rock, doesn't. Jesus warns "the Rock," who is supposed to be strong and steady, that he will deny Jesus three times (Luke 22:33–34). It's difficult to have strong, resolute faithfulness to God when we won't even listen to Him.

There are times in the Bible when God grants Satan permission to attack or tempt us (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–7). But we shouldn't assume that evil spirits are responsible for every temptation and hardship. James 1:14–15 says, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." Sometimes, we're just foolish; other times, we fall victim to the fallen world. Even if we are tempted, and even if we fall into that temptation, we cannot fall out of God's hand (John 10:29; Jude 1:24–25). And someday, our accuser will be destroyed (Revelation 12:10).

Luke 22:31–34 records the last of three stories of how the disciples fail Jesus at the Last Supper. Jesus has already revealed that one of them will betray Him (Luke 22:21–23). The disciples have revealed that their goal in Christ's kingdom is still positions of authority and power (Luke 22:24–30). Now, Jesus says they will abandon Him and Peter will deny Him. But Peter will recover and lead the disciples into restoration and a deeper faith. Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial is also in Matthew 26:31–35, Mark 14:27–31, and John 13:37–38. Peter's recovery is in Luke 24:34 (cf. Mark 16:7; 1 Corinthians 15:5), John 21:15–19, and Acts 1—5 and 10—11.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.