Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 22:31-32

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." — Luke 22:31-32 (ASV)

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We are thinking about thrones, and about which of us will have the loftiest throne, but see how the Master is thinking about the necessary while we are fixating on the superfluous. He thinks of our needs while we are dreaming of something great. What a blessing it is that we have our Savior praying for us when we ourselves may be thinking that we do not need to pray! Our hands are ready for the scepter, and we are anxious to sit down on the throne, when the Lord knows that our proper place is at the footstool, still pleading for mercy.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Trial would be general to all the apostles: Satan hath desired to have you; but the danger would be special to Peter on account of his tendency to presumptuous zeal: 'I have prayed for thee.' Your danger will be that, after having transgressed, your faith will fail, so I have specially prayed about that. Where your greatest danger lies, there have I planted my batteries of prayer: 'I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'