Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 22:31

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:" — Luke 22:31 (ASV)

Just after Jesus commended the disciples for their faithfulness and promised them a kingdom, he goes on to predict Peter’s defection, which he attributes to the direct activity of Satan. The juxtaposition of these two sayings makes a strong contrast. The repetition of Simon’s name adds weight to the warning. The metaphor of sifting implies separating what is desirable from what is undesirable. Here the thought is that Satan wants to prove that at least some of the disciples will fail under severe testing. The first occurrence of “you” in v.31 is in the plural, referring to all the disciples in contrast to Peter, who is addressed (v.32) by the singular “you.” Jesus’ prayer that Simon’s faith would not fail (v.32) has occasioned discussion over whether it was or was not answered. The phrase “may not fail” probably means “may not disappear completely” (as the sun in a total eclipse). If this is correct, then Jesus’ prayer was certainly answered. Peter’s denial, though serious and symptomatic of a low level of faith, did not mean that he had ceased, within himself, to believe in the Lord. Nevertheless his denial was so contrary to his former spiritual state that he would need to “return” to Christ. The whole experience, far from disqualifying Peter from Christian service, would actually result in a responsibility for him to strengthen his brothers. Peter’s overconfident reply (v.33), which includes a reference to his willingness to die, is found among the four gospels only here and in Jn 13:37. Jesus then becomes specific and predicts Peter’s denial.