The Meaning of Luke 22:31 Explained

Luke 22:31

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

YLT: And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon, lo, the Adversary did ask you for himself to sift as the wheat,

Darby: And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, to sift you as wheat;

ASV: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Luke 22:31 Mean?

Study Notes

wheat
Peter was the wheat, his self-confidence the chaff. Cf. Matthew 13:30 ; John 5:24 ; John 10:23 ; Romans 6:1 ; Romans 6:2 ; 1 John 1:8 ; 1 John 2:1 .

Verse Meaning

Jesus apparently put Peter"s testing, which Jesus knew was coming in view of His own arrest and trials, in a cosmic setting because Satan was ultimately responsible. [1] Jesus viewed what would happen to Peter similarly to what had happened to Job ( Job 1:6-7). Sifting as wheat pictures Satan"s attempt to separate Peter"s faithfulness to Jesus from him (cf. Job 1-2). The Greek word translated "you" (hymas) is in the plural indicating that Simon was not the only disciple whom Satan desired to sift. Probably Jesus used the name "Simon," Peter"s given Jewish name, because it pictured Peter in his natural state, not as Peter the rock. He probably repeated it in pathos anticipating the sad consequence of Satan"s testing.

Context Summary

Luke 22:24-34 - Disciples Who Grieve Their Lord
It is probable that this dispute about priority took place on their entering the supper room. It could hardly have taken place after the tender scene of John 13:1-38. But doubtless the irritated feelings which that contention engendered prepared the way for the testing, sifting and ultimate fall of Peter. It is the little waves that eventually become the mighty billows which wreck the big ships and engulf human lives.
Satan cannot assail us until he has asked and obtained permission, Luke 22:31. God does not tempt, though He permits us to be tempted, as in the case of Job; but with the temptation there is always a way of escape, if we wait on Him, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. How often does our Lord anticipate our trial hours by His prayers, Luke 22:32! We owe it to them, either that we do not fall, or that, having fallen, we turn back. This is the best use we can make even of our failures; they teach us humility, pity, and how to help others. How little do we know ourselves! See Luke 22:33-34. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

1  The leaders conspire against Jesus
3  Satan prepares Judas to betray him
7  The apostles prepare the Passover
19  Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21  covertly foretells of the traitor;
24  rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31  assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34  and yet he should deny him thrice
39  He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47  is betrayed with a kiss;
50  he heals Malchus' ear;
54  he is thrice denied by Peter;
63  shamefully abused;
66  and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:31

Asked to have you [εχηιτησατο]
First aorist indirect middle indicative of εχαιτεω — exaiteō an old verb to beg something of one and (middle) for oneself. Only here in the N.T. The verb is used either in the good or the bad sense, but it does not mean here “obtained by asking” as margin in Revised Version has it. [source]
That he might sift you [του σινιασαι]
Genitive articular infinitive of purpose. First aorist active infinitive of σινιαζω — siniazō to shake a sieve, to sift, from σινιον — sinion a winnowing fan. Later word. Here only in the N.T. [source]
Hath desired [ἐξῃτήσατο]
Only here in New Testament. It sometimes means to obtain by asking, or to beg off. So Xenophon, “Anabasis,” i., 1,3. The mother of Cyrus, who is charged with an attempt to kill his brother, begged him off ( ἐξαιτησαμένη )Rev., in margin, obtained you by asking. The result proved that Satan had obtained him for the time. [source]
Sift [σινιάσαι]
Only here in New Testament. [source]
Wheat [σῖτον]
A general term, grain. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:31

Matthew 26:75 He went out and wept bitterly [εχελτων εχω εκλαυσεν πικρως]
Luke adds that the Lord turned and looked upon Peter (Luke 22:61). That look brought Peter back to his senses. He could not stay where he now was with the revilers of Jesus. He did not feel worthy or able to go openly into the hall where Jesus was. So outside he went with a broken heart. The constative aorist here does not emphasize as Mark‘s imperfect does (Mark 14:72, εκλαιεν — eklaien) the continued weeping that was now Peter‘s only consolation. The tears were bitter, all the more so by reason of that look of understanding pity that Jesus gave him. One of the tragedies of the Cross is the bleeding heart of Peter. Judas was a total wreck and Peter was a near derelict. Satan had sifted them all as wheat, but Jesus had prayed specially for Peter (Luke 22:31.). Will Satan show Peter to be all chaff as Judas was? [source]
Luke 13:16 Satan []
“True to its principle of contrast, this book gives Satan a prominent position” (Abbot). See Luke 4:13; Luke 10:18; Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31. See Introduction. [source]
John 15:4 Abide in me [μεινατε εν εμοι]
Constative aorist active imperative of μενω — menō The only way to continue “clean” (pruned) and to bear fruit is to maintain vital spiritual connexion with Christ (the vine). Judas is gone and Satan will sift the rest of them like wheat (Luke 22:31.). Blind complacency is a peril to the preacher. Of itself As source (from itself) and apart from the vine (cf. John 17:17). Except it abide Condition of third class with εαν — ean negative μη — mē and present active (keep on abiding) subjunctive of μενω — menō Same condition and tense in the application, “except ye abide in me.” [source]
John 18:8 Let these go their way [απετε τουτους υπαγειν]
Second aorist active imperative of απιημι — aphiēmi The verb υπαγειν — hupagein means to withdraw (John 11:44). Jesus shows solicitude for the eleven as he had warned them and prayed for them (Luke 22:31.). He is trying to help them. [source]
Acts 9:4 Saul, Saul [Σαουλ Σαουλ]
The Hebrew form occurs also in Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14 where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in Acts 9:17 (Ananias). Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 316) terms this use of με — Saoul “the historian‘s sense of liturgical rhythm.” For the repetition of names by Jesus note Luke 10:41 (Martha, Martha), Luke 22:31 (Simon, Simon). Me (me). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
1 Peter 5:8 Walketh about [περιπατεῖ]
Compare Job 1:7; Job 2:2. This word gave name to that sect of Greek philosophers known as Peripatetics, because they walked about while teaching or disputing. “St. Peter calls Satan the Peripatetic ” (Cox, on Job). The Arabs call him the Busy One. It was to Peter that Christ said, “Satan hath desired to have you,” etc. (Luke 22:31). [source]
1 Peter 5:8 Your adversary [ο αντιδικος υμων]
Old word for opponent in a lawsuit (Matthew 5:25).The devil (διαβολος — diabolos). Slanderer. See note on Matthew 4:1.As a roaring lion But Jesus is also pictured as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). But Satan roars at the saints. Present middle participle ōruomai old verb, here only in N.T., to howl like a wolf, dog, or lion, of men to sing loud (Pindar). See Psalm 22:13.Whom he may devour (ως ωρυομενος λεων — katapiein). Second aorist active infinitive of ωρυομαι — katapinō to drink down. B does not have καταπιειν — tina Aleph has καταπινω — tina (somebody), “to devour some one,” while A has interrogative τινα — tina “whom he may devour” (very rare idiom). But the devil‘s purpose is the ruin of men. He is a “peripatetic” (τινα — peripatei) like the peripatetic philosophers who walked as they talked. Satan wants all of us and sifts us all (Luke 22:31). [source]
1 Peter 5:8 As a roaring lion [hōs ōruomenos leōn)]
But Jesus is also pictured as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). But Satan roars at the saints. Present middle participle ōruomai old verb, here only in N.T., to howl like a wolf, dog, or lion, of men to sing loud (Pindar). See Psalm 22:13.Whom he may devour (ως ωρυομενος λεων — katapiein). Second aorist active infinitive of ωρυομαι — katapinō to drink down. B does not have καταπιειν — tina Aleph has καταπινω — tina (somebody), “to devour some one,” while A has interrogative τινα — tina “whom he may devour” (very rare idiom). But the devil‘s purpose is the ruin of men. He is a “peripatetic” (τινα — peripatei) like the peripatetic philosophers who walked as they talked. Satan wants all of us and sifts us all (Luke 22:31). [source]
1 Peter 5:8 roars []
at the saints. Present middle participle ōruomai old verb, here only in N.T., to howl like a wolf, dog, or lion, of men to sing loud (Pindar). See Psalm 22:13.Whom he may devour (ως ωρυομενος λεων — katapiein). Second aorist active infinitive of ωρυομαι — katapinō to drink down. B does not have καταπιειν — tina Aleph has καταπινω — tina (somebody), “to devour some one,” while A has interrogative τινα — tina “whom he may devour” (very rare idiom). But the devil‘s purpose is the ruin of men. He is a “peripatetic” (τινα — peripatei) like the peripatetic philosophers who walked as they talked. Satan wants all of us and sifts us all (Luke 22:31). [source]
1 Peter 5:8 Whom he may devour [ως ωρυομενος λεων]
Second aorist active infinitive of ωρυομαι — katapinō to drink down. B does not have καταπιειν — tina Aleph has καταπινω — tina (somebody), “to devour some one,” while A has interrogative τινα — tina “whom he may devour” (very rare idiom). But the devil‘s purpose is the ruin of men. He is a “peripatetic” (τινα — peripatei) like the peripatetic philosophers who walked as they talked. Satan wants all of us and sifts us all (Luke 22:31). [source]
Revelation 12:7 There was war in heaven [εγενετο πολεμος εν τωι ουρανωι]
“There came to be war in heaven” “Another ταβλεαυ — tableau not a σημειον — sēmeion (Revelation 12:1, Revelation 12:3), but consequent upon the two σημεια — sēmeia which precede it. The birth and rapture of the Woman‘s Son issue in a war which invades the επουρανια — epourania ” (Swete). The reference is not to the original rebellion of Satan, as Andreas held. As the coming of Christ brought on fresh manifestations of diabolic power (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31; John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11), just so Christ‘s return to heaven is pictured as being the occasion of renewed attacks there. We are not to visualize it too literally, but certainly modern airplanes help us to grasp the notion of battles in the sky even more than the phalanxes of storm-clouds (Swete). John even describes this last conflict as in heaven itself. Cf. Luke 10:18; 1 Kings 22:1.; Job 1; Job 2:1-13; Zechariah 3:1. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:31 mean?

Simon Behold - Satan demanded to have all of you - to sift like - wheat
Σίμων ἰδοὺ Σατανᾶς ἐξῃτήσατο ὑμᾶς τοῦ σινιάσαι ὡς τὸν σῖτον

Σίμων  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
ἰδοὺ  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Σατανᾶς  Satan 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Σατανᾶς  
Sense: adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to.
ἐξῃτήσατο  demanded  to  have 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐξαιτέω  
Sense: to ask from, demand of.
ὑμᾶς  all  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σινιάσαι  to  sift 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: σινιάζω  
Sense: to sift, shake in a sieve.
ὡς  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σῖτον  wheat 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: σιτίον 
Sense: wheat, grain.