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Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:31 mean?

Explanation

Luke 22:31 is a passage where Jesus addresses Simon Peter with a prophetic warning. Jesus uses Simon's Aramaic name twice for emphasis, signaling the seriousness of the message. He reveals that Satan has asked to 'sift' the disciples like wheat.

In agricultural terms, sifting wheat is a process of shaking or tossing it to separate the grain from the chaff. This metaphor implies that Satan wanted to test the faith and loyalty of the disciples vigorously, hoping to find them lacking.

This verse is telling in a couple of ways.

First, it shows that Satan has a certain degree of agency to ask for permission to test believers, similar to the account of Job in the Old Testament.

Second, it foretells the trials that will befall Peter and the other disciples, especially their faith's testing around the time of Jesus' arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

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Historical Context

Luke 22:31 is situated within the narrative of the Last Supper, where Jesus is gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Passover before his crucifixion.

This period in Jewish history is marked by Roman occupation of Judea and a general yearning among the Jewish people for a messianic figure to liberate them.

This setting was rife with political and social tension, with various groups holding different expectations of who the Messiah would be and what he would accomplish.

The situation would soon become even more charged after Jesus' arrest, as the disciples would face the stark reality of their leader being taken away to be crucified, leading them into confusion, fear, and doubt.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is rich with implications.

It suggests the reality of spiritual warfare and the personal nature of satanic attack. The use of "desired to have you" implies that Satan's intention is destructive and targeted.

However, Jesus' foreknowledge and warning to Simon Peter also indicate divine sovereignty and care.

Different Christian traditions might interpret this verse differently.

For example, the concept of 'sifting' could be seen as God allowing testing for the purpose of strengthening faith, a view held by many Reformed theologians.

On the other hand, Arminian theology might focus on the human responsibility to resist temptation and the need for constant vigilance in one's spiritual life.

Practical Applications

The message in Luke 22:31 can be applied in everyday life by recognizing that trials and challenges may come as a test of faith. Believers can take comfort in knowing that Jesus is aware of these spiritual battles and is an advocate before God on their behalf.

It also serves as a reminder to be vigilant and prepared for periods of testing, encouraging personal reflections on one's resilience in the face of trials. Understanding that these moments can lead to spiritual growth may help individuals find meaning and purpose through difficulties.

Cross-References

Job 1:6-12: Satan asks to test Job, similarly to how Luke 22:31 describes Satan's desire to test Simon Peter.
1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Ephesians 6:11-12: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Language Study

The original Greek word for 'sift' in this verse is "σινιάζω" (siniazō), which means to sift, shake in a sieve. The imagery here is of agitation and separation.

The term "σατανᾶς" (Satanas) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew 'śāṭān', meaning adversary or accuser; in the New Testament context, it is a title for the devil.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Jewish tradition, wheat sifting was a common agricultural practice that became a metaphor for divine judgment or testing of character.

The separating of wheat from chaff symbolized distinguishing between what is valuable and what is worthless.

Comparing this to other religious interpretations, one might see parallels in the process of trials and refinement found in various myths, such as the trials of Hercules in Greek mythology or the tests faced by figures like Abraham or Job in biblical narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the process of sifting as described in the verse can be related to the principle of winnowing and separation based on density and weight, a process still used in agriculture today.

However, the scientific community does not engage with the spiritual implications of the verse, as science does not provide tools to measure or assess supernatural claims.

commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have various interpretations of this verse.

Many agree that it signifies a time of testing for Peter and the disciples, which later events in the Gospels confirm.

Some commentaries highlight Jesus' pastoral role in preparing Peter for the trials ahead and note the lesson of reliance on Christ for strength.

Some scholars also note the verse's structure, with the repetition of Simon's name emphasizing the personal nature of the message and reflecting Jesus' intimate relationship with his disciples.

Commentaries often mention the role of Peter as a leader among the disciples and how this moment is a crucial point in his spiritual journey, leading up to his denial of Christ and eventual restoration.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?