In Luke 22:31, Jesus tells Peter “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat”. This is a crucial passage that gives insight into spiritual warfare and how Satan seeks to attack believers. By examining the biblical context and background, we can better understand the meaning and significance of Satan’s desire to “sift” Peter like wheat.
The Context of Luke 22:31
This statement occurs during the Last Supper, on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus has just instituted the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of His sacrifice on the cross (Luke 22:14-23). He then goes on to reveal that one of the disciples will betray Him, and that this event will fulfill prophecy (Luke 22:21-23).
It is at this point that Jesus turns to Simon Peter and warns him that Satan has asked to “sift him as wheat”. This warning comes right after Jesus announces that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows (Luke 22:31-34). So the context shows Jesus preparing Peter for the spiritual attack he will soon face when Jesus is taken away and crucified.
The Meaning of “Sift You as Wheat”
What does it mean that Satan wanted to “sift” Peter like wheat? To understand this agricultural metaphor, we must examine the process of sifting wheat in biblical times:
- Wheat grains were harvested and beaten to separate the edible kernels from the chaff (inedible husks).
- The grain was then “sifted” by being thrown into the air so that the lighter chaff would be carried away by the wind, while the heavier wheat kernels fell back to the sifter.
- This left the good wheat ready for grinding into flour.
So the image “sift you like wheat” refers to an intense process of shaking and separating to reveal what’s inside a person. Satan wanted permission to take Peter’s faith and loyalty to Jesus and violently shake it up and test it to the maximum level, hoping to separate Peter from Christ in the process.
Why did Satan make this demand? Very likely because Peter had recently arrogantly claimed that even if all others fell away, he would remain faithful to death (Luke 22:31-33). Satan wishes to prove Peter’s confidence is empty pride and shake him from his position of supposed strength.
What Was Satan’s Purpose in Sifting Peter?
What did Satan hope to accomplish by sifting Peter’s loyalty to Jesus? Here are some key motives and aims behind this spiritual attack:
- Expose the chaff in Peter’s faith – Shake him up so severely that all the insincerity, impulsiveness, and self-reliance gets exposed and separated from the true kernel of faith. Force Peter to confront his weaknesses.
- Prove Peter’s overconfidence wrong – Knock down Peter’s proud boasting so that he learns to rely not on self but fully on Christ.
- Hinder his future ministry – Discredit Peter and compromise his testimony so he cannot be as effective after denying Christ. Keep confidence in Peter and the disciples shaken even after the resurrection.
- Cause division and discouragement – Use Peter’s failure to divide the disciples and discredit Christ’s power to change hearts. Spread despair rather than hope.
Satan is strategic in targeting Peter, as he is the acknowledged leader among the Twelve. If Peter falls, it could negatively impact the others and the early church. So Satan wishes to “sift” Peter in a severe test to compromise his future witness and leadership for Christ.
Jesus Allowed the Sifting to Take Place
A vital insight from this passage is that Satan had to ask Jesus for permission before he could attack Peter. Scripture reveals that Jesus is Lord over the devil, and even Satan’s temptation of believers requires Christ’s consent (Luke 22:31, Job 1:12).
Why would Jesus allow this devastating attack on His leading disciple? Here are some wise reasons Jesus may have granted permission to Satan’s request:
- To teach Peter humility and greater dependence on divine grace.
- To show Peter that self-confidence fails, but Christ’s prayers sustain.
- To refine and establish Peter’s faith through the trial so he can strengthen others.
- To prepare Peter for ministry by letting him taste his own weakness beforehand.
- To guard the young church against pride by showing no believer stands firm in self.
Though devastating, Peter’s temporary failure inoculated him against pride and self-reliance as he later led the early church. The sifting broke Peter of overconfidence, while the restoration built him up to depend wholly on Christ’s strength.
Jesus Prayed for Peter’s Faith Not to Fail
One of the most comforting truths we gain from this account is Jesus’ response to Satan’s attack against Peter. When Jesus warns Peter that Satan wants to sift him violently, He immediately adds this hopeful promise:
“But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Jesus did not pray for the test to pass from Peter. But He did pray for Peter’s faith itself not to fail or be extinguished through the trial. Christ knew the danger of the sifting for Peter’s soul and interceded for him. And His prayers provided the grace for Peter’s faith, though shaken, not to fully crumble.
This reveals our Lord’s tenderness and mercy. He knows our weakness better than we do. He knows the tests and trials coming that will shake us to our core. And in His wisdom and love, Jesus prays in advance for us that through it all, our faith will hold firm anchored to Him.
Peter Was Sifted and Recovered to Strengthen Others
Just as Jesus foretold, Peter was violently sifted by Satan through Christ’s arrest and crucifixion. His loyalty and courage failed miserably, as fear caused him to deny Jesus three times after the arrest (Luke 22:54-62). But by God’s mercy, Peter heeded the rooster’s crow, repented and wept bitterly over his sin.
Due to Jesus’ prayers and gracious restoration of Peter (John 21, Mark 16:7), his faith did not fully fail. Peter was forgiven and went on to boldly preach the Gospel and lead the early church in Jerusalem after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). His letters strengthen believers to this day.
This mighty turnaround from failure to restoration was a powerful object lesson to the early church. It taught them that devastating falls can be recovered through repentance. It also proved that true security was not in self, but in contrite faith in Christ’s intercession and power to restore the fallen.
As Jesus promised, once Peter turned back, he was able to strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:32). His own stumbling taught him mercy, humility and dependence on God’s grace. This allowed Peter to strengthen and stabilize many who were weak and shaken in faith.
Peter became living proof of the love and forgiveness offered through the Gospel. His restoration provided hope to all believers who stumble on their walk with Christ. Even years later, Peter kept pointing Christians back to standing firm not in self, but in Christ’s power and grace (1 Peter 5:8-10).
Key Lessons for Believers About Spiritual Warfare from Luke 22:31
What key lessons can believers learn from this account about doing spiritual warfare God’s way?
- Satan can only attack within God’s will – Nothing catches the Lord by surprise. Jesus knows the trials and allows them for our maturity and His glory.
- Pride makes us vulnerable targets – Overconfidence in self sets us up for humiliating falls. Stay humble, prayerful and dependent on Christ.
- Temporary failure is not final doom – Though we stumble badly, Jesus’ intercession and restoration can recover us and make our faith resilient.
- Trust God’s purpose in the sifting – The shaking, though painful, can strengthen us to later steady others through God’s grace.
- Rely on Christ’s prayers for us – When we cannot pray or stand firm, trust that Jesus is interceding for us as our compassionate High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Conclusion – Jesus Christ Is Our Hope amidst the Sifting
This sobering warning to Peter reminds believers that we all face times of “sifting” when our faith is violently shaken. Whether through persecution, hardship, trials or failures, the evil one desires to overwhelm our loyalty to Jesus Christ.
Yet in the midst of the sifting, we can take courage. For Jesus does not passively stand by, but actively intercedes for us with the Father. He graciously provides the strength we need to endure and recover. Our hope lies not in ourselves, but in Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of His prayers and mercy towards us.
Even when we stumble, true security is found in repenting and returning to Christ. He will restore and strengthen us to persevere and help steady others. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Through faithful intercession, the Great Shepherd keeps His sheep from utter ruin. By God’s power at work within us, our faith withstands the shaking. Anchor your soul to Christ amidst the storm. Trust in His undefeated prayers and take refuge in His amazing grace. He is able to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before His presence with great joy (Jude 1:24).