Knowing The Word in Luke 22:31-34, Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

All four gospels recount Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus, but Luke alone mentions Satan’s role in it. The “you” in “demanded to have you” is plural, indicating all the disciples are to be sifted like wheat and Peter is their representative. This demand of Satan to God should remind us of a similar demand Satan made to go after Job to break his loyalty to God in the Book of Job. Then Jesus says he will pray for Peter—a singular “you”—that his faith, like Job’s, will not fail him. It appears from this account that God allows this testing, and that he will use it for his greater purposes. Peter, however, does not realize the seriousness of his immediate future or his own weakness. Yet Jesus has divine knowledge and is very specific in Peter’s three-fold denial.

Luke 22:31-43

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Prayer

My strength fails; I feel only weakness, irritation, and depression. I am tempted to complain and to despair. What has become of the courage I was so proud of, and that gave me so much self-confidence? In addition to my pain, I have to bear the shame of my fretful feebleness. Lord, destroy my pride; leave it no resource. How happy I shall be if you can teach me by these terrible trials, that I am nothing, that I can do nothing, and that you are all!

Francois Fenelon, 1651-1715