SATAN
SEEKS TO SIFT
LUKE
22:31-34
(see
also Matthew 26:30, 34;
Mark
14:26, 30; John 13:38)
Luke
22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you,
that he may sift you as wheat:
Susie: Jesus
addressed Peter by his original name “Simon” rather than the name Jesus gave
him meaning “rock.”
Susan: Although
Jesus specifically addressed Simon Peter, He was indicating that all the apostles
would be severely tested because the Greek word translated “you” is the plural
pronoun or “all of you.”
Luke
22:31 (AMPC) Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that
[all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he
might sift [all of] you like grain
Susie: Wheat
is sifted to remove the impurities from the edible parts. We used to sift flour
to remove anything that was not fine enough to make the best baked goods. This
indicates that the “sifting” or trials Satan would inflict would be used by God
to serve the purpose of purifying and refining the apostles.
Luke
22:32 But I have prayed for theeG4771, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art convertedG1994, strengthen thy brethren.
Susan: Even
though Jesus prayed for all the disciples (John 17), the word “thee” here is
singular. He let Peter know that He prayed specifically for him since very soon
Peter would be in the greatest hot seat, the most intense trial of his life to
that point.
Susie: Even
though Peter would succumb to his fear in the moment of testing, his faith
would be held secure by the Lord, and he would be returned to steadfast service.
Susan: “Converted”
is not used here in the sense of surrendering one’s life to Jesus in the first
place. Here it is, rather, a returning or making a 180° turn back to where he
belonged which was complete faithfulness to His Lord and Savior.
G1994
- ἐπιστρέφω epistréphō, ep-ee-stref'-o; from G1909 and G4762; to revert
(literally, figuratively or morally):—come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn
(about, again).
Susie: Once
Peter repented and was restored by Jesus (see John 21), he would be the Rock
who encouraged all the other disciples.
Luke
22:32b (CJB) And you, once you have turned back in repentance, strengthen your
brothers!
Luke
22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison,
and to death.
Susan: Peter
had an impulsive, hair-trigger response to the idea of being tested. I believe
it was Peter’s sincere desire to follow Jesus to the point of dying. His faith
heart was determined to go with the Master anywhere; but when it came right
down to it, his flesh was weak. He was functioning in his own strength instead
of relying on God.
Susie: However,
at this point, poor Peter did not yet have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit;
and when he denied Jesus, he had just seen the one he trusted in for salvation,
bound and carried away by armed guards.
Verse
33. - And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison,
and to death. This kind of confident enthusiasm is usually a
sign of weakness. Jesus, the Heart-reader, knew too well what such a wild
protestation was worth, and went on at once to predict his friend's and servant's
awful fall, that very night.
Susan: Or to
quote Shakespeare, “Methinks thou dost protest too much.”
Luke
22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before
that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Susan: Back
in verse 31, Jesus reverted to calling Peter “Simon” which means “obedient,
listening” or the obscure meaning “little hyena.” In this verse, he (perhaps
sarcastically) goes back to calling him the nickname he bestowed on him which
is Peter meaning “rock.” Yet, Jesus prophesied that Peter would not live up to
the strength of that name. We just discovered the following translation of Luke
22 verse 34 at https://www.blueletterbible.org.
Luke
22:34 (Hebrew Names Version) He said, "I tell you, Rock, the rooster will
by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times."
Susie: It
puts the prediction in perspective when you realize that Peter had been the
outspoken leader of the disciples and you know the rest of the story that he
was one of the anchors of the early church. Peter, the Rock, would temporarily
crumble after Jesus’s arrest. Praise the Lord, Simon Peter’s story does not end
there!
Susan: We
will see that this sifting, this trial, served to bring Peter to a point of
humility. The chaff of his brashness was blown away, and the boldness of His
faith in Jesus was brought to the forefront after the resurrection. More on
this in later lessons!
Ponder
this and Apply it: Peter’s predicted denial seemed impossible to
him the night of the last supper. However, we know the rest of the story. Just
as Satan had to ask God for permission to test Job (Job 1:9-11), he had to ask
the Lord before being allowed to test the apostles. The tests and trials that
come our way are allowed by the Lord to ultimately sift out our doubts, fears,
and/or self-reliance and bring us forth shining in the armor of the Lord
(Ephesians 6), prepared to serve Him faithfully. God enables us to persevere to
become all that He has called us to be:
1
Peter 2:4-5 (KJV) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of
men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Galatians
2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Malachi
3:17a (AMPC) And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I
publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special
possession, My peculiar treasure).
No comments:
Post a Comment