Luke 22:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The blessed disciples had been debating among themselves who was the greatest; yet the Savior of all, being the means through which they received all that was beneficial and necessary for their well-being, liberated them from the burden of ambition. He redirected their desire away from such aims, encouraging them to shun the desire for superiority, which is a trap set by the devil. He instructed them, ‘Whosoever of you is great, let him be as the younger, and he who is in charge, let him be as the one who serves.’ Furthermore, He enlightened them that the time of true honor would not be in the present but rather in the future with the arrival of His kingdom. In that time, they would be rewarded for their faithfulness, share in His eternal glory, and wear crowns of the highest honor, dining at His table and reigning on twelve thrones over the twelve tribes of Israel. Additionally, He provides them with a third encouragement, as we have learned from prior teachings. It is crucial for us to humbly regard ourselves as insignificant, in terms of human nature, our susceptibility to sin, and the realization that we are sustained and what we are only through Him. If we derive our salvation and our virtues from Him, what cause do we have for pride? For all that we possess is from Him, and in ourselves, we are empty. ‘For what have ye that ye have not received? But if you have received, what do you boast of but what you have received?’ So spoke the wise Paul, and blessed David also proclaimed at one point, ‘In God we make strength,’ and at another time said, ‘Our God is our house of refuge and our fortress.’ The prophet Jeremiah too declared, ‘O Lord, my fortress and my house of refuge, and my help in the days of trouble.’ Moreover, blessed Paul clearly states, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ And Christ Himself tells us, ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ Therefore, let us not take pride in ourselves, but rather in His gracious gifts. If one’s mindset reflects this understanding, where then is the room for the desire to surpass others? We are all recipients of the same grace, sharing the same Lord of hosts who grants our existence and our capacity for goodness. To temper our inclination toward arrogance and suppress feelings of ambition, Christ illustrates that even those regarded as great are, in fact, humble and frail. He bypasses the other disciples, addressing the one who was foremost and at the head of the group, stating, ‘Satan hath desired many times to sift you as wheat,’ meaning that he seeks to test you through unbearable trials. It is typical of Satan to target those of higher standing, challenging the most distinguished among the righteous. He confronted Job, yet Job triumphed through his perseverance, causing the boastful accuser to fall, defeated by the resolution of this heroic figure. Human nature, however, becomes an easy prey for him, as it is weak and vulnerable, while he is fierce, relentless, and hard-hearted. As Scripture notes, ‘his heart is hard as a stone, and he stands like an anvil that cannot be beaten down.’ Yet through the power of Christ, he is placed beneath the feet of the saints, for He assures us, ‘Behold, I have given you to trample on serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.’ Therefore, He says, ‘Satan seeketh to sift you as wheat; but I have made intercession for you, that your faith fail not.’

Since the fall of Adam, who violated God's command and fell under the dominion of the evil one, all his descendants have been subject to continuous temptations and rebellious thoughts that lead them into conflict within this earthly sieve. Just as the wheat in a sifter is battered and tossed about, the deceiver ensnares humanity amidst earthly concerns, stirring them up and creating confusion, ensnaring them in futile thoughts, base desires, and worldly entanglements, ultimately ensnaring the entire lineage of Adam. The Lord warned the Apostles of future trials instigated by the evil one, saying, 'Satan asks you, that you may sift like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.' The words spoken by the Creator to Cain, 'You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth' (Gen. 4:12), subtly encapsulate the plight of all sinners, as the descendants of Adam, having disobeyed the divine command, have taken on this shared condition.

Mankind is often swayed by unstable thoughts, fears, and a plethora of confounding desires and pleasures. The ruler of this world stirs the hearts of those not reborn of God, much like wheat perpetually agitated in a sieve, leading human thoughts to doubt and entrapment in worldly allurements and carnal pleasures. The Lord indicated that those who succumb to the temptations and lusts of the wicked one reflect the deceit of Cain, as He proclaimed, 'You seek to do the desires of your father; he was a murderer from the beginning and does not abide in the truth' (John 8:44). Thus, the entirety of humanity, descended from Adam, bears this hidden judgment, groaning and being disturbed within the sieve of the earth by the adversary sowing discord. Just as all humankind sprang from one man, so too has a singular corruption infiltrated the entire sinful human race, with the prince of evil alone able to plant all manner of unstable, material, vanity-laden, and rebellious thoughts. One gust of wind can sway every plant and seed, just as a single night can cast its darkness over all creation. The deceiver, embodying a mental darkness of sin and death, acts as a cruel and hidden wind, overwhelming the human race through unstable thoughts and worldly desires, ensnaring hearts with ignorance, blindness, and forgetfulness. It unsettles every soul not born from above, drawing them into a different age, as proclaimed: 'Our citizenship is in heaven' (Phil. 3:20).

Despite the adversary's hatred for the Lord, who he will find nothing wrong with (John 14:30), what can the disciples expect, as they are still familiar with their own weaknesses? Now, Satan appears in the same manner he did when he approached the Lord concerning Job (Job 1:11; Job 2:5). Just as he rose against Job out of envy and malevolence, tormented by the Lord's affection for Job’s pious nature, and slandered Job before God—suggesting that Job's love for God was merely self-serving (Job 1:8-11)—he now seeks to challenge the followers of Jesus, demanding that their fidelity to God be tested. He asks for permission to validate their loyalty. Without divine consent, he cannot inflict harm upon anyone, whether in spirit or in body. His pride suffers a blow, yet he is compelled to acknowledge the Almighty's supremacy over him, and trembling, he requests the authority to act against the servants of God. He desires to winnow you like wheat. This striking imagery illustrates an impending and severe trial. Just as wheat undergoes vigorous shaking and sudden upheaval, transforming rapidly, so too will the disciples find themselves vulnerable to Satan's enticements. The situation is dire! Satan hopes that, through this sifting, not a single good grain will remain, but rather only chaff, dust, or empty remnants that could easily be lost. How can we afford to be complacent with such an adversary looming over us? The Apostle urges all believers: Be vigilant and steadfast, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

“Behold, Satan hath asked…” In warning Peter against his unwarranted confidence—a trait especially inappropriate for Christ’s closest disciples—the Lord reveals to him and his companions the hidden and dire schemes of the evil one, which had not been disclosed to them before. The timing of this petition is unspecified. “Sow ye as wheat”: Just as wheat, when placed in a sieve, is tossed about, leading to the separation of the chaff and leaving behind the pure grain, this passage illustrates temptation within the moral and spiritual conditions of the Apostles stirred by the evil spirit through various means—trials, confusion, temptations, and more. Thus, Satan sought to test the faith and overall spiritual integrity of the Apostles, putting them in great peril. This request recalls Satan’s plea regarding Job in the book of Job (chapters 1 and 2). Nevertheless, through His powerful intercession, the Lord safeguarded His disciples, particularly Peter, from a complete downfall, permitting a temporary stumble to ultimately strengthen him and enable him to uplift his fellow disciples.

“Simon, Simon,” the Lord declared, discerning his thoughts, “behold, Satan has requested you to sift as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned back, you will strengthen your brothers.” The process of sifting wheat imagery aptly depicted the turmoil and unrest that Satan wished to impose upon the tranquil assembly of Christ’s followers. The original foe of humankind aimed to afflict them with various tribulations to test their faith, similar to how Job was tested through the loss of his children, possessions, and severe illness. Such a trial posed a grave risk of a total collapse. However, through His prayer to the heavenly Father, the God-Man averted this peril while also revealing to Peter the temporary nature of his stumbling, as well as his forthcoming rebellion and repentance. He instructed him to utilize his painful experience to bolster the faith of his fellow disciples.