Luke 22:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

His habitual resistance to Christ could easily lead him to arrogance, which is why Christ ultimately instructs him to refrain from contradiction. This is reflected in Luke's account, where Christ states, “I prayed for thee that thy faith should not fail,” implying that he would not be completely lost. Through these experiences, Christ imparts lessons on humility and reveals the inherent frailty of human nature.

Consequently, if anyone desires to please Him, he should care for these sheep, seek the welfare of others, and tend to his brethren; there is no act more cherished by God than this. In another passage, He states, “Simon! Simon, behold, Satan asked to sow you as wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith should not fail.” What reward can you offer Me for such diligence and concern? And what does He ask in return? Again, He reminds us: “thou also,” He says, “once, when thou art converted, establish thy brethren.” Similarly, Paul exhorts, “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). In what manner did he emulate Christ? “In the same way I also please everyone in everything, seeking not my own benefit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). Furthermore, he notes, “for Christ also pleased not himself” (Rom. 15:3). There is no greater demonstration of faith and love for Christ than the care for fellow believers and the concern for their salvation.

Yet, these words can also apply not just to the apostles, whom Peter was to encourage at that time, but to all believers throughout the ages. Peter, once you have been restored, you will serve as a profound example of repentance for everyone, and none who believe in Me will lose heart when they see you, an apostle who initially denied Me, yet through repentance, have reclaimed your esteemed place among the apostles and the chosen of God from all creation. The enemy sought to sift you like wheat, to contaminate you, as he has done before, driven by his envy of your love for Me, reminiscent of his actions with Job. However, I have not abandoned you completely, in order that your faith would not be utterly diminished. I have prayed for you, so do not succumb to despair, but when you turn back, that is, when you repent and weep, become a beacon of repentance and faith for fellow believers.

Thus, He declares, “I have prayed that your faith may not waver.” Through this, He illustrates that if He had succumbed to temptations from Satan, He would have shown Himself to be entirely unfaithful. Even without relinquishing Himself, He experienced weakness due to human frailty, finding it difficult to face the fear of death. This was evident when he denied Christ after a young servant girl challenged him in the high priest's palace, saying, “You are also one of His disciples.” The Savior forewarned him of the consequences of yielding to temptation, yet simultaneously offered him words of comfort, stating, “And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers,” meaning that he would be a source of support, guidance, and instruction to those who come to Me in faith. Furthermore, take note of the profound beauty and unparalleled kindness present in this message! To ensure that the impending fall would not lead the disciple into hopelessness, as if he were to be cast away from the glory of apostleship, and that his former devotion to Christ would render him without reward due to his fear of death and subsequent denial, Christ immediately instills hope within him. He assures him that he will be deemed worthy of the promised blessings and will reap the rewards of courage. For He states, “And you also, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” What immense and unmatched compassion! The disciple has not yet succumbed to the affliction of disbelief, yet he has already been given the remedy of forgiveness; he has not yet sinned, but has received absolution; he has not yet fallen, but a saving hand has been extended to him; he has not yet stumbled, but has been affirmed in his faith. For He declares, “You also, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Such is the promise of Him who has forgiven and restored him to the authority of an apostle.

The Lord did not ask that Peter and the other disciples be entirely shielded from temptation; Satan’s influence does not disrupt divine governance, instead, it works against him and serves God’s glory. The faith that the Lord upheld through His prayer amid Satan’s trials manifestly shone forth after the adversity had passed, triumphing over the world. The strength of God, which fortifies human frailty, forever prevails against the evil one, provided that one does not forsake divine assistance. And once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Following the promise to safeguard Simon’s faith, a condition is stipulated that Simon must meet for this promise to be realized. This condition reflects a vow made by David, who returned to God, when he expressed, “I will instruct the transgressors in Your ways” (Psalms 50:15). Simon acknowledges that the faith preserved within him must lead not only to a genuine return to God and true repentance of sin (Matt. 13:15; Acts 11:20; Acts 14:15; Acts 26:18), but also prepare others to be steadfast in their faith. Strengthen your brothers. The Savior frequently refers to the Apostles as His brothers. In this instance, He instructs Simon, “Strengthen your brothers.” Here, Simon’s brothers are those who share in his weaknesses and susceptibility to falter. Thus, if Peter was to affirm the other Apostles, it demonstrates that among them, Peter is merely a brother, equally weak and prone to failure, not the leader of the Apostles. Simon, well aware of the Lord’s directive, particularly enacted it for the Jewish believers, as evidenced in his letters (1 Pet. 5:8-10; 2 Pet. 1:12; 2 Pet. 3:17) and in the Acts of the Apostles. However, there is no indication that he perceived this role in relation to the Apostles themselves; he displayed humility and restraint.

Should it diminish, a complete downfall would not be far off. - ‘Once you have turned’; the phrase 'having turned' signifies the fall, the denial. Peter will be brought to the brink of his fall due to the influence of evil, yet it is also foretold that he will rise again and be restored. ‘Even if you are shaken, the essence of your faith shall remain intact, and though the tempter may rattle the outer leaves of your faith, the roots shall endure, and your faith shall not waver’ (Theophil.). - ‘Strengthen your brethren’: The other disciples shall face their own temptations and weaknesses, yet through Peter's restoration, they will be reinforced. Peter's conversion began immediately following his failure; he initiated this transformation with deep remorse, and the entirety of his later life stands as testimony to the authenticity of his turnaround from the enticements of darkness. The Acts of the Apostles illuminates how, once converted, he fortified his brethren in faith and spiritual resilience, which demonstrates that he was initially the foremost among the apostles, the guiding force in their actions, and a strong defender of the truth of Christ.

"Simon, Simon," the Lord observed, perceiving his thoughts, "behold, Satan has desired to sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." The imagery of sifted wheat conveys the agitation and turmoil that Satan wished to impose upon the serene community of Christ's followers. The original adversary of humanity sought to overwhelm them with trials, mirroring the adversities faced by Job—loss of his children, possessions, and enduring suffering. Such a test posed a grave risk of complete downfall. However, through His prayer to the heavenly Father, the God-Man averted this peril while also revealing to Peter his impending denial and subsequent repentance, instructing him to leverage his painful experience to fortify the faith of his fellow disciples.