Luke 22:31 · Bible study
Luke 22:31 Commentary: Satan's Sifting and Christ's Intercession
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean that Satan asked to sift the disciples like wheat? Explore the Greek text, Job parallels, and the hope of Christ's prayer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus warns that Satan has obtained permission to test the disciples severely, but Christ's intercession ensures that genuine faith will survive the sifting.
- Key words: ἐξῃτήσατο (exētēsato, “demanded to have,” implying successful petition), σινιάσαι (siniasai, “to sift,” a hapax legomenon), ὑμᾶς (humas, “all of you,” plural, targeting the whole group).
- Main debate: Whether the verb means Satan merely asked for permission or actually received it; also whether the sifting aims to destroy or to purify.
- Theological theme: The limits of Satan's power under God's sovereignty, and the sustaining role of Christ's intercession for believers under trial.
- Best use: Preached or taught as a sobering yet hopeful text on spiritual warfare, humility, and the security of those for whom Jesus prays.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have all of you, that he might sift you as wheat,
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the Lord said, `Simon, Simon, lo, the Adversary did ask you for himself to sift as the wheat,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, to sift [you] as wheat;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Dijo también el Señor: Simón, Simón, he aquí Satanás os ha pedido para zarandaros como á trigo;
Disse também o Senhor: Simão, Simão; eis que Satanás vos pediu, para vos peneirar como trigo;
Le Seigneur dit: Simon, Simon, Satan vous a réclamés, pour vous cribler comme le froment.
Der HERR aber sprach: Simon, Simon, siehe, der Satanas hat euer begehrt, daß er euch möchte sichten wie den Weizen;
En de Heere zeide: Simon, Simon, ziet, de satan heeft ulieden zeer begeerd om te ziften als de tarwe;
Simone, Simone, ecco, Satana ha chiesto di vagliarvi come si vaglia il grano;
I rzekł Pan: Szymonie, Szymonie! oto szatan wyprosił was, aby was odwiewał jako pszenicę,
И сказал Господь: Симон! Симон! се, сатана просил, чтобы сеять вас как пшеницу,
主又說：「西門！西門！ 撒但 想要 得著你們，好篩 你們像 篩麥子一樣；
Simon, Simon, Satan has made a request to have you, so that he may put you to the test as grain is tested:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 22:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse unveils a hidden spiritual conflict behind the passion narrative. The Greek verb ἐξῃτήσατο (exētēsato, aorist middle, unique in the New Testament) carries the sense of “demanded and obtained by asking.” Vincent notes Xenophon's use of this verb to mean “beg off” or “obtain by request,” suggesting Satan's petition was granted, just as in Job 1, 2. The plural pronoun ὑμᾶς shows the warning targets all the disciples, not Peter alone, though Jesus singles out Peter for special prayer. The rare verb σινιάσαι (siniasai, “to sift”) appears only here in Scripture. Barnes explains the metaphor: grain is shaken violently in a sieve so that chaff blows away; this tests whether genuine faith remains. Calvin adds that behind every trial believers should see the adversary's design, yet also Christ's intercession as the guarantee that faith will not fail.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Satan obtained permission: The verb ἐξῃτήσατο in extra-biblical Greek means 'obtained by asking'; the parallel with Job (where Satan receives permission) supports this.
- Satan merely asked; power remains contingent on God's will: The English translations typically render the verb as 'desired' or 'asked,' leaving the granting unstated, highlighting divine sovereignty over evil.
- Sifting as purification, not destruction: Amos 9:9 uses a similar image: God sifts Israel so that no true kernel is lost. The sifting reveals and preserves the genuine faithful.
What is clear: Jesus reveals a real spiritual attack planned by Satan, but he also declares his personal prayer for Peter—a prayer that ensures Peter's faith will not ultimately fail, even when he stumbles.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of ἐξῃτήσατο (exētēsato) | Scholars agree the verb describes Satan making a request of God, as in Job 1, 2. | Some (Vincent, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) argue it means 'obtained by asking'; others (many English translations) render it simply 'asked' or 'desired,' leaving the outcome unspecified. |
| Who is addressed: Peter only or all disciples? | The plural pronoun 'you' (ὑμᾶς) clearly includes all the apostles present. | Some traditions focus on Peter as the primary target (his denial is predicted next), while others see the whole group as equally tested, with Peter as representative. |
| The purpose of sifting | Sifting separates something: it is a metaphor for severe testing that reveals character. | Barnes and others see it as testing whether faith is genuine (wheat vs. chaff); an older tradition (e.g., some fathers) viewed it as a temptation to apostasy. The reference to Amos 9:9, where God sifts so that 'not the least kernel will fall,' suggests a purifying outcome. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus speaks during the Last Supper, after the institution of the Lord's Supper and immediately following a dispute among the disciples about who is greatest. In verses 29, 30, Jesus had just promised them a kingdom and thrones of judgment. Then comes this sobering warning. The imagery of sifting would be vivid for Galilean farmers. Sifting separated valuable wheat from worthless chaff and dust by tossing the grain in a sieve; the lighter debris blew away while the heavier kernels remained. The process was violent and exposed what was hidden.
The figure of Satan “asking” to test the faithful recalls the prologue of Job, where Satan appears before God and requests permission to afflict Job (Job 1:6, 12, 2:1, 6). In Jewish tradition, Satan is the accuser who seeks to prove that devotion is self-serving (Zechariah 3:1). Here, Jesus reveals that behind the coming crisis of his arrest and crucifixion, a spiritual adversary is at work, aiming to shake the disciples' faith to its foundations. The warning prepares them for what they cannot yet see: that the sifting will come through fear, confusion, and their own failure. Yet even in this disclosure, Jesus frames the testing within the boundaries of divine permission, and he promises his personal intercession as the counterforce.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 22:31. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions, with no evidence of alternative readings that affect interpretation.
Reception History
This verse has been a touchstone for reflection on spiritual warfare and Christ's intercession. In the early church, it was read alongside Job to show that suffering has a heavenly dimension and that Satan's power is circumscribed. Medieval commentators often used it to warn against pride, noting that Peter's confidence (v.33) was immediately followed by prediction of his fall. The Reformers (Calvin, Luther) emphasized the sovereignty of God and the efficacy of Christ's prayer: the sifting is real, but the intercession guarantees preservation of faith. In Pietist and evangelical traditions, the verse has been a source of comfort for believers undergoing severe trials, reminding them that Jesus prays for them individually. Peter's later echo in 1 Peter 5:8, 9 (being sober and watchful because the devil prowls) shows how deeply this warning shaped his pastoral theology.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Adversary's Demand: Satan “asked to have” the disciples. As in Job, he must request permission, his power is not absolute. The Greek verb implies he obtained what he asked for. The danger is real, but it is permitted.
- The Sifter's Purpose: Sifting separates kernel from chaff. Satan intends to expose the disciples as all chaff, faithless, self-serving, worthless. But the same shaking that would reveal chaff also proves the presence of true grain.
- The Intercessor's Prayer: Jesus prays specifically for Peter, and through him for the others. The prayer does not prevent the sifting but ensures that faith survives it. Peter's restoration becomes the pattern for strengthening the whole community.
Five-point outline
- Jesus sees what the disciples cannot: He names the spiritual battle behind the coming events.
- Satan's leash is short: He must ask; he cannot act without God's allowance.
- The sieve of testing is uncomfortable but revealing: It does not create weakness; it shows what is already there.
- Christ's prayer is specific and effective: “I have prayed for you” (singular) targets the one most at risk, but his victory benefits all.
- After the sifting comes a commission: Peter is to strengthen his brothers. Failure is not the end; it becomes a platform for ministry.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer sifting grain on a windy day: the chaff blows away, but the wheat stays in the sieve. The process looks destructive but actually confirms the value of the grain.
- An apprentice being tested by a master craftsman: the test is not meant to break the apprentice but to show whether the skill has been learned.
- A soldier in basic training: the drills are hard and reveal every flaw, but they are designed to produce someone who can survive the real battle.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God allow Satan to test believers if He loves them?
- How can I know whether my faith is genuine or just superficial?
- What does it mean that Jesus prays for us? Does that change how I face trials?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Jesus preparing his disciples for a crisis they cannot yet imagine. The warning is direct, but it is wrapped in love (the repetition “Simon, Simon”) and anchored in prayer. As you discuss, consider how Jesus sees the spiritual realities behind our everyday pressures.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Jesus repeats Simon's name? What tone does that set for the warning that follows?
- The Greek verb translated “asked to have” (ἐξῃτήσατο) can mean “demanded and obtained by asking.” How does this affect your understanding of Satan's power and God's sovereignty?
- Read Job 1:6, 12 and 2:1, 6. In what ways does Luke 22:31 mirror those scenes? What is the same, and what is different?
- Jesus says Satan asked to sift “all of you” (plural) but then says, “I prayed for you” (singular, referring to Peter). Why the shift? What does this tell you about Jesus' pastoral care?
- The image of sifting wheat is violent and revealing. What kinds of “sifting” have you experienced in your own life? What did those times reveal about your faith?
- Jesus predicts Peter's denial in verse 34. How does the promise of prayer in verse 32 affect how you read Peter's failure? Is there hope in the midst of it?
- Peter is told to “strengthen your brothers” after he turns back. How can someone who has failed become a source of strength for others in the church?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 1:6 | Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan also came among them. |
| Job 1:8 | Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.” |
| Job 1:12 | Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh. |
| Job 2:1 | Again, on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh. |
| Job 2:6 | Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life.” |
| Amos 9:9 | “For behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth. |
| Zechariah 3:1 | He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. |
| Luke 10:41 | Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads the repeated name Simon as a mark of love and urgent warning, not merely a call for attention. He stresses that Satan asked for all the apostles, but Jesus singled out Peter because he was in greatest danger, and even the devil cannot tempt without permission.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a parallel with Job: Satan asked to test Peter, not to destroy him but to see whether his faith was genuine grain or empty chaff. The sifting was a trial designed to reveal what was real and what was mere surface profession.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Christ’s warning is not mere prediction but a call to recognize Satan’s active role in every trial. Without this awareness, believers are easily overwhelmed. The point is practical: since Satan constantly schemes to destroy faith, Christians must stay alert and prepare for conflict even before it comes.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The repeated name Simon, Simon combines solemn warning with tenderness, as in the similar address to Martha. The commentator notes that Satan demanded the apostles by asking, not just desired them, and his sifting winnows away the chaff. Judas has already been winnowed from the group; now Satan specifically targets Peter.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And the Lord saide, Simon, Simon, beholde, Satan hath desired you, to winowe you as wheate.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Jesus addresses Peter by his old name Simon, not Peter, because in this coming trial he would give no proof of his usual firmness. The repeated name shows Christ's earnest affection, and the plural "you" means Satan has asked to sift all the apostles, not Peter alone.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent points out that the Greek word for "desired" here can mean "obtained by asking," not merely a request. He sees this as a specific grant: Satan did not just ask; he actually gained permission to test Peter, and the outcome proved he had him for a time.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Satan specifically requested permission to test the apostles, not just any believers. The sifting like wheat means a trial to the uttermost, a severe shaking that would reveal what is genuine in them and what is chaff.