Satan Wants the Best Matthew 16:21-23; Luke 22:31-32

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers’” (Lk. 22: 31-32, NASB).

In last week’s article “Abraham Keeps the Covenant” we discussed Abraham’s efforts to prevent his son Isaac from marrying one of the Canaanite women. Abraham knows that the Canaanites do not worship the Lord. A Canaanite woman will not be interested in God’s promises. Instead, a Canaanite woman will be interested in getting Isaac to worship her gods and partner with her in her lifestyle.

Today, we will discuss two conversations that Jesus has with Peter. In the Gospels Peter along with James and John the sons of Zebedee are the three disciples that Jesus trusts most to carry out the mission that He gives to the Twelve. From these conversations we discover that Satan wants to destroy Peter’s faith in Jesus. Satan wants to separate the good in Peter from the bad in him. Satan wants to use the good in Peter for his own purposes. If Satan can get control of the good in Peter he will have made one third of the trusted trio ineffective in doing the work that Jesus is calling him to do. Jesus, like Abraham, takes measures to preserve the one that will keep the work of the Lord intact. Let us look at the scriptures.

The first scripture is found in Matthew 16:21-23. In Matthew 16 Jesus has an encounter with the Pharisees in which they test Him by asking for a sign (v.1). After answering the Pharisees, Jesus takes His disciple to the other side of the sea to a place called Caesarea Philippi (v. 13). Jesus asks the disciples this question. “‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is (v.13, NASB)?’” Then Jesus asks them who they say that He is. “Simon Peter answered, ‘you are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (v. 16, NASB). Jesus assures Peter that he has answered correctly because the Father revealed it to him (v. 17). So, from this conversation it is evident that Peter walks with Jesus. He knows who Jesus is. The Father reveals things to Peter, but Jesus has something else to tell the disciples.

In verse twenty-one Jesus begins to tell the disciples that He is going to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem He will suffer at the hands of the chief priests and scribes. He will be killed. However, Peter cannot grasp such a thought. “Peter takes Him aside and begins to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You’” (v. 22, NASB). Although Peter believes in Jesus, He does not yet know or understand all the things that Jesus tells him. On the other hand Jesus knows Peter fully, and He knows Peter’s thoughts and his actions. Based on what Jesus knows about Peter He responds to Peter’s rebuke.

“But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s’” (v. 23, NASB). Jesus’ words to Peter raise an interesting question. Why does Jesus address Peter as Satan? First the word “Satan” refers to the adversary of Jesus. Scholar W.E. Vine writes, “the appellation was given by the Lord to Peter as a “Satan-like” man, on the occasion when he endeavored to dissuade Him from death, Matt. 16:23; Mark 8:33.” (W.E., Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1984]), 547. Jesus is telling the disciples the plan of God, but Peter does not care about what God wants. Instead, Peter wants Jesus to establish a kingdom on earth, and Peter wants to sit in the seat of the greatest next to Jesus (Lk. 22:23).

Peter wants what the world tells him that he should want; what he sees taking place in the world that he lives in. These include position, power, and prestige. We must remember that Peter lives in a world controlled by the Roman government. Every day Peter sees the Roman soldiers. He lives under the rule and oppression of Rome. In addition he is confronted by the religious rulers of his own people, the Jews. The Pharisees, Sadducees determine who is right and who is wrong; and who is worthy to worship in the temple. They are considered the voice of God. Peter and the other disciples follow Jesus because they see Him as one like King David. He will overthrow Rome and restore Israel to its glory. Is there anything wrong with what Peter wants? According to the ways of the world Peter has honorable ambitions. However, Jesus rebukes Peter because Jesus comes not to establish the kingdom of Israel. Rather, Jesus comes to establish the kingdom of Heaven.

The Gospel of Matthew records two additional occasions in which Jesus tells the disciples about His death, but they do not understand what Jesus is telling them. “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.’ And they were deeply grieved” (Matt. 17:22-23, NASB). “When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion” (26:1-2, NASB).

We have established that Jesus tells His disciples about His death and resurrection. The disciples do not understand what Jesus is telling them because their thoughts about Jesus are centered on the things of the world instead of the things of God. So, here we are in Luke 22. Jesus and His disciples are gathered for the Passover meal. Jesus talks to them about a new covenant (v. 20), but they continue to be concerned about their position. “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be the greatest” (v. 24).

After Jesus commends the disciples and promise them a seat at His table He speaks directly to Peter addressing him by his Hebrew name Simon. He tells Simon that Satan wants to sift Simon like wheat. Why is Peter the one that Satan wants to sift? From the time that Jesus meets Simon He designates him as the leader of the church that is to be established. “He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (Jn. 1:42). “‘I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hell will not overpower it’” (Matt. 16:18, NASB). Thus, we can see that Satan the adversary of God and Jesus wants to get Peter’s best. He wants to sift Peter in the same manner that the farmer sifts wheat.

The farmer gathers the wheat. He separates the seed of the wheat from the chaff of the wheat. The chaff that has no value is thrown away, and the seed is saved to be used for food. Satan wants to use Peter’s leadership skills to advance his agenda. He wants Peter to use his power and influence to dissuade people from believing in Jesus; from being a disciple of Jesus. Satan wants Peter to deny Jesus. Let us beware that Satan wants to sift all people that are following Jesus.

Another way that we can look at the word sift is that the seed is crushed to make bread to eat. In the Luke text Satan wants to crush or destroy Peter’s faith. Jesus says to Peter, “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail” (v. 32). Peter will struggle with his faith. When Jesus is taken before the high priest Peter separates himself from Jesus. He follows Jesus from a distance. When confronted, Peter denies that he knows Jesus. Satan the adversary is a thief and a robber. In his gospel John writes, “‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’” (Jn. 10:10, NASB). In spite of his shortcomings there is good news.

The good news is that Jesus’ prayer for Peter is answered. Peter does not completely loose his faith. He continues to meet with the Twelve. He grieves the death of Jesus. He suffers disappointment along with the other disciples. When the word comes that Jesus is raised from the dead Peter along with John runs to the tomb to see what they have been told (Jn. 20:1-7). Peter goes to Galilee with other disciples to meet Jesus. After eating a fish breakfast with Jesus, Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep (Jn. 21:15-17). Peter is restored to the position that Jesus calls him to when Jesus first meets him.

All of us are somewhat like Peter. We may never be known like Peter, but regardless to our status in the kingdom of God the work that we are called to is important; even necessary. Satan wants our best. He wants to use us for his agenda. Satan wants to destroy our faith. We can be like Peter. When we fail in one way or another we should continue to stay with people of faith. Jesus prays for us even when we do not know how to pray for ourselves. Satan wants your best, but in Christ Jesus we are preserved for the kingdom of God.