Luke Chapter 22, Verse 32
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32: εγω δε εδεηθην περι σου ινα μη εκλειπη η πιστις σου και συ ποτε επιστρεψας στηριξον τους αδελφους σου
32: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
32: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou,
being once converted, confirm thy brethren.
That thy faith fail not. The word faith, here, seems to be used
in the sense of religion, or attachment to Christ, and the words fail
not mean utterly fail or fail altogether -- that is, apostatize. It
is true that the courage of Peter failed; it is true that he had not
that immediate confidence in Jesus and reliance on him which he had before
had; but the prayer of Jesus was that he might not altogether apostatize
from the faith. God heard Jesus always (Jn 11:42); it follows,
therefore, that every prayer which he ever offered was answered; and
it follows, as he asked here for a specific thing, that that thing was
granted; and as he prayed that Peter's faith might not utterly fail,
so it follows that there was no time in which Peter was not really a
pious man. Far as he wandered, and grievously as he sinned, yet he
well knew that Jesus was the Messiah. He did know the man; and though
his fears overcame him and led him to aggravated sin, yet the prayer of
Christ was prevalent, and he was brought to true repentance.
When thou art converted. The word converted means turned, changed, recovered. The meaning is, when thou art turned from this sin, when thou art recovered from this heinous offence, then use your experience to warn and strengthen those who are in danger of like sins. A man may be converted or turned from any sin, or any evil course. He is regenerated but once -- at the beginning of his Christian life; he may be converted as often as he fails into sin.
Strengthen thy brethren. Confirm them, warn them, encourage them. They are in continual danger, also, of sinning. Use your experience to warn them of their danger, and to comfort and sustain them in their temptations.
