Simon, Simon …. Peter

Assembled with his immediate disciples the evening prior to his crucifixion, Jesus turned to one of them and said: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan pleaded to sift you [all] as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith might not fail, and when you have returned, you strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).¹ This is the only occasion in the biblical record where the name “Simon, Simon” is doubled. After a brief exchange the Lord then addressed the same disciple as “Peter” (v. 34). Why the difference? Other than the play on words in Matthew 16:18, this is the only occasion in the biblical record where Jesus directly addressed Simon as Peter.²

A Closer Look

Names in antiquity, particularly in a Jewish context, had special meaning. The name translated Simon is the Greek form of the Hebrew Simeon, meaning “he has heard” (Genesis 29:33). The idea of “listening” is inherent in the term. The name translated Peter is the Greek version of the Aramaic Cephas, the nickname Jesus gave to Simon when they first met (Mark 3:16; John 1:42). It means “stone” and projects the imagery of firmness and stability.

The Gospels repeatedly depict Simon as erratic, slow to hear and quick to misunderstand. Whenever the Lord addressed him by his given name, it doubled as a subtle reminder of his pressing need to pay attention. In our current text, the repeating of the name would be comparable to saying, “listen, listen,” getting Simon’s undivided attention and emphasizing the importance of what is about to be said.

Simon’s faith was soon to be tested. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith might not fail,” Jesus reassured him, followed by the exhortation, “and when you [emphatic!] have returned, you strengthen your brothers” (v. 32). Simon’s immediate reaction, rather than appreciative, humble, and compliant, is instead rash, oblivious, and obstinate. That’s when Jesus called him “Peter” (v. 34), an implicit reminder of the rock-solid faith he is expected to have (and will have), even though he is not quite there.

What’s the Point?

As Christ followers we too have been given a new name (2 Timothy 2:19), serving as a constant reminder of who we are and whose we are and a motivation to live up to the Lord’s expectations. And like Simon, our faith is established and strengthened only by “hearing, and hearing” (receptive listening and responsive heeding) the divine word (Romans 10:17).

Remember the Lord’s promise in an earlier exchange with our impulsive brother: “Blessed are you, Simon [you have ‘heard’ what the Father has revealed] …. you are Peter [a ‘stone’], and upon this rock [‘the Christ, the Son of the living God’] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:16-18).

Conclusion

Simon, after many ups and downs, was sifted by Satan and returned as a solid man of faith. May we too, as Peter later informs his readers, be “living stones” (1 Peter 2:4-5), listening, obeying, and standing firm on the foundational Rock of our salvation.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation, emphasis added in italics.

     ² See K. L. Moore, “Jesus Called Him ‘Peter’ Only Twice,” Moore Perspective (29 Sept. 2012), <Link>.

Related Posts: The Tough Love of Jesus, The 12 Apostles (Part 2): Simon Peter

 

Image credit: https://godwords.org/biography-of-simon-peter-jesus-disciple/