Daily Thought

The story of Simon is a tragic story with no ending. We do not know if the prayer for which he asked was ever offered or answered. The apostles had urged him to pray for himself but this he apparently could not do. ‘Pray ye for me’, he asked, but he had behaved wicked ly. Peter could only say, with very little assurance, that if he could repent and pray, perhaps there might be forgiveness. But notice the ‘perhaps’, with no certain promise.

Simon had been a sorcerer. He had bewitched both small and great in Samaria for a long time so that they called him, ‘the great power of God’. But when he saw the miracles and signs which were accompanying the preaching of Philip, he seemed to see his own reputation and status being threatened. With the others, he professed to believe and was baptized. Doubtless he had decided that in being part of this new movement which was sweeping Samaria he could retain his influence within it and still hold sway as formerly. But his profession of belief was a falsehood, a deception. His heart was not right in the sight of God.

When Peter and John arrived, and when, by the laying on of their hands, the believing Samaritans received the Holy Spirit, Simon’s true condition was revealed. He coveted this power to impart the Holy Spirit to others and offered money to the apostles, wanting to buy it. Was this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, such as the Lord Jesus had spoken of in Matthew chapter 12 verse 31? Did Peter see it like this and was this the reason that so little assurance was being given to Simon?

Money could not buy the gift of God. Simon was poisoned and in bondage - in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity. His profession of Christ and salvation had not been real. Peter denounced him and urged him to repent and pray, though forgiveness could not be assured. ‘Pray ye for me’, he pleaded, but there the story ends, and we never read of Simon again.

Is it possible still, in our own day, that some profession may not be real? In a sincere and genuine way may such professors, too, say to others, ‘Pray . . . for me’.