The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Our enemy: his tactics and how to defeat him
Luke (Luke 22:3-4) says that Satan entered Judas when he offered to betray Jesus on the previous afternoon. That is why John uses the word “already”. John repeats his statement of Satan entering Judas in verse 13:27. How does (Acts 5:3) compare to this concept? Robertson observes that “Satan had an open door by now into the heart of Judas.” The devil likes to take what is in you and use it for his own ends (James 1:14). He “enters in” by enticing you to sin and then he has a foothold which he exploits to an ever-increasing extent to get you to do more and more and greater and greater sin.
Luke 22:3-4 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him,
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
James 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
The ultimate goal of the devil is to get between us and God and destroy our relationship with God. Again, the whole purpose for which Satan lives and strives is to sour and ultimately destroy our relationship with God. He will do anything to accomplish that task.
Actions of the Devil
- Lies (John 8:44)
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - Tempts (Mat 4:3, 1 Thess 3:5)
Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. - Steals (John 10:10)
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - Kills (John 8:44)
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - Destroys (John 10:10)
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
He is subtle and is able to entice us because he is such a good liar and is able to disguise himself and his words so perfectly (2 Cor 11:14). He hates God and anything that God loves. Since God loves us most, the devil hates us the most and concentrates his efforts on hurting us as much as he can. Above all, he does not want us following and thus pleasing God, so he will say or do anything to lead us astray (Rev 12:9). Note in the temptation of Eve that he lies and attacks God’s words (“did God really say . . .”) and then he lies by adding his own words (“You will not surely die.”) (emphasis added) He follows this by bad-mouthing God and saying that the reason God does not want them eating from the tree is that God knows that it would be good for them by enabling them to know the difference between good and evil. (Genesis 3:1-5)
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
Revelation 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The devil’s ultimate weapon is the physical world which stands in direct opposition to the spiritual one. Three aspects of the physical world are given in (1 John 2:16).
1 John 2:16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does— comes not from the Father but from the world.
Temptations of the World
- The cravings of sinful man (or lust of the flesh). These are the things we sought after when we were unsaved (Gal 5:19-21). This was the first temptation the devil used against Jesus (Mat 4:3). He also used it against Eve by enticing her to know that the fruit was good for food (Gen 3:6). Our desires should be for the things of God and not for earthly pleasures and treasures (Col 3:1-3).
Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Colossians 3:1-3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. - The lust of the eyes (desiring that which we see). Satan tempted Jesus in the desert with this (Mat 4:8) and Eve in the garden when she saw that the fruit was “pleasing to the eye” (Gen 3:6). This temptation caused David to fall into grievous sin (2 Sam 11:2) and caused the destruction of Achan and his famil;y (Josh 7:21). The prevalence of movies, TV, and other visual stimuli today make this a temptation that is constantly attacking us and which we should avoid at all costs (Mark 9:47).
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
Joshua 7:21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, - Boasting of what he has and what he does (pride of life). Again, the devil used this temptation on Jesus in the desert (Mat 4:5-6) and on Eve in the garden (Gen 3:5-6). The devil likes to use this temptation against Christians as they serve the Lord so that they will become proud of what “they” have accomplished and not give rightful credit to God who gives us all of our abilities (1 Cor 1:31).
Matthew 4:5-6 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Genesis 3:5-6 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
1 Corinthians 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
How to Overcome
The Bible is full of direction on how to overcome the devil and temptation. Here are a few of the things we need to do:
- Be alert and aware (1 Pet 5:8)
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - Resist – don’t give in (1 Pet 5:9)
1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. - Depend upon God – we need Him and His help (Heb 2:18, 1 Cor 10:13)
Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - Stand stubbornly firm (Eph 6:10-18)
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. - Pray (Mat 6:13, 26:41)
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” - Don’t give in, even a little bit (Eph 4:27)
Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
It is interesting to note that Jesus had known for over a year that Judas was going to betray Him (John 6:70) and yet He treated Him no differently than the others. What does this show you about Jesus? Is there any personal application either way?
John 6:70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
“prompted” (NIV) = “put” (KJV) = ballo = to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. Edersheim feels that even though humanity had fallen, it had not gotten so low as to betray Jesus all by itself. The Devil had to throw it by force into the heart of Judas.
Note that the full name of Judas including his lineage is given, as in an indictment in a court of law.
There is an incredible contrast between what Jesus is about to do and what Judas is about to do, and between the motivations of each. The contrast is even more pronounced by the fact that the same verb is used for Satan “prompting” (casting into the heart of) Judas and Jesus “pouring” (casting) water into the basin for the footwashing.