The Devil is the original influencer

Ever since Adam blamed Eve and she blamed the Devil, the favorite excuse has always been, “The Devil made me do it.” But did he, does he, will he?

Did the Devil make Adam and Eve sin in the garden?

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:4-6 KJV)

[The LORD God asked Adam], Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:11b-13 KJV)

Did the Devil make her do it? No, he beguiled her, which means to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce.

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:14)

Did the Devil make King David sin with the census?

Please read the account David’s Census, and the Judgment for David’s sin in (2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21)

• And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)
• And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:7)
• God gave David three choices of judgement: three years of famine, three months destruction by enemies, or three days of severe plague. (1 Chronicles 21:7-13)
• David chose the plague, and the angel of the LORD killed 70,000 people. (1 Chronicles 7:14-15)

God didn’t even acknowledge the Devil’s part in this sin. This influence was known and expected. But God judged King David and all of Israel very harshly for this sin.

The Devil tried to make Jesus sin

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”
     Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.'”
     Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him. (Matthew 4:1-12 WEB)

Did the Devil make Judas betray Jesus?

The Devil is constantly whispering to anyone who’s heart is not right with God. And if we listen to his beguiling call, and are lead astray by his delusions, and seduced to do his will, then it will be too late for any of us. Even in the presence of God manifest in the flesh, Judas had reached a point where he couldn’t turn back. Do you think you are stronger?

• Have you hardened your heart against God like Pharoah – Don’t be like Pharaoh who chose to deny God, so God hardened his heart to bear the plagues until the destruction was complete

At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:66-71 WEB)

Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve. He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. They were glad, and agreed to give him money. He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:3-6 WEB)

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, (John 13:1-2a WEB)

I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.” (John 13:18-20 WEB)

Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. (John 13:26-30 WEB)

The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. (Matthew 26:48-50 NLT)

Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5 WEB)

The Devil wants to tempt you the same way

Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (John 10:7-10 WEB)

Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17 WEB)

Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:7-10 WEB)

Are you going to let him?

The footprints and fingerprints of the Devil are the same throughout history. He always tries to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce you into doing what he wants. But Christians have the spirit of God that has overcome the world, so you can resist.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 WEB)

No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 WEB)

For deeper study:

• 6 Satanic attributes Christians must avoid – These satanic attributes: pride, deceiver, accuser, thief, destroyer, and murder won’t end well for him so don’t follow them
• 10 differences between team Jesus Christ and team Antichrist – The difference between team Jesus Christ and team Antichrist depends on the motives of your heart attitude
• The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead – I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.