John 13 - How did the 'devil' put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, what about his free will?

[pepipop]

John 13:1-15 (New American Standard Bible)

I heard this at mass this evening and didn’t really understand how the devil can place a ‘sinful act’ into someone’s heart. I thought Judas’s sin would have been through his own free will. A bit confused.

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John 13:1-15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
John 13
The Lord’s Supper
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [a]to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

 

[Mintaka]

God can put it into my heart to do a kindly act, or not to do something sinful.

But what do I do with that? Do I obey the inspiration, or do I not?

So sure, the devil could put bad ideas into Judas’ heart and mind. (“Heart” meant mind, in the Hebrew way of saying things.) But Judas didn’t have to take that idea and run with it. He made the choice himself.

 

[Godfollower]

The devil tempted Judas. He didn’t force Judas to do anything; that was Judas’ free act.

 

[105lynne]

I think of the devil’s influence like peer pressure for teens. Like teens, the devil can tempt you in many ways, but the ultimate decision on whether or not you listen is your own.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Add to that, the devil got Judas coming and going.Cardinal Dolan,last Lent,spoke of the differences between Peter and Judas.They both betrayed Jesus,they both wept bitterly for what they had done.The difference? Peter believed in Our Lord’s mercy,as a result he experienced,what Cardinal Dolan referred to as “resplendent reparation " .Whereas,Judas felt he could never be forgiven.As a result, he hanged himself.Judas experienced"ruinous remorse”.

 

[coachkfan1]

The Bible says that Satan “entered” Judas. To me this sounds like demonic possession. Not really sure how that affects this conversation, but that’s what it sounds like to me.

 

[pepipop]

The Bible says that Satan “entered” Judas. To me this sounds like demonic possession. Not really sure how that affects this conversation, but that’s what it sounds like to me.

I know, it depends on which bible you read. Tonight’s reading used a word that gave a stronger insinuation of the devil’s power than the above - but I cannot remember the word, hence why I was surprised by the reading.

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

Judas felt he could never be forgiven.As a result, he hanged himself.Judas experienced"ruinous remorse".

I am of the opinion that while Jesus knew Judas’s heart, he continiously gave him chance after chance to change and experience Our Lord’s Divine Mercy. He never did change, in fact he went away from Our Lord to his very death in the most selfish of ways (suicide).

OTOH, as depicted in the movie “Passion of the Christ,” Peter realizes what he did just as Jesus had told him previously and what does he do? Seeks out Our Blessed Mother first and foremost. Jesus had alluded to the fact that Judas would betray him multiple times beforehand, perhaps not as directly toward him as Jesus had informed Peter about his denial and the cock crowing. Perhaps Judas simply lacked the humility to think that he could find himself guilty of betraying Jesus.

Judas didn’t listen to Jesus beforehand and certainly didn’t seem to have any inclination towards turning back to him after his betrayal, his choices to make based on his free will. Judas chose to fall to the tempations of the devil time and time again, even if he was possessed as some have suggested he had to witness Jesus curing a possession at least once during his time with him. He knew Jesus was the answer to all his issues, yet serves as arguably the best example of impenitence.

 

[loozcannon]

Yes, but it could it not be argued that had Judas not betrayed Jesus, we wouldn’t have the crucifixion? Obviously, Jesus did know it would be Judas who betrayed him. Utlitmately, could it not be argued it was God’s will Judas betray Jesus; thereby enabling Christ’s crucifixion?

God bless.

 

[loozcannon]

But to answer OP’s question, I agree with the others. In the end, Judas ultimately decided to hand Him over.

 

[57Bill]

Add to that, the devil got Judas coming and going.Cardinal Dolan,last Lent,spoke of the differences between Peter and Judas.They both betrayed Jesus,they both wept bitterly for what they had done.The difference? Peter believed in Our Lord’s mercy,as a result he experienced,what Cardinal Dolan referred to as “resplendent reparation " .Whereas,Judas felt he could never be forgiven.As a result, he hanged himself.Judas experienced"ruinous remorse”.

This is a keeper:thumbsup:

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

Yes, but it could it not be argued that had Judas not betrayed Jesus, we wouldn’t have the crucifixion? Obviously, Jesus did know it would be Judas who betrayed him. Utlitmately, could it not be argued it was God’s will Judas betray Jesus; thereby enabling Christ’s crucifixion?

God bless.

The Sanhedrin were looking to arrest Jesus, Judas’s actions enabled this to occur quickly and in a secretive manner. If we’re speculating and we say Judas had never been born (and on down the rabbit hole we go, would he have been better off, etc… {please disregard, just pointing out how endless this speculation could be}) I would surmise that Jesus would have been arrested at some point, the Sanhedrin wouldn’t allow him to subvert their authority nor would the Romans. Both parties would want to avoid uprisings and fear reprisals from one another as well as Rome proper itself. For them, holding onto their authority at the cost of one man’s life is an easy descision to make.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

The devil or evil can enter anyone’s heart, and they will willingly sin. We are all sinners. Everyone is good,because they are made by God, but evil corrupts goodness, it needs goodness to exist.

If you repent of the evil you have done, God will always forgive you. Judas did not repent.

 

[Godfollower]

The devil or evil can enter anyone’s heart, and they will willingly sin. We are all sinners. Everyone is good,because they are made by God, but evil corrupts goodness, it needs goodness to exist.

The devil can only enter your heart by your consent. He cannot force you to choose evil.

If you repent of the evil you have done, God will always forgive you. Judas did not repent.

We don’t know whether Judas repented. Maybe so; maybe not.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

The devil can only enter your heart by your consent. He cannot force you to choose evil.

We don’t know whether Judas repented. Maybe so; maybe not.

If people are unaware of the evil they do, the devil can enter their hearts and cause them to sin. For example, many people are unaware that birth control is sinful. Therefore they choose it, and the devil is glad to lead them there. I wouldn’t call them consenting, I’d call them ignorant.

Probably Judas did not repent. Otherwise he wouldn’t have killed himself. He felt hopeless.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Anne Catherine Emmerich makes an interesting statement in her vision

Jesus on this occasion gave Judas the morsel, in order thus to warn him, without making known his guilt to the others. But the heart of Judas burned with anger, and during the whole time of the repast, I saw a frightful little figure seated at his feet, and sometimes ascending to his heart. (Meditation 6)

During the entire meal, I had seen a frightful little figure, with one foot like a dried bone, remaining close to Judas, but when he had reached the door, I beheld three devils pressing round him; one entered into his mouth, the second urged him on, and the third preceded him. It was night, and they seemed to be lighting him, whilst he hurried onward like a madman. (Meditation 8)

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Anne Catherine Emmerich makes an interesting statement in her vision

Jesus on this occasion gave Judas the morsel, in order thus to warn him, without making known his guilt to the others. But the heart of Judas burned with anger, and during the whole time of the repast, I saw a frightful little figure seated at his feet, and sometimes ascending to his heart. (Meditation 6)

During the entire meal, I had seen a frightful little figure, with one foot like a dried bone, remaining close to Judas, but when he had reached the door, I beheld three devils pressing round him; one entered into his mouth, the second urged him on, and the third preceded him. It was night, and they seemed to be lighting him, whilst he hurried onward like a madman. (Meditation 8)

wow - powerful stuff!