Revelation 12:10 tells us that Satan is the relentless accuser, accusing us day and night. Knowing this, can’t we simply ignore Satan’s accusations and go on with our lives? Not when we understand what a trap is actually designed to do. Matthew 22:15 says, “The Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him” (NLT). The Greek word “trap” means to ensnare or to fasten a noose.
Jesus was able to sidestep the booby traps that were set for Him because He knew what Satan would use to lure Him into a snare.
Satan couldn’t lay a finger on Jesus without legal access to Him. What gives Satan that access? Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Furthermore, Proverbs 6:2 says, “You are taken as in a net by the words of your mouth; the sayings of your lips have overcome you” (BBE). If Jesus were to speak death-filled words it would give Satan the ability to bring those words to pass. That’s why every word Jesus spoke agreed with what God said in His Word.
This is Satan’s hidden agenda behind every harassing accusation spoken against us and every hurtful deed done to us. Each of these fiery darts is designed to get us to say something that will give Satan access to our lives. But once we become aware of how important our words are, we can pray as David did: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NIV). As long as we keep a watch over our mouths, Satan doesn’t have a noose to tighten around our neck.
Yet Satan doesn’t give up just because we’ve become aware of his strategies. Instead, the fight becomes more antagonistic.
Notice how the simple questions the Pharisee’s asked Jesus soon escalated into an intense interrogation: “They grilled him with many hostile questions, trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him” (Luke 11:53-54 NLT). Again, the purpose of the Pharisees’ questions was to trap Jesus into saying words filled with death so Satan could put the noose around His neck and hang Him with it.
Notice that when Satan wasn’t successful in trapping Jesus with one line of questioning, he resorted to a variety of subjects. Once again, the devil hoped to provoke Jesus into a response he could use to hang Him. Satan pressed Jesus to give His opinion about divorce, taxes, the importance of keeping tradition, adultery, the most important commandment, and the way to get to Heaven, yet Jesus never took Satan’s bait. With each question, Jesus never got upset or gave His opinion. Instead, He pointed them to God’s Word rather than engaging in their debate.
When we know the purpose of Satan’s accusations then we can sidestep every booby trap that is set for us. We no longer have to be drawn and lured into Satan’s snares.
