Is 'The Devil made me do it' ever a valid excuse?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

From the beginning, people have tried to shift blame for their sins onto others or even the Devil. For example, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (Genesis 3:12-13). While the Bible presents Satan as a real enemy who tempts and deceives (Genesis 3:1-5; 1 Peter 5:8), God still holds each sinner responsible (Genesis 3:16-19).

Although Satan can tempt people into sin, like when David numbered Israel, the person who sins is responsible and must repent (1 Chronicles 21:1, 8). Job shows that Satan cannot ultimately cause someone to sin, as Job endured severe testing without sinning (Job 1:22).

Jesus demonstrated how to handle the Devil’s temptations by resisting him with Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11). James explained that external temptation simply partners with our internal desire to sin. It is those internal desires that give birth to sin and lead to death (James 1:14-15). The individual is held accountable because he or she willingly sins.

Instead of blaming Satan, believers are called to resist him and stand firm in faith (Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). God provides a way to escape every temptation, showing that sin is never unavoidable (1 Corinthians 10:13).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The excuse, “the Devil made me do it,” appears early in the Bible’s story. After eating the forbidden fruit, Eve said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Genesis 3:13). Just before that, Adam had tried blaming Eve (Genesis 3:12). Yet God directly addressed and judged each responsible person (Genesis 3:14-19). That included the Devil (the serpent), but also Adam and Eve. Sinners tend to blame others, including Satan, for their sin, but God holds each person responsible for his or her sinful choice.
• We see this idea in the very next generation: Adam and Eve’s son, Cain. He burned with anger toward Abel because God accepted his sacrifice. When God rejected Cain’s sacrifice but approved of Abel’s, He warned Cain, saying, “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). God acknowledged the strong pull of evil but placed responsibility squarely on Cain to resist it. Therefore, when Cain murdered Abel, God held Cain completely guilty (Genesis 4:8-11).
• Job’s story demonstrates that, with God’s permission, Satan can test and afflict someone while being unable to force them to sin. After Job suffered devastating losses, Scripture says, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Job’s integrity amid suffering shows that Satan’s pressure, though real and painful, cannot cause someone to sin. Obedience is possible even during the fiercest spiritual battles (Job 2:10).
• While Job withstood the Devil’s temptations, David did not. First Chronicles 21 begins with, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1). That is, Satan did something to tempt David to number the people of Israel. Yet, David later confessed: “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing” (1 Chronicles 21:8). He did not say, “the Devil made me do it” because he understood that he was guilty regardless of whatever influence the Devil exerted on him. A parallel account in 2 Samuel highlights God’s sovereign role (2 Samuel 24:1). But even then, the Bible does not lessen David’s responsibility. Incitement explains the pressure but does not erase the guilt, which required repentance and sacrifice (1 Chronicles 21:16-26).
• In Zechariah, Satan accuses Joshua of sin. The Devil’s goal was to see Joshua judged and condemned. However, Scripture says, “the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, O Satan!’” (Zechariah 3:2). While Satan wanted Joshua condemned, God chose to remove his sin (Zechariah 3:3-5). This example of salvation through Jesus shows that our hope of escape from judgment does not come from blaming the Devil but from trusting in God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• People sin because of their own desires, as James wrote: “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire,” and that desire “gives birth to sin” (James 1:14-15).Individuals are responsible for their own sin, which makes repentance necessary (Acts 17:30).
• Jesus’ battle in the wilderness shows how to face the Devil’s temptations. Jesus answered each temptation with Scripture and finally said, “Be gone, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10). The Devil retreated because trusting in God’s word helps us resist him, and he cannot force anyone to sin (Matthew 4:1-11).
• The tragedy of Judas demonstrates that demonic involvement doesn’t remove personal responsibility. Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3; John 13:27), yet Jesus said, “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!” (Matthew 26:24). Jesus condemned Judas for betraying Him, not the Devil. Later, the apostles recognized that Scripture was fulfilled in Judas’ fall, but they did not excuse him from the sin he had committed (Acts 1:16-20).
• In the early Jerusalem church, a man named Ananias lied about how much he received from selling his property, hoping people would think he gave everything to the church. Peter confronted him: “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit … You have not lied to man but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). Peter recognized satanic influence, yet he held Ananias fully responsible before God. God judged and killed Ananiason the spot (Acts 5:5-11). Satan’s influence did not remove Ananias’ guilt.
• To resist Satan, believers must stand firm in Scripture to defend against his attacks. James wrote, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Similarly, Peter encouraged vigilance because “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8).
• Believers are not left alone in this fight. Paul assured the church that, in every temptation, “God is faithful … [and] will also provide the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Paul also called believers to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11-13). Christ has already disarmed the rulers and authorities through the cross, so Satan’s defeat is certain (Colossians 2:15). Because of what Christ did, believers can be victorious over any and all of the Devil’s temptations (Romans 6:11-14).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

You have an enemy who wants to see you fall. The pull of temptation can feel overwhelming, but you are not trapped. Scripture shows that we can confess sin, turn away from it, and receive mercy because Jesus died and rose for sinners (Romans 3:23-26; 1 John 1:9). Blaming the Devil is a way of absolving ourselves of sin. It also keeps us stuck in sin because we aren’t taking responsibility for it. Only by bringing our sin into the light by confessing it leads to real help, forgiveness, and change (Proverbs 28:13).

In practice, this means calling out the sin for what it is rather than searching for a scapegoat. When tempted, ask for the Spirit’s help, open your Bible, and look for the escape God has promised (1 Corinthians 10:13; Galatians 5:16). Invite a trusted believer into the struggle, confess quickly, and take concrete actions—delete the app, avoid the place, pursue reconciliation. Your goal is to recognize that your sinful heart wants to sin. With this awareness, guard yourself against the Devil’s lures. He is a master hunter and knows exactly what your heart desires and the bait to use. Put on the armor of God through prayer and daily obedience, confident that Christ’s victory is behind you (Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 2:15).

If you're not a Christian, come to Jesus today. Trust Him to forgive your sins, free you from slavery to them, and reconcile you to God (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). If you belong to Christ and have fallen, run back to Him; He is quick to forgive and restore you. Allow His grace to continue to train you to say no to ungodliness and to stand firm.

UNDERSTAND

• “The Devil made me do it” is not a valid excuse for sin.
• Each individual is personally responsible when he or she commits sins.
• Satan can lure us to sin, but we can resist Him by familiarity with God’s word and through prayer.

REFLECT

• Have you ever blamed anyone or anything other than yourself for sinning?
• What are some methods you use to ensure that you don’t fall into sins caused by your own sinful desires?
• How does confessing and repenting of your sin impact your relationship with God?

ENGAGE

• How can Christians engage our society about personal responsibility for sins in a world that seems to reject both sin and personal responsibility?
• How can blaming the Devil for sin impact individuals’ relationship with God?
• How can discussions about personal responsibility for sin lead to sharing the gospel?