Note 1 at Lu 22:3: Luke recorded Satan entering into Judas in this sequence, while John said that it happened during the Last Supper (Joh 13:27), two days later (compare Mt 26:2 with 26:17 and 20). If there was any conflict in these two accounts, Luke would once again have to be considered the authority, since he was the only writer who made an effort to record events in chronological order (see Life for Today Study Bible Notes, Introduction to Luke).

It is more probable, though, that both accounts are true and that Satan entered into Judas more than once. There are certainly many scriptural accounts where demons could not stay in the presence of the Lord (Mt 8:29; Mr 1:23-26, 5:7; Lu 4:33-35, and 8:28), and therefore it is not unreasonable that Satan had to come and go in his dealings with Judas when Jesus was not present.

Note 2 at Lu 22:3: Some people have speculated that Judas betrayed Jesus in an effort to force Him into a confrontation with the Roman government. Then He would have to use His supernatural power in self-defense and overthrow the Romans, thereby giving independence back to the nation of Israel.

This idea is based mainly on the fact that when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he "repented himself" (Mt 27:3), implying that the condemnation of Jesus was never his intent. However, Scripture does not endow Judas with noble, if misdirected, virtues. He was simply a thief (Joh 12:6).

This verse makes it very clear that Satan entered into Judas and that Satan was responsible for putting the betrayal of Jesus into Judas' heart (Joh 13:2). We can be assured that Satan's only purpose in motivating Judas to betray Jesus was to steal, kill, and destroy (Joh 10:10).

Moreover, the fact that Satan possessed Judas does not acquit Judas of responsibility for his actions. The devil goes about seeking whom he may devour (1Pe 5:8). He cannot devour just anyone. A person has to give place to him.

Judas had given Satan access to him through being a thief (Joh 12:6). He may have never intended to betray Jesus and, therefore, "repented himself" when he saw that Jesus was condemned (Mt 27:3), but once he began to willfully submit to the sin of thievery, it was hard to stop.

Sin cannot be controlled. We cannot just sin "a little." Sin, like a cancer, always grows until it brings forth death. Submitting ourselves to God and resisting the devil is our only guarantee against being devoured by the devil (Jas 4:7). We are not submitting to God nor resisting the devil when we choose to sin.