Author
Erica Carey
Author
Erica Carey
Can a believer rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus?
A Christian's beliefs and practices must come out of Scripture, so if something we believe or practice is not supported by the Bible, then we must reject it as false.
In the case of "rebuking the devil," this idea is not supported by any Biblical passage, and in fact the Bible specifically directs us to NOT attempt such things:
Jude says that men (and women) who attempt to pronounce a judgment against Satan "do not understand" because they are "unreasoning animals" that are ultimately "destroyed" (v.10). They have gone the way of Cain, which means to rebel against God's authority. Those who teach that a believer has the power to "rebuke" Satan are the type of false teachers Jude is describing here.
The Bible clearly prohibits "rebuking" Satan, and Judes reminds us that not even the most powerful archangel Michael had authority to rebuke the enemy. If that angel can't rebuke the devil, then we can't either, because it does not work and only plays into the enemy's hands.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org