Is Satan Pro-Man?

Article by

Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org

When the choice is between exalting God or exalting man, Satan is pro-man. When the choice is between exalting Satan or exalting man, Satan is pro-Satan. Here are the texts.

1. In Mark 8 Jesus told his disciples he must suffer. Peter rebuked Jesus! Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mark 8:33).

So what Satan was standing  up for in the mouth of Peter was “the things of man.” He was very pro-man at that point. Beware that not all philosophies and social movements that talk up man are really good for man.

2. In John 8 Jesus said the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

A person lies and kills to get his way without concern for the good of others. Satan is a liar and murderer because he is totally self-centered. So he cares nothing for man (John 10:13), except where man’s prosperity can draw him away from God.

Is Satan pro-man? Yes, when it serves his God-belittling, self-exalting purposes. But in the process of standing with man he leads him to destruction.