Recent conversations have raised an intriguing question. Can a person rebuke or damn Satan? Satan is a real being (Ephesians 6:11). He is a mighty angel who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:13-14), was cast out of his position in Heaven (Ezekiel 28:16), rules an army of fallen angels (Matthew 12:24), exercises authority over the earth and humanity (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2), and is bent on the destruction of mankind (1 Peter 5:8).

Because Satan is an angel, he is inherently greater in might and glory than any human (Psalm 8:5). As the prince of this world, Satan has genuine authority over the entire earth. Satan’s defeat has been assured by the death of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 12:28-29; Luke 10:18; John 12:31; 16:12). However, he still possesses substantial power over the earth. The might, power, and authority of Satan should make any person think carefully about how they address the Devil.

The book of Jude mentions a conflict between Satan and Michael, one of the chief angels of Heaven. Jude says false teachers “speak evil of dignitaries.” (Jude 1:8) He then contrasts the temerity of false teachers with the wisdom of the archangel Michael. He “dared not bring against (Satan) a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” Jude connects the false teacher’s slander of dignitaries with the dispute between Michael and Satan. This connection indicates the maligned dignitaries include angels, demons, and Satan. Jude’s point is clear. Those who teach Christians to speak evil of angelic creatures, including Satan, are false teachers. Since one of the greatest angels in Heaven dared not rebuke or condemn Satan, then no Christian should dare to revile the Devil.

In Matthew 16 Jesus granted Peter the authority to bind and loose. Some have interpreted that promise to include the authority to bind Satan. However, Jesus does not speak of Satan in that conversation. Jesus nowhere teaches that Christians have the power to bind Satan. The focus of Matthew 16:13-20 is the deity of Jesus and the establishment of the church. Jesus promises the gates of Hell will not prevail against the church, but He is not promising the power to bind Satan. He gives assurance the church will continue and will not be cut off by the assault of any power. This promise is defensive, not offensive. Christ will secure His church and it will stand. Jesus does not enable the church to storm Hell or equip Christians to engage Satan in hand to hand combat.

Matthew 18:18 also speaks of binding and loosing. Both Matthew 16 and Matthew 18 speak of binding and loosing as a function of the church. The authority to bind and loose was first granted to Peter (Matthew 16:19) and then to the church (Matthew 18:18). Matthew 18:18 is the only place in the New Testament which gives particulars about the function of binding and loosing. The authority to bind and loose is directly related to the church’s discipline of a sinning believer (Matthew 18:15-17). Binding and loosing is never spoken of in relation to Satan but in relation to others in the church. Jesus gave the church the authority to determine who is and is not a part of the congregation. He did not give anyone the authority to tell Satan to “hit the bricks.”

The New Testament gives believers clear instructions about the right response to Satan. The Bible does not instruct a Christian to rebuke Satan. Scripture does not include a single example of a Christian rebuking Satan. The Christian is not to command Satan, but to resist him (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9). The Christian is not to condemn Satan, but to stand firm against his attacks. (Ephesians 6:11-14). God promises the believer if he will resist the Devil, then Satan will flee. The Christian has no need for dramatic denunciations of the Devil. The believer who relies upon the power of God and remains steadfast in faithful obedience to God’s Word will be victorious over Satan because, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)