A common misinterpretation is that Satan fully possessed Judas, stripping him of free will and absolving personal sin, whereas the verse depicts the devil merely implanting the idea into Judas' already receptive heart, aligning with Judas' prior actions like theft and greed; another error assumes the supper had completely ended before the foot-washing, ignoring the Greek phrasing indicating it was still in progress and disrupting the narrative sequence; some also wrongly see this as evidence of Jesus' surprise or vulnerability, overlooking his repeated predictions of betrayal throughout the Gospel which affirm his omniscience and purposeful path to the cross.
John 13:2
King James Version (1769)
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
John 13:2 reveals the spiritual dimension behind Judas Iscariot's betrayal during the Last Supper, stating that the devil put betrayal into his heart as the meal concluded. This highlights the reality of satanic influence exploiting human weakness to thwart God's plan, yet it underscores Jesus' sovereign awareness and control, proceeding with humble service and sacrifice despite knowing the treachery ahead, emphasizing themes of divine foreknowledge, human culpability, and the cosmic battle between good and evil in the context of redemption.