Genesis 4:7 – “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” If we don't rule over it, it will rule over us.
According to the Torah, Human's have evil desires. Genesis 6:5 tells us that “Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The Torah also tells us in Genesis 8:21 that “The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” We have an ongoing bent toward evil desires.
Judaism calls this tendency toward evil the "Yetzer Hara." Yetzer (יֵצֶר) is a Hebrew term referring to an innate inclination, impulse, or urge within humanity. Yetzer comes from the root (y-tz-r) meaning "to form." Hara (הָרָע) is a combination of the Hebrew definite article ha (the) and the adjective ra (evil or bad).
According to Jewish sages and tradition, the Yetzer Hara exists from birth, Whereas the Yetzer Hatov (good inclination) enters a child the moment the child becomes a legal adult in Jewish law and is formally obligated to keep the mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. This is known as their Bar or Bat Mitzvah (age 13 for boys and 12 for girls). The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony is a celebration of that inner transformation it is a public declaration of the acceptance to follow the way of the Torah.
In Jewish thought, the Yetzer is broken into two forces: the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and the yetzer hatov (good inclination). It is not merely a "bad" force but a creative, self-serving drive that is necessary for life—such as for building homes and starting families—but must be managed, channeled, and balanced to avoid immoral actions
Satan Exploits Our Desires
Desires of the heart have gotten people in trouble since Eve took the forbidden fruit in the Garden.
Genesis 3:1-6— Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate,
The bible depicts a struggle over who will exercise rule. Psalm 81:12 (echoed in Romans 1:24) shows God “giving them over” to their stubborn hearts, implying that what we desire eventually rules us when God ceases restraining it.
JUDAS ISCARIOT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BEING GIVEN OVER
Why did Judas Iscariot betray Yeshua? It is NOT as simple as "for the money." That's the convenient reason on the surface. If we look deeper we find the real reason.
The deeper reason with Judas has to do with the enormous desires of the Jewish people in that time period for the messiah—a messiah that would over throw the Romans. I wrote about this just the other day in a blog post I called "Betrayal? Look Deeper!" Here is a link to the post:
https://bobritterblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/betrayal-look-deeper.html
In "The Chosen," a film series about the ministry of Yeshua (Jesus), the motives of Judas are stated by his character. If you fast forward to 20 minutes into this episode you will hear Judas's motives.
The Complete Last Supper|The Chosen
 |
| Jesus looking at a broken piece of matzah. He knows what he must face. |
GIVEN OVER - PROTECTION WITHDRAWN
In the story of the original passover in the book of Exodus, God protects the homes of those who have the blood of the pure lamb on the doorposts of their house. The others are given over to the destroyer.
Commentators note that the blood is a visible sign of obedient trust in God’s word, and the LORD himself actively restrains “the destroyer” from entering those homes.
The Last Supper episode above beautifully depicts the moment this concept is mirrored at the last meal Jesus shares with the 12 Disciples.
Fast forward to 28 minutes into this episode. Notice Yeshua telling John to his right. Then listen carefully to what He says to Judas to His Left after that.
John notes that “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot…to betray him” (John 13:2), showing the seed of betrayal first as an inner suggestion lodged in the heart.
A few verses later, “after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him” (John 13:27), marking a grim climax: what began as a thought in the heart becomes a dominating power that now uses Judas as its instrument.
In Exodus, houses under the blood are protected from the destroyer, while the rest are exposed; in John 13, Judas hardens into his choice and is effectively handed over to the destroyer’s rule, in contrast to the others who remain under Jesus’ care.
