Why Does Jesus Call His Disciples Evil?

“So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13 NASB)

When speaking to disciples and giving instructions to them in regard to how to pray, Jesus refers to them as “being evil”. Here, He is not discussing their actions but their natures. As Christ-followers, the disciples were rightfully labelled in this manner because their flesh is still a part of this world and under the dominion of Satan (John 17:15; 1 John 5:20). In their new selves (being fully indwelled by the Holy Spirit at the time of Pentecost, the disciples would be enabled to fight against Satan with their saving faith in the gospel of Christ’s righteousness and their faithful handling of the Word of God (Eph 6:14-17). Moreover, they are assured protection from the Lord in their struggle (2 Thess 3:3).

Given that the believer continues to inhabit their earthly flesh in the present fallen world, the struggle against Satan and sin, for the believer, occurs internally and not just externally. Paul himself discusses this internal struggle in Romans 7:14-20:

“For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me” (NASB).

Like Paul, every Christian has to contend with his/her fallen flesh with its evil desires and sinful disposition. For Christians who falls into sin, they must remember that they are redeemed and made completely holy in Christ in regard to the new selves. Even so, they are rightly compelled to address any sin that remains in regard to their old selves. With this in view, how should Christians deal with sin in their lives?

To begin with, they should remind themselves of their initial experience with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. When they received salvation, no work was required of them because Jesus has already done the necessary work. Rather, they simply needed to repent and trust the resurrected Lord. Likewise, believers who fall back into sin should repent and seek God’s grace unto victory.