ESV Study Bible Matt 4

Matt. 4:1 Jesus was led up by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit guided Jesus in his earthly life, providing a pattern for Jesus' followers to be empowered and led by the Holy Spirit (cf. notes on Gal. 5:16; 5:17; 5:18). The Greek for tempted (peirazō) can also mean “test.” While God clearly never tempts anyone to do evil (see note on James 1:13), he does use circumstances to test a person's character (e.g., Heb. 11:17). by the devil. Diabolos (Gk. “slanderer, accuser”) is here preceded by the definite article to indicate that this one who tempts Jesus is uniquely “the devil” (see also Matt. 4:5, 8, 11; 13:39; 25:41). Although the devil intends to thwart God's plan and purposes, the Father uses his evil intention for the good purpose of strengthening Jesus in his messianic role. « Less