Section 4:1–11

The devil tempted Jesus

In this section, God allowed Satan to tempt Jesus so that Jesus could show that he always obeyed his Father. The children of Israel had failed to obey God during their forty years in the wilderness. But Jesus, as the Messiah, proved his obedience to God during his forty days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. He “passed” this test and demonstrated that he truly was the “Son of God.”

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The temptation of Jesus
-or-
The devil tried to make Jesus sin
-or-
Jesus was tempted by the devil

There is a parallel passage for this section in Luke 4:1–11, and a shorter version occurs in Mark 1:12–13.

Paragraph 4:1–2

4:1a

Then: The conjunction Then introduces a new story. It also indicates that 4:1 happened after 3:17. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two stories. Use a general term that indicates that the events in this section happened shortly after the events in chapter 3.

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

Soon afterward

Jesus was led by the Spirit: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was led means to “guide or direct someone from a lower to a higher elevation.” Here the Holy Spirit led Jesus from the low area of the Jordan River to a higher elevation where the wilderness was located. The New International Version translates this phrase as:

Jesus was led up by the Spirit

In some languages, it is important to say whether people go up or down when they walk somewhere. In other languages, this will be unusual or may be confusing. If it is not natural in your language, you may use a more general expression as the Berean Standard Bible and some English versions do. For example:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (NET Bible)

The verb was led is passive.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

Jesus was led by the Spirit
-or-
Jesus was guided by the Spirit

• As an active verb. For example:

the Spirit led Jesus (New Century Version)
-or-
the Spirit directed Jesus
-or-
the Spirit went with Jesus

the Spirit: The phrase the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit. This is the same Spirit as the “Spirit of God” (in 3:16) and “Holy Spirit” (in 1:18).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s Spirit
-or-
the Spirit from God
-or-
Spirit belonging to God
-or-
Sacred/Pure Spirit

See the note on 1:18d for more information.

into the wilderness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wilderness refers to a wild, desolate area where few people lived. It was often a dry area, but it was not just barren sand and rock. Some wild grasses and bushes grew there. Some English versions translate this word as “desert.” But the focus here is that few people lived there, not that it was dry.

Some languages have a special word to refer to such an area, such as “the bush” (Africa) or “steppes” (Asia). It may be appropriate to use such a word here.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

desert (New International Version)
-or-
empty land
-or-
region where no one lives

This same word occurs in 3:1b.

4:1b

to be tempted by the devil: The clause to be tempted by the devil indicates the purpose for which the Spirit led Jesus into the desert. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert in order that he would be tempted by the devil.

This clause is also passive. Here are some other ways to translate this:

• As a passive clause. For example:

in order to be tempted by the devil

• As an active clause. For example:

so that the devil could tempt him
-or-
for the devil to tempt him

tempted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tempted means “tried to cause someone to sin.” The devil tried to make Jesus sin by telling him that obeying his advice would have good results. He lied to Jesus to encourage him to do what was wrong.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

encouraged/enticed to do wrong
-or-
tried to get Jesus to disobey ⌊God⌋
-or-
test (Contemporary English Version)

the devil: The phrase the devil refers to the chief of all evil spirits. One of his names is Satan. (In Hebrew this name means “enemy.”) He is the enemy of God and God’s people.

Here are some other ways to translate the devil:

• Use a local name or idiom that refers to the chief of all demons. Some languages say something like:

the left-handed one
-or-
the barking one

• Transliterate the term for “devil” or “Satan” in the national language. Make sure it sounds natural in your language. For example:

debili
-or-
Shatani

• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

chief/boss of the evil spirits

-or-

main enemy of God

Try to use a term that will be acceptable to churches in the area. It is suggested that you also add a footnote or glossary entry that further explains who the devil is. For example:

The devil is the leader of all evil spirits/demons. He had previously been an angel in heaven, but he rebelled against God. God expelled him from heaven, and now he tempts people on earth. Here are other names for Satan that are used in the Bible: “Beelzebul,” “the Evil One,” “the Enemy,” and “the Tempter.”

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