WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD? NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE: Understanding the Words of Jesus

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Many critics use the words of Jesus, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mk 10:18; Lk 18:19), to prove that Christ did not really claim to be God. This was Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler who called Him “Good Teacher” (Mk 10:17; Lk 18:18). But it is an obvious teaching of the Bible that Christ is God (Jn 1:1, 14; 5:18; Col 2:9; Heb 1:8; Phil 2:6; etc.) and that He claimed to be God (Mk 2:5–7; Jn 8:58; 10:30; etc.). Therefore, it is impossible to say that He was denying His divinity here. How then should we understand Christ’s words in this scene? Several suggestions are offered to explain His response:

1. Christ’s answer challenges the rich young ruler’s self-certainty.

The rich young ruler asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ reply, “Only God is good,” was meant to challenge the man’s assumption that he could attain eternal life by his own efforts. If God alone is truly good, then how can anyone be good enough to earn salvation? Matthew’s version makes this even clearer when Jesus says, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good” (Matt 19:17). Christ may have been showing the man, from the very start of their conversation, that no matter how religious he was, he still fell short of God’s perfect standard of goodness. Later, the young man walked away from Jesus with sorrow, because he could not let go of his possessions to follow Him (Matt 19:22; Mk 10:22; Lk 18:23). His “goodness” was not enough for him to abandon everything for Christ.

2. Christ’s answer invites the rich young ruler to reflect on his idea of Jesus.

It is also possible that Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to think carefully about calling Him “Good Teacher.” In other words, it was as though Christ was saying, “Do you understand what you’re saying when you call me ‘good’? Are you implying that I am God?” If this is the case, then Jesus was not denying that He is God when He said that only God is good. Rather, He was drawing the man to recognize the implication of his own words. Most likely, the man failed to grasp the full weight of what he had just said about Christ. As Geisler and Howe (1992) explain: “Thus Jesus was forcing him to a very uncomfortable dilemma. Either Jesus was good and God, or else He was bad and man. A good God or a bad man, but not merely a good man. Those are the real alternatives with regard to Christ. For no good man would claim to be God when he was not.”

3. Christ’s answer was an act of modesty.

At that time, it was common to compliment teachers. And during those days, it was considered proper and respectful to deflect praise. Even today, humility often sounds better when one does not accept a compliment directly, even if it’s true! By saying that only God is good, Christ was redirecting the attention to the Father and away from Himself. This kind of attitude is something we see repeatedly in Him (Jn 5:19; 5:30; 8:50; 17:1; etc.).

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The rich young ruler had everything the world could offer. He had possessions because he was rich. He had energy and time because he was young. He had power and influence because he was a ruler. He had a good moral background because he was raised religiously. If there were a list of those who seemed most deserving to inherit eternal life, he would surely be at the top! Yet, only God is truly good. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10). This is why the disciples asked in amazement, “Who then can be saved?” (Matt 19:25). The truth is, no one can. But what is impossible for man is possible with God: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v. 26). Through the work of the Good Teacher, we can now receive eternal life. Stay Curious.

Sources and Studies:

Howe, T., and Geisler, N. (1992). “Matthew 19:16–30 (cf. Mark 10:17–31 ; Luke 18:18–30)—If Jesus was God, why did He seem to rebuke the rich young ruler for calling Him good?” 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘳π˜ͺ𝘡π˜ͺ𝘀𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘬. (p. 298). Victor Books.
Keiser, W., et al., (1996). “10:18 Why Do You Call Me Good?” . 𝘏𝘒𝘳π˜₯ 𝘚𝘒𝘺π˜ͺ𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘡𝘩𝘦 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦. (pp. 400-401). InterVarsity Press
Walton, J. and, Keener, C. (2016). “See footnotes for Matt 10:17-18”. π˜•π˜π˜ 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘡𝘢𝘳𝘒𝘭 𝘚𝘡𝘢π˜₯𝘺 π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦. (p. 1710). Zondervan

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