What is the meaning of Mark 10:18? Why do you call Me good? Jesus begins with a probing question, moving the rich young ruler from flattery to self-examination. By challenging the use of the word “good,” He forces the man to think about what true goodness entails. • Romans 3:12 reminds us, “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” The comparison between human goodness and divine goodness immediately surfaces. • Ecclesiastes 7:20 echoes the same: “Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” • The question also nudges the hearer to recognize Jesus’ own identity. If only God is good and Jesus is truly good, then Jesus must be more than a mere teacher (John 14:9; John 10:30). In raising the issue, Jesus graciously dismantles superficial views of morality and prepares the heart for a deeper understanding of salvation. Jesus replied Mark notes that Jesus “replied,” underscoring His deliberate, thoughtful engagement. He doesn’t brush off the compliment; He redirects it toward truth. • Parallel accounts (Matthew 19:17; Luke 18:19) show the same calm, authoritative response. • Jesus’ manner fits His larger pattern—He often answers questions with questions (Mark 11:30; Luke 20:3–4) to reveal motives and invite reflection. • By replying rather than rebuking harshly, He models the gentle yet firm approach urged in 2 Timothy 2:24–25. The exchange reveals a Savior who values sincere seekers yet refuses to let them remain in comfortable misunderstanding. No one is good Here Jesus states an absolute moral fact. In literal terms, not one human being qualifies as inherently good. • Psalm 14:3 repeats this verdict: “All have turned away, all alike have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” • Isaiah 64:6 describes our best efforts as “filthy rags,” emphasizing that even noble deeds are tainted by sin. • 1 John 1:8 cautions, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This declaration strips away self-reliance. The rich young ruler thought he had kept the commandments (Mark 10:20), but Jesus shows that external compliance cannot erase the inner corruption common to all. Except God alone Having dismissed human claims to goodness, Jesus points to the sole source of perfect righteousness—God Himself. • Psalm 25:8 affirms, “Good and upright is the LORD.” • James 1:17 adds, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” • 1 John 1:5 declares, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” • By implication, Jesus directs attention back to His own divine nature. Later He says plainly, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). The same goodness attributed uniquely to God is perfectly embodied in Christ (Colossians 2:9). Thus the statement both confronts human sinfulness and quietly unveils the deity of Jesus. summary Mark 10:18 dismantles shallow notions of human goodness, confronts pride, and redirects all honor to God alone. Jesus’ pointed question reveals that: • Humans fall short of God’s perfect standard. • Genuine goodness belongs exclusively to God. • Recognizing this truth prepares the heart to see Jesus as the divine Savior who alone meets the standard we never could. |
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