Why does Jesus question being called "good" in Matthew 19:17? Context of Matthew 19:17 Matthew records a sincere but self-confident inquirer—later identified as a rich young ruler—approaching Jesus: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). By shifting the focus from “what good thing” to “Who is good,” Jesus redirects the man from a works-oriented mindset to the character of God Himself, establishing the proper starting point for any discussion about salvation. The Meaning of “Good” in Biblical Theology In Scripture, absolute goodness belongs exclusively to Yahweh: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good” (Psalm 118:1). Human acts may be relatively good, yet “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Jesus employs the divine standard—perfect, moral, absolute goodness—to dissolve the illusion that eternal life can be earned by finite human effort. Jesus’ Rhetorical Strategy 1. Clarification: By questioning the ruler’s premise, Jesus forces him to define “good” in God-centered terms. 2. Confrontation: The question exposes the man’s superficial flattery and self-reliance. 3. Invitation: After redefining goodness, Jesus presents the commandments as a mirror (James 1:23-25) and ultimately calls the ruler to discipleship (“Come, follow Me,” v. 21), pointing to Himself as the embodied goodness of God. Affirmation of Divine Goodness Jesus states, “There is only One who is good” (Matthew 19:17). Far from denying His own goodness, He upholds the monotheistic creed of Deuteronomy 6:4 while implicitly challenging the ruler to recognize that the goodness he seeks resides fully in the One standing before him (John 14:9). Did Jesus Deny His Deity? No. Throughout Matthew Jesus accepts worship (14:33; 28:9), forgives sins (9:2-6), and claims eschatological authority (25:31-46). Questioning the ruler’s use of “good” does not repudiate His divinity; it sharpens it. If only God is good and Jesus is truly good, the unavoidable conclusion is that Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14). Parallel Accounts and Harmonization Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19 quote Jesus, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” The Synoptics together establish a two-pronged probe: (a) What is genuinely good? (b) Who is Jesus? The composite narrative reinforces a single theological thrust—recognition of Jesus’ divine identity as the sole path to eternal life. Moral Pedagogy: Confronting Self-Righteousness Human behavioral research confirms a pervasive “self-enhancement bias.” Jesus confronts this bias by measuring the ruler against the unbending law (Exodus 20). The young man claims, “All these I have kept” (Matthew 19:20), illustrating humanity’s tendency to underestimate sin. Jesus then surfaces the concealed idol of wealth, revealing law-keeping insufficiency (v. 22). The Call to Perfect Obedience and Grace Per Mosaic covenant terms, perfect obedience brings life (Leviticus 18:5). When Jesus demands total surrender of possessions (Matthew 19:21), He effectively presents an impossible standard, preparing the heart for grace: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v. 26). The ruler’s departure saddened (v. 22) demonstrates the law’s function: to drive sinners to Christ, the fulfillment of the law (Romans 10:4). Intertextual Echoes with the Old Testament • “No one is good but God” parallels Psalm 14:3. • The invitation to “follow Me” recalls the call of Elisha by Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21), symbolizing total abandonment of former securities. • Selling possessions to aid the poor reflects Deuteronomy 15:7-11, fulfilling the Torah’s social justice. Early Christian Witness and Patristic Commentary Chrysostom: “He says this not to deny goodness in Himself, but to lead the man to confess that He is God.” Augustine harmonizes Matthew, Mark, and Luke by noting Jesus confronted either the man’s deed-centered question or his casual title, converging on the same truth: divine goodness. Systematic Theology: Christ’s Sinlessness and Deity New Testament testimony upholds Jesus’ flawless moral purity—John 8:46; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22. If sinlessness equals perfect goodness and only God is good, Christ’s sinlessness ratifies His deity. The resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) seals this claim historically, as verified by multiple independent eyewitness strands and the empty tomb. Practical Application for Today Believers must guard against redefining goodness in cultural or comparative terms. True goodness is measured by God’s holy character, displayed perfectly in Christ. Evangelistically, the passage provides a template: expose self-reliance, elevate God’s standard, reveal the heart-idol, and present Christ as Savior. Concluding Summary By questioning the ruler’s concept of “good,” Jesus: 1. Centers the discussion on God’s absolute goodness. 2. Challenges superficial flattery and self-merit. 3. Reveals His own divine identity. 4. Prepares the ground for grace by showcasing the impossibility of law-based salvation. Thus, Matthew 19:17 is not a denial of Christ’s deity but a masterful redirection that unveils it, leading earnest seekers from human “good works” to the only truly Good One—the risen Lord Jesus, sole source of eternal life. |
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