New International Version “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” New Living Translation “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” English Standard Version And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” Berean Standard Bible “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Berean Literal Bible And He said to him, “Why do you ask Me about the good? One is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” King James Bible And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. New King James Version So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” New American Standard Bible And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” NASB 1995 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” NASB 1977 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Legacy Standard Bible And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Amplified Bible Jesus answered, “Why are you asking Me about what is [essentially] good? There is only One who is [essentially] good; but if you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.” Berean Annotated Bible “Why do you ask Me about what is good [Why do you call Me good]? Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments. Christian Standard Bible “Why do you ask me about what is good? ” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Holman Christian Standard Bible “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."” American Standard Version And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. Contemporary English Version Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments." English Revised Version And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. GOD'S WORD® Translation Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments." Good News Translation "Why do you ask me concerning what is good?" answered Jesus. "There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life." International Standard Version Jesus asked him, "Why ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to get into that life, you must keep the commandments." NET Bible He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." New Heart English Bible He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? No one is good but one. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Webster's Bible Translation And he said to him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Weymouth New Testament "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “There is no one who is good but God. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” World English Bible He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good except one—God; but if you will to enter into life, keep the commands.” Berean Literal Bible And He said to him, “Why do you ask Me about the good? One is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Young's Literal Translation And he said to him, 'Why me dost thou call good? no one is good except One -- God; but if thou dost will to enter into the life, keep the commands.' Smith's Literal Translation And he said to him, Why sayest thou me good? None is good except one, God; but if thou wouldst come into life, keep the commands. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Catholic Public Domain Version And he said to him: “Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.” New American Bible He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” New Revised Standard Version And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe said to him, Why do you call me good? There is no one who is good except the one God; but if you want to enter into life, obey the commandments. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But he said to him, “Why do you call me good? There is none good except God alone. But if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentWhy do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is God. But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. Godbey New Testament And He said to him, Haweis New Testament Then he said to him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, even God: but if thou art desirous of entering into life, keep the commandments. Mace New Testament and he said to him, why do you stile me good? there is but one that is good, that is God, but if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. Weymouth New Testament "Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments." Worrell New Testament And He said to him, Worsley New Testament And He said unto him, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Rich Young Man16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” 17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,… Cross References “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Mark 10:18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Luke 18:19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Romans 3:12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Jesus replied. Mark 12:29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Matthew 22:37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Luke 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” “There is only One who is good. Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations. Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him. James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. If you want to enter life, Mark 9:43-47 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. / where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’ / If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. … Matthew 18:8-9 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. / And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. John 5:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. keep the commandments.” John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 1 John 2:3-4 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Mark 10:18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Treasury of Scripture And he said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. there. 1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Psalm 52:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Psalm 145:7-9 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness… but. Leviticus 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. Ezekiel 20:11,12 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them… Luke 10:26-28 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? … Jump to Previous Askest Commandments Commands Desire Enter Good Jesus Life Obey Questioning Rules Want Wilt Wish WouldestJump to Next Askest Commandments Commands Desire Enter Good Jesus Life Obey Questioning Rules Want Wilt Wish WouldestMatthew 19 1. Jesus heals the sick;3. answers the Pharisees concerning divorce; 10. shows when marriage is necessary; 13. receives the little children; 16. instructs the young man how to attain eternal life; 20. and how to be perfect; 23. tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God; 27. and promises reward to those who forsake all to follow him. “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” The wealthy young ruler approached Jesus believing that eternal life could be secured by a sufficient good deed. Jesus directs him away from confidence in human achievement and toward God, the true standard of goodness. Mrk 10:18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied.… Jesus replied. Jesus answers in a way that exposes the man’s deeper need. The issue is not merely what he has done, but whether he recognizes God’s authority and his own need before Him. Mrk 12:29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel,… “There is only One who is good. Perfect goodness belongs to God alone. Jesus does not deny His own divine identity; He confronts the man with the truth that no human work can measure up to God’s holiness. Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures… If you want to enter life, Eternal life is life with God, not simply a reward earned by outward religious effort. Jesus leads the man to consider whether he truly desires to submit to God. Mrk 9:43-47 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.… keep the commandments.” The commandments reveal God’s righteous standard and test the young man’s claim to obedience. In the following conversation, his attachment to wealth shows that his heart was not fully devoted to God. Jhn 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to a question about what is good, emphasizing the nature of goodness and the importance of the commandments. 2. Rich Young Ruler Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context involves a wealthy young man seeking eternal life, prompting Jesus' response. 3. Commandments Refers to the laws given by God, particularly those found in the Old Testament, which Jesus highlights as essential for entering life. 4. Eternal Life The ultimate goal of the rich young ruler's inquiry, representing salvation and life with God. 5. God Referred to as the "One who is good," emphasizing the divine standard of goodness. Teaching Points Understanding True GoodnessJesus emphasizes that only God is truly good, challenging us to recognize our need for divine grace and guidance. The Role of the Commandments Keeping the commandments is essential for entering life, highlighting the importance of obedience in the Christian walk. The Nature of Eternal Life Eternal life is not just about following rules but involves a relationship with God, who is the source of all goodness. Self-Reflection on Goodness We are called to examine our own lives in light of God's standard of goodness, recognizing our shortcomings and need for a Savior. The Call to Discipleship Jesus' response invites us to a deeper commitment to following Him, beyond mere rule-keeping, to a life transformed by His teachings. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 19:17?2. How does Matthew 19:17 emphasize the importance of obeying God's commandments today? 3. What does "there is only One who is good" reveal about God's nature? 4. How can we apply Jesus' teaching on goodness in our daily lives? 5. Which Old Testament commandments align with Jesus' message in Matthew 19:17? 6. How does understanding God's goodness influence our relationship with Him and others? 7. Why does Jesus question being called "good" in Matthew 19:17? 8. How does Matthew 19:17 challenge the concept of inherent human goodness? 9. What does Matthew 19:17 imply about the nature of God and goodness? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 19? (17) Why callest thou me good?--Here again the older MSS. give a different form to our Lord's answer: "Why askest thou Me concerning that which is good? There is One that is the Good." The alteration was probably made, as before, for the sake of agreement with the other Gospels. In either case the answer has the same force. The questioner had lightly applied the word "good" to One whom he as yet regarded only as a human teacher, to an act which, it seemed to him, was in his own power to perform. What he needed, therefore, was to be taught to deepen and widen his thoughts of goodness until they rose to Him in whom alone it was absolute and infinite, through fellowship with whom only could any teacher rightly be called good, and from whom alone could come the power to do any good thing. The method by which our Lord leads him to that conclusion may, without irreverence, be permitted to call up the thought of the method in which Socrates is related to have dealt with like questioners, both in the grave, sad irony of the process, and in the self-knowledge in which it was designed to issue. Keep the commandments.--The questioner is answered as from his own point of view. If eternal life was to be won by doing, there was no need to come to a new Teacher for a new precept. It was enough to keep the commandments, the great moral laws of God, as distinct from ordinances and traditions (Matthew 15:3), with which every Israelite was familiar. Verse 17. - Why callest thou me good? Such is the reading of the received text here, and without any variation in the parallel passages of Mark and Luke. Our Lord takes the ruler to task for applying this epithet to him. unless the youth believed in his Divinity. You think of me only as a learned Teacher: how, then, can you speak of me in a term which can really be predicated of no child of man? Christ answers the ruler's address before he touches the subject of his interrogation, reproving him for using a form of words without realizing its full import. This is all plain enough; but many good manuscripts, including א B, D, etc., Vulgate, and other versions, read, Why askest thou me concerning the good? Most modern editors and the Revised Version have adopted this reading, which they hold to be genuine, and to have been altered subsequently in order to conform it to the other synoptists. If this is so, it is difficult to see whence Mark and Luke obtained their wording, unless - which is improbable - our Lord used both interrogations on the same occasion. The revised reading expresses Christ's astonishment at having this question asked; and it may be taken, as Bengel suggests, "He who is good ought to be interrogated about the good;" or, "What is right to do, you ought to know; it can only be obedience to the Author of all goodness." There is none good but one, that is, God. Here again the reading varies. The other synoptists agree with the received text of Matthew, except that Luke has εῖς Θεὸς instead of εῖς Θεός. Late editors, following א, B, D, etc., have printed, εῖς ἐστὶν ὁ ἀγαθός: one there is who is good, or one is the good. God alone is the absolutely good; he alone can instruct you and put you certainly in the right way. Persons have been found to argue from this sentence that Christ renounces all claim to be God Almighty. But it is not so. He replies to what was in the young man's mind. The ruler regarded Jesus as man only; Jesus intimates that, in comparison with God, no man is good. He does not deny the applicability of the epithet to himself, but turns the questioner's thoughts to the Source of all good. He will not have himself regarded simply as a pre-eminently good man, but as Son of God, one with the Father. If thou wilt (θέλεις, willest to) enter into life; i.e. enjoy eternal life. Christ uses a term equivalent to that of the ruler in ver. 16. So Christ said on another occasion to a lawyer who tempted him. "This do, and thou shalt live" (Luke 10:28). There is no real life without obedience. Keep the commandments of him who is good. The Law was given to prepare men to receive Christianity, and in proportion as they carefully observed it, so were they made ready to inherit the life which Christ gives. No mere external compliance without faith is here approved, but it is laid down that, in order to win eternal life, there must be strict observance of God's laws - not some one extraordinary performance, but constant attention to known duties from the highest motive. Faith, indeed, is belief in action, and is dead and profitless if inoperative; so that true obedience is the outcome of true faith. - Jesus redirects the seeker from human notions of goodness to God’s flawless standard.- By affirming that only God is good, He exposes universal sinfulness and subtly reveals His own divine identity. - Pointing to the commandments, He shows that God’s Law both defines righteousness and reveals our inability to achieve it apart from grace. - The passage beckons every reader to acknowledge God’s holiness, confess personal need, and respond with obedient faith in Christ, the only One who is truly good and able to grant eternal life. Greek “WhyΤί (Ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. do you ask ἐρωτᾷς (erōtas) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 2065: Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request. Me με (me) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. about περὶ (peri) Preposition Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time. what is τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. good?” ἀγαθοῦ (agathou) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'. [Jesus] replied, εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “There is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. only One εἷς (heis) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. who is ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. good. ἀγαθός (agathos) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'. If εἰ (ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. you want θέλεις (theleis) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. to enter εἰσελθεῖν (eiselthein) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 1525: To go in, come in, enter. From eis and erchomai; to enter. life, ζωὴν (zōēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life. keep τήρησον (tērēson) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold. the τὰς (tas) Article - Accusative Feminine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. commandments.” ἐντολάς (entolas) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural Strong's 1785: An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription. Additonal Resources Matthew 19:17 Blue Letter BibleMatthew 19:17 Bible Gateway Matthew 19:17 Bible.com Matthew 19:17 NIV |
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