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.
MATTHEW 19:17KJVWhat does Matthew 19:17 mean?
Matthew 19:17 records Jesus responding to a man who called him "good," saying that only God is truly good and telling the man that if he wants to enter into life, he should keep the commandments. Jesus is emphasizing that goodness belongs to God alone and that obedience to God's commandments is the way to receive life.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a man who has asked what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus redirects the man's focus from human ideas of goodness to God's standard, and then points him to the commandments as the revealed way to live rightly. This sets up the deeper conversation about what it truly means to follow God.
The Greek behind Matthew 19:17
- The word "good" (ἀγαθός, agathos) is used twice here, highlighting the idea of moral perfection. Jesus challenges the man's use of this word, making him think about what true goodness is and where it comes from.
- The word "life" (ζωή, zōē) refers to more than just physical existence; it often means the fullness of life that comes from God, including eternal life.
- The word "keep" (τηρέω, tēreō) means to guard or observe carefully. Jesus is not just talking about knowing the commandments, but actively living them out.
Why Matthew 19:17 matters
- Matthew 19:17 corrects the idea that anyone but God can be called truly "good," reminding readers that human goodness is always limited compared to God's.
- The verse shifts the focus from seeking a special action to earn eternal life to faithfully following God's revealed commandments.
- This exchange sets the stage for Jesus to reveal deeper truths about discipleship and what it means to truly follow him, which unfolds in the following verses.