Mark 10:17
"....Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
Mark 10:18
"And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, this is, God."
Now with a serious note, to me Jesus just explained to the man and to you and me, that He is not God, by the logic that He is not good.
I am reading this correctly?
2007-07-13 02:56:53 · 16 answers · asked by Boanerges 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes you are correct.
2007-07-13 03:00:54 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
God was living a life of perfect obedience to the law through love as Jesus Christ. If the rich young ruler had passed on his own efforts to be righteous; and followed Jesus, he would have gained the same revelation and fellowship that came to the Apostles.
The Lord loved him and offered him a chance to walk in the very presence of eternal life. He turned it down for the sake of logic and the rewards of this world. It is not what we figure out; but the revelation of who he is.
As the pillar of fire, a mighty and holy God, He stood behind the veil of the temple; being both the law giver to Moses and the Covenant to Abraham.
As Lord and Christ; in a body prepared from the foundation of the world; he stood veiled in flesh, a man called Jesus; standing before his people and the rich young ruler. As it is written, he came unto his own and his own received him not.
He laid down His glory (this is the real mystery of God right here) and walked it the way you and I should, but never could. Some 2,000 years ago a rich young ruler proved unable to see through the veil; so busy was he justifying himself. Even today not everyone can see; though Jesus rent both the veil of the temple and the veil of flesh at Calvary.
2007-07-13 17:03:00 · answer #2 · answered by Tommy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Logic will get you into a lot of trouble if you do not have all of the facts.
Matthew Henry's "Commentary on the Whole Bible" explains what is really happening here. (What? Don't have Matthew Henry's Commentaries? They can be found in most library reference areas covered in dust because few people recognize how important they are. Go to www.e-sword.net for one of the best free bible and bible commentary programs available. I have used the program for years and have occasionally made donations to its upkeep.)
The rich young ruler is recognizing that Jesus is unique -- that he is in fact God by the words of his mouth. Jesus, however, sees the man's heart which is different from the words of his mouth. Jesus challenges his salutation. He is asking the young man if he really does believe that He, Jesus, is "good./God" The man's ultimate response -- to keep his real god of riches -- and to refuse to follow Jesus showed the difference between what he was saying and what was really in his heart.
2007-07-13 03:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by sethandpaula 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have posted a good question. let me answer your question with the bible. First let me tell that Jesus is a god, but not almighty.
the bible say that there are many gods (1 Corinthias 8: 5 For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6 there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.)
It even saids that the Devil is a god (2 Corinthias 4: 4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through. )
In the Bible when you see the word god it usually refers to Jesus. When You see the word God it refers to the almighty. It is always good to use his name when we talk to god that way we know who we are talking to (god, lord almighty... so on are just titles).
We must respect Jesus, becaus he is a god, and gave his life, so we can have a releationship with God, but he is not the almighty, look at this text.
Psalms 86:5 For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive;
And the loving-kindness to all those calling upon you is abundant.
Psalms 83: 18 That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Deuteronomy 10: 17 For Jehovah YOUR God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty and fear-inspiring, who treats none with partiality nor accepts a bribe,
The father is Jehova, the son is Jesus, and Jesus does not take the place of his father, he said it himself John 13:28 YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am
I hope this helps.
2007-07-13 05:15:06 · answer #4 · answered by macja5 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is quoted from the OT (also in Matt 19:17)
He is more or less asking him if he believes himself to be God, for there is no one good but God.
If you continue the context, he was not willing to give up all to follow him and really didn't believe he was God. And therefore, he should not have called Him good.
2007-07-13 03:09:08 · answer #5 · answered by Amoeba Man 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus isnt God, he is the Son of God. I think this man is trying to identify Jesus as God by calling him good master. But Jesus tells him he is not good only God is.
2007-07-13 03:10:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jesus ask this question to test the mans faith. If the man had answered, but you are the son of god and our salvation sent by god there for you are god and are good, then i believe Jesus would have said something like, you sir of great faith.
2007-07-13 03:20:34 · answer #7 · answered by TIMOTHY R 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What that reading is saying, that God is the only one that is completely good. Meaning he is without sin (since all man was born of original sin). Which is true, as no human is completely good, we all have at least a little bit of bad in us.
2007-07-13 03:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by Lord Havick 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, you're a little off. Its more like saying, "You're correct in thinking that I am God, but do you understand what you're saying?" Notice he doesn't say he is not God, he simply asks, "why are you calling me something that you should only attribute to God?"
2007-07-13 03:04:39 · answer #9 · answered by capitalctu 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
One of the Hard Sayings of the prophet Jesus.
If you want a Christian explanation, I'm sure that your local preacher will have some suitable weasel words of interpretation.
2007-07-13 03:15:08 · answer #10 · answered by Iain 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He was actually saying the opposite. Let us examine this event verse by verse. Remember, Jesus will answer a question specifically--
Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
Notice the repetition of the word "good". Now look at what he is asking. He is not asking, "Master, how can I have eternal life?" He is asking what he can DO to merit eternal life. In other words, "...what good deeds can I perform to be saved?"
"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."
Jesus qualified the man's use of the word "good" (regarding eternal life) as perfection. This is understood since Jesus identified the words good and God as synonymous. To obtain eternal life through works, you must be perfect. (ref. Matthew 5:48) That is, as "good as God".
I also find it interesting that Jesus' use of the word life does not include the qualifier eternal. Almost as if saying, "here is how to have a fulfilling life, but not eternal life." I checked the Greek manuscripts and the word is not there as well. The end of His statement is where Jesus tells the man to keep the commandments.
He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
The rich young ruler asked a good question. He knew that there were 613 laws. So he made sure that Jesus specified which of the commandments He was referring. Jesus answered his question by quoting the second half of the Ten Commandments. These latter commandments dealt with an individual's relationship with his fellow man. But Jesus left one out... where is the commandment "You shall not covet?" Jesus is setting up the man to see his own inadequacy in earning his way to heaven via the law or good deeds.
The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The rich young ruler still felt the emptiness that comes from being unsure of your goodly status. He wanted to know specifically what good deed he could perform so that he will be off the hook spiritually. Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect... " Notice Jesus did not say, "If you want to be saved... " He used the word "TELEIOS" which means “perfect, mature” or “complete”. So Jesus actually said that good works will mature you as a person, but they will not save you. The commandment "You shall not covet" is replaced with Jesus' commandment of Love. That is, to sell all that he has (love your neighbor as yourself) and come and follow Him (Love God with all heart, soul and mind). The man left sorrowful for he had (like all of us) things that keep us from being good (that is, perfect) people.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The disciples understood Christ's comparison as being impossible. But the good news is that Jesus knew that after His death and resurrection, a new law will replace the old commandments. Because of God's great plan of redemption and the creation of a new man, there is no need to keep laws and try to be perfect. Jesus became perfect in our place, and that is why we have to put on HIS righteousness, and not our own.
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.
2007-07-13 11:29:48 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋