curious verse, whats it mean?

[d0c markus]

MK 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

Is Jesus saying he is not God?

 

[ydouxist]

He was not seeking the praise of men. IMHO

 

[d0c markus]

He was not seeking the praise of men. IMHO

but he is Jesus, didnt the apostles worship him when seeing some miracles?

 

[wonder111]

but he is Jesus, didnt the apostles worship him when seeing some miracles?

and didn't martha decide to spend her time with Jesus, while her sister was busy doing other things? and He said, she has chosen what is better?

that would be worshipping wouldn't it?

I have a hard time with this verse, I've posted before, but it's still not clear to me

 

[Col]

Mark 10
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

I think if you look at verse 18 in context with the previous verse you can see that Jesus neither confirms nor denies He is God to this man. He simply asks why the rich man calls him good as only God is good. In effect its like Jesus saying "do you know who I am?" without saying it. He then goes on to answer the question posed by the rich man without further reference to him have called Jesus good.

Bless Ya
Col <><

 

[P3nguin1]

Mark 10
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

I think if you look at verse 18 in context with the previous verse you can see that Jesus neither confirms nor denies He is God to this man. He simply asks why the rich man calls him good as only God is good. In effect its like Jesus saying "do you know who I am?" without saying it. He then goes on to answer the question posed by the rich man without further reference to him have called Jesus good.

Bless Ya
Col <><

Agreed. It is almost as if He were saying "You call me good because I am God."

 

[wonder111]

Agreed. It is almost as if He were saying "You call me good because I am God."

ok i must be out of the loop, because I don't get that at all

 

[P3nguin1]

ok i must be out of the loop, because I don't get that at all

I picture it like this:

The question is rhetorical. Then He provides the answer.

"Why do you call me good? Because only God is good and I am God"

This is paraphrasing but this is how I read it. I could be wrong *shrug*

 

[wonder111]

I picture it like this:

The question is rhetorical. Then He provides the answer.

"Why do you call me good? Because only God is good and I am God"

This is paraphrasing but this is how I read it. I could be wrong *shrug*

I see what you're saying. I guess I just don't read it this way, but that's why we have the luxury of many different denominations right? just kidding

 

[Andrew]

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Jesus was basically asking him:"Do you really believe I am God?" or "Are you calling me God?" "If so, hear and do what I have to say to you..."

IOW, since there is none good but God, if you call me good, are you acknowledging me as God? And if you believe I am God, then you will do what I tell you...

that man came boasting about his law-keeping and his works. Jesus, the law giver himself, pointed out where he was lacking. That's what will happen when we come b4 God boasting about how much or what we have done. No one can keep the law perfectly and no one is justified by observing the Law.

Jesus made that clear to that man. he brought that man to the end of himself that he might see his hopeless state and need for a Saviour -- salvation by grace, not works or law-keeping.

 

[Greeter]

Thank You Col and Andrew for explaining that verse to us. I was confused about it as well, but I now understand it.

 

[Serapha]

MK 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

Is Jesus saying he is not God?

Hi there!




Mark10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
While I believe that Christ already knew the heart of the man, it would be necessary for the man to identify Jesus for who He was to be saved. Someone referred you to the previous verse, I will refer you to the following verse...


20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

After being given the opportunity of salvation by expressing who Christ was, the man no longer identifies Christ as the "Good Master" but only as "Master". Jesus was not his Redeemer, but his faith was in the material of this world.


~serapha~

 

[Preachers12]

MK 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

Is Jesus saying he is not God?

dOc markus, Peace be with you.

Excellent question! I read through the responses and thought that I might be able to shed a little more light on this.

While the relationship is somewhat subtle, this verse is tied to Matthew 12:48, in which Jesus responds to the request of His mother and His brethren waiting outside for him: "Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?" (RSV-CE).

Did His asking this mean that He did not know who is mother and brethren were? Of course not! No more than when He replied in Mark 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus is by no means here denying that He is God, or that He is good!

The subtlety lies within the answer. In each, He is responding to a request. And in each, He takes an opportunity to highlight the Spiritual over the physical. You may have to read through the verses a few times before it comes to you. But it is there.

In Matthew, the verse that follows 12:48 is His way of showing how spiritually, we are all related. Note the part about "in heaven."

In Mark, it is similar. The person asking the question is addressing Him as a man. He responds "Why do you call me good?" because man cannot be good! As His next line says "No one is good but God alone" which draws attention beyond His physical appearance.

Note that after He says this, He doesn't just stop. As if to say that He is not good and therefore cannot answer the question! To the contrary, Jesus speaks authoritatively, as God, and quoting from Scripture what the man needs to do in order to inherit eternal life! By His response, He confirms to this man that He is more than man!

I hope this is of some help to you.

As an aside, there is an interesting legend about this person who asked this question. Some say that it was Mark himself and that this was the story of his conversion. Note that the story doesn't say that the man never did what Jesus said, only that he went away sad about it. The legend has it that he did as Jesus said and came back to be a disciple, eventually helping St. Paul during one "tour" before settling in to helping St. Peter.

God Bless,
P12

 

[d0c markus]

thanks for that.. and thank all of you who posted, it now reads much clearer to me

 

[MikeMcK]

A lot of times, Jesus wouldn't come out and say something, but ask leading questions to force someone to consider what He was saying more deeply.

He was trying to explain to this man that He was God but in a round about way to allow the man to reach this conclusion himself.

Basically, what Jesus is saying here is, "OK, you call me good, but you know that the only one who is really good is God. So then, what does that say about Me?"

 

[Col]

Note that the story doesn't say that the man never did what Jesus said, only that he went away sad about it. The legend has it that he did as Jesus said and came back to be a disciple, eventually helping St. Paul during one "tour" before settling in to helping St. Peter.
God Bless,
P12

Hey that is a very valid point you bring up. I had a minister once who brought the same thing up. People often misuse this piece of scripture as if to say that because he was a rich man he would rather have his possesion than heavenly reward. Thus initmating that if you are poor you are more pious and or closer to God. When in fact the story is not about wealth, its about sacrifice. As you said, the story does not say whether or not he then sought the riches of heaven over the earthly rewards by taking Jesus' advice. It simply illlustrates in a tangible way, that to follow Christ is a sacrifice. Thankyou, Great post P12

Bless Ya
Col <><

P.S. Happy New Year

 

[endure]

whoa never seen it like that, as some of you have explained it diffrent ways.

I dont think Jesus was denying that he was God, but denying that he did anything in himself without the helping of the father.

the bible says these things of Jesus.
1. Jesus didnt come in the power of Gods or angels but rather in the likeness of a redeemed man.
2. said he could nothing without the father.
3. had to pray for the father do things for him.
and many others...

i feel that they prove Jesus was not walking in the full power and glory of his Godhead, but he gave those things up so that he could really know what it was like to be a man so that he could be a fit intercessor for us and not a person who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmties, but so he could relate and be a true fitting high priest...he made himself able to go through it all himself and overcome it down on our level so he could be a proper high priest. he made himself able to go through what we go through, and do this he had to come in the power that we have and he did. he came in the nature of the seed of abraham, or redeemed man.

hebrews 2.16-18, 4.15
makes this more clear if some of you doubt what i just said.

this is why Jesus gave up all the power, and why he had to depend on the father and gave the father all the glory.

acts 2.36
...God hath made that same Jesus... both Lord and Christ.

Jesus didnt do everything he did by himself, he had to be supported and empowerd by the father, he was dependent on the father making him into Christ. though he was God and he could be worshipped as God.
thats why he could be tempted like we are tempted and be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. he was like us.
thats why he gave the father the credit for him being what he was.

thats also why Jesus had to INCREASE in wisdom, statue, and in favor with God and man. even Jesus needed God the father's favor and grace.

luke 2.52
and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man.
luke 2.40
and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

even Jesus needed grace.
thats why he could say no one except for God the father is good, because not even he would have been without the fathers grace. becuase he made himself like us...

....uhmm.
well if know that is alot to digest and some people wont accept that....
but....

WELL HAVE A GOOD DAY!

Lee.

 

[George777]

MK 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

Is Jesus saying he is not God?

Personally I believe that Jesus was not God while He was on this earth. He was just a human being. The only difference with other humans is that Jesus was born of God, so without sin, just like Adam when God created Adam. But Adam sinned when he was tempted, and Jesus didn't. All human beings after Adam were born in a sinful state, except for Jesus. Fortunately, because of Jesus, we can be born again. Then we get born again sons of God, made righteous like Jesus was righteous, actually the righteousness of God.

Please read the following scripture from the King James version:

Philippians 2
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

George

 

[Icystwolf]

My interpertation, which I think might change, so it's my previous interpertation was that the person was seeking Jesus as some sort of Physical gain. Calling Jesus Good by the flesh, yet Jesus corrected him by saying only God alone is good, which is I think saying that he should look to God within Jesus and call Jesus good from that, rather than of the flesh.

 

[CeeBee]

I think Jesus is saying "Do you think I am God?"