Understanding this Verse

[R3quiem]

Mark 10:
17 As 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. '

There are many verses in the Bible that seem weird, even contradictory to me.

What do you think Jesus meant in this verse? I once had a non-Christian friend bring this verse up to try to show that Jesus was not God.

Thoughts?

 

[D.W.Washburn]

You are bound to get a variety of responses to this question. Personally, I don't think any single answer is going to be the correct answer. Only note that in asking the question "Why do you call me good?" Jesus does not deny his goodness.

I think in this verse, more than anything else, Jesus challenges us to decide who we think he is.

 

[plmarquette]

the same verse is in Matthew chapter 19.1-26 ..
the context is about "stuff" ... are you willing to part with some or all of it to be blessed with spiritual blessings?

are you willing to give up a car for a better one ?

are you willing to stop a bad habit that is clogging up your spirit ?

many people Jesus knew had money ... Mary, Martha, Lazarus ; Joseph of Arimathea ... the rich young man did not answer , but departed ...

what of Britney Spears , Nichole Ritchie, Paris Hilton ... have money and no clue ... what if they had to work for a living , be accountable ... would that not be a good thing ... that they understand that wealth is to sow into the kingdom ... if you have millions , what would giving thousands to the poor , do to your fortune ?

if you share your increase ... 2 corinthians 9.6 .. all grace for all needs ...peace , friends, purpose, vision ..

 

[JMC309]

No-one is good but God alone.
Jesus is good.
Therefore...

 

[HypnoToad]

This is certainly not a denial of deity.

"Why do you call me good?" is not a denial. "Only God is good" is not a denial.

Jesus is just getting the man to think about what the statement "you are good" really meant. And since Jesus considered Himself "good" (John 10:11,14) ...

This is just one of the ways Jesus showed His divinity without saying it directly. Remember, the Jews tried more than once to stone Jesus. It only makes sense that Jesus would claim divinity in roundabout ways, otherwise, there certainly would have been even more attempts on His life.

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

I agree with XianJedi, Jesus' question was designed to make the man (as well as those listening to think about who Jesus really was. First, the man initially called Jesus a "good teacher" - which was just a polite acknowledgement. Jesus used this address to press the real issue concerning Jesus' divinity. Second, in the context the man rejected Jesus' calling to follow Him. So at that time the man wasn't really a committed disciple, he just had a polite inquiry to someone he thought was just a well-respected rabbi.

LDG