Luke 18 19

Luke 18:19 kjv

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luke 18:19 nkjv

So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Luke 18:19 niv

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good?except God alone.

Luke 18:19 esv

And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Luke 18:19 nlt

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good.

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 19 Meaning

Jesus, responding to the rich young ruler's address of "Good Teacher," redirected the man's attention from a superficial compliment to a foundational theological truth. He asserted that absolute, inherent goodness is an attribute belonging to God alone. This was not a denial of His own goodness but a challenge for the ruler to contemplate the true source and standard of moral perfection. Jesus's words reveal that only God is ultimately, inherently, and perfectly good, thereby challenging any human presumption of self-righteousness.

Luke 18 19 Context

This verse is part of Jesus's encounter with the rich young ruler, recorded in Luke 18:18-30 (with parallels in Matt 19:16-30 and Mk 10:17-31). The rich ruler approached Jesus asking, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus's response in verse 19 serves as a crucial turning point, challenging the man's initial address and preparing him for a deeper spiritual truth.The broader context within Luke's Gospel highlights Jesus's teachings on radical discipleship, the demands of the Kingdom of God, and the difficulty wealth poses to spiritual commitment. Historically and culturally, addressing someone as "Good Teacher" (Rabbi) was a common form of respectful salutation. However, Jesus's response elevates the conversation beyond mere human compliment, drawing attention to the divine nature of absolute goodness. This subtle theological correction also stood as a polemic against the contemporary belief that salvation could be earned through human effort or perfect adherence to the Law alone, underscoring that ultimate goodness, and thus salvation, emanates solely from God.

Luke 18 19 Word analysis

• And Jesus said to him,
  • This phrase directly links to the preceding verse, where the rich young ruler poses his question. Jesus directly engages the individual.
• 'Why (Greek: τί - ti)
  • This is a rhetorical question, not seeking information but prompting the ruler to reflect deeply on his own words and their theological implications. It redirects the focus.
• do you call me (Greek: με - me, φωνεῖς - phōneis, from φωνέω - phōneō, "to call, address")
  • The ruler addressed Jesus as "Good Teacher." Jesus specifically isolates the term "Good" and focuses it back onto Himself ("me"), inviting the ruler to consider who he believes Jesus to be if He is truly "good" in the absolute sense.
• good? (Greek: ἀγαθόν - agathon, neuter singular accusative of ἀγαθός - agathos, meaning "good, inherently good, virtuous, upright, wholesome")
  • This word is pivotal. The rich ruler likely used "good" as a respectful honorific. Jesus probes whether the ruler understands the profound theological depth of applying "good" in its ultimate sense. In Hebrew thought, tov (good) and chasid (pious/devoted) are often used to describe those reflecting God's nature, but agathos here carries an intrinsic moral perfection.
• No one is good (Greek: οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς - oudeis agathos)
  • No one: An absolute negation, asserting that no human being possesses intrinsic, perfect goodness by their own nature or merit.
  • is good: Reiterates agathos. This emphasizes a fundamental theological truth: humanity's fallen state means we cannot achieve ultimate moral perfection independent of God.
• except God alone. (Greek: εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός - ei mē heis ho Theos, literally "except one, God")
  • except: Introduces the singular, unparalleled exception.
  • God: Refers to the Triune God. This phrase attributes unique, inherent, and absolute goodness to God alone, foundational to His character.
  • alone: Derived from heis ("one"), reinforcing God's exclusive possession of intrinsic perfect goodness, a divine attribute that is not shared by creation in the same way.
• 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.' (As a group/phrase)
  • This entire statement functions as a theological test. Jesus is not denying His own divine goodness (He is God, and therefore perfectly good), but is guiding the ruler (and by extension, the audience) to consider the implications of truly being "good." If Jesus is absolutely good, as God is, then this implies His divine nature. It confronts any superficial understanding of goodness and highlights that true goodness resides solely in God, revealing humanity's inadequacy to meet God's perfect standard.

Luke 18 19 Bonus section

This verse often forms a key point of discussion regarding Jesus's deity. Some interpretations incorrectly take Jesus's statement as a denial of His own divinity. However, a deeper understanding reveals that Jesus's rhetorical question elevates the meaning of "good" from a merely human attribute to a divine one. If the rich ruler understood the true meaning of calling someone "good" (as truly divine and perfect), then His very address to Jesus implied something profound. Jesus, by stating that "No one is good except God alone," effectively presents a veiled Christological claim: if He is truly agathos, He must therefore be God. This approach aligns with other instances where Jesus directs individuals from superficial titles or understanding to profound truths about His divine identity and unity with the Father. The dialogue challenges reliance on self-effort for salvation, underscoring that only God's inherent goodness provides the true standard for entrance into eternal life.

Luke 18 19 Commentary

Luke 18:19 captures Jesus's masterful way of turning a casual compliment into a profound theological lesson. When the rich young ruler addressed Jesus as "Good Teacher," he likely meant it as a high mark of respect. However, Jesus seized the moment to redirect the man's attention to the very nature of goodness itself. He challenges the common human tendency to evaluate goodness by outward appearances or relative morality. By stating that "No one is good except God alone," Jesus implicitly clarifies that perfect, intrinsic goodness is a unique attribute of God's divine essence. This statement serves to elevate God to His rightful place as the sole standard of moral excellence, simultaneously revealing the depth of human imperfection. Far from denying His own goodness or deity, Jesus was subtly prompting the ruler (and us) to consider that if He truly embodied ultimate "goodness," He must indeed be divine. It also laid the groundwork for Jesus's subsequent teachings to the man, implying that external adherence to laws (which the ruler claimed to keep) falls short of the perfect goodness required for eternal life, pointing instead to the absolute standard and provision found only in God.