Mark 10 18

Mark 10:18 kjv

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

Mark 10:18 nkjv

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

Mark 10:18 niv

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

Mark 10:18 esv

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

Mark 10:18 nlt

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

Mark 10 verses

Mark 10 18 Meaning

Mark 10:18 captures Jesus' response to the rich young man's address, redirecting his understanding of "good." Jesus emphasizes that inherent, absolute goodness belongs uniquely to God alone. This statement does not deny Jesus' own deity but serves to elevate the man's perspective beyond human flattery or superficial piety, compelling him to consider the divine standard of true goodness and righteousness. It highlights that the source of all ultimate good resides solely in God.

Mark 10 18 Context

Mark 10:18 is part of the account of Jesus' encounter with a rich young man who approaches Him, addressing Him as "Good Teacher." This interaction immediately follows Jesus' teaching on divorce and His blessing of children, highlighting Jesus' authority and character. The rich young man seeks to know what "good thing" he must do to inherit eternal life, displaying a legalistic mindset focused on earning salvation through works. Jesus' reply in verse 18 immediately challenges the man's initial premise—that he could flatter Jesus or define "good" on human terms. Historically, the Jewish understanding of 'goodness' was deeply intertwined with adherence to the Law, believing that perfect obedience could merit life. Jesus' response serves to redefine "good" as inherently divine, prompting the man to recognize that the source of life is not in human accomplishment but in the divine nature of God Himself.

Mark 10 18 Word analysis

• "Why" (τί – _ti_): An interrogative particle. Jesus uses it to probe the man's intention and understanding, rather than merely dismissing his greeting. It’s a rhetorical question designed to provoke thought about the term "good."
• "do you call" (με λέγεις – _me legeis_): The present active indicative signifies a current action. Jesus is questioning the basis for this title being applied to Him by this particular individual. It probes the sincerity and theological depth behind the compliment.
• "me" (με – _me_): Refers to Jesus Himself. He turns the compliment back to the giver, highlighting its potential shallowness if not rooted in a deeper understanding of His true identity.
• "good?" (ἀγαθόν – _agathon_): The adjective meaning inherently, morally, and perfectly good. The man uses it perhaps as flattery or a conventional honorific for a revered rabbi. Jesus' response forces the man to confront what "good" truly means and who can genuinely embody it without qualification. It implies absolute, unblemished moral perfection, not relative goodness.
• "Jesus answered," (ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν – _ho de Iēsous eipen_): Marks a direct, deliberate response from Jesus, indicating the gravity of His words.
• "No one" (οὐδεὶς – _oudeis_): A strong, emphatic negative pronoun meaning "absolutely no one" or "not a single person." This is a definitive statement regarding humanity's inherent lack of absolute goodness.
• "is good" (ἀγαθὸς – _agathos_): Reiterates the adjective, reinforcing the perfect standard of goodness Jesus has in mind. The verb "is" (implied "ἐστιν" - _estin_) connects this goodness as an intrinsic quality.
• "except God alone." (εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός – _ei mē heis ho Theos_): This is a critical clause.
  • "except" (εἰ μὴ – _ei mē_): A conditional particle meaning "unless," "if not," or "except." It creates an exclusive condition, emphasizing the unique nature of God.
  • "one" / "alone" (εἷς – _heis_): An emphatic numeral/adjective, signifying uniqueness and singularity. It stresses that there is only one source and embodiment of this perfect goodness. It does not refer to one person of the Trinity in isolation, but the unique being of God.
  • "God" (ὁ Θεός – _ho Theos_): The definitive article "the" combined with "God" refers to the one true God, the creator and sustainer of all, highlighting His singular nature and authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Why do you call me good?": This rhetorical question is not a denial of Jesus' inherent goodness or His divinity, but a pedagogical tool. It redirects the focus from Jesus' person as merely a human teacher to the divine standard of "good." Jesus probes the man's understanding, suggesting that the man might not fully grasp the implications of such an address if he saw Jesus only as a human teacher.
• "No one is good--except God alone.": This categorical statement affirms monotheism and defines true, intrinsic goodness as an attribute unique to the divine essence. It establishes a transcendent benchmark, contrasting it with human flattery or self-righteousness. This is a foundational truth: absolute moral perfection is an attribute of God alone. For Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh, to make this statement challenges the man (and all hearers) to move beyond a superficial understanding of either "good" or Jesus' identity. If Jesus is truly good in the absolute sense, He must be God.

Mark 10 18 Bonus section

The phrasing "God alone" (εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός) strongly echoes the foundational declaration of Jewish faith, the Shema (Dt 6:4): "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Jesus subtly reinforces the unity and uniqueness of God while simultaneously leading the listener to infer His own intrinsic goodness and thus, His identity as part of that unique divine "oneness." This challenges early readers to move beyond merely viewing Jesus as a great prophet or rabbi, pushing them towards acknowledging His deity. The discussion here forms a theological pivot, moving from human performance towards divine nature as the locus of all true virtue and the ultimate source of salvation.

Mark 10 18 Commentary

Mark 10:18 is a profound statement on the nature of God and the standard of goodness. Jesus' seemingly sharp question, "Why do you call me good?", is not a self-effacing denial of His own divine nature or goodness. Rather, it serves as a teaching moment to recalibrate the rich young ruler's perception of "good" from a relative, human standard to an absolute, divine one. The man's compliment likely came from a conventional understanding, not a profound theological recognition of Jesus' deity. By declaring that "No one is good--except God alone," Jesus elevates the discussion. If He is good in the absolute sense implied, then the man must confront the reality of Jesus' identity as God incarnate. This verse highlights the fundamental theological truth that absolute moral perfection is an attribute unique to God. Human goodness is always relative and flawed; divine goodness is ultimate and perfect. It points to the inability of humanity to earn salvation through perfect obedience and underscores the need for divine intervention, as only God possesses and dispenses true good. This teaching challenges superficial religiosity and compels a deeper search for divine truth.

• Example: If a child calls a wise mentor "perfect," the mentor might respond, "Only God is perfect," not denying their wisdom, but pointing to the ultimate standard of perfection. Similarly, Jesus directs the rich young man's gaze from a mere human teacher to God as the sole source and embodiment of perfect goodness, prompting him to truly consider Jesus' divine nature.