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Why did Jesus say "why do you call me good?"
GinaMilan:
--- Quote from: Arcturus on May 21, 2010, 02:10:34 PM ---
The one that came running and kneeling in front of Jesus calling Him Good Master asked "What shall I DO to inherit"....How good did he really think Jesus was? If He KNEW JESUS, he may have asked Jesus to give Him what He needed instead of assuming he could do anything to get what only God can give!
Jesus told him that he lacked one thing.
Elsewhere in the Scriptures, there is one who wrongly assumed and offered to pay money for the Holy Spirit of God.
Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Arc
--- End quote ---
That totally nails it. Pieced together very nicely, as per usual, Arc.
I don't know if this helps, but I also imagined that since he was a rich ruler on earth, he figured heavenly rule would make him even richer (literally)?
But Jesus, hearing from His Father ("as I hear I judge" John 5:30) totally nailed the young man's true motives and what was most important to him (money).
And this I distinctly recall; and maybe you all remember Ray pointing out somewhere on his site or on an audio when he reminded us that Jesus, being full of compassion, was looking at the rich young ruler and loved him":
Mark 10:21 (KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:21 (CLV) Now Jesus, looking at him, loves him, and said to him, "Still one thing you are wanting.
I remember reading that for the first time about 10 years ago and it gave me chills.
Anyhoo.... That's all I wanted to say.
GinaMilan:
--- Quote from: daywalker on May 25, 2010, 09:50:32 PM ---
--- Quote from: wonderment on May 19, 2010, 08:58:58 PM ---"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
I heard a muslim man use this verse as his argument that Jesus was only a prophet and not God.
--- End quote ---
During a study I'm currently doing a noticed a few translations that word this passage a bit different. I recalled this post and thought these translations may help:
English Standard Version:
Matthew 19:16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
Concordant Literal New Testament:
Matthew 19:16 And lo! one coming to Him said, "Teacher, what good shall I be doing that I should be having life eonian? 17 Yet He said to him, "Why are you asking Me concerning good? One is good. Yet if you are wanting to be entering into life, keep the precepts."
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible:
Matthew 19:16 And lo! one coming near unto him, said, Teacher! what good thing shall I do, that I may have life age-abiding? 17 And, he, said unto him—Why dost thou question me concerning that which is good? There is, One, that is good! But, if thou desirest, into life, to enter, be keeping the commandments.
**NOTE:
-- In NEITHER of these translations does the man call Jesus "Good" Teacher... but just "Teacher"
--Jesus' response is essentially, 'you already know what God's commandments are, so why are you asking me?'
Thought this would help clear the air... Daywalker 8)
--- End quote ---
Thank you for pointing that out, Daywalker. It's Mark's account which uses the term, "Good Teacher" (or Good Master). I just realized this myself. So thank you.
Mark 10:17 {ESV} And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mark 10:17 {CLV} And at His going out into the road, lo! one certain rich man, running toward Him and falling on his knees before Him, inquired of Him, "Good Teacher! What shall I be doing that I should be enjoying the allotment of life eonian?" 18 Now Jesus said to him, "Why are you terming Me good? No one is good except One, God.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to Rotherham's, so I can't check Mark's account in that translation.
Anyway. Thanks again, Daywalker!
Deborah-Leigh:
Heart ~ While yet we are sinners He loves us too. 8) :)
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This gives us Hope!
Mind ~ The one thing thou lackest IS JESUS CHRIST who had not yet been crucified for this brother who was seeking, knowing that something was missing in his life. He did not know What or WHO it was that he lacked.
Have you ever heard it said from those who have “got everything that money can buy”….Cant buy me love…. 8) 8) (Beatles lyrics) :D
Have you ever sensed or felt the pain in outwardly well groomed, well lacquered manicured people of external glitz and glamour, that are at heart, blind naked and wretched not knowing the fruit of His Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Patience and Endurance ~ Not knowing WHO they lack, and What they lack, and despising and blaming God, remaining blind as per the Plan of God for them.
God brings us to His Mercy and Goodness and until our repentance through Grace and the Goodness of God comes to us, we can not see that the false and posed happiness and elation of the porn trap that captures many, is and can be applied to anything in life that is worldly, temporal and has not the love of God in it.
Arc
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: daywalker on May 25, 2010, 09:50:32 PM ---**NOTE:
-- In NEITHER of these translations does the man call Jesus "Good" Teacher... but just "Teacher"
--Jesus' response is essentially, 'you already know what God's commandments are, so why are you asking me?'
Thought this would help clear the air... Daywalker 8)
--- End quote ---
While these particular passages do not have the young ruler refer to Jesus as 'good', in all 3 Jesus does state there is One who is good and this is talking about God. I agree with your explanation of what Jesus response means, but I would add that He still nonetheless refers to One who is Good.
Marques
GinaMilan:
I'm still studying these out, so your patience and correction are appreciated. Hopefully what I say below doesn't sound as though it contradicts what Marques pointed out, above:
"This simple word 'good' was in reference to all omnipotence, glory, and honor (up to and including immortality), which Christ divested Himself of in order to die. Ray goes over this and much more detail, though from a slightly different angle, in his 2009 Conference study 'Is Jesus God?'"
Source http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,11521.msg99625.html#msg99625
Okay, this is how it sounds to me:
Jesus was saying to the man, "Why do you call me "good" when you don't even know what 'good' (God) is/does, and I can prove it to you: Go sell all you possess and give your money (the thing that rules you) to the poor." Jesus [who is God in the flesh] comes to serve, not to be served. But "service to others" by "emptying" himself was not "good" in the ruler's vocab. (I'm not judging.)
I know that Jesus emptied Himself in order that He could die (because God can't die). And Ray points out these things in the 2009 Mobile Conference:
"God is a Savior, but so is Jesus. How is He a Savior? It’s one of those many things that God possesses that He gave to the Son. Everything that God has He gave to the Son. That’s how Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him and they are ONE. One person? No. One what? One God? YES!
Mr. Buzzard says, “they’re one unified spirit; they’re one in spirit.” Excuse me, what is God? SPIRIT. I and My Father are one spirit? “God IS spirit” (John 4:24). I and My Father are ONE GOD. Can two individuals be one individual? No. Can two individuals be one God? Yes. Yes, they can."
“GOD IS SPIRIT” (John 4:24)
“I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE” - ONE WHAT? One GOD or One SPIRIT? Excuse me!! ‘GOD IS SPIRIT” (John 4:24)!!
How many “Gods” are there? ONE
How many Gods does Jesus AND His Father make? ONE
Source: http://bible-truths.com/audio/Worship.mp3 - audio 1 Mobile Conference 2009
I realize Jesus is very humble, and doesn't take credit for the things that God does through Him ("I can of my own self do nothing"), but Jesus did say "I and My Father are One; He didn't say will again be One [God], or were One [God] at one time before I emptied Myself.
I'm beginning to view what Jesus said to the ruler as being an examination, rather than a revelation of Who God is, when Jesus said, "Why do you call Me good? One is good, that is God." (“I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE”)
I believe the Father simply had no desire to reveal Jesus as God to the rich young ruler, since the ruler had no desire to know what good really is/does.
I love studying with you all. Thank you again for your patience!!
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