Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Need help with Mark 10:18	Matt	Monday, May 28, 2007
Question: Brother, I was wondering whether you could help me understand the statement that Jesus said to the rich man when the rich man referred to Jesus as a "Good Teacher," and Jesus said "Why do you call me good? Only God alone is good." Is this Jesus' way of basically trying to get the man to admit that Jesus is God? In other words, if only God alone is good, and the man is calling Jesus "Good," then that would mean that Jesus is God. Is that what he was trying to get him to admit? Clearly we know that Jesus is God, but this seems to be a confusing passage. I just wanted to know if i was correct in my analysis. Thanks Brother. God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matt: You did a pretty good interpretation of the passage. Here is the commentary from the Navarre Bible, one of the best commentaries available: As Matthew 19:16 makes clear, the young man approaches Jesus as an ackonwledged teacher o fthe spiritual life, in the hope that he will guide him towards eternal life. It is not that Christ rejects the praise he is offered : he wants to show the depth of the young man's words : he is good not becasue he is a good man, but because he is God, who is goodness itself. So the young man has spoken the truth, but he has not gone far enough. Hence the enigmatic nature of Jesus' reply and its proifundity. The young man's approach is upright but too human; Jesus tries to get him to see things from an entirely supernatural point of view. If this man is to really attain eternal life he must see in Christ not just a good master but the divine Saviour, the only Master, the only one who, because he is God, is goodness itself. Good job. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Need help with Mark 10:18

Matt

Monday, May 28, 2007

Question:

Brother,
I was wondering whether you could help me understand the statement that Jesus said to the rich man when the rich man referred to Jesus as a "Good Teacher," and Jesus said "Why do you call me good? Only God alone is good."

Is this Jesus' way of basically trying to get the man to admit that Jesus is God? In other words, if only God alone is good, and the man is calling Jesus "Good," then that would mean that Jesus is God. Is that what he was trying to get him to admit?

Clearly we know that Jesus is God, but this seems to be a confusing passage. I just wanted to know if i was correct in my analysis.

Thanks Brother. God Bless.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matt:

You did a pretty good interpretation of the passage. Here is the commentary from the Navarre Bible, one of the best commentaries available:

As Matthew 19:16 makes clear, the young man approaches Jesus as an ackonwledged teacher o fthe spiritual life, in the hope that he will guide him towards eternal life. It is not that Christ rejects the praise he is offered : he wants to show the depth of the young man's words : he is good not becasue he is a good man, but because he is God, who is goodness itself. So the young man has spoken the truth, but he has not gone far enough. Hence the enigmatic nature of Jesus' reply and its proifundity. The young man's approach is upright but too human; Jesus tries to get him to see things from an entirely supernatural point of view. If this man is to really attain eternal life he must see in Christ not just a good master but the divine Saviour, the only Master, the only one who, because he is God, is goodness itself.

Good job.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum