"Good" reserved for God alone

[jjb5985]

I noticed in the gospel reading at Mass today that when a man called Jesus good, Jesus asked why the man called Him good and said that “good” is reserved for God alone. This struck me as odd sense Jesus is God. Was Jesus trying to make a point? I guess I can read it several ways. One way being Jesus saying not to call Him good, and another way just trying to dig deeper into the man’s thoughts. What is the traditional understanding if this verse if there is one?

 

[Angelos]

Jesus does not say he is not good! He is definitely good as He Himself once says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10: 11). Moreover, Jesus ascribes to Himself some of the major divine attributes: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14: 6).

Go and read the thread “It sounds like Jesus is denying He is God”. You will see many interesting posts and comments there

Blessings to all

 

[mommyof4]

In our sermon today, we were told that the young man was trying to flatter Jesus, and Jesus wanted (and wants) more than just flattery.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

It is just another version -all men contain some sin. What is important is this fellow was offered a better option except he needed to give up is money to get it which did he choose? Second our Deacon says look at the word “Fraud” is it a commandment, why did Jesus use it? Maybe Jesus knew more.

 

[whatevergirl]

I noticed in the gospel reading at Mass today that when a man called Jesus good, Jesus asked why the man called Him good and said that “good” is reserved for God alone. This struck me as odd sense Jesus is God. Was Jesus trying to make a point? I guess I can read it several ways. One way being Jesus saying not to call Him good, and another way just trying to dig deeper into the man’s thoughts. What is the traditional understanding if this verse if there is one?

hi jjb;

here is something that might help a bit…the priest at my parish today explained it somewhat like this…that Jesus was speaking ‘as a man,’ to ‘this other man,’ and as humans, we are not good, as compared to God, who is the ultra good. No matter what we do, we will never compare to the ‘goodness’ of our Lord. He was both man and Divine, remember, so in this sense, He was speaking of his humanity. I thought that was a neat way of looking a this, no?

 

[EBSSTF4]

In our sermon today, we were told that the young man was trying to flatter Jesus, and Jesus wanted (and wants) more than just flattery.

Excellent simplification. Wish I used that simple of an answer for our RCIA class. They often take what Jesus says to literally. (“Call no man Father” took two weeks to get past.)

I think one woman was afraid to say the cookies we served were good.

 

[jemfinch]

Jesus was asking the man if he really believed Jesus was God. “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. [So do you think I’m God? Will you follow me as God? Will you love me as God even more than you love your money?]”

It’s worth noting that Jesus’ eventual point with this man was that he was following all the human-centered commandments, but he was missing the most important commandment, to have no other gods before God Himself.

Jeremy

 

[mommyof4]

Jesus was asking the man if he really believed Jesus was God. “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. [So do you think I’m God? Will you follow me as God? Will you love me as God even more than you love your money?]”

It’s worth noting that Jesus’ eventual point with this man was that he was following all the human-centered commandments, but he was missing the most important commandment, to have no other gods before God Himself.

Jeremy

Good answer!

 

[Catholic_Dude]

The way I see it, Jesus had not yet died and risen so the time was not right to glorify Him (eg “My Lord and My God”-Jn20:28), at that point he was still the servant of servants. He wanted their attention kept on the Father at that time.