I can't understand this passage

[theCardinalbird]

Luke 18:17-19:

17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

I don’t get it, does this mean Jesus isn’t good or God?

 

[LML]

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

I don’t get it, does this mean Jesus isn’t good or God?

Some theologians will say Jesus was toying with the man, while teaching.

It seems to make sense, especially if we were to isolate verse 19b “No one is good–except God alone.” from 19a “Why do you call me good?”

Jesus may have, indeed, been playing with him…pointing out by calling Jesus “good teacher”, the man was professing the divinity of Christ…only God is good, and because you called me good, you believe I am God.

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

Jesus is saying, only God is good and they don’t admit Jesus is God so why then are they calling Jesus good? In effect, Jesus is catching them in their own words

 

[TheLittleLady]

Jesus is saying “Oh, you call me good, do you realize that mean you are acknowledging I am God?”

 

[Mary888]

Jesus is saying, only God is good and they don’t admit Jesus is God so why then are they calling Jesus good? In effect, Jesus is catching them in their own words

I agree with this too.
Also, that here Jesus expresses his human nature and tries to show us how to be in relationship to God especially when we try to represent Him in front of others. Here Jesus is being meek and does not accept small flattery and asks people to assure them he seeks no small flattery while he is preaching what he is preaching.

 

[Vico]

Luke 18:17-19:

17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

I don’t get it, does this mean Jesus isn’t good or God?

Jesus was answering questions from a scholar of the law, not a disciple. It was a test! He answered lawfully that only God is good. This is in accord with what the Pharisees believed.

Psalm 51 : 7

7 Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me.

John 9 : 34

34 They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

 

[Bon_Croix]

If it was a trap, Jesus foiled it.

 

[De_Maria]

This youtube video from Dr. Brandt Pitre answers the question really well.

 

[John_Martin]

If it was a trap, Jesus foiled it.

It was no trap; the man wanted life, and when he found out how to have life he went away sad, to sell all his previous “good” treasure (thus he was sad) in order to come back to Jesus for the true Good.

Someone intending to keep his wealth is not sad, but happy in all his ‘goods’.
Only letting go of what you have loved for so long makes you sad, but then you will have a new love. Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted.

While impossible for men, nothing is impossible for God, and it was God who commanded him to “Go, Sell; Come Follow.” All through the Gospel, Jesus Commands and it Happens per his command; even here.

John Martin

 

[Bon_Croix]

Thanks John. I’m familiar with the story. I didn’t realize it was the rich young man story.

It (when Jesus replies, “Why do you call me good?”) is similar to when the Pharisees ask him about the Kingdom and he replies, “the Kingdom is among you”. Which was a way of relaying that he is the Kingdom of God or that he is God.

The Pharisees were trying to trap him.

 

[Flopfoot]

My take on it is that Jesus thinks the rich young man is looking for a “shortcut” to get into heaven by speaking to him, the teacher who is currently popular. Jesus is saying “I’m not gonna give you a shortcut, no popular teacher can give you a way that’s different to what God’s already given you, which is the commandments”