The statement “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone” comes from the Gospel of Mark (10:18)1 and is a reply Jesus gives to a rich young man who calls Him “Good Teacher” while asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. On the surface, it seems like Jesus is rejecting the label of “good,” but a deeper meaning is at play, reflecting both theological and spiritual insights.
Affirming God’s Absolute Goodness
At the heart of Jesus’ response is the affirmation of God as the source and measure of all goodness. In Jewish thought, God’s goodness was considered perfect and beyond human comparison. Jesus is reminding the man (and us) that any human understanding of “good” must always be referenced to the divine, as all goodness originates from God. This is not merely a denial of goodness in Himself but an assertion that goodness is rooted solely in God.
Challenging Superficial Compliments
When the man addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” it seems to be more of a polite, surface-level greeting rather than a deep acknowledgment of Jesus’ true identity. Jesus’ question, “Why do you call me good?” challenges the man to reflect more deeply on what he means by “good” and, more importantly, who Jesus is. Does the man truly recognise Jesus as the Son of God, or is he simply using a casual compliment without understanding its weight?
By pointing out that “no one is good but God alone,” Jesus may be urging the man to consider whether he truly sees Jesus in His divine identity or merely as a wise human teacher. In a sense, Jesus is inviting the man to reflect on whether he is ready to acknowledge Jesus as more than just a good man.
Jesus Revealing His Divinity
While on the surface, it might seem like Jesus is distancing Himself from divine goodness, the statement contains a deeper implication about His own identity. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus speaks with authority, performs miracles, forgives sins, and declares truths about God’s kingdom, all actions that reveal His divine nature. Here, by pointing out that only God is good, Jesus may be subtly prompting the man to recognise that calling Him “good” is indeed appropriate, but only if the man understands that Jesus shares in the divine nature.
This statement draws attention to the mystery of Jesus’ dual nature: fully human and fully divine. Jesus is not denying His goodness but rather indicating that if the man believes Him to be good, it must be because He is more than just a teacher—He is God in the flesh.
A Lesson in Humility and Dependence on God
There’s also a spiritual lesson in humility embedded in this interaction. Human beings often assume they can be “good” on their own, relying on their own efforts and moral achievements. By emphasising that only God is good, Jesus is reminding the man (and us) that any human goodness is always derivative of and dependent on God’s grace. This aligns with the Christian teaching that all people fall short of God’s glory and need His grace to achieve true goodness.
The rich young man is specifically asking about what he must do to inherit eternal life, likely assuming that goodness is something he can achieve by his own efforts. Jesus’ response redirects him toward reliance on God’s grace, rather than relying on a checklist of moral accomplishments.
A Call to Recognise the Need for Redemption
In the broader context, this statement also prepares for the fuller message of the Gospel: that human efforts to be “good” are insufficient for salvation. The perfection of God’s goodness reveals the inadequacy of our own righteousness. Jesus is gently preparing the man to understand that eternal life cannot be earned through human merit alone, but requires faith in God and participation in the salvation Jesus offers.
The subsequent conversation, where Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and follow Him, highlights this very point. It’s not about achieving goodness through actions alone but about surrendering to God, recognising our dependence on His goodness, and following Jesus on the path to eternal life.
An Invitation to Reflect on God’s Goodness and Jesus’ Divinity
In saying, “No one is good but God alone,” Jesus isn’t rejecting His own goodness but is leading the rich young man—and all of us—toward a deeper understanding of goodness itself. True goodness comes from God, and if we recognise goodness in Jesus, we are also recognising His divine nature. At the same time, this encounter challenges us to reflect on our dependence on God for goodness, salvation, and eternal life, shifting our focus from our own achievements to reliance on God’s grace.
Footnotes
- And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ↩︎