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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus redirects the young man's focus from asking him about "good" to asking God about "good." This isn't a denial of his own goodness, but a profound statement that ultimate goodness resides only in God, implying that true understanding of what is "good" comes from Him and His commandments, not from merely addressing Jesus as a "good teacher."
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
A wealthy young ruler approaches Jesus with a crucial question: what must he do to gain eternal life? Jesus initially redirects him, questioning why he calls Him "good" and pointing to God as the sole source of goodness before directing him to follow the commandments. This sets the stage for the young man's declaration of his lifelong obedience, leading to Jesus' challenging follow-up.
When a wealthy young man calls Jesus 'Good Master,' Jesus redirects the question. Why? It’s not about denying his divinity, but about pointing to the ultimate Source of all goodness.
God as the Sole Source of Goodness
Jesus' response, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good," is a profound statement about God's absolute and unique goodness.
Jesus points the young man to the commandments as the way to 'enter life.' But what does that really mean, and can we truly 'keep' them perfectly?
Obedience as the Doorway to Life
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Jesus’ instruction to "keep the commandments" is not presented as a way to earn God's favor, but as the pathway to the abundant life he desires for us.
Understand the original words
agathos · Greek Adjective
That which conforms to the nature, will, and standard of God. Biblically, God is the ultimate definition and source of all moral perfection and benevolence.
tēreō · Greek Verb
To fulfill the requirements of the Mosaic Law or the divine will of God. It implies faithful obedience and adherence to God's revealed statutes and moral requirements.
entolē · Greek Noun
Divine instructions or statutes given by God to His people. They serve as a reflection of God’s holiness and a guide for living in covenant relationship with Him.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee and Judea, gathering disciples and performing miracles. His teachings emphasize repentance, faith, and the coming Kingdom of God.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers a foundational teaching on discipleship, ethics, and the nature of the Kingdom of God, including the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer. This teaching contrasts outward religious practice with inner righteousness.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler
A wealthy young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tests his commitment by asking him to sell all his possessions and follow him.
This passage echoes Jesus' point that 'only one is good,' emphasizing that all humanity has fallen short of God's glory, highlighting the universal need for God's goodness rather than human merit.
Deuteronomy 6:5Jesus' directive to 'keep the commandments' directly points back to the foundational command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might, underscoring the comprehensive nature of true obedience.
Luke 10:25-28This parallel account shows a lawyer asking a similar question, and Jesus again responds by pointing to the law's command to love God and neighbor, reinforcing the theme of obedience as the path to life.
1 Timothy 1:5This verse speaks of the goal of the commandment being love, which aligns with Jesus' redirection to the commandments, emphasizing that the true spirit behind them is love for God and others.
Galatians 3:24The law acting as a 'disciplinarian' or 'tutor' until Christ directly relates to Jesus' use of the law here; it reveals our shortcomings and points us to Christ, rather than being a means of earning salvation on our own.
vincentMatthew 19:17: "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
Why callest thou me good? (τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν)But the true reading is, τί με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ; Why askest thou me concerning the good ?There is none good but one, that is God (οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός)But the reading is, εἷς ἐστὶν ὁ ἀγαθός, One there is who is good. The saying of Christ appe…
calvinMatthew 19:16-22: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
- And, lo, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17. Who said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but God alone? [614] but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18. He saith to him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not…
Jesus redirects the young man's focus from asking him about "good" to asking God about "good." This isn't a denial of his own goodness, but a profound statement that ultimate goodness resides only in God, implying that true understanding of what is "good" comes from Him and His commandments, not from merely addressing Jesus as a "good teacher."
A wealthy young ruler approaches Jesus with a crucial question: what must he do to gain eternal life? Jesus initially redirects him, questioning why he calls Him "good" and pointing to God as the sole source of goodness before directing him to follow the commandments. This sets the stage for the young man's declaration of his lifelong obedience, leading to Jesus' challenging follow-up.
A wealthy young ruler approaches Jesus with a crucial question: what must he do to gain eternal life? Jesus initially redirects him, questioning why he calls Him "good" and pointing to God as the sole source of goodness before directing him to follow the commandments. This sets the stage for the young man's declaration of his lifelong obedience, leading to Jesus' challenging follow-up.
"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.”" — Jesus redirects the young man's focus from asking him about "good" to asking God about "good." This isn't a denial of his own goodness, but a profound statement that ultimate goodness resides onl…
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Last reviewed October 2026