This is where the Greek text gives clarification to the word good. In Matthew 19:16-17, it says And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Now the word good in this verse is the Greek word AGATHOS. AGATHOS in English means good. But there are different Greek words for the term good.
This particular word AGATHOS is the good of God. It's the good that the Holy Spirit produces. When Jesus went about doing good, He didn't do KALOS, which is humanitarian good. He went around doing AGATHOS. That is, He was touching people's souls, their spirits.
When this man comes up to Jesus, he says, Good teacher. He didn't say KALOS, like we would use today if we were to say he or she is a good teacher.
This man is saying AGATHOS, good. What AGATHOS, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?
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.
So, in Verse 17, the first thing Jesus says to him is, why did you call me AGATHOS? There is none AGATHOS but one, and that is, God.
So Jesus is saying, do you realize you just called me God? Do you know why you called me that?
We see the word good in English and it means one thing to us which causes confusion because we know there are good people. However, in the Greek text, the word Agathos was used which can only be applied to the good of God. Human good is Kalos. But this man called Jesus Agathos. What I notice is that Jesus didn't correct this man and say you can't call me that. Why? Because Jesus is God. Jesus said there is none Agathos but God, and you just called me Agathos. This man knew exactly who Jesus was. What a great confession!
This is where the Greek text gives clarification to the word good. In Matthew 19:16-17, it says And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Now the word good in this verse is the Greek word AGATHOS. AGATHOS in English means good. But there are different Greek words for the term good.
This particular word AGATHOS is the good of God. It's the good that the Holy Spirit produces. When Jesus went about doing good, He didn't do KALOS, which is humanitarian good. He went around doing AGATHOS. That is, He was touching people's souls, their spirits.
When this man comes up to Jesus, he says, Good teacher. He didn't say KALOS, like we would use today if we were to say he or she is a good teacher.
This man is saying AGATHOS, good. What AGATHOS, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?
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.
So, in Verse 17, the first thing Jesus says to him is, why did you call me AGATHOS? There is none AGATHOS but one, and that is, God.
So Jesus is saying, do you realize you just called me God? Do you know why you called me that?
We see the word good in English and it means one thing to us which causes confusion because we know there are good people. However, in the Greek text, the word Agathos was used which can only be applied to the good of God. Human good is Kalos. But this man called Jesus Agathos. What I notice is that Jesus didn't correct this man and say you can't call me that. Why? Because Jesus is God. Jesus said there is none Agathos but God, and you just called me Agathos. This man knew exactly who Jesus was. What a great confession!
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