Matthew 19:17

"Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”"

Key Reflection

The question posed by the young man in Matthew 19:17 reflects a common concern of first-century Jewish society: how to achieve eternal life through righteous deeds. The term "Good Teacher" (δόξαν, doxa) carries significant weight as it implies respect and perhaps even divinity. This title underscores the man's earnestness and his desire for spiritual guidance beyond mere ethical behavior. Jesus' response directs him back to the Law of Moses, indicating that true righteousness involves not just external actions but also internal commitment to God’s commandments.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. Why callest thou me good? Why do you give to me a title that belongs only to God? You suppose me to be only a man. Yet you give me an appellation that belongs only to God. It is improper to use titles in this manner. As you Jews use them, they are unmeaning. And though the title may apply to me, yet you did not intend to use it in the sense in which it is proper, as denoting infinite perfection, or Divinity; but you intended to use it as a complimentary or a flattering title, applied to me as if I were a mere man--a title which belongs only to God.

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