Luke 18:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers the greeting with a question, pressing the ruler to weigh what 'good' means and who alone is its source.
What Does Luke 18:19 Mean?
The ruler offered 'Good Master' as a polite compliment; Jesus will not let the word pass cheaply. Goodness, he says, has one true measure — God. Before discussing what to do, Jesus makes the man consider what he has just said, and to whom he has said it. He is being invited to think, not rebuked.
The question gives the ruler more than he asked for. If none is good but God, then his easy compliment carries far more weight than he realized — and his confidence in his own goodness rests on the wrong scale. Jesus is loosening the man's grip on self-measured virtue before showing him where true goodness, and eternal life, are found.
Luke 18:19 in the Original Language
agathos (ἀγαθός), 'good' -- good in essence and character, not merely respectable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:19
What does Luke 18:19 mean?
Jesus answers the greeting with a question, pressing the ruler to weigh what 'good' means and who alone is its source.