The Meaning of Mark 10:18 Explained

Mark 10:18

KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

YLT: And Jesus said to him, 'Why me dost thou call good? no one is good except One -- God;

Darby: But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? no one is good but one, that is God.

ASV: And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God.

Discover Mark 10:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Mark 10:18?

MEANING: What does Mark 10:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Mark 10:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Mark 10:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  Jesus  said  unto him,  Why  callest thou  me  good?  [there is] none  good  but  one,  [that is], God. 

What does Mark 10:18 Mean?

Study Notes

Why callest
Par., Believing Me to be but a human teacher, why callest thou Me "good," etc.

Verse Meaning

The man had a superficial understanding of goodness. Jesus" response confronted the man with the implications of trying to do some good work to earn eternal life and calling Jesus "good." Was he ready to respond to Jesus" instructions as to God"s Word?

Context Summary

Mark 10:1-22 - The Divine Law Of Marriage
God made one man for one woman; therefore divorce is not permissible, unless the one act be committed which severs the nuptial tie. Then only is the bond broken by which husband and wife are one. There should be no compulsory celibacy. Some can live the single life; others cannot. Each must work out his own possibilities, and none may judge another.
It would appear that the fathers brought the little ones. They had a truer perception of the heart of Jesus than the disciples. All through the ages men have supposed that strength, wisdom, and wealth have the greatest attractions for our Lord, whereas it is precisely the reverse. Of such is His Kingdom.
Youth, with all its fervor and impetuosity, is very beautiful to the Lord Jesus. In this case it was combined with station, high standing, and wealth. It is not necessary that all should sell their goods, and give away the proceeds; indeed, it is often harder to retain and administer them rightly for God. But it was necessary for Christ to prove to this young man that he was not living the life of love, as he seemed to suppose. That alone can fulfill the law, and secure the highest and most perfect blessedness of which we are capable. It was a severe but necessary test for this young man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 10

1  Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13  blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17  resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23  tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28  promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32  foretells his death and resurrection;
35  bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46  and restores to Bartimaeus his sight

Greek Commentary for Mark 10:18

Why callest thou me good? [Τι με λεγεις αγατον]
So Luke 18:19. Matthew 19:17 has it: “Why asketh thou concerning that which is good? “The young ruler was probably sincere and not using mere fulsome compliment, but Jesus challenges him to define his attitude towards him as was proper. Did he mean “good” (αγατος — agathos) in the absolute sense as applied to God? The language is not a disclaiming of deity on the part of Jesus. [source]
That I may inherit [ινα κληρονομησω]
Matthew 19:16 has (σχω — schō), that I may “get.” [source]
Why callest thou, etc []
Compare Matthew 19:17. The renderings of the A. V. and Rev. here are correct. There is no change of reading as in Matthew, where the text was altered to conform it to Mark and Luke. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:18 mean?

- And Jesus said to him Why Me call you good No one [is] good if not alone God
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς Θεός

Ὁ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
λέγεις  call  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἀγαθόν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
οὐδεὶς  No  one  [is] 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
ἀγαθὸς  good 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
εἷς  alone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
Θεός  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 10:18?

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Similar Scriptures for Mark 10:18

Luke 18:19 [7]
Matthew 19:17 [6]
1 Samuel 2:2 [5]
1 John 4:16 [5]
1 John 4:8 [4]
James 1:17 [3]
Psalms 86:5 [3]
Romans 3:12 [3]
John 5:41-44 [3]
Psalms 119:68 [3]
Psalms 36:7-8 [3]
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