Quote from vhehn:
no you dont. if you did you wouldnt own a computer:
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and `love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." "
Ah the message of the entire bible in one of my favorite passages. You just preached part of the Easter message.
1. Why call Jesus good - there is only one who is good. Jesus uses the question to point out the man is proving Jesus is God.
2. Jesus shows that no matter how well you keep the commandments - you can never merit God's grace on your own. Our works are as rags. You are never going to merit eternal life. You are not good. You are not perfect. There is always more you can do. When people spoke of the law Jesus frequently, if not always explained, there is always more to do.
Jesus explained he was not here to wipe out the law but fulfill it. For man the law is not enough. No man can fulfill the Spirit of the law.
( Even today this concept of not being able to legislate spirt is prevalent. The principle of U.S. is to be good. But when the U.S. drafts laws it has to pick out specific acts to penalize. We can't draft the principle into law - the law would be to vague - so we have to just legislate the don'ts. We don't even have good smaritan laws because they would be too difficult to administer. )
The principle of being Good or Perfect is something no man can fulfill. God gave Moses the don'ts. But Jesus embodied the principle of good. Jesus is the whole law - he is the Principle of the law.)
3. Jesus replied to the man after he said he kept the law - " if thou wilt be perfect". Letting the man know - you might earn you way into heaven if you are perfect. But, there is only one who is good.. not any man.
In the next part of the passage - which you did not quote - we see the following -
4. Jesus then explained God's plan in a nutshell. I quote the passage in context in quotes below my comments.
With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
With the works of man it is impossible to earn the right to spend eternity in a place of perfection with God.
But if you listen to God/Jesus and act on his promises you can ask God to substitute Jesus's acts for your life.
By acting on Jesus' promises you can have Jesus' earn your salvation.
That is the Easter message. It is your job to act on the promises.
Now your quote in context...
"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.
Treasury of Scripture Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Treasury of Scripture KMat 19:19 Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Treasury of Scripture
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. "
