06/07/2026
No good man??
You may have heard this verse used to teach “no one is good, everyone is evil” or something close to that. Is that what this verse is really teaching? Does the Scripture ever, or never, refer to someone as “good”?
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17 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.
Good men:
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a GOOD man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Psalm 125:4 Do GOOD, O Lord, to those who are GOOD And to those who are upright in their hearts.
Proverbs 2:20 So you will walk in the way of GOOD men And keep to the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 12:2 A GOOD man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Luke 23:50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (“man” is added in both cases in this verse)
So it appears the scripture does refer to a “good man”, if infrequently.
So what is our opening verse really teaching?
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17 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.
And lo! one came, and said to him, Good master, what good (singular) shall I do, that I have everlasting life? And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one (singular) is good except One, God! But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments.
The question is “what ONE, SINGULAR, good thing can I do to have eternal life”. Jesus answers that there is only one SINGULAR GOOD – that is God, but if you want to enter eternal life keep (all) the commandments (PLURAL)” and then Jesus goes on to basically list all of the Ten Commandments before he is interrupted.
What I find most interesting is what answer was not given. Jesus' answer contained nothing remotely close to "just believe in me" or similar language.
As a related side note. The next to last prayer in the Jewish “18 benedictions” is the thanksgiving prayer, and God is mentioned as “tov” (good) several times in this prayer and even declares a name of God is TOV. When I recite this prayer it regularly reminds me of this narrative in Matthew
THANKSGIVING
We give thanks to You, for You are the Lord our God and the God of our fathers forever and ever. Through every generation You have been the rock of our lives, the shield of our salvation. We will thank You and declare Your praise, for our lives that are in Your hands, for our souls that are entrusted to You, for Your miracles that are daily with us, and for Your wonders and Your favors that are with us at all times, evening, morning and noon. (“TOV”)Beneficent One, Your mercies never fail. Merciful One, Your kindnesses never cease. We have always placed our hope in You.
For all these acts may Your name be blessed and exalted continually, our King, forever and ever. Let every living thing give thanks to You and praise Your name in truth, God, our salvation and our help. Blessed are You, Lord, whose Name is ha-TOV (the Beneficent One), and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.
