Matthew 19:17

Matthew 19:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Context of Matthew 19:17

15After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. 16And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 19:17 word by word

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τί με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ; εἷς ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαθός εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, τήρησον τὰς ἐντολάς.¶Read the interlinear

• And He saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• “Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• are you askingἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• Me aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
• whatἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• Oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• you wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to enterεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• the commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785

Cross-references for Matthew 19:17

• 1 Samuel 2:2There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
• Psalms 52:1Why do you boast in evil, you mighty man? The faithfulness of God endures all day long.
• Psalms 145:7They will burst forth in speaking of Your abundant goodness, And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
• James 1:17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
• 1 John 4:8The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
• Leviticus 18:5So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; I am the Lord.
• Ezekiel 20:11I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them.
• Luke 10:26And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
• Romans 10:5For Moses writes of the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who performs them will live by them.
• Galatians 3:11Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith.”

Commentaries on Matthew 19:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Why callest thou me good? - Or, Why dost thou question me concerning that good thing? . This important reading is found in BDL, three others, the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Ethiopic, latter Syriac, Vulgate, Saxon, all the Itala but one, Origen, Eusebius, Cyril, Dionysius Areop., Antiochus, Novatian, Jerome, Augustin, and Juvencus. Erasmus, Grotius, Mill, and Bengel approve of this reading. This authority appears so decisive to Griesbach that he has…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-30Verses 16-30 This account is found also in Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16 One came - This was a young man, Matthew 19:20. He was a ruler (Luke); probably a ruler in a synagogue, or of the great council of the nation; a place to which he was chosen on account of his unblemished character and promising talents. He came running (Mark); evincing great earnestness and anxiety, He fell upon his knees (Mark); not to worship him, but to pay the customary respectful…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Christ knew that covetousness was the sin which most easily beset this young man; though he had got honestly what he possessed, yet he could not cheerfully part with it, and by this his want of sincerity was shown. Christ's promises make his precepts easy, and his yoke pleasant and very comfortable; yet this promise was as much a trial of the young man's faith, as the precept was of his charity and contempt of the world. It is required of us…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Why do you ask Me: as a Jew, the man should have known that God shows his standard of goodness in his commandments. The man's questions show he did not trust God's revealed will (also Matthew 19:20). there is only One who is good: The man might have thought he could be perfectly good on his own, but only God is the truly good. So, God is from where all goodness comes. keep the commandments: Jesus might be trying to show the man his own sinfulness by…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 19:17

• Commandments
• Contingencies
• Covetousness
• God
• God Continued...
• Immortality
• Jesus, the Christ
• Life
• Obedience
• Riches
• Salvation
• Self-Righteousness
• Works
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• God
• Covenant
• Eternal
• Impossible
• Join
• Life
• Marry
• Possession
• Rich
• Concerning

Commentaries on Matthew 19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings