Mark 10:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Some portray this young man as a sly and treacherous tempter. In reality, he was merely consumed by greed, not a tempter. Consider the observation made by the evangelist: ‘Jesus looked at him and loved him’ (Mark 10:21). Why did Christ respond with the words, ‘No one is good’? It is because he came to Christ merely as a man, one among many teachers. Christ is indicating that if he regards Him as good only as a teacher, then no one is truly good when compared to God; yet if he sees Him as good because He is God, he should not merely refer to Him as a teacher. With this statement, Christ seeks to elevate the young man's understanding of Himself, urging him to recognize His divine nature.

If the Savior is not inherently good, then by necessity, He must be evil, as He is absolute and cannot occupy a position in between. Yet can it be coherent for the Creator of all that is good to possess any evil? If life itself is good, and the words of the Son bring life, as He declared: the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life (John 6:63), then why, upon hearing the Pharisee call Him Good Teacher, did He respond: no one is good except God alone (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:19)? He articulated ‘No one is good’ not merely upon hearing the word ‘Good,’ but also ‘Good Teacher.’ Thus, He answered based on the wording presented, as if being tested, or as if unaware that He is a good God, and not just regarded as a good teacher.

A young individual who has lost sight of the importance of the law, unaware that in Christ the law has been completed, who believes in righteousness through deeds, and does not understand that He has come for the lost sheep of Israel, is like the teacher of the law asking the Lord of the law, the only-begotten Son of God. Consequently, when approached as if He were merely one of the law's teachers, the Lord dismissed such a misguided view of faith and responded, “Why do you call Me good?” To clarify the true understanding of goodness and how it should be articulated, He continued, “No one is good except God alone,” affirming that this definition is valid when applied to Him as God.

At last, a man approached the Lord, known for his strict adherence to God's commandments. Despite his high standing as a ruler and his significant wealth from his youth, he possessed a strong desire for the utmost spiritual fulfillment to secure eternal life. What more could one seek when coming to the Lord? It appeared that he might gain entry into His kingdom in a manner different from how others are typically called—without the necessity of repentance. The disciples were also deeply involved, as reflected in their final inquiries. Yet, the Lord unveiled the reality of this young man's heart through two statements, illustrating how far he was from truly understanding God's ways.

The dialogue involving the affluent youth and the disciples regarding riches unfolded during Jesus' pilgrimage to Jerusalem, occurring at various resting points along the way. After one such pause, as Jesus was about to resume His journey, a man approached Him at a run, knelt before Him, and inquired, Good Teacher, what must I do to gain eternal life? A legal expert (refer to Luke 10:25) posed the same question to Jesus, intending to challenge Him on His understanding of the law. However, the young man who bowed before Jesus earnestly sought to discover what was necessary for him to enter the Kingdom of Heaven that the Galilean Teacher proclaimed.

After spending some time in Perea, the Savior set His sights on Jerusalem for the final occasion. He was departing from that region forever, prompting a flurry of individuals eager to seek His spiritual guidance for their lives. Among them, a wealthy and esteemed young man approached Him, kneeling before Him and asking, "Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?"

The dialogue between the affluent young man and his disciples regarding the peril that wealth poses to salvation is presented in the Gospel of Mark, mirroring the account found in the book of Hebrews. Mark's narration of this interaction closely aligns with that of Matthew, sharing similar elements with only minor distinctive features that either enhance Matthew's depiction or modify it. This conversation about the risk of riches in achieving salvation unfolds in both accounts in parallel fashion, as seen in Matthew 19:16-30.