Need help understanding something in the bible

[Dave M]

first I am a true believer and study the bible and always look to greater under stand it, I have question for you guys on contradictions in the bible, and really its a small small technicality that really could be written off as a opinion of one man using the world to define good, and God's true word of what Good is but here is the question in the proverbs King David refers to 12-2 A good man obtains favor from the lord, how ever Jesus says in Mark 10-18 No one is good except God alone. Would love to here what you guys say about that, Praise Jesus

 

[Bendito]

first I am a true believer and study the bible and always look to greater under stand it, I have question for you guys on contradictions in the bible, and really its a small small technicality that really could be written off as a opinion of one man using the world to define good, and God's true word of what Good is but here is the question in the proverbs King David refers to 12-2 A good man obtains favor from the lord, how ever Jesus says in Mark 10-18 No one is good except God alone. Would love to here what you guys say about that, Praise Jesus

No contradiction....A born again believer is the Righteousness of God in Christ..Christ means 'the anointing' A believer is anointed with the very same anointing that Jesus is anointed with..When a Christian walks in that anointing, he/she is the righteousness of God....When they do not walk in the anointing....they tend to sin...which does not mean we have a sinful nature by the way..we do not...We have the nature of God.
All have sinned and come short.....Is referring to people in their unsaved state..All are in a state of sin and need Jesus' salvation...Like we were until we got saved...Paul, you see, was talking to unsaved Jews..Sometimes to get context you have to read more than the verse above and the verse below...You may have to read the chapter before and a bunch after...In any conversation or story or lecture context is vital (but you know that)

Sorry I guess I put that very simple as to a child...Not that you are....

 

[HAllyson]

No one is good except God alone

Praise God it is great to know there are others out there who seek for answers in the word of God. I did a little studying up after reading your post. I would love to share with you what I've gleaned:
A good man

If I am not mistaken, your question is in regards to this particular passage:

Mark 10:17 ¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 ¶ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 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. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

The man who came running up to Jesus was concerned with that which he could do: "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" I think Jesus' statement in response to this is just an affirmation of the truth: "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." I think this passage aims to show us that faith is more important than any works. When I look at this passage as a whole, I understand that faith in Jesus, that he is God, is more important than what we do here on earth to try to earn his love and forgiveness. God wants us to have faith in Him. I also think this points to the fact that even though all men(humans) are corrupt by sin, there is indeed such a thing as a "good man." Take a look at this scripture that teaches us about a "good man." Jesus himself used the phrase "a good man" on two occasions. I hope this is helpful, and that you may gain a better understanding of what you are looking for, and what God is trying to show you! Keep trusting you will find the answers in his Word, and you'll stay right on track! God bless!

The phrase “good man” is found 13 times throughout the authorized English bible.

• 2 Samuel 18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
  
  
  
• Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
  
  
  
• Psalms 112:5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
  
  
  
• Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
  
  
  
• 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.
  
  
  
• Micah 7:2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
  
  
  
• Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
  
  
  
• Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
  
  
  
• Luke 23:50 ¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
  
  
  
• John 7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
  
  
  
• 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.

The phrase “good men” is found twice (once in the old testament, and once in the new)

• Proverbs 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
  
  
  
• Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

 

[robaston]

A good man obtains favor from the lord, how ever Jesus says in Mark 10-18 No one is good except God alone.

i see the difficulty...from this comparison no-one will get "favour from The Lord" although you see people all around getting favour from The Lord. Huh...did Jesus bring bad news?

One solution...

• a good man is a believer
• God, since He now lives in the believer, is still the only one who is good
• without God, we are not good

 

[Dave M]

very nice thank you, I have also wondered that I thought the old testament was written in a different language then the new testament (I think) that maybe the word good got lost in translation.

 

[robaston]

very nice thank you, I have also wondered that I thought the old testament was written in a different language then the new testament (I think) that maybe the word good got lost in translation.

have to pass on this one, others here know heaps more

 

[Bendito]

The word 'good' in our English indicates an affinity with God. Mark 10:18. He called him good Master; Christ would have him mean thereby, that he looked upon him to be God, since there is none good but one, that is God, who is one, and his name one, Zech. 14:9. Our English word God doubtless hath affinity with good; as the Hebrews name God by his power, Elohim, the strong God; so we by his goodness, the good God.
Jesus was not saying that mankind is 'not good' He was inviting the young man to speak what he knew..That Jesus IS God...and the young fellow could not or would not do that. "There is none good (God) but God" 'Good' as in 'pleasant; agreeable' etc has nothing to do with this verse....The Hebrew is so far above English in it's multiplicity of meanings that the translators have missed an incredible amount of wisdom.

 

[Bendito]

The word 'good' in our English indicates an affinity with God. Mark 10:18. He called him good Master; Christ would have him mean thereby, that he looked upon him to be God, since there is none good but one, that is God, who is one, and his name one, Zech. 14:9. Our English word God doubtless hath affinity with good; as the Hebrews name God by his power, Elohim, the strong God; so we by his goodness, the good God.
Jesus was not saying that mankind is 'not good' He was inviting the young man to speak what he knew..That Jesus IS God...and the young fellow could not or would not do that. "There is none good (God) but God" 'Good' as in 'pleasant; agreeable' etc has nothing to do with this verse....The Hebrew is so far above English in it's multiplicity of meanings that the translators have missed an incredible amount of wisdom.

The sad thing about this situation is this....“You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad; because he was a wealthy man.

Look at that! Jesus invited this young man to become a disciple and go with Him! "Then come, follow me"!
Jesus also said that if he gives away all his treasures, he will have it back in heaven.
Not only that but He said the young man would have it back 100 fold in this world and the next....
There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

"30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

And again BTW There is no place that says the young man did not go to heaven when he died.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

The sad thing about this situation is this....“You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 22 Shocked by this word, he went away sad; because he was a wealthy man.

Look at that! Jesus invited this young man to become a disciple and go with Him! "Then come, follow me"!
Jesus also said that if he gives away all his treasures, he will have it back in heaven.
Not only that but He said the young man would have it back 100 fold in this world and the next....
There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

"30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

And again BTW There is no place that says the young man did not go to heaven when he died.

First @Dave M I want to apologise for getting off topic a bit in this reply but brother @Bendito brought up a point and I want to try and point something out that many brethren miss in this.

Ok Brother Bendito my friend, look at what Jesus asked the guy - look at the commandments in which Jesus asked the guy and they guy had kept all of them----------Now what is missing ? LOVE God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as your self. This man had not yet heard about LOVE - that is the one thing he was missing.......LOVE ......Jesus wanted him to fall in love with people as he gave away his riches and then come follow Him....

This guy could have grumbled and thought all you preachers and teachers are just out for the money and so forth and yet said never the less I know you have the words of Life so I will do as you say.

Jesus had a thief in His ministry. I mean Jesus could have very well been like come on man - I got a thief in here and I need to replace him soon. Come on man your my man - go bless the people in love and come follow me.

I said all this because so many christians use this scripture as Jesus saying rich people can not get into heaven or follw Him and so forth. The scriptures dont say this at all. If anything it says how hard it is for those WHO TRUST OR CHERISH OR DEPEND on their riches and what they have done - how hard it is for these types of people.....But then all through out His written word he teaches us to put Him first - seek Him first and His righteousness AND THEN these things will be added unto you.

I know I got off track again but it is still your fault. ROFL......
Blessings Brothers
James W

 

[Bendito]

First @Dave M I want to apologise for getting off topic a bit in this reply but brother @Bendito brought up a point and I want to try and point something out that many brethren miss in this.

Ok Brother Bendito my friend, look at what Jesus asked the guy - look at the commandments in which Jesus asked the guy and they guy had kept all of them----------Now what is missing ? LOVE God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as your self. This man had not yet heard about LOVE - that is the one thing he was missing.......LOVE ......Jesus wanted him to fall in love with people as he gave away his riches and then come follow Him....

This guy could have grumbled and thought all you preachers and teachers are just out for the money and so forth and yet said never the less I know you have the words of Life so I will do as you say.

Jesus had a thief in His ministry. I mean Jesus could have very well been like come on man - I got a thief in here and I need to replace him soon. Come on man your my man - go bless the people in love and come follow me.

I said all this because so many christians use this scripture as Jesus saying rich people can not get into heaven or follw Him and so forth. The scriptures dont say this at all. If anything it says how hard it is for those WHO TRUST OR CHERISH OR DEPEND on their riches and what they have done - how hard it is for these types of people.....But then all through out His written word he teaches us to put Him first - seek Him first and His righteousness AND THEN these things will be added unto you.

I know I got off track again but it is still your fault. ROFL......
Blessings Brothers
James W

LOL Very good point my friend James

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

LOL Very good point my friend James

MR Brother Bendito Sir,
I wish to imform you that I can not take credit for this - I "saw" this as i was listening toHis word being taught.
I can however take credit for not wording it as well as the Pastor did but that be about it. lol
James W
<>< ><>

 

[Bendito]

MR Brother Bendito Sir,
I wish to imform you that I can not take credit for this - I "saw" this as i was listening toHis word being taught.
I can however take credit for not wording it as well as the Pastor did but that be about it. lol
James W
<>< ><>

ROFL The humorous humility of the humble.

 

[Chad]

Good question brother. Let's read this in context, with some bible study tools.

Mark 10:18
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Why do you call me good. Jesus’ reply does not mean that He does not consider Himself good. He rather wants to show the man that “No one is good except God alone,” so that the man may realize that all his works do not make him good, and that he is not capable of earning eternal life.

Proverbs 12:2
A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.

Correlating Scripture passage:

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the Lord. This idea is the controlling principle of Proverbs, and is ancient Israel’s decisive contribution to the human quest for knowledge and understanding. The fear of the Lord is the only basis of true knowledge. This “fear” is not distrustful terror of God, but rather the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals Himself as Creator, Savior, and Judge.

Although Israel’s covenant relationship with God receives little overt attention in Proverbs, the use of the divine name most closely associated with the covenant, the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh, Ex. 3:15; 6:3 and notes), is significant. It indicates that God’s redemptive covenant with His people and the special revelation that accompany it are foundational for true wisdom. In Deuteronomy, “fear the Lord” means living by the stipulations of the covenant in grateful response to God’s redemptive grace (Deut. 6:2, 24). The temple built by Solomon later became the visible expression of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord, which again is described as the “fear” of the Lord (1 Kin. 8:40, 43). There is an important link through Solomon and the temple between biblical wisdom and the covenant theology found elsewhere in the Old Testament.

is the beginning of knowledge. The Hebrew means either the starting point of knowledge, or its basic, ruling principle. The latter is in view here. While in His common grace God enables unbelievers to know much about the world, only the fear of the Lord enables one to know what anything means ultimately. Relying on this light, wisdom pursues the task of reflecting on human experience. See “The Wisdom and Will of God” at Dan. 2:20.

 

[Bendito]

Good question brother. Let's read this in context, with some bible study tools.



Why do you call me good. Jesus’ reply does not mean that He does not consider Himself good. He rather wants to show the man that “No one is good except God alone,” so that the man may realize that all his works do not make him good, and that he is not capable of earning eternal life.



Correlating Scripture passage:



The fear of the Lord. This idea is the controlling principle of Proverbs, and is ancient Israel’s decisive contribution to the human quest for knowledge and understanding. The fear of the Lord is the only basis of true knowledge. This “fear” is not distrustful terror of God, but rather the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals Himself as Creator, Savior, and Judge.

Although Israel’s covenant relationship with God receives little overt attention in Proverbs, the use of the divine name most closely associated with the covenant, the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh, Ex. 3:15; 6:3 and notes), is significant. It indicates that God’s redemptive covenant with His people and the special revelation that accompany it are foundational for true wisdom. In Deuteronomy, “fear the Lord” means living by the stipulations of the covenant in grateful response to God’s redemptive grace (Deut. 6:2, 24). The temple built by Solomon later became the visible expression of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord, which again is described as the “fear” of the Lord (1 Kin. 8:40, 43). There is an important link through Solomon and the temple between biblical wisdom and the covenant theology found elsewhere in the Old Testament.

is the beginning of knowledge. The Hebrew means either the starting point of knowledge, or its basic, ruling principle. The latter is in view here. While in His common grace God enables unbelievers to know much about the world, only the fear of the Lord enables one to know what anything means ultimately. Relying on this light, wisdom pursues the task of reflecting on human experience. See “The Wisdom and Will of God” at Dan. 2:20.

Good post Chad...Did you notice? The young man knelt before Jesus....The people did not bow or kneel before the rabbis or the High priests either, even in those days....It's my opinion that the young fellow recognized the deity of Jesus and Jesus wanted him to speak it....What do you think?

 

[Dave M]

Good post Chad...Did you notice? The young man knelt before Jesus....The people did not bow or kneel before the rabbis or the High priests either, even in those days....It's my opinion that the young fellow recognized the deity of Jesus and Jesus wanted him to speak it....What do you think?[/QUOTEI

I find it hard to believe the young man recognized the deity of Jesus if he did not listen to him. Jesus had incredible presence and I do not know how he did not recognize it unless Jesus hid it from him. I mean when he first met some of the apostles they barley knew who JEsus was and they dropped everything to follow him, So they believed with out even getting to know him. What makes this man different?? was it he was blinded by his earthly treasures that he could not see, or was his heart so harden he did not care?

 

[Bendito]

Dave The phenomenon is not new, nor is it uncommon....How many Christians do you know who want their relationship with God on their own terms...for example..Picking and choosing which scriptures to believe? Choosing which instructions of God to obey? Insisting on doing things their own way, or doing things, projects etc without consulting God first and so on....It happens all the time...Why is it so hard to believe the young man wanted it his own way?

 

[Dave M]

Hey Bendito
I do not find it hard to believe at all that the young man wanted it his own way. What I find hard to believe with what you said was that young man recognized the deity of Jesus, that's what I I find hard to believe, for if he did recognize the deity, I think he would of surely followed him and done as instructed his faith was to weak perhaps , but nobody can know for sure, we can only speculate. Of course this is only my thoughts I would love to here yours on the subject.

For me I cant comprehend any body coming across God and not submitting 100% to what he says if you know he is GOd. Their for I do not think the guy was 100% certain that Jesus was God.

 

[Bendito]

Hey Bendito
I do not find it hard to believe at all that the young man wanted it his own way. What I find hard to believe with what you said was that young man recognized the deity of Jesus, that's what I I find hard to believe, for if he did recognize the deity, I think he would of surely followed him and done as instructed his faith was to weak perhaps , but nobody can know for sure, we can only speculate. Of course this is only my thoughts I would love to here yours on the subject.

For me I cant comprehend any body coming across God and not submitting 100% to what he says if you know he is GOd. Their for I do not think the guy was 100% certain that Jesus was God.

I understand that Dave...Many many Christians have just that problem though....Personally I think it stems from unbelief....Until a person will believe a gift, healing for example, he will not be healed....Until a person will believe that God wants him to be a preacher, he'll continue to drive truck....See what I mean? Nobody is born again a spiritual adult...We all have areas where we deny God His way....
The young man wanted to follow Jesus but he wanted it his own way. He wanted to keep his riches, and didn't even hear the promise that Jesus included with His offer.

 

[Dave M]

"Hey Bendito

You said the following and I agree 100%
" didn't even hear the promise that Jesus included with His offer."

I was saying something very similar here
"was it he was blinded by his earthly treasures that he could not see, or was his heart so harden he did not care?"

 

[Bendito]

"Hey Bendito

You said the following and I agree 100%
" didn't even hear the promise that Jesus included with His offer."

I was saying something very similar here
"was it he was blinded by his earthly treasures that he could not see, or was his heart so harden he did not care?"

Yes What you said was true...Personally I believe that it was that he could not see himself without his money...I thing that was the block for him...