“Someone came to Jesus with this question: ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ ‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.’” – Matthew 19:16-17
The Bible reminds us that only God is good. Matthew 19:16-17 says, “Someone came to Jesus with this question: ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ ‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.’”
Only Jesus is good. Only Jesus is perfect. The reason our key verse says that only He is good is because only Jesus knows what it is like to live a sinless life. He’s the only one who has ever kept all the commandments and fulfilled all the prophecies. He’s the only Messiah… the only Way, Truth, and Life. He’s the one and only Son of God.
So get this today: Only Jesus is good, and when He used that word to define Himself, calling Himself the “Good Shepherd,” notice He goes on to remind us WHY He’s good. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Here is what Jesus just said: do you know why He’s good? Because He died for you. There are many other shepherds, but only one died for us!
Romans 8:6 says it this way: “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Then two verses later He continues, “That is why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
My friend, you cannot be good. It is impossible. Only He is good. But that is okay because He never asked you to be good. He died for you because He knew you could not be good on your own. That is the GOOD Shepherd that Jesus is and always will be!