Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 18:19

"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, [even] God." — Luke 18:19 (ASV)

Jesus replies by asking the ruler a question that has puzzled many. Perhaps he is subtly urging the ruler to see that if Jesus is good and if it is also true that only God is good, then there is a clear conclusion to be drawn as to his true identity. His more obvious purpose in this question is to establish a standard of goodness infinitely higher than the ruler supposes it to be (cf. Matthew 5:20, 48).