Where Does Jesus Say He is Good? (Understanding the Goodness of Jesus)

Certain Bible Scripture such as Luke 18:18-19 and Mark 10:17-18 has been misunderstood to be passages where Jesus separates Himself from God and states that only the Lord is good. But this is not true. Jesus shares in the Lord’s goodness. So, which are some of the quotes about the goodness of Jesus?

There are several quotes about Jesus’ goodness. From the miracles He performed to prophecies about His coming, many Bible verses attest to the good, righteous nature of Jesus Christ. In John 10:11, Jesus states that He is the good shepherd. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Jesus is described as one without sin. Jesus compassionate nature is also seen in Matthew 9:36 when he feeds the hungry crowd.

Is Jesus good? Why did Jesus say that only God is good? Was He denying being God? Did He mean to convey something else? This article shall examine the answers to these questions and provide Biblical evidence of the goodness of Jesus Christ.

Is Jesus Good?

Without a doubt, Jesus is good. Not only is He a perfect Man but perfect God. In Luke 18:18-19, when Jesus is referred to as a “Good Teacher,” He responds by saying only God is good. It reads, “A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” This may seem like an oxymoron and can confuse believers, but Jesus was addressing a foundational concept of theology.

There is a debate over Jesus’ deity because of these verses, but that is not what Jesus meant by His response. He did not mean that He was not good or that He was not God. He was challenging the language used by the ruler. He meant to encourage the man to consider who he was talking to. Jesus’ reply to the man indirectly meant that He was indeed good and that He was God. The same passage can be found in Mark 10:17-18. Jesus teaches that the only way of being good is by living according to God’s commandments. Jesus in Himself is God, and this can be shown in John 10:30, where He says, “I and the Father are one.”

Although the verses can be misinterpreted to mean that Jesus was denouncing His goodness, he inherently was saying that God is good, He is God, and thus, He is good. He was trying to show the barriers that keep people from becoming God’s children. In this instance, it was the earthly riches of the ruler who asked Him the question.

12 Quotes About the Goodness of Jesus

Several verses throughout the Holy Book speak to the goodness of Jesus Christ. Let us have a look at some of these quotes:

1. John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Here, Jesus uses metaphorical language to explain how He is the good shepherd, and we are His flock. Unlike bad shepherds that can leave their sheep when wolves attack, Jesus cannot abandon us. This shows the deep love He has for the Church and the purity of His spirit.
2. Hebrews 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Here, we can see Jesus as both man and God. He experienced all the temptations and emotions that we feel as human beings, but yet He did not sin. Jesus’ soul is untainted, unlike ours.
3. John 8:46 – “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?” Jesus, in this verse, asks a rhetorical question to illustrate how He is perfectly good, blameless, and sinless. The answer to this question is, without a doubt, no.
4. 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Paul testifies to the complete holiness of Jesus Christ. He is known as the “one without sin.”
5. Hebrews 7:26 – “Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” Jesus is completely Holy and free from sin, making Him perfectly good and blameless.
6. 1 John 2:2 – “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus coming down to earth to die for the sins of the world is another testimony to His goodness. He could have remained righteous and stayed in Heaven, but instead, He came to live with us and ultimately die for us.
7. Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus was compassionate with His followers, and even in instances where He should have been frustrated, He demonstrated love and the perfect nature of His heart.
8. Matthew 8:7 – “Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” Jesus was so good that He healed the sick and the paralyzed. He came to earth and did not cast away the physically ill. He helped and healed the “outcasts” of society. Jesus even touched them when they were considered unclean.
9. Psalms 145:8-9 – “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, and this verse shows how endlessly forgiving and merciful He is. His goodness and compassion are beyond human comprehension.
10. 1 John 4:15-16 – “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” These verses emphasize how God and Jesus Christ are the geneses of love. We can only love because the Lord first loved us. He is the source of everything good.
11. Mark 5:25-34 – In this passage, Jesus Christ healed a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Despite her “unclean” state, He embraced her and let her get close to Him. This is a clear illustration of His pure, righteous heart.
12. Luke 1:35 – “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Here, the Angel Gabriel was speaking to the Virgin Mary and telling her that she will give birth to the “Holy One.” This reiterates that Jesus Christ was born of no sin and is, therefore, perfectly good.

From these verses and simple truths, the glory and goodness of Jesus are exemplified. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of good.

References

• Is Jesus Good? Is Jesus God?
• If Jesus Was God, Why Did He Say “No One Is Good but God”?
• Remind Yourself That Jesus Is Good
• Is Jesus Good?
• Why Did Jesus Say, “No One Is God but God Alone” If He Is God?