MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 19:17 There is only one who is good. Only in understanding God as infinitely good can the young man discover that good deeds cannot earn eternal life. keep the commandments. Jesus is not teaching that good works can earn eternal life, for in vv. Matthew 19:21 he will show the man how far short he falls of keeping the commandments (see Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36). But obedience to the law is also an expression of belief in the God who is the source of all good, including eternal life.

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