Keep the commandments (Mt 19:17-19:17)

“Jesus said to him.

‘Why do you ask me

About what is good?

There is only one

Who is good.

If you wish to enter into life,

Keep the commandments.’”

 

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τί με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ; εἷς ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαθός· εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, τήρει τὰς ἐντολάς.

 

This response of Jesus can be found in Mark, chapter 10:18-19, and Luke, chapter 18:19-20, but slightly different, since Luke and Mark are closer to each other as they indicate which commandments to follow.  Jesus responded (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ) to this question by asking a question.  Why did he ask about good (Τί με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ), since there was only one good one (εἷς ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαθός)?  Here there is no mention of God alone as in Luke and Mark.  Then Jesus gave the classic answer for those who wanted to enter good or eternal life (εἰ δὲ θέλεις εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν), just keep the commandments or laws (τήρει τὰς ἐντολάς).