Matthew was embarrassed by Mark’s Gospel that had Jesus effectively saying that he was not good. Only God is good
And . . . . a person ran up to [him], and kneeling to him asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? no one is good but one, [that is] God. (Mark 10:17-18)
Matthew deftly shuffles the word order to have them come out of Jesus’ mouth with a sleightly different meaning.
And lo, one coming up said to him, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have life eternal?
And he said to him, What askest thou me concerning goodness? one is good. (Matthew 19:16-17)
Modern theological scholars are also said to be embarrassed by Mark’s Jesus, and no doubt it remains a puzzling point for many other Christians, too: Continue reading “Jesus Not Being Good Is No Embarrassment”