Mk 10:17-27
17As [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
GOOD TEACHER: Teacher translates the title “rabbi.” In modern Judaism, the rabbinate is an ordained office. In its early usage, however, “rabbi” was a title of respect addressed to learned laymen, masters, and, most often, teachers. Even in the New Testament times, “rabbi” was simply an honorific title (Hebrew rab, “great one”) that did not indicate any official appointment. It was applied in general to teachers of the Mosaic Law.
Jesus was called “rabbi” by his disciples and by other people. This indicates that he conducted himself in a manner similar to the learned scribes and the Pharisees. However, unlike them, he did not teach or develop traditional materials, but he taught as one who had intrinsic authority. “The crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Mt 7:28-29). Hence, Jesus was a “good teacher.” Jesus, however, repudiates the description that he is “good,” and directs it to the Father—the origin of all life and blessings.
Jesus asserted that although the scribes and the Pharisees loved to be called “rabbi,” his disciples were not to be called so (Mt 23:7-8). Indeed, the disciples did not become rabbis themselves. They remained as disciples of Jesus, the Teacher.