A Good Man
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18-19; Luke 23; Psalm 108
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God…
—Luke 23:50–51
Years ago, I spoke at the funeral of a young man who had died tragically, leaving behind a young wife and an infant son. I gave the eulogy and, in it, referred to the deceased as a “good man.” Later, the pastor who preached the sermon took exception to that phrase. He used part of his message to offer a not-so-subtle correction—one I believe was unnecessary, and here’s why.
The pastor rightly reminded us that the Bible says, “There is none good but God,” and that no one is righteous—we are all sinners in need of grace. These are true and important doctrines. But his correction missed the mark in context.
Today’s reading includes a telling detail: Joseph of Arimathea is described as “a good and righteous man.” That might seem to contradict other passages that insist no one is good or righteous—but it doesn’t. And the difference lies in how the words are being used.
When Scripture (or anyone else, for that matter) refers to someone as a “good man,” it’s usually speaking in relative, not absolute terms. When I said that young man was good, I wasn’t claiming he was sinless. I meant that he was decent, trustworthy, and possessed admirable character. He was good—as far as men go.
On the other hand, when the Bible says, “There is none good but God,” it’s speaking absolutely—about perfect, holy goodness. Compared to God, we all fall short. So in one case, a man is being measured against other men; in the other, he’s being measured against the holiness of God.
And here’s the point: don’t be the kind of person who constantly polices others for calling someone “a good man” or “a good woman.” We all understand that doesn’t mean sinless perfection. It means they live with integrity, kindness, and decency in a world that sorely needs more of it.
Even more, strive to be the kind of person of whom it can be said, “They are a good person.” This world needs more of them. And by God’s grace, you can be one.
