Standard Of Goodness

For Jesus, goodness is defined by the nature and character of God; it’s measured by the standard that God alone sets. Jesus understands that, in relation to God, no one is good, perfect, holy, and righteous, for all fall short of the standard of God’s goodness. This means no one can gain entrance into the kingdom through their own efforts and deeds. You can illustrate this by looking at the different types and grades of olive oil, which are inspected according to different standards. Extra-virgin olive oil is the highest grade. In order for olive oil to fall under this category, it must meet all the necessary requirements and fulfill the highest possible standards: “U.S. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is virgin olive oil which has excellent flavor and odor (median of defects equal to zero and median of fruitiness greater than zero) and a free fatty acid content, expressed as oleic acid, of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams, and meets the additional requirements as outlined in §52.1539, as appropriate” (US Department of Agriculture, “Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil Grades and Standards,” accessed September 16, 2022, https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/olive-oil-and-olive-pomace-oil-grades-and-standards). The USDA sets the standard for extra-virgin olive oil in America, and God himself sets the standard for goodness.