Agathos is physically or morally beneficial in effect and perfect for its purpose. A good tree bears good fruit because it fulfills the purpose for which God designed it to grow and produce nourishing fruit. A good and faithful servant fulfills the tasks assigned by his master and produces beneficial results. God alone is good without parameters. His instructions and actions are always perfectly beneficial from beginning to end. Even when a command from God does not appear desirable from a human perspective it ultimately produces a positive end. Agathos requires a long-range view in which the beneficial effect may not be visible until much later. Agathosune signifies moral goodness as a character trait and incorporates the ideas of agathos without the connotations of kindness or gentleness. God employs agathosune when He shakes people out of complacency or punishes sin because such actions remain good despite their harsh appearance.

Agathos emphasizes being beneficial in effect. This covers not the goodness of being but the goodness that is produced because of some word or deed. It is goodness and beneficial in effect. Agathosune describes the action taken with pure motives for another's good no matter how kindly or unkindly it appears to be done. An act done out of goodness may not be done with a meek and mild smile. A good act may not be done kindly. Agathosune describes an action with a good result eventually although first appearances seem otherwise. One is called upon to learn to discern what is good to do it and to pursue it despite what others may say or do.

Richard Ritenbaugh explores the Greek word agathos as the equivalent of the Hebrew tov in the context of Matthew 7:17. A thing is good such as a tree or fruit when it does what it was designed to do. An entity is good when it does or performs what it was designed to do. Richard Ritenbaugh stresses that agathos implies that it is beneficial in effect. What is produced is good. It is perfect for the instruction the person was to do.