What did Jesus mean when He said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? There are several different schools of thought on what Jesus was referring to, in saying that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to gain eternal life (Matthew 19:24;Mark 10:25;Luke 18:25). The Persians expressed the concept of the impossible by saying it would be easier to put an elephant through the eye of a needle. The camel was a Jewish adaptation (the largest animal in Palestine was a camel). Some theorize that the needle Jesus was speaking of was the Needle Gate, supposedly a low and narrow after-hours entrance found in the wall surrounding Jerusalem. It was purposely small for security reasons, and a camel could only go through it by stripping off any saddles or packs and crawling through on its knees. The problem with this theory is there is no evidence such a gate ever existed. Beyond that, what sane camel driver would go through such contortions when larger gates were easily accessible? Jesus’ message is clear—it is impossible for anyone to be saved on his own merits. Since wealth was seen as proof of God’s approval, it was commonly taught by the rabbis that rich people were blessed by God and were, therefore, the most likely candidates for heaven. Jesus destroyed that notion, and along with it, the idea that anyone can earn eternal life. Jesus’ answer is the basis of the gospel: With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26).
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:39:46 +0000
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