Do Christians at least agree that it is impossible for a rich man to get into heaven?

Question

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mar 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Answer 1

Well that's all the "TV evangelists" buggered then

Answer 2

first, the "eye of a needle" is a specific gate in the walls around Jerusalem. It was a small gate meant for foot travelers only, so while it would be very difficult to get a camel through that gate, it's not as impossible as if you were literally trying to thread a camel through a needle....

second, as has already been referenced, Jesus goes on to say that with man this would be impossible (for a rich man to get into heaven) but with God, all things are possible... When left to our own devices, it's impossible for any person to get in to Heaven... It's only by the grace of God that we can go...

Matthew 18 also says that is would be better to hang a millstone around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea rather than lead someone who believes astray.... you might think about that the next time you want to take a Bible verse out of context to cause division or lead someone away.

Answer 3

It's not *impossible* it's just easier for the camel ;)

No really, it's for those who attach more value to their wealth and their possessions then to their soul... People can be rich and a good person at the same time.

God can even bless you to be extremely wealthy, but not everyone can handle that, can they? They get greedy and stuff. That's what this scripture is all about.

Answer 4

Are you kidding....the entire reason why there is a Catholic church is due to their historical practice of getting rich people to pay 'indulgences': it is where the wealth came from, how the palaces of Rome were funded, and that is central to the reason Catholicism still has such a large following....

'Indulgences' were basically paying off the church to absolve you of your sins...this was ultimately the reason why there are now so many breakaway faiths such as Calvanism out there (who didn't agree with the practise)...

However, as the Christians believe everything that happened 2000 years ago word for word, something that only happened 500 years ago as an interpretation of the word of God by the Pope himself (who is the manifestation of God on earth if you believe that sort of thing) should be fine still shouldn't it.

Food for thought maybe?

Answer 5

Jesus did not say it was impossible.... just not easy... this is because the rich usually make money their god.... however, if they are faithful and help the poor and others with their wealth, sharing their blessings, then they have just as much right to heaven as anyone....remember Nicodemous was a rich man who offered his family tomb as a burial spot for Jesus. He was a follower of Jesus and considered "eligible " for heaven.

on the flip side....it may not be easy for a poor person to enter heaven as well..Because they lack money , they can become obsessed with getting money, and make money their god also. When they finally get some it goes to their head and they become selfish, and do not share with others.....also note that the crime rate is high among the poor, which is not limited to stealing...so poverty has some challenges.

It all has to do with attitude, and sharing, and not making money a god.

Answer 6

No. These passages are impressing that spiritual wealth is necessary to enter heaven and not earthly wealth. The assumption not written is probably that a man can get rich by exploiting others etc. and it is this selfishness rather than the wealth itself that is the issue. Think about this in contrast to practices where sacrifices were made to gain favour from deities. In this model more wealth could be used for a larger sacrifice hopefully gaining more favour with the deity.

Answer 7

When you have wealth and lots of money, you must spend lots of time protecting or reinvesting that money. From the Kingdom of Christ's perspective the rich man had his back to the invisible Kingdom of Christ and that's what he did. He was bound by his wealth and spent MORE time taking care of His wealth and NO time led by the Spirit of God seeking the Kingdom. With his back to the Kingdom, the rich mathatved naturally in the flesh and that natural life cost him his soul and he went to hell. In most nations the poor are poorer because their backs are also turned against the invisible Kingdom of Christ in the easy. Are not Democrats the advocates for most if not all of America's poor? Put a compass on the political arena and I garantee you will see all Democrats face west and have their backs to the east and to the Kingdom of Christ which is directly in front of the Republican wing.

Answer 8

The Bible nowhere says that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of God? The Bible says "It is difficult" not "Impossible."

The expression or term "Eye of the Needle" is not literal as commonly known by the bible reader. The eye of the needle here represent a "door" through which the camel and the rich man may enter. What they do before entering the door is the main objective of this passages.

If you have been in the middle east, especially in the remote area, you will notice a different dor or entrance to a camel cage. this Eye of a Needle is a type of entrance to the cage of the camel. Before a camel could enter this door, he must first kneel and walk through his knee before he could enter his cage. I was surprise to see camel walk in this way to enter his cage. Today this cage door for camel have been changed to a regular fence.

The comparison here is obvious, a camel kneel, but the rich man does not. Humulity is the factor missiong from the rich man. He does not have this type of humility, thats why it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kinddom of God because of lack of humility.

Answer 9

So who among you have tried to become rich? Do you have a house to live in? Or food on your table? The fact that you have internet goes to show you have the means and the money, so are you not in fact richer than other people?

So before you go on persecuting rich people, know that they may have become rich because they work twice as hard, think twice as much and made many a sacrifice to be where they are.

Here is something for the wise, Max Ehrmann's Desiderata:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Answer 10

ROFLMAO
first you do not know the meaning of the eye of a needle!

It was one of he gates in Jerusalem, it was a small gate.
called Needle's Eye
For a camel to get through it, it first had to be unloaded, get down on its knees, and then on its knees walk through!

A master camel driver could get a camel through the gate, on a dare or a bet, but only a fool would try to get a caravan through the gate!

So in the same way a rich man can go to heaven!

Answer 11

No, Those verse say it is easier not impossible, If that rich person believes in his Heart and confesses with his mouth that JESUS is LORD then he is going to get into heaven.