why is it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom?

Question

why is it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?

Answer 1

yes but in the kingdom of the blind,the one eyed man is king,as for that camel i'll ring hes neck when i see him,i've been looking for that needle for ages.

Answer 2

The Biblical reference about a camel going through the eye of a needle was not referring to needles as we know them (sewing needles). Back in Jesus' time, the eye of the needle was the entrance to some towns, and in order for one to pass through, they had to get off their camels and unload their camels before the camels would fit. So, Jesus was saying that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom, because of how stubborn the rich are about not letting go of their riches. So, Christ wasn't saying that it's impossible, but that it's very, very difficult.

Answer 3

Sorry, folks. But Jesus really did mean it's more difficult for a real camel to go through the eye of a real needle. It wasn't until around the 15th Century that we find the explanation about the gate. There has never been any archeological evidence to support this. It likely was conceived by relatively wealthy church going folks who didn't like the impossibility of Jesus statement- But that was the point, exactly- "With man this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible".

Why did Jesus say this? Because (according to the context) to follow Jesus one must give up everything he has. Other texts say that we must take up our cross daily (Die!) and follow Him.

Only an act of revelation of the Risen Christ will compel a person to die. Even that is not enough for some- espescially those who enjoy their wealth- or for those who enjoy their sin, or for those who love the people around them (or themselves) more than the Risen Christ.

The real question for North Americans is "Who is Rich"? Most (90%+) of Developed world population is rich compared to the rest of the world. if your family makes the equivalent of $30,000/ year total you are in the top 9% of the Richest people in the world. Who is rich? We are...

Which is why we water down the passage. Which is why we water down the cost of being a disciple, which is why we water down the daily dieing to Jesus.

It is impossible for us to enter into the Kingdom of God, but with God- all things are possible.

Have we forsaken all to follow Christ? or did we just purchase "fire insurance" when we "prayed the prayer". Some folks hear what Jesus requires, and walk away while "praying the prayer"...

Answer 4

All it means is that it is very hard for a rich person to go to Heaven because he trusts and depends on his riches. It nearly impossible. That is why it is compared to a camel going through the eye of a needle. By the way, this statement was made right after the rich man and Lazarus (the beggar) had died and the rich man went to Hell, and Lazarus went to Heaven.

Answer 5

The eye of a needle here is not the needle that people sew with it is actually a small gate for which animals go through. You can research it. When Jesus said this it didn't mean that it is impossible it just it is hard for camel to go through because the animal would have to on its knees and like crawl through. When a person is rich they would have to symbolically go on their knees to enter, which a humbling experience. Rich people tend to be caught up with their riches and staying rich, because no rich man wants to be poor.

Answer 6

In the ancient fortifications beside the main gate was a small door to a narrow tunnel, Europeans called it a postern gate, anyway, the person who would arrive at the gate after it was closed for the night had two options, first they could take their chances outside and hope that they had enough man power to withstand a attack from thief's or second they could unload their camel, open the small door, make their camel to kneel down and walk on its knees while they stooped way over (exposing their backs to the men who were obviously their inferiors) there by 'bowing' to their inferiors, and then go back outside for their things and drag them inside also. No self respecting rich man would do this.

Answer 7

I wonder if you've seen the eye of a needle, Sir; and the size of the Camel.

It's just that Christ was saying that just as that's impossible, it's even more impossible for the rich man to find Heaven because, to get rich, that man needs to do a lot of sinful things.

Have a nice day, Sir.

PS,

I see a lot of people have already described the eye of a needle.

Answer 8

Because the rich man will not give up his "goods" for the glory of the Lord. Mark 10:17 and Luke 18:23

Answer 9

I heard that one of the gates going into Jerusalem was called the eye of the needle and it was a small gate so a camel that was loaded had to be unloaded of it's goods and even then it had to get on it's knees (if you can say a camel had knees)

Answer 10

this does not mean that rich people cannot enter heaven...

the eye of the needle was a low gate in jerusalem..... camels had to bow down , or lower their heads and long necks, to enter through it....

for the rich to enter heaven, they have to be willing to bow down before God ( be humble) ....it is a temptation to the rich NOT to be humble...it is very easy to be otherwise...but if they ARE humble, and honor God then they can enter heaven too.