What Does The Following Scripture Mean?

Question

In Matthew 19:24, Jesus says "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."

Is this a literal needle or a symbolic needle?

Answer 1

Parabolic.

It refers to a walled city. The eye of the needle is a passenger gate that is used at night when the main gate is locked. It is oval like the eye of a needle. If you get your camel through it, you must remove the baggage and the camel has to kneel and crawl inch by inch through the gate.

A rich man must do the same. He must humble himself, removing his excess baggage, getting on his knees before his Savior and yielding to God.

Answer 2

Hello, n_007pen, and thanks for your question!


The Eye of a Needle is a literal statement, but not in the way you are thinking. In those days each city had gates that were locked at night to keep out the bandits. Inset in the gates was a smaller set of doors for travelers such as merchants to enter through when arriving after the gates had been shut. The problem was that the doorway, or The Eye of the Needle, was only big enough for a single man to fit through. So, to get his camel through the doorway the merchant had to unload everything from the camel and literally push or pull the camel through the doorway. Then he had to go back and bring in all of his merchandise and such that he had unloaded and reload the camel to continue to the inn or market place where he would set up shop.

The picture being painted here is one that echoes with the phrase, "To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required". A rich man has very little that they can "sacrifice" because of the abundance they have acquired. Therefore, they must work even harder than someone who has nothing. We don't get into heaven based on works, but our works show practical application of our faith and commitment.


I hope this fully answers your question, and have a merry Christmas!

Answer 3

Every scripture is allegorical, what that passage is saying is that a camel literally has a better chance to fit through the eye of a literal needle than the people who are rich in the ways of this world to enter into the kingdom. What is rich in the ways of this world? To live in accordance with it and champion the lifestyle and mindset of. If you aren't grasping what I mean by this look around you here and every where and you will see. One must be poor to the ways of this world or be of the world to be able to begin the process of manifesting the kingdom inside of themselves.

Peace

Aza

Answer 4

This is a metaphor. It means that those who are involved in the philosophy of profiteering can not know the greatest joy. Or in other words, "a person can not become happy from another persons suffering". For every one person who becomes rich there are many who are made poor.

Note: What Theophilus wrote is very true, the needle referred to here is not the opening in a walled city. It is indeed a sewing needle! Shows you how easily ignorance is spread! Especially when rich Christians want to enter Heaven!

Answer 5

Literal..In those days, cities had gates which were opened during daylight hours, in the evenings and night time, they closed the Main gate but left a small opening in the gate. Thats the "eye of the needle "spoken of. With difficulty, a Camel could enter.

Answer 6

It basically means that it is just as hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Now, I don't think it necessarily means anyone who is wealthy can't get into Heaven very easily. I think it's about someone who cares more about riches than about God.

Answer 7

In them days they would make the entrance to a city like the eye of a needle and people used camels to haul all there belongings ,So when they got to the city they would have to unload the camel then walk thrue , So when Jesus siad this The Jews knew what he meant by it .?Peace Love and Blessing to all my Brothers and Sisters IN Chrst

Answer 8

this is a hard question.

in mideval cities they had a door only big enough for one man to go through... so that if they ad not returned by nightfall they would come back through that. if they opened the whole big front gate then they would have been vunerabe to enemy attack.
God said that it was easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle--meaning that small door--then for a rich man to get into heaven.
not that rich people are bad-- it's just that it's harder for them to give up wordly weath--and that is what gets in the way.

Answer 9

People will tell you a lot of nonsence about that, or harrass you for simply asking the question,

What it means; the fold (where they kept their livestock had two doors.

One small door so the sheep and goats, and other small animals could go in and out, and a larger door for the larger animals such as camels, etc.

The camel COULD go in and out the small door and crawled out on it's knees. That was the eye of the needle.

This parable was allegory teaching rich people they had to humble themsel and become like little children instead of being prideful because of their wealth and status.

Answer 10

the eye of the needle is an opening in a wall.. they are designed for a loaded camel or pack animal to pass through. this was a security measure. the design made it nearly impossible for marauders to sac the city as only one could pass through this eye at a time.. this opening was shaped similar to a skeleton key hole but large enough for the loaded camel squeeze through.