Does someone want to explain Mark 10:25, Mathew 19:24 and Luke 8:25?

Question

Actually all three say the same thing, which to me means that Jesus' disciples thought this was important so maybe Jesus thought is was important. Yes?

Mark 10:25, Mathew 19:24 and Luke 8:25
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.

So if this is true why do all these televanglist, preachers and priest live in such wealth. Heck if this is true why would any christian want to be wealthy when you are more then likely going to hell?

I have read all of the questions so far and many of you seem to be under the impression I have not read the entire passage let alone the entire bible.
Here is the point, everytime I get on the religious section I see people quoting the bible and saying it is fact and should be taken a absolute truth. The truth of my question is that Jesus did say it was easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle then a rich man into the gates of heaven. And yes he did go on to say that no man can serve two masters. So my question still stands.

Sir Wayne thank you for your answer, it was truly enlightened thinking.

Answer 1

muesky... I have read the same material everyone else is quoting so I won't repeat it. But I don't agree with their interpretation. It's not GOD or money, it's their lifestyle. GOD wants us to have a simple lifestyle, to not want for anything and to love him and your family and brothers and sisters everywhere on earth not to be rich and stand by while others suffer and starve. When a person has what they need for them and their family and stands by while others suffer they are not doing GOD's will ,they don't trust him to provide for them in the future as he has promised he will do. Instead they hoard their money and food and watch the news daily as to the suffering of humanity.This is what is wrong and it doesn't matter who you are T V Evangelist or anybody.They are all wrong to be filthy rich while poverty exist. However CHRIST did not say a rich man could not go to heaven, He said with GOD all things are possible .So there is always time to change.

Answer 2

This is the most accepted interpretation of the passages:
They all say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Why?
It is hard for the rich to enter God's kingdom because they are too busy and preoccupied with maintaining their wealth that they do not know that they are actually serving it. They say, " I have money. I have all the thing I need." Thus their wealth prevents them from trusting and relying on God's power.
I am NOT saying that the rich CANNOT enter heaven; I am just saying that most of the rich people have so many time for luxury but have no time even for worshiping Him. We can still be rich( but being rich does NOT send us to hell) but we must learn to trust in God who will give us what is best for us.

Answer 3

Unfortuantly, what seems like an imposibility in your reading of that is not.

It's actually a tight squeeze. In the ancient middle east the eye of a needle was a sallyport of a tower. To get a camel through you had to get the camel down an all four, unload the dam thing completly and have people pulling from the front while others pushed through the back.

What Jesus is trying to say is that most rich people are also greedy and that what he wants is for those to not love the money but to love him.

Answer 4

I think it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for any man to enter the kingdom of God. But with God, nothing is impossible. The suffering that Jesus went through was so immense that only God could survive it. Sounds pretty difficult to me, more than the camel thing. Being rich isn't a sin, even seeking after money isn't, loving money is. When you put money above God then you are committing idolatry

Answer 5

For some wealthy people this life may be as close as they will ever get to heaven so that may be true to some degree, Goldentouch. Everyone has problems, concerns and sorrows in this life but the fact is that someone who is extremely wealthy has more options and luxuries than someone would living at poverty level in a third world country. While no one's life on earth is completely carefree, obviously day to day living would be easier for some with wealth than others who may struggle just to survive.

Some people with great financial means use their resources wisely, are responsible and care for those less fortunate than they are. Conversely there are those, such as a wealthy 20 year old pop star in the United States, who thinks nothing about spending 75,000.00 an evening in a strip club in Miami while drinking, taking drugs and drag racing under the influence, (seemingly without a concern for anyone including innocent bystanders.) The actions of some people do indicate that they seem not to have a care and act as if the world is their playground.

I suppose you have heard the story of the rich man whose ground brought forth an abundance harvest. His concern was not how he could use his increase selflessly but rather building bigger barns to store all his goods. And he said to himself, "I have much good laid up for many years and will take ease, eat, drink and be merry." There are people today whose primary concern is themselves and how they may live in ease and luxury in this life, (some at the expense of others), not giving much thought to what their future may hold in store. However, their "heaven on earth" will not be an eternal state and maybe they will realize that before it comes to an end.

Answer 6

The Lord blesses us with wealth. When a rich man is rich then they think they do not need God because they have all they need. If given a choice to choose between God and their wealth they would most probably choose their wealth over God and that is why God said it's hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. They "worship" their wealth/blessings instead of the Blessor. They don't have time for God, only for their possessions. Read in Matthew the story of the young rich man.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, the only thing wrong with it is, do you think your things are more important than God?

Answer 7

You have miss quoted the verse. Before Jesus said this, a rich man had asked him how to have eternal life. Let me review for you the preceeding verses before I explain.

Mathew 19:16-26
The Rich Young Man

16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[b] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]"

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

In saying this Jesus does not meant that he is against prosperity. In fact it is one of God promise to His true believers. Remember the promise Christ give in Mathew 6:33; "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This is one of the reason why his believers prosper.

Mathew 19:23-24 simply meant that the love of money will not save you. If we read verse 21 Jesus commanded the rich man, 21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But the rich man went away because he choose his money rather than to follow Jesus. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Mathew 6:24).

Answer 8

Heck, I could defend mormons here, all of them are poor, what with all the tithing they pay and the alms on fast day once a month. In utah, they give all their old cloths to Desert Industries the second hand store and then go shop in it to. They are taught to grow their own garden adn make things from scratch and then keep a year supply of food, thats got to be expensive, because you have to rotate the food out or it will spoil...eventually. The only ones who are rich are the 12 apostles.

Answer 9

It'snot impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven...just harder...because he has more to give up..there are 2 meanings to the kingdom of heaven...one is the very entrance into heaven and the other is the citizenship of heaven..meaning u can be content whatever the circumstance because of God's sustainance...a rich man who is so comfortable and dependenton his riches will find it hard to give itup for Christ...not that he will necessarily have to but he needs to be prepared for a situstion where one day he may loose his position of wealth for the sake of Christ...it is harder for a rich man to make that decision cuz he has more to part with....but it is NOT imposible...we ca do all things thru Christ who strengthens us

Answer 10

traditionally Q has been rejected. historic writers (truly than modern theorists) point out that Matthew became written first. Mark is a condensation of Matthew for Romans who mandatory Hebrew words in Matthew defined. Luke became insurance of the comparable fabric, yet from an historic attitude by ability of interviewing eyewitnesses.