It's easier for a camel to go through a needle hole than a rich man to enter Heaven?

Question

What does that mean?

Answer 1

That expression is told in the Bible in order to make a religious or moral point. The focus here is on the rich man and not the camel, for rich people in those days (and even today) were known to not share their wealth with the poor, or lift a finger to help them. Therefore, a hyperbole is made of the camel easily passing through the needle's eye than literally a rich man entering Heaven.

Answer 2

Have You Seen The Eye Of A Needle? Tiny, Huh? Can A Camel Fit Through There? Not In A Gazillion Years, But God Could Make It Possible. God Is Saying It Is More Possible For A Camel To Do Just That, Than For A Rich Man To Ever Enter Heaven. There Were Rich Men In The Bible, Some Righteous, But They Were Christians, And Christians Help The Poor. So We Now Know Charity Covers A Multitude Of Sin. The Men In The Bible Were Exceptions. Have You Seen Many Rich People Running Around Because They Gave Alot Of Money To The Poor? Chances Are, That Is How The Rich Become Rich, By Conserving, And Hoarding. Hope This Helped.

Answer 3

Just that! To start with, the reference to the eye of the needle...that would be a city gate which they built small, in those days. In fact, some camels had to get lowered to get through this gate to the city! This was done to keep out invading armies as they could not ALL pass through, in a push against the Israelites. So, this means it is very hard to get a camel through there!

Same with people who have become rich, off of others sweat! Poor labor, while the "fat cat" gets fatter! This is what this scripture is speaking of. Many rich....not all, either got that way by the sweat from someone else or, stepping on another to get the better position! The "dog eat dog" business world! It is about glutony of money and selfishness!

This goes even deeper...give it some thought and you will see!

Answer 4

WOW! Seriously, I think about that all the time!

This is where I'm at:

Define "rich" - obviously, to me, lots of people are rich. Movie stars, Bill Gates, the man down the street. They are all "richer" than I am. But then there are people who look at me with my two cars and nice house and think that surely I must be "rich". Likewise, someone who is homeless but who has a grocery cart to haul around their possessions could be seen to be "rich" by another homeless person who does not have the luxury of having a grocery cart.

Therefore, being "rich" is relative. We are ALL RICH because we have more than "someone" else.

We KNOW that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and we KNOW that each of us is "rich" because there is always someone who has less then we do...so... none of us are going to heaven.

Answer 5

Charles W - nailed this question.

So the moral of the story is that in order for a rich person to enter into heaven, they must unload the baggage of their lives, humble themselves and often get on their knees, and enter the straight and narrow path.

Now I know of many many people who after they became believers accumulated enormous wealth. I know that historically the areas where the non-catholic non-protestant congregations were the believers began naturally accumulating wealth.

At one time the Richest man in London & the richest man in Moscow were believers and heavily influenced their countries for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

It's actually the eye of a needle, which was a low gate that camels could only pass through by kneeling. The verse is talking about the pride of the rich preventing them from kneeling.

Rich doesn't just mean financial wealth here. Any blessing that has pride as a potential side effect can cause this problem--beauty, intelligence, whatever.

Answer 7

The "eye of the needle" was the name for a very small gate that caravans had to use to get into the city after the regular gates were closed for the night. Camels had to be unloaded and almost made to crawl through. Their owners had to carry the loads through. Only one person at a time could pass and archers were stationed at the top to shoot anyone thought to be dangerous or threatening to the city.

Answer 8

It means quite clearly that rich people go against god and are banished from his kingdom.

Amazing how some rich Christians try to re-interpret it but it's quite clear and simple. Being rich is unchristian because by it's very nature your riches have deprived others and make you guilty of at least 2 of the deadly sins. Amassing riches isn't a very Christian thing to do.

I'm not a a Christian by the way but I do have respect for honest Christians who play fair by their own rules and a healthy hatred of the deceitful self deluding hypocritical ones (many of whom go on to lead countries with their lies).

Answer 9

We do the same thing today when we say, "I have told you a million times not to do that">
It was an exaggeration for emphasis. This is one of those cases that we do not take it literally.
He was saying "yes, some rich people will be saved, but it is harder for someone who is rich to be pleaseing to God."
They have put their heart and soul into making money. That becomes their God, their life and their security.
When in fact someone who is in the middle class, or poor depends more on God to make ends meet.
He may work less hours and be more of a family man, around for his wife and children. Spends more time reading the bible and is really concerned about his spirituality and the morals of his family.

Answer 10

Just what it says. Do you think it's actually possible for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle? No way could that happen. Also, according to the Bible, rich people cannot enter heaven. Won't they all be surprised on their judgement day when their god sends them away for being selfish sob's?