What Is the Meaning of "It Is Easier for a Camel to Go Through the Eye of a Needle"? Is the "Eye of the Needle" a Gate? Matthew 19:24 Meaning

[Michie]

What have you heard about this verse, Matthew 19:24?

Again 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.

Jesus may be speaking about a literal needle here.

OR, He may be speaking about a literal gate that camels struggled to pass through.

OR, the Eye of the Needle Gate may be a MYTH!
So, which is it? It's impossible for a camel to pass through the tiny eye of a needle. It's just really difficult for the camel to shimmy through the tight gate, known as the "Eye of a Needle."

Was there such a thing as the Eye of Needle Gate? Where did this idea come from?

Don't let Jesus' core message get lost in this debate. It's really hard for a wealthy person to get to Heaven. You cannot be possessed by your possessions and expect to get to Heaven. They will drag you down. Wealth only helps somebody get to Heaven insofar as it is given away.

Was there an Eye of the Needle Gate or not?

Modern scholars say NO! That's just a silly idea. (Silly modern scholars)

Whereas, the Church Fathers provide broad support for the idea.

Here's the breakdown of all the sources:

Continued below.

What Is the Meaning of "It Is Easier for a Camel to Go Through the Eye of a Needle"? Is the "Eye of the Needle" a Gate? Matthew 19:24 Meaning

Is the "Eye of the Needle" of Matthew 19:24 an actual gate, through which camels would struggle to squeeze through, or is the gate a myth?

www.thescottsmithblog.com

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Reading after some linguists, specifically in the Aramaic language.
The word "camel" is very similar to the word "thick rope."
Thick rope as opposed to a thread.
Some think that this was a simple transcription error.

And again I say to you, it is easier for a "Thick Rope" to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

[Bob Crowley]

After reading the article, we're thrown back on our own opinions as to what Christ meant. If there was a gate in Jerusalem called the "eye of the needle" (or similar) then it obviously doesn't exist today.

The people who would most likely have understood Christ's meaning were his listeners, the apostles.

Their response is revealing.

Matthew 19:24 NIV

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

It's clear they took the meaning to be that it was almost impossible for a rich man to be saved. Since the culture of the day accepted the wealthy were more favoured by God, they obviously accepted Christ was saying it was impossible, or very difficult.

If there was an "eye of the needle" gate, his hearers would have been aware of the double meaning of his words. He could have been referring to the gate, and he could have been referring to the eye of a literal needle.

Either way they knew what He was implying, as they were "greatly astonished".​

 

[Diamond72]

He may be speaking about a literal gate that camels struggled to pass through.

He was talking about having to unload the camel to get it through the gate. We can unload our burdens. What Jesus gives us is light and easy to carry.

 

[Bob Crowley]

The business about it being harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle followed on immediately after the exchange with the "rich young man", who had obeyed the law but didn't want to give up his wealth.

Mathew 19:22-26 "But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It means what it says.

 

[peacefulseeker]

I've always been torn by that statement. I wonder if Jesus is suggesting that accumulating excess wealth is in itself a barrier to heaven, or, if the personality, methods and general character of those who accumulate wealth create a less than ideal candidate for heaven.

I'd like to believe it's the latter because one can build wealth and share it with others who need it or contribute to positive human experiences. Being wealthy in and of itself should not be frowned upon and the conditions that generate wealth should not be exclusive to "bad, greedy, selfish (add your own descriptive.word) person". Many live a meager lifestyle to save, or work extra hours, sacrifice greatly for their success. It doesn't make them a bad person, to the contrary.

So I lean to believing that Jesus was generalizing the type of person who earns wealth is also generally the type who also sin or violate God's words.

 

[Diamond72]

I wonder if Jesus is suggesting that accumulating excess wealth is in itself a barrier to heaven,

We are told to give and it shall be given to us. That suggests you can not outgive God, so the more we give, the more we are going to have.