23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 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.”
Matthew 19:23-24
The “eye of a needle” referenced here was a small opening in the city walls meant to reduce traffic for security. A camel piled up with goods would would have a difficult time passing through it.
Edit: as others have pointed out, there isn’t any good evidence about the “eye of a needle” metaphor. I heard this from my pastor at church when I was a kid and it sounds like he was mistaken. I wonder what else he got wrong…
As a Catholic they always preached it to me as an actual needle.
It was until I left the church and visited a Christian church (trying to fit with my girlfriend at the time) the pastor talked about the “gate of Jerusalem” and that it was difficult but not impossible (of course the pastor arrived in a BMW X6M to the service and was asking for the tithe).
That’s when I looked online for this but there is no strong evidence, and the doors called “eye of needle” are from Europe from the year ~1000CE
Additionally, its more likely that the camel is a mistranslation, since the words for “camel” and “rope” are nearly identical both in Aramaic and Greek.
The “eye of a needle” referenced here was a small opening in the city walls meant to reduce traffic for security. A camel piled up with goods would would have a difficult time passing through it.
I also saw that episode of 700 Club when I was a child. Old Pat there suddenly seemed real concerned that we were taking a 4000 year old work into proper context for its time on THAT issue, right?
I mean it’s probably bullshit because of how convenient it is that the lines explicitly saying rich people aren’t going to be as blessed are like, the ONLY works that are examined critically and turn out to mean something else entirely? Bull. Fucking. Shit.
But even if it’s not a steaming pile, if you accept this interpretation, doesn’t that open up the rest of the bible for complete reimagining and reinterpretation of everything written? How do we know what else is a metaphor or not? So only special 'blessed" people are supposed to translate the text correctly for us illiterate, sinful masses? I think we’ve been through this debate before in history.
I will have to downvote because of the misinformation on the eye of the needle claim. That is almost certainly false - there really isn’t any evidence of this and the theory seems to come from the middle ages.
Similarly, camel probably means camel, not cable (as a popular theory suggests).
What I think is important here, and what is seems many in the comments below are missing out on, is that Jesus says that it is hard, not impossible. Giving all your money away will not suddenly make you a good person, just as never having had money does not mean you are a good person. Jesus charged his followers with living lives of self sacrifice on the behalf of others in all aspects. Annias and saphira did not drop dead because they did not give up their goods but because they lied about it. I know many Christians who have done very well financially and are the most generous people I know. I also know some who are very stingy and uncompassionate with their money. The fact is, those who have more, have more that they have to give up. Those who have less, have less to give up. Each, however, is charged to live in the same manner.
God asks us to give freely and abundantly as he does. This is not forced upon us, though. There is no forcing someone to obey certian things in Christianity. Jesus says that is we love him, we will keep his commands. Those who choose not to keep his commands are demonstrating a greater love for whatever the opposite is at that time. Love involves choice, though. It is not a socialists ideology enforced upon every person. A perfect christian community would look socialistic but would arrive there through the perfect love of one’s neighbors. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world of perfect Christians whose every decision is fuled by the love of others. I would also suspect that many, if not most on here, would have a problem with Christians forcing upon others their beliefs so as to attempt to achieve this. That, however, is what would be happening if someone forced upon others a socialists society without their consent.
No, he says it’s impossible. Because the needle wasn’t a gate, it was a needle. And that’s really clear from the quote in context:
Matthew 19:21-24
Jesus 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.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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.”
He was really, really clear on this. Do not be rich. The only way he could have been clearer is if he had literally said, “do not be rich.” Oh wait, he pretty much did say that.
Luke 6:20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
But come on, he didn’t say that you should be dirt poor. Like you can still have some nice stuff, right? That thing in Matthew was metaphorical, right?
Like 18:22
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Here’s another one:
The “eye of a needle” referenced here was a small opening in the city walls meant to reduce traffic for security. A camel piled up with goods would would have a difficult time passing through it.For full context, check out Matthew 19:16-28: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 19&version=NIV
Edit: as others have pointed out, there isn’t any good evidence about the “eye of a needle” metaphor. I heard this from my pastor at church when I was a kid and it sounds like he was mistaken. I wonder what else he got wrong…
The evidence for the gate theory is poor. Jesus probably was referencing an actual needle when we said this
Ah, I was going by what they taught me at baptist church when I was a kid. I guess they lied to me. I’m shocked!
As a Catholic they always preached it to me as an actual needle. It was until I left the church and visited a Christian church (trying to fit with my girlfriend at the time) the pastor talked about the “gate of Jerusalem” and that it was difficult but not impossible (of course the pastor arrived in a BMW X6M to the service and was asking for the tithe). That’s when I looked online for this but there is no strong evidence, and the doors called “eye of needle” are from Europe from the year ~1000CE
If only you would have asked him if he thought his BMW would have been able to pass through.
Additionally, its more likely that the camel is a mistranslation, since the words for “camel” and “rope” are nearly identical both in Aramaic and Greek.
I also saw that episode of 700 Club when I was a child. Old Pat there suddenly seemed real concerned that we were taking a 4000 year old work into proper context for its time on THAT issue, right?
I mean it’s probably bullshit because of how convenient it is that the lines explicitly saying rich people aren’t going to be as blessed are like, the ONLY works that are examined critically and turn out to mean something else entirely? Bull. Fucking. Shit.
But even if it’s not a steaming pile, if you accept this interpretation, doesn’t that open up the rest of the bible for complete reimagining and reinterpretation of everything written? How do we know what else is a metaphor or not? So only special 'blessed" people are supposed to translate the text correctly for us illiterate, sinful masses? I think we’ve been through this debate before in history.
I will have to downvote because of the misinformation on the eye of the needle claim. That is almost certainly false - there really isn’t any evidence of this and the theory seems to come from the middle ages.
Similarly, camel probably means camel, not cable (as a popular theory suggests).
Here is a video that discusses the theories.
Please edit to qualify the claim about the eye of the needle.
What I think is important here, and what is seems many in the comments below are missing out on, is that Jesus says that it is hard, not impossible. Giving all your money away will not suddenly make you a good person, just as never having had money does not mean you are a good person. Jesus charged his followers with living lives of self sacrifice on the behalf of others in all aspects. Annias and saphira did not drop dead because they did not give up their goods but because they lied about it. I know many Christians who have done very well financially and are the most generous people I know. I also know some who are very stingy and uncompassionate with their money. The fact is, those who have more, have more that they have to give up. Those who have less, have less to give up. Each, however, is charged to live in the same manner.
God asks us to give freely and abundantly as he does. This is not forced upon us, though. There is no forcing someone to obey certian things in Christianity. Jesus says that is we love him, we will keep his commands. Those who choose not to keep his commands are demonstrating a greater love for whatever the opposite is at that time. Love involves choice, though. It is not a socialists ideology enforced upon every person. A perfect christian community would look socialistic but would arrive there through the perfect love of one’s neighbors. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world of perfect Christians whose every decision is fuled by the love of others. I would also suspect that many, if not most on here, would have a problem with Christians forcing upon others their beliefs so as to attempt to achieve this. That, however, is what would be happening if someone forced upon others a socialists society without their consent.
No, he says it’s impossible. Because the needle wasn’t a gate, it was a needle. And that’s really clear from the quote in context:
Matthew 19:21-24
He was really, really clear on this. Do not be rich. The only way he could have been clearer is if he had literally said, “do not be rich.” Oh wait, he pretty much did say that.
Luke 6:20
But come on, he didn’t say that you should be dirt poor. Like you can still have some nice stuff, right? That thing in Matthew was metaphorical, right?
Like 18:22
Fuck.
Evil Trump: I’m poor. I’m so poor that I’ve been on unemployment benefits for several years