Eye of a Needle
- Philip Frank
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25 ESV)
Picture that for a moment: the image of a camel – a very large animal – trying to squeeze through the eye of a needle – a very small space.
What is Jesus talking about? Is this not a wildly outlandish image? In fact, is this not … impossible?
Because of Jesus’ shocking bluntness, various attempts have been made to soften the message.
For example, there is a claim that the Greek word for “camel” (kamélos) was mistakenly used instead of the Greek word for “rope” (kamílos). According to Bible scholars, those are very close pronunciations, but not the same. But even if that were true, it’s still impossible to fit a rope through the eye of a needle.
The most popular attempt to relax this image developed sometime between the ninth and eleventh centuries. The theory was that there was a small gate in Jerusalem that was very narrow and low; that if the camel’s pack was removed and it was forced onto its knees, then it could crawl through the gate, with difficulty. The gate was supposedly called: “The Needle’s Eye.”
But the problem with this theory, is that there is not a shred of historical evidence that suggests that such a gate ever existed. None. That was all made up.
But it still makes for popular preaching material, doesn’t it? One can imagine the sermon: “Can the rich be saved? Yes, but only if – like that camel – they are stripped of their wealth, get on their knees, and humbly crawl into the Kingdom of God.”
But dear Saints, that just will NOT do!
Because Jesus Christ’s unyielding and blunt Truth remains: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Now, look at the reaction of His disciples in Mark 10:26 (ESV): “They were exceedingly astonished, and said to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’”
Who indeed could be saved? Any poor person can fall into worshiping the god Mammon (the love of money) just as easily as any rich person. The former longs for it, and the latter clings to it.
And Jesus’ point is this: that we all have idol gods trying to lead our hearts astray, and Mammon is one of the strongest. On our own, none of us have any hope of being saved.
But look at what Jesus said next in Mark 10:27 (ESV): “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
By His sacrificial death for us and in our place, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, accomplished His work for our salvation. By His grace and mercy, ANYONE who puts their trust in Him can enter His Kingdom. There is no condemnation for anyone who believes in Christ.
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