CAMEL THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE - Jesus talks about how obsession and idolatry with earthly riches makes it harder to follow God. So hard that a camel would have an easier time going through the eye of a needle than for someone who idolizes riches to reach the kingdom of God. Our love of the world, not just riches, prevents us from getting into heaven by our own accord. Whether God has blessed us with earthly wealth or not, we need to set our sights on more important treasure, the kind moth and rust does not destroy. We can do absolutely nothing on our own to inherit the kingdom of heaven - salvation comes through Jesus alone. We need Christ to receive eternal life - wealth, possessions, or even good deeds cannot get us into the kingdom of heaven - This seems like a really odd metaphor. Jesus uses hyperbole. This passage means to illustrate that our love of the world, not just riches, prevents us from getting into heaven by our own accord. Perhaps Jesus used the camel due to its large size and the familiarity the Jewish people would’ve had with this breed of livestock. Sadducees often had acquired a great deal of wealth and held prominent positions in government and society. Pharisees, strict rule-followers, carried themselves with an air of significance, believing themselves to be more holy than the rest. Jesus attempts to address both groups here. He shows them how riches, earthly power, and good deeds don’t merit a spot in heaven.

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Camel through the Eye of a Needle

What Jesus Means by ‘Camel through the Eye of a Needle’

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Jesus talks about how obsession and idolatry with earthly riches makes it harder to follow God. So hard that a camel would have an easier time going through the eye of a needle than for someone who idolizes riches to reach the kingdom of God. Our love of the world, not just riches, prevents us from getting into heaven by our own accord. Whether God has blessed us with earthly wealth or not, we need to set our sights on more important treasure, the kind moth and rust does not destroy. We can do absolutely nothing on our own to inherit the kingdom of heaven - salvation comes through Jesus alone. We need Christ to receive eternal life - wealth, possessions, or even good deeds cannot get us into the kingdom of heaven

Hope Bolinger

Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

“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 19:24

“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.” – Mark 10:25

“Indeed, 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.” – Luke 18:25

This seems like a really odd metaphor. After all, anyone can have a hard time picturing a large camel going through the eye of a needle.

Of all the illustrations Jesus has used, this feels like one of the most bizarre.

But what does this illustration really mean? Why did Jesus choose two bizarre symbols in this passage?

And how have believers throughout the years misinterpreted these two verses above? 

What ‘Camel through the Eye of the Needle’ Means

The illustration in itself seems simple enough. Jesus talks about how obsession and idolatry with earthly riches makes it harder to follow God.

So hard that a camel would have an easier time going through the eye of a needle than for someone who idolizes riches to reach the kingdom of God.

For those unfamiliar with the world of sewing, “eye” refers to the hole at the top of a sewing needle where you attach the string. 

Ancient needles had a similar construction to ours, and so you can imagine that a large camel would not fit through the hole at the top of the needle.

And that was Jesus’ point.

He uses hyperbole. Other religious texts use similar examples such as an elephant going through a needle eye.

So, does Jesus just mean that rich people can’t get into heaven here? No.

This passage means to illustrate that our love of the world, not just riches, prevents us from getting into heaven by our own accord.

Where to Find This Verse in the Bible

As mentioned above, we can find this phrase in three places in the Gospels: Mark 10:25, Matthew 19:24, and Luke 18:25.

Interestingly enough we don’t really find the phrase needle or camel, or at least the words used in this passage, in many other places in Scripture.

We do see another camel illustration used in Matthew 23:24, another hyperbole.

Perhaps Jesus used the camel due to its large size and the familiarity the Jewish people would’ve had with this breed of livestock.

As for needle, we only see it used in the three passages that use the camel and needle illustration. 

Why Is ‘Camel through the Eye of the Needle’ Included in Three Gospels?

Why did all the Gospel writers, except for John, include the ‘eye of the needle’ illustration that Jesus used?

Do we run into a Synoptic problem here where all the writers copied each other’s notes?

Synoptic problem arguments aside (check out the article above for more information on this issue)... even if the three Gospel writers had derived some of the stories from different sources, they each distinctively chose to include this in their accounts.

Luke had interviewed countless eyewitnesses, and Matthew and Mark witnessed many of the events firsthand.

So why did they all feel compelled to include this passage?

We’ll discuss this more in depth in the next section in regards to context, but we have to think about some of the main groups of Jewish people during the time of Jesus: mainly the Sadducees and Pharisees.

Sadducees often had acquired a great deal of wealth and held prominent positions in government and society.

Pharisees, strict rule-followers, carried themselves with an air of significance, believing themselves to be more holy than the rest.

Jesus attempts to address both groups here. He shows them how riches, earthly power, and good deeds don’t merit a spot in heaven.

Because the Gospel writers would’ve attempted to reach some group that either had dealings with these people, or were these people, they wanted to include this illustration from Jesus.

What Is the Context of This Story?

In all three passages, we meet a very wealthy man. We can most likely assume he had a Sadducee status.

He asks Jesus what he can do to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Jesus knows his heart, but decides to play along. Our Savior lists a number of commandments from the Old Testament.

The rich ruler “whews” and says that he’s kept all of the commandments since his childhood.

He thinks he gets off the hook. After all, he obeyed all the rules.

Does this sound reminiscent of a certain older brother in the prodigal son story?

Jesus knows the rich man is still holding back, and he tells him to sell all of his possessions and focus instead on eternal treasures.

The rich man walks away very sad “because he had great wealth.”

We should note that you could insert anyone into this story, not just a rich man.

We all idolize something. Something prevents us from diving 100 percent into a relationship with Christ, and Jesus makes that clear here. 

3 Lessons for Christians in Jesus’ Needle Story

Pastors do like to preach on this passage frequently for good reason. We can learn a great deal from this illustration.

Here are just three lessons from Jesus’ needle story:

Lesson 1: No One Can Inherit Heaven without Jesus
We have all chosen to idolize something ahead of God. Relationships, riches, and even religion can fall under this umbrella.

   Without Jesus, we cannot make it to heaven. It doesn’t matter how many Old Testament rules we’ve followed or how many times we’ve attended church.

   Camels have an easier time getting through needle eyes than we do getting to heaven on our own accord.

Lesson 2: Jesus Peers into Our Hearts
You can’t fool God. I’m sure the rich man had put on a good face to everyone around him.

   Sadducees did have a way of people-pleasing. But you can’t people-please God.

   He knows what idols you place in front of him in your life, and if you want to grow in a relationship with him, he will ask you to tear them down.

Lesson 3: Money Isn’t Everything
Although the passage could refer to any idol we do have in our hearts, we do have to understand how wealth can often cloud our judgment.

   Many people who have acquired great wealth often will have less giving hearts (this, of course, is not always the case).

   Whether God has blessed us with earthly wealth or not, we need to set our sights on more important treasure, the kind moth and rust does not destroy. 

Misconceptions about the Eye of the Needle 

Theologians throughout the years have attempted to conjure up some faulty translations in regards to this passage.

We could talk about the camel root word being similar to rope here, but I’d like to address the camel crawling through needle gate interpretation.

Supposedly (although we have no archeological evidence for this) there was a small gate travelers would venture through known as Needle Gate.

But it was so tiny, that the travelers had to strip the camel of its saddles and have the camel crawl through on its knees.

People have, in turn, said, “If you humble yourselves and pray on your knees, you can approach the kingdom of heaven.”

They appear to miss the point.

Jesus purposely used hyperbole in this passage to point out that we can do absolutely nothing on our own to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Salvation comes through him alone. 

A Prayer to Refocus Your Heart 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Like the rich young ruler, I want to follow you wholeheartedly, and I realize I have idols in my life that I need to get rid of.

A relationship with you often requires I get rid of worldly or earthly possessions, and in a spiritual sense, that means getting rid of the pedestals I’ve placed these idols upon.

Thank you for the salvation that only comes from you. I know that I could never reach the kingdom of heaven without the sacrificial love of your Son Jesus Christ.

Thank you for that wondrous gift.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Closing Thoughts 

We need Christ to receive eternal life. Wealth, possessions, or even good deeds cannot get us into the kingdom of heaven alone.

Jesus uses an outrageous illustration to show us how much we desperately need salvation, and how we cannot attain it on our own.

Some theologians have tried to fiddle with the interpretation of this passage.

But ultimately, the verses found in all three Gospels try to indicate the same thing: salvation comes from God alone.

Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 600 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column "Hope's Hacks," tips and tricks to avoid writer's block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young's blog. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) Den (releasing July 2020), Dear Hero (releasing September 2020), and Dear Henchman (releasing 2021)  Find out more about her here.

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-jesus-means-by-camel-through-eye-of-needle.html?utm_source=Jeeng

SOLO CHRISTO - sometimes listed as solus Christus - "through Christ alone" - one of five solas proclaimed by Protestant Reformers that emphasized the essential role of Jesus in salvation. Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader.

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Christ Alone

Solo Christo 
- through Christ alone

By Dillon Burroughts 





What Is Solo Christo?

Solo Christo (sometimes listed as solus Christus; "through Christ alone") was one of five solas proclaimed by Protestant Reformers that emphasized the essential role of Jesus in salvation.

The term consists of solo meaning "only" and Christo meaning Christ.

In contrast with the Roman Catholic tradition of salvation based on faith plus a variety of works, a belief that was widespread at the time of the Protestant Reformation, solo Christo taught salvation as something only available through Jesus.

The Roman Catholic tradition had placed church leaders such as priests in the role of an intercessor between church members and God.

Reformers emphasized the role of the "high priest" Jesus who intercedes on our behalf before the Father. 

Hebrews 4:15 teaches, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader. 

In addition, the Protestant Reformers returned to the Biblical concept of Jesus as the only provider of salvation, not the Roman Catholic Church.

As a result, many people felt free to join the Protestant movement since salvation could be found through Christ outside of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Acts 4:12 emphasized Jesus as the sole provider of salvation, teaching, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The Protestant Reformation included much variety.

In Germany, Lutheranism became popular due to Martin Luther's leadership in the Reformation.

In Switzerland, John Calvin's influence led to a surge in Reformed Theology that has heavily influenced the Presbyterian Church.

Anabaptists also arose during this time, emphasizing the baptism of believers (in contrast with infant baptism) and a "free church" style that abandoned much of the traditional liturgy of the Catholic Church as well as its centralized leadership under the Pope.

All three of these expressions of Protestantism extended into the British Isles and later into North America.

Regardless of such diversity, the message of "Christ alone" remained central.

As John Calvin wrote in his influential Institutes of the Christian Religion, "We look to Christ alone for divine favor and fatherly love!"

This teaching also encompasses the fifth and final sola of soli Deo gloria or "to the glory of God alone."

Since salvation is from Christ and through Christ alone, we stand compelled to live a life for His glory alone.

As 1 Corinthians 10:31 notes, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Our lives are created by God and for God.

As author and pastor John Piper writes in God Is the Gospel, "The ultimate aim of the gospel is the display of God's glory and the removal of every obstacle to our seeing it and savoring it as our highest treasure."

Still today, our ultimate goal in following Christ is to give glory to God with every aspect of our lives. 

Open your heart now, settle that sin issue that nothing may hinder your relationship with Him, by saying this prayer:

“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.

I am truly sorry.  I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.

Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.

I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.

Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. Thank You that according to Your Word I am now born again.

I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Please use me for Your glory.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.”

http://www.blogos.org/churchandministry/sola-christo.php

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http://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2019/12/in-christ-alone-stuart-townend-keith.html