What is the meaning of the following text? 
| Jesus had a good sense of humour! 11 July 2000 |
| The camel was the largest animal found in Palestine. The vivid contrast between the largest animal and the smallest opening represents what, humanly speaking, is impossible. Thomas Freeman, <15 y.o. 15 July 2000 |
| It is easier to get to heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle. David Freeman, <15 y.o. 15 July 2000 |
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The needle's eye was the name of a small gateway in the wall of the City of Jerusalem. Camels could pass through but only with extreme difficulty, virtually having to go through on their knees. This demonstrates how difficult it would be for a rich man to enter heaven, because they could easily lose sight of what is important for their soul. Colin Browne, 35 - 50, 19 July 2000 |
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A camel passing through the eye of a needle may be a slight exaggeration. However, this is not unlike some of the exaggerations we use in our daily conversation to make a point (e.g. "reach for the sky", "good as gold", "fit as a fiddle" etc., etc." Christ was making a point and, as he often did, he used a kind of metaphor. The message is what's important and the message is that in wealth, it is very easy to become materialistic and greedy, treating material possesions, e.g. money, property, etc. as "gods". This of course leads to a degradation of Christian values and damage to one's relationship with God. It doesn't take much to see that this is not exactly the best road to the "kingdom of God". Martin Porter, 35 - 50, 20 July 2000 |
The original Greek tells not of a camel, but a rope (kamilos  ). When it was translated into Latin, kamilos was confused with kamelos ( camel).The translation error has been perpuated into almost every language in which the Bible has been printed. |
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The biblical statements are almost identical to each other in English. There is some variation in Greek. The needle in Matthew and Mark is a raphic. In Luke it is a belone. Both refer to needles used in sewing. There are a few variations of the following. The usual explanation of the meaning of the texts, is as follows: There was in a Jerusalem city wall, a narrow gate known as "the eye of the needle". It was very difficult for a camel to pass through the this gate. Either the camel would have to be unloaded or pass through on it's knees.Jesus selected the eye of the needle because it was the smallest opening. A rope because it was an impossible situation. "... Again I tell you, it is easier for a rope 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 greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." |
