Camels and Needle Eyes
Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25 contain the following statement from Yeshua/Jesus: “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.” Though the meaning is clear, the analogy is somewhat puzzling. The meaning is straightforward enough: it's very difficult for a wealthy man to enter the Kingdom of God. Prizing one's physical possessions may distract us from following God, and may even give us the illusion that we don't need God. For this reason, we find the following prayer in the Book of Proverbs: "Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches— feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Prov. 30:7-9). Why a camel passing through the eye of a needle, though? Some have suggested that "th...