“And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25
“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25
My Summary & Reflection
Jesus says that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom. To provide context, this example was made after Jesus was approached by a man seeking to figure out what he could do to inherit eternal life, Jesus instructed the man to “…go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark 10:21
The man who had approached Jesus went away sad because he was rich and unwilling to give up his possessions. The difficulty for the rich man seems to be that it is with those riches, that the rich man puts his faith and his trust. Jesus said, “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24 It is the unwillingness to leave earthly possessions in exchange for eternal life that provides the difficulty for the rich man. As in Treasure in a Field, https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/08/08/week-3-treasure-in-a-field/, a man must be willing to sell all that he has in order to receive this ultimate treasure. That willingness to give them up, is the test for those who hold possessions dear. It is as if the riches and possessions become a weight anchoring someone to the earth, instead of allowing him to open himself up to that which is greater. But as hard as it is, Jesus tells us that it is not impossible. Because as he says, “…With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Your Reflection
- What is it that holds you back from accepting the gift of eternal life?
- What are you willing to let go of in order to receive God’s blessings?