This is a picture of a rich man entering the Kingdom of Heaven, according to Jesus' picturesque teaching. Some say that Jesus was referring to an actual passageway or door in a city gate called "the eye of the needle." For a camel to pass through it, the beast would have to be stripped bare of its cargo. No historical, archaeological evidence exists to substantiate this explanation, but it is still pretty close to capturing what Jesus was saying. Another explanation is that behind the Greek word for 'camel' in this text is the Aramaic word 'rope.' Camel and rope are the same Aramaic word -- "gamla." It would be nigh impossible for a rope to be shoved through a needle's eye, also. Unless - we untwine the rope and strip it down to just one of its component threads. Again, the idea of stripping down to the minimum to accomplish the goal.
Jesus speaks this memorable phrase in reference to how hard it is for the rich to inherit eternal life. When the wealthy man asks what he lacks to gain passage through heaven's gate, Jesus says, "Sell all you have ..." Divest yourself of your cargo, Camel! Unravel your rope down to the last thread, friend. Then, come follow me through the gate to glory! The man couldn't do it. He was bound up in his own rope; burdened down by his own wealth. He didn't have IT. IT had him. So he turned away from Jesus and went away in sorrow.
Notice earlier in today's text how Jesus embraced and blessed the children. The Kingdom of Heaven is their's, because they don't have any baggage or bindings. They have no earthly 'riches.' They are paupers in the kingdom of this world, but princes in the Kingdom of God. This weaves perfectly with Jesus' closing statement, "Many who are first (in this world) will be last (in the world to come)..." and "many who are last (by man's estimation) will be first (in Jesus' eyes)."
By the way, those riches don't have to be money. The 'riches' that keep us from eternal life are ANYTHING that we value more than following Jesus. In the same vein as His statement to the rich man, what if Jesus said, "Leave your current job behind and follow Me?" That's how I ended up at seminary. He said, "Leave your job, sell your house, move 2000 miles to a place you've never been before and take up Master's level studies after 11 years away from academia." I'm not bragging; I'm saying that Jesus is still in the "unraveling" business. Still calling for divestiture. Still encouraging us not to win the whole world and lose our souls.
"If I were a rich man, ...?" Um... Nah.
I'd rather be a pauper Prince.
Pray: Lord, to gain more of You and the Kingdom, I have to lose more of my worldly self. Help me to make the trade willingly. Unravel me.
Pray: Lord, to gain more of You and the Kingdom, I have to lose more of my worldly self. Help me to make the trade willingly. Unravel me.
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