3684 — Camel and Needle's Eye
By Editor
The scripture reads, "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." Travelers tell us that in the large gate of the city of Jerusalem there is a small gate. When the large gate was closed, a man could get through the small gate by bending, and a camel also could by being relieved of his load, and shuffling through on his knees; and it is supposed that that gate was still called the needle's eye in the time of our Lord, who stated that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, or the needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. He could enter only by giving up his riches and yielding all to God. But to our mind the parable is still stronger than that. By a rich man we would understand the Lord means one whose heart is set on his riches, and one whose heart is set on his riches is a worshiper of mammon, and it is easier for a camel to go through—actually go through—the eye of a cambric needle, if so we wish to put it, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And therefore the disciples say, "Who then can be saved?" They did not understand how a man could be divested of his love of riches; but Jesus tells them that with God it is possible.