Through the Eye of a Needle.
The words of our Lord that 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 heaven, may refer to a gate in the wall of Jerusalem called a "needle's eye," which a camel divested of burdens might shuffle through on his knees, but we do not believe it. The expression was a proverb, used to express an impossibility. The thought of the rich man is one who makes a god of his riches, one who between duty and gold chooses the latter. It is impossible for such to enter heaven. He would covet the crowns of his fellows and the gold of the throne of God. He must be willing to relinquish all for God, and himself humbly depend upon his Maker. The teaching of either view is the same. The camel could scarcely squeeze through unloaded and prostrate. The rich man can be saved only by counting himself poor for Christ's sake, and himself God's steward.