Camel and the Eye of a Needle

 

While the greatest danger is ignoring the historical-cultural context of Scripture, there are also dangers associated with studying it.  To begin with, you need to watch out for inaccurate background information.  Take Matthew 19:23-24 as an example:

 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

 

You may have heard it explained that the “camel’s gate” was a small gate in Palestine through which a camel could squeeze if its load was removed and the animal got down on its knees.  The problem with this explanation is that there is no evidence for this kind of gate.  In other words, such a place does not exist.  Rather, the “eye of a needle” meant essentially what it means today (i.e. the eye of a sewing needle).  Jesus is using the largest animal in Palestine and one of the smallest openings to make a forceful statement about how hard it is for the rich and powerful to enter God’s Kingdom.

 

References:

Grasping God’s Word

J. Scott Duvall

J. Daniel Hays