Matthew 19:23-26: And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus has told his disciples how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, contrasting it with a camel going through the eye of a needle. Dumbfounded at his words, they ask him, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25). The disciples aren’t rich; they’ve left everything to follow Jesus. Notice they don’t ask how a rich person can be saved. They ask how anyone can be saved.
I’ve heard some attempt to explain the camel through a needle concept by saying that the needle refers to one of the temple gates. Conversely, Jesus could be using hyperbole again as in the case of having a plank in one’s eye (Matthew 7:3) or cutting off a hand to keep from sinning (Matthew 5:30). To get sidetracked by these things distracts us from Jesus’s point: Salvation without God is impossible—not just for the rich, but for all people.
Lord, forgive us when we make things too hard. Our finite minds can’t grasp why a perfect and holy God would go to such extremes to save us. Deepen our faith and give us confidence that you love us. Not because we deserve it, but because of who you are.
