Luke 18:18-29

"The Rich Man and the Camel Through the Eye of a Needle"

19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'[b]"

21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

26 Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"

27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

28 Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"

29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Jesus Talks to the Rich Man

The rich man, the camel, and the eye of a needle! I have heard this passage all my life. Pretty much all Christians (and many non-Christians) can quote the statement:

"Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

And, all my life I thought that Christ may have had a vendetta against rich people and this passage was talking about money or possessions.

But, after looking closely at the "camel" passage, I now know this is not the case.

I am going to focus on two key verses here; 21 and 27.

When the young rich mab said he had kept all the commandments since he was young, Jesus knew this couldn't possibly be the truth. And, bragging about keeping the commandments shows a sense of pride which is a sin in itself.

There are many interpretations here but I believe you could substitute "prideful young man" for "rich young man" with the same results.

God wants us to humble ourselves before him and come as little children who are helpless without him, not as prideful people boasting about how great we are as Christians.

Verse 27 is a passage which is almost never mentioned when we hear the "camel through the eye of a needle" quoted.

It says

"What is impossible with men is possible with God."

This is the hope God gives us, even though we are rich in pride just like the young man here, through Jesus Christ. All we have to do is to come to Jesus humbly and ask. He will forgive and lead us into the kingdom.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Luke 1: 16-17 - John the Baptist - Mission