STRAINED THROUGH THE NEEDLE’S EYE

“And again I say to 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 God.” Eye is from the Greek word trupema, and means “hole, aperture”, and needle is the Greek word rhaphis which means “needle.” Rhaphis is the feminine noun of rhapto which means “to sew.” Matt. 19:24 is identical to Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25, and the context can only mean the eye of a sewing needle. These two words, trupema and rhaphis are only used in these three passages. There have been many creative attempts to make “The eye of a needle” something other than... well... the eye of a needle. Now either the Holy Spirit needs a Greek lesson... or it is what it is. We cannot serve God and riches for riches are deceitful and suffocate God’s word: Therefore we are commanded not to trust in riches, but to trust in God, and be rich towards God. (Matt. 6:24, 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:17; Lk. 12:21) Considering all the New Testament passages which warn against wealth, it would seem wise and prudent for saints to share their excess with others, particularly other saints, never allowing wealth to accumulate. Heart-based giving demonstrates God’s love, and, it is no doubt our excess blessings are meant for this very purpose. Giving away our excess precludes the Self-loves that wealth can bestow -- love for the world’s trinkets -- while proving our love for God and for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Endnote: The "eye of the needle" has been claimed to be a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could only pass through this smaller gate if it was stooped and had its baggage removed. This story has been put forth since at least the 15th century, and possibly as far back as the 9th century. However, there is no evidence for the existence of such a gate in the Bible, the writings of the church fathers, or secular writings. There are 27 gates mentioned in the Bible as gates of the Temple and Jerusalem, but none with this name. This phrase was not a Greek or Hebrew proverb but rather a beautiful Hebrew hyperbole, an exaggerated figure of speech implying the unlikely or impossible, and should be interpreted literally as it stands. Jesus' hearers believed that wealth and prosperity was a sign of God's blessing, which was true under the O.T covenant of the Law, so they were incredulous at His statement. They were still learning how the N.T covenant of Grace works. The context and strong language demonstrate Jesus’ great love for the rich young ruler and His great disappointment that he turned away from following Him. The young man lacked wholehearted allegiance to God. It is good to read all three passages, where this phrase appears, in context to get the full flavor of this message.

“THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES”