The Eye of the Needle

“It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:25

This verse had always worried me when growing up since in my head I applied it not only to being rich, but also to other sins. I mean seriously! A camel can NEVER fit through the eye of a needle. And no matter how hard I try, I am still a sinner. I recently learned of something new about its meaning, though.

The theory is that there were 12 gates to Jerusalem and one of which was called the Eye of the Needle. This Eye of the Needle would not allow camels in unless they were stripped of their saddle and all their other gear (kind of like the rich man with his possessions). Now I have heard and studied that the Eye of the Needle may have never existed and is just a tall tale. My parents, though, took a pilgrimage overseas to the Holy Land, and the natives showed them the Eye of the Needle and explained to them the same story. To me this explanation makes that verse make so much more sense.

The other theory is that the Aramaic word for camel can also mean rope and was thus just mistranslated. It has the same basic meaning as with the camel theory, though. The rope must strip away all the excess threads to be able to fit through the eye of a needle. Either way, though, the point is that we have to remember that our material treasures in this lifetime will not carry on with us to our eternal life. Drop the extra baggage or peel back some of those extra strands so that you may fit through the “eye of the needle”.

Although it may not be easy, it is not impossible to get to heaven! Our God is a merciful God and only He can see into our hearts. “‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.’” (Mk. 10:26)