What is the Eye of the Needle and what’s it got to do with Rich Men? Matthew
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
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Jesus states in Matthew 19:24 “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.” A popular explanation has claimed that the “eye off the needle” is an actual city gate and the parable is about entering the kingdom of God with humility. Other explanations claim there is a translation error. In this short Bible study, we will show what Jesus meant by examining who he was talking to and use historical and cultural evidence to understand the conversation happening in this passage.
Developed & Hosted by Michael Lane. Produced & Edited by Charlotte Fohner.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Preview & Introduction
2:25 Common Explanations
8:43 Finding Original Context
16:00 Jesus’ Actual (& Shocking) Teaching
21:44 Origins of Misconceptions
28:18 Wrap-Up
ADDITIONAL ART, FILM, & PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS:
• Photo by James Coleman, Saj Shafique, and Brock Wegner on Unsplash
• Video by Taryn Elliott: www.pexels.com/video/camel-st...
• Stock Music provided by mv_production, & lynnepublishing / Pond5
END NOTES & FURTHER READING:
Talmud reference: www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.55b....
#biblestudy #richyoungruler #matthew1924 #richesandheaven #alms
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My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3
![Where is Mount Sinai? Evidence of the Exodus [4/4]](/img/n.gif)
The large gates of the city were close at a certain time for security purpose so the small entrance was easy to be monitored for entrance and exit ..
I was told that the eye of the needle was a small gate used at night so that the city guard or a couple of city guards could more easily handle the robber bands that would rush the big gate and over power the night watch if the big gate was opened. The pictures I've seen were supposedly of cities in Persian that had Needle Watch Towers next to the main gate that would open during daylight hours. I'm going to have to think about this for a while since I never checked out this story from when I was a preteen.
Very insightful. The idea of Jesus specifically addressing giving alms to cleanse sin makes a lot of sense, doubly so since correcting misconceptions was a major part of his preaching.
However, Jesus made the comment about the eye of the needle "correction" privately to his disciples, NOT to the rich man, because the rich man had already gone away sad, because Jesus had only CONFIRMED the lies of the other teachers. Jesus NEVER confirmed the false teachings anywhere else in scriptures of the false-teachings, but would expose them, or get them into a zugzwang logic paradox, where they couldn't argue their way out without telling the people that they were lying.
I find it disturbing that this interpretation would involve Jesus LYING to the rich man and CONFIRMING to him that giving away all his riches was how to get into the Kingdom. - May it never be so, as it would go against ALL of the character of the LORD to do such a thing. I'm afraid this "understanding" of the point is NOT scriptural, because it leads to a conclusion we know is false about the character of our Savior.
(Editor Charlotte) I've already replied to your other comment (that was very confusing btw) but just to reiterate, this video is strictly about what the expression means and the origins of popular explanations and not a complete teaching on the whole passage. I have no idea where you are getting the idea that we are suggesting Jesus is lying. And Jesus certainly did not say that giving up his riches would get him into heaven. The full response reads "sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." I don't know why the rich man didn't stick around and ask follow-up questions but he just has been told that he's betting on the wrong horse to get into heaven and left sad. He didn't follow Jesus' instructions to give up his wordly pursuits and FOLLOW HIM.
Fascinating!! ❤ Thank you
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ( 1 Peter 4:8)
Camels carried wealth from the far east trade roots. It showed wealth power and status, so it makes sense
🙏
As you note, the message of Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25 is a difficult one. The verses quote the words of Jesus himself, not, for instance, St. Paul, and the inclusion of nearly identical words in three of the four gospels give a certain emphasis to the message.
But it's an unpopular message. Clearly, some people wish it weren't in the gospels, believing that Jesus could not have possibly meant that it is extremely difficult for a wealthy man to gain salvation.
You cite, and dismiss, two tortured interpretations of the verses. One refers to a fanciful story about very small doors in walled cities. You state there is no archeological evidence of such small doors anywhere in the Holy Land). The other posits that Jesus was actually referring to a thick hemp rope passing through the eye of a Needle, citing the similarity between the biblical Greek word for "camel":and the word for "rope".
The "rope" reading really doesn't help, because, while it would be more difficult (and messy) for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a thick rope, it's also virtually i.possible to thread a needle with a thick rope unless you unravel all the strands woven and bundled together in making the rope. And there just are not enough manuscripts with the word for "rope" in place of the word for "camel".
Now, you might argue that simple, straightforward reading of the text will reveal the intended meaning. But you don't.
Instead, you find a passage in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit that says something that you are absolutely certain that God would never say, "For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin."
You then construct an argument that Jesus is really saying that the belief that almsgiving washes away sins is more likely to be believed by a rich man capable of almsgiving and Jesus is saying it isn't the case that almsgiving washes away sins, the only atonement for sin is through the death and resurrection of Jesus and personal acceptance of Jesus as Savior.
It's far from obvious that the verses speaking of a camel passing through the eye of a needle are a rebuttal to a verse from Tobit.
It may be difficult to accept, but perhaps Jesus meant that many wealthy men will not be saved, the obvious straightforward reading of the verses. .
In Mark's gospel, Jesus goes on to cite the commandments to a wealthy young man.
"20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
How can you say that “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” means "Don't be misled by the Book of Tobit".
I'm sorry, but your condescending attitude in your teachings stinks of pride. Interesting in Hebrew that Camel and Pride are represented by the same character, Gimel. The rich man certainly had plenty of pride in his keeping of the Law, which would lead him to be judged by the Law. - But onto the argument that you're not finishing because you're getting caught on the needle and the gates - Jesus himself told the rich man to go and give away all his money to be in the Kingdom - which you're also mis-quoting the very verses that you have on screen (Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of Heaven - not same thing). And that he went away sad because he had so much wealth. So according to the understanding that you're trying to say that that was the 'normal' way to be saved - by giving it all way... then Jesus would have been falsely confirming to him the error of that false teaching. So that can't be, as He never lied to anyone about how to be saved if they're actually seeking salvation.
Then the comment about going through the eye of the needle was made to the the disciples after the rich man had LEFT... so what good is it to him to be NOT told that he was doing it wrong. So what are you trying to actually say then? You're whole video makes no sense.
Editor Charlotte here: This is a video strictly about the expression used in verse 24 "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle," and where the popular explanations come from, hence why we only focus on that verse. It's not a whole teaching/commentary on the entire paragraph. Just on the singular expression (because we've been asked about it a lot so now we can just send people this link hehe :) ). I don't know if we'll make a full series on this passage at some point to address the rest of the story but if that time ever comes, you're welcome to argue in the comment section again with full context.
As for the verse discrepancies, "kingdom of Heaven" is used in verse 23, then "Kingdom of God" in verse 24 in the ESV which Michael was quoting from. We think there was just a typo in his teleprompter when copying the verses down. Since it didn't change the meaning, it's not enough of a problem for us to schedule a whole reshoot.