God's Kingdom and Camels
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| The Reformed Church of France, Paris, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 24).
Seeing the difficulty with which the rich young ruler faced the choice Jesus
gave him, our Lord’s observation that it is very difficult for rich people to
enter God’s kingdom (Matt. 19:23) comes as no surprise.
Christ underscores just how hard it is for the wealthy to be saved with a proverb that says it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than it is for the rich to find salvation (v. 24).
Our Savior’s proverb is similar to other Near Eastern sayings that vividly
depict a near-impossible task. Other writings refer to “elephants,” but Jesus
speaks of a “camel,” which, as the largest animal used in His culture, is
naturally chosen for the illustration.
Our Savior’s proverb is similar to other Near Eastern sayings that vividly
depict a near-impossible task. Other writings refer to “elephants,” but Jesus
speaks of a “camel,” which, as the largest animal used in His culture, is
naturally chosen for the illustration.
Christ is also talking about the eye of
a sewing needle, the tiniest opening known in ancient Palestine, and not, as
some assert, a small gate through which a camel can indeed pass, albeit with
great difficulty. Jesus often uses hyperbole (see also 23:24), and only a
reference to a large animal having to pass through a sewing needle conveys the impossibility of salvation without God’s grace, which is one lesson of this
proverb (19:25–26).
Note that our Redeemer is not condemning wealth in itself, nor is it
inherently sinful to be wealthy. Rich people like Joseph of Arimathea
(27:57–61) have always been among the godly faithful. Scripture does not
demonize rich people, nor does it endorse a class warfare that suggests poor
people are always exploited by the rich or work harder than those with means.
Money itself is indifferent; it can serve the kingdom or Satan. The problem is
not wealth itself, but rather the love of money (Luke 12:13–21; 1 Tim.
6:6–10). John Calvin writes, “Riches do not, in their own nature, hinder us
from following God; but, in consequence of the depravity of the human mind, it is scarcely possible for those who have so great abundance to avoid being
intoxicated by them.”
Rich people at times can be tempted to seek security in their wealth, and poor
people, because they have nothing else to trust in, may be more receptive to
the Gospel than the wealthy. Materialism is therefore a danger of which we
must be constantly aware, for if we love money, we will trust in money and not recognize the spiritual poverty we all have before the Father.
John Calvin writes that Jesus’ proverb “is highly useful to all; to the rich,
that, being warned of their danger, they may be on their guard; to the poor,
that, satisfied with their lot, they may not so eagerly desire what would
bring more damage than gain.” Even if we do not hold vast riches, our culture
tempts us to believe that the pursuit of wealth (otherwise known as “upward
mobility”)is the be-all and end-all of life. May we never believe this
soul-damning lie.
a sewing needle, the tiniest opening known in ancient Palestine, and not, as
some assert, a small gate through which a camel can indeed pass, albeit with
great difficulty. Jesus often uses hyperbole (see also 23:24), and only a
reference to a large animal having to pass through a sewing needle conveys the impossibility of salvation without God’s grace, which is one lesson of this
proverb (19:25–26).
Note that our Redeemer is not condemning wealth in itself, nor is it
inherently sinful to be wealthy. Rich people like Joseph of Arimathea
(27:57–61) have always been among the godly faithful. Scripture does not
demonize rich people, nor does it endorse a class warfare that suggests poor
people are always exploited by the rich or work harder than those with means.
Money itself is indifferent; it can serve the kingdom or Satan. The problem is
not wealth itself, but rather the love of money (Luke 12:13–21; 1 Tim.
6:6–10). John Calvin writes, “Riches do not, in their own nature, hinder us
from following God; but, in consequence of the depravity of the human mind, it is scarcely possible for those who have so great abundance to avoid being
intoxicated by them.”
Rich people at times can be tempted to seek security in their wealth, and poor
people, because they have nothing else to trust in, may be more receptive to
the Gospel than the wealthy. Materialism is therefore a danger of which we
must be constantly aware, for if we love money, we will trust in money and not recognize the spiritual poverty we all have before the Father.
John Calvin writes that Jesus’ proverb “is highly useful to all; to the rich,
that, being warned of their danger, they may be on their guard; to the poor,
that, satisfied with their lot, they may not so eagerly desire what would
bring more damage than gain.” Even if we do not hold vast riches, our culture
tempts us to believe that the pursuit of wealth (otherwise known as “upward
mobility”)is the be-all and end-all of life. May we never believe this
soul-damning lie.
