Through the Eye of the Needle

Camels, Ropes...whatever. Doesn't matter.

Jesus looked at them carefully.

Don’t miss the look for the words.

The Greek words for camel and rope are but a letter apart, something like the difference between kámēlos and kámilos. Linguists believe the words were homonyms in the 1st century, meaning they sounded exactly same when pronounced. Some have wondered if some early scribe, somewhere along the way, accidentally changed what was “rope” to “camel.” Seems possible.

Does it matter? The implication is the same: It’s pretty hard to own a lot and enter God’s Kingdom. Again, don’t just think of God’s Kingdom as something in the future. It is in the future in all its fullness, but Christ came to announce its presence then and there.

It’s hard to be within the Kingdom of God and own a lot.

Hard. Not impossible. But it’s certainly not a goal to shoot for.

You know that thread we’ve been seeing all through Matthew? That laws and boundaries exist for good reason, but God’s grace can overcome them? This little story is more of the same. Jesus told the young man with a lot of possessions he needed to sell them. But a few lines later, he said it’s not impossible for a wealthy individual to enter the Kingdom. (“With God.”)

But how hard do you want to make it for yourself?

Matthew 19:16-30

A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.”

The man said, “Which ones?”

Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?”

Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.”

But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I assure you that it will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

When his disciples heard this, they were stunned. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.

Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.”

Then Peter replied, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you. What will we have?”

Jesus said to them, “I assure you who have followed me that, when everything is made new, when the Human One sits on his magnificent throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel. And all who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms because of my name will receive one hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first.

Psalm 49:5-9, 16-17a

Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the wrongdoing of my bullies engulfs me—those people who trust in their fortunes and boast of their fantastic wealth? Wealth? It can’t save a single person! It can’t pay a life’s ransom-price to God. The price to save someone’s life is too high—wealth will never be enough—no one can live forever without experiencing the pit.

Don’t be overly impressed when someone becomes rich, their house swelling to fantastic proportions, because when they die, they won’t take any of it with them.

Prayer

God,

Oh the notion that to have more is to do more, to be in control of much is to have less trouble. Help me with the hogwash.

Honestly, Lord, it’s pretty tough to avoid this thinking, for in the world’s terms, it feels absolutely true. But I’ve seen and lived that with more responsibility can come less freedom, and more weight to carry.

So help me, God: Shed my life of all that’s unnecessary. Help me to trust that me and those I love will be just fine without all that stuff. Give me the simple, materially-unattached heart of Jesus, so deeply-attached to your will and the people around him.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.