It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
6 sermons cite this verse
… And the disciples struggled with this. Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He didn't say it's impossible. he said it's easier to stuff a camel through a hole of a needle. Meaning it's difficult, it's hard because things attach onto us. We begin to care about them. Look, you know this is true. If you've ever had anything new, you protect it at all costs for about a week, a month. Have you noticed? Let's be honest. Did you get a new shirt and it's like, oh, it's so nice. I love it. I just love it. And then eventually you got spaghetti sauce on it and you like fluff it off. It's like, oh, big deal. You get a new car and you park a mile out in the parking lot from the mall entrance so nobody parks near you because you don't need to get scratched. And then a month or two later, by the way, all that has to do is get its first scratch. …
… Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus is on purpose speaking to the largest animal in the Middle East, and he is making a point. It's impossible for this to happen by yourself. We keep reading in verse 26. The disciples were even more amazed, I love this, and said to each other, well, then who then can be saved? Like, who gets in? Because in this context, wealth was a picture of the favor of God. And so they're looking at this guy like, I don't, he's like, he's a good person. He's got the favor of God. Like if he doesn't get in, who does? And I think they're kind of thinking like, what about us? And then Jesus continues. He said, with man, this is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God. …
… will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, 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. And when the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, who then can be saved? And Jesus looked at them and said, with man it is impossible. but with God all things are possible. So, when I say to the graduates, you graduates, remember the rich young man, what do I want you to remember? And very honestly, I don't expect you to remember anything I say. I hope that in 50 years, I mean, it would be amazing and thrilling to me if in 50 years, I know I'll be thrilled in 50 years, no matter what, but it would be amazing to me if in 50 years, you would remember there was a speaker and he gave us a dollar and he said, remember the rich young man. That's all. That's all I remember. Changed my life. …
… I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the what? Kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it's easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished. They asked, who can be saved then? Jesus looked at them and said, with man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. And Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us? We've abandoned everything. So Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone, listen to this, who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, who leaves everything for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. …
It's easier, Jesus says in verse 25, for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Success, prosperity, wealth, riches accrues to a person's pride. and piles up pride. And the idea that you would strip yourself bare, nothing but a wretched sinner, and be willing to give up everything for the sovereign lordship of Christ is very difficult. Verse 26, they were more astonished and said to him, then, who can be saved? Looking at them, Jesus said, with people it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God. That's important, isn't it? Salvation is hard. Salvation is hard. Humanly, it's impossible, but with God it's possible. And in 1 Corinthians 1, we read that God chooses those that will be saved, and He chooses very few of the high and the mighty, very few, the poor, the nobodies, the destitute, the lowlifes for His own glory. As long as you think you can make some righteous contribution to your salvation, you will not be able to receive the gift of eternal life. …
… kingdom of God. It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. So those who heard it said, then who can be saved if rich people can't be saved and they've got all the money with which they can buy their way into the kingdom? Who can be saved? Verse 27, that familiar phrase, the things that are impossible with people are possible with God. It's not possible for the rich sinner on his own any more than he could stuff a camel through the eye of a needle. And then you have the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man, at the end of chapter 18. And again, Jesus heals this blind man. He regained his sight. Verse 43, he was glorifying God, and even the people couldn't deny the miracle. So he saved a pathetic blind man. You could see that as an act of mercy. He talked to a rich man. The blind man, the destitute man responded to our Lord. …