In re-reading Luke 18:1-30 it seems that the rich man was not rich due to "ill gotten gains" as I previously stated, but rather that he had put those riches ahead or cared about those things more than he cared about his relationship with God, and thus breaking Commandments 1 and 2, which are among those not mentioned in Luke 18:20, and is the "lackest thou one thing" ( Luke 18:22) that Jesus was referring to. Either way he was missing something pretty big.
Are you alluding to Matthew 19:24 where Jesus says "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?" I have heard of people mentioning such a gate and saying that this was the gate Jesus was referring to in Matthew 19:24.
This was a common proverb in Jesus' day. It originated in Palestine. And it originated with not a camel, but an elephant, that it is easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. By the time it gets to Jerusalem it changed to a camel, and it expresses impossibility.
Some people have said over the years, and I used to believe this also, that the eye of a needle is the gate into the city of Jerusalem. And in the evening time when the large gates close, they keep this little tiny gate open, and it is called the eye of the needle. So that if you bring your camel in, you got to unload him and everything, and you got to push him through, and stuff him through this little hole if you want to get in.
Well, the problem was that as I did some historical research on this, and those gates did not exist at the time of Jesus, not for another 60 years after. So that is not what it is implying here. In fact, Matthew's word is actually a sewing needle. Luke, in his account, used a physician's needle. And you can imagine why with Luke being a physician.
And that is literally what it means. The proverb is meant to express impossibility. If this is not what you are referring to, please disregard.
Dennis A. Coley- Eye of the Needle of Matthew 19:24
In ancient times, (and up to only a few hundred years ago) would be a needle gate on the side of the main gate of a city.
The reason for this is mainly night time travel.
Main gate closed at night for obvious protection, which would make sense.
The traveler would have to unload the camel to fit through the gate. A way for the guard to check the person's belongings, again, which would make sense.
Because of the building and rebuilding of Jerusalem and the area, it is difficult to know whether these gates were used at the time of Jesus or before that, but I don't see why not.
I believe that the lesson of the parable has to do with ill-gotten gains; as a "rich man" that has become rich due to sin and must unload his sins and get right with Christ before he can fit through the little gate. If he was rich because of blessings there is no sin.
Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Alone we can accomplish nothing good. With Christ, anything is possible!
That is a great analogy on that parable. Very well said. It is indeed a difficult thing for a man who values his earthly riches to give it all up to follow Christ. Thank you for sharing that!
In re-reading Luke 18:1-30 it seems that the rich man was not rich due to "ill gotten gains" as I previously stated, but rather that he had put those riches ahead or cared about those things more than he cared about his relationship with God, and thus breaking Commandments 1 and 2, which are among those not mentioned in Luke 18:20, and is the "lackest thou one thing" ( Luke 18:22) that Jesus was referring to. Either way he was missing something pretty big.
Are you alluding to Matthew 19:24 where Jesus says "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?" I have heard of people mentioning such a gate and saying that this was the gate Jesus was referring to in Matthew 19:24.
This was a common proverb in Jesus' day. It originated in Palestine. And it originated with not a camel, but an elephant, that it is easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. By the time it gets to Jerusalem it changed to a camel, and it expresses impossibility.
Some people have said over the years, and I used to believe this also, that the eye of a needle is the gate into the city of Jerusalem. And in the evening time when the large gates close, they keep this little tiny gate open, and it is called the eye of the needle. So that if you bring your camel in, you got to unload him and everything, and you got to push him through, and stuff him through this little hole if you want to get in.
Well, the problem was that as I did some historical research on this, and those gates did not exist at the time of Jesus, not for another 60 years after. So that is not what it is implying here. In fact, Matthew's word is actually a sewing needle. Luke, in his account, used a physician's needle. And you can imagine why with Luke being a physician.
And that is literally what it means. The proverb is meant to express impossibility. If this is not what you are referring to, please disregard.
In ancient times, (and up to only a few hundred years ago) would be a needle gate on the side of the main gate of a city.
The reason for this is mainly night time travel.
Main gate closed at night for obvious protection, which would make sense.
The traveler would have to unload the camel to fit through the gate. A way for the guard to check the person's belongings, again, which would make sense.
Because of the building and rebuilding of Jerusalem and the area, it is difficult to know whether these gates were used at the time of Jesus or before that, but I don't see why not.
I believe that the lesson of the parable has to do with ill-gotten gains; as a "rich man" that has become rich due to sin and must unload his sins and get right with Christ before he can fit through the little gate. If he was rich because of blessings there is no sin.
Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Alone we can accomplish nothing good. With Christ, anything is possible!
That is a great analogy on that parable. Very well said. It is indeed a difficult thing for a man who values his earthly riches to give it all up to follow Christ. Thank you for sharing that!
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