Through the Eye of a Needle--Mark 10:17-27
By Glendol McClure

Introduction

During Jesus' personal ministry, His listeners, disciples, and critics often asked Him questions. In response to the rich young ruler's question, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life," Jesus stressed the necessity of keeping the Law; and because of His love for the young man, He told him the one thing he needed to do to qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus instructed the young ruler saying, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." The text tells us that this man rejected the instructions he received from the Good Master. "And he was sad at the saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions." (Mark 10:22; cf. Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-30)

Jesus' Illustration

Not only did Jesus' words have a marked impact on the young ruler, His disciples, who witnessed the encounter, were also astonished at his words. Jesus then began to teach the impossibility of entering heaven while trusting in riches. In verse 23, Jesus said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" The NRSV renders this verse, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" Similar language is used also in verse 24. To address the disciples' astonishment at this saying, Jesus, in verse 25, used a proverbial statement to illustrate this impossibility: "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."

The Needle's Eye

Jesus used the literal "camel" and the "needle's eye" (Luke 18:25) to illustrate that it is absolutely impossible for one who trusts in riches to enter heaven. The Greek word rendered "eye" in Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 is trumalia, "...used of the eye of a needle," according to Vine, (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 404). Some have attempted to soften this saying of Jesus and water it down by saying that the needle's eye referred to a small passageway or gate. Such a notion is unfounded! In his notes on the word "needle," Vine said: "The idea of applying 'the needle's eye' to small gates seems to be a modern one, there is no ancient trace of it. The Lord's object in the statement is to express the human impossibility and there is no need to endeavor to soften the difficulty by taking the needle to mean anything more than the ordinary instrument. Mackie points out (Hastings' Bible Dictionary) that 'an attempt is sometimes made to explain the words as a reference to the small door, a little over two feet square, in the heavy gate of a walled city. This mars the figure without materially altering the meaning, and receives no justification from the language and traditions of Palestine."' (Ibid, p. 788).

The attempts to soften what Jesus said in this and other passages are not surprising. What Jesus and the apostles taught as being absolutely impossible, many religious rebels, renegades, and even some of our brethren, in their efforts to justify lawlessness, try to make possible!

The impossibility of putting that camel through the needle's eye can be set in contrast to other impossibilities revealed in the scriptures.

Other Impossibilities

It is impossible for those who have not been baptized into Christ to enter the kingdom of God. In John 3:4, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

In Mark 16:16, Jesus said "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Paul said, "we are buried with him by baptism" (Romans 6:1-6), and that those who "have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) The book of Acts records the conversions of those who received water baptism in the name of Christ.

The Pentecostians (2:1-47) The Samaritans (8:5-12)
Simon (8:13) The Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40)
Saul (9:1-18, 22:1-6, 26:12-18) Cornelius and his household (10:1-48, 11:1-17)
Lydia (16:14,15) The Philippian jailer (16:25-40)
The Corinthians (18:8) The Ephesians (19:1-7)

Therefore, those who have NOT been baptized into Christ SHALL NOT enter the kingdom of God, denominational doctrine notwithstanding!

It is impossible for those involved in religious and doctrinal error to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus denounced those who do religious things without His authority by saying, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus also identified worship that is according to man's doctrines and commandments as vain worship (Matthew 15:9). All religious acts must be done by His authority. (Colossians 3:17)

It is impossible for those living in adulterous marriages to enter the kingdom of God. Many have tried to soften Jesus' definite teaching on divorce and remarriage. In Matthew 19:9, he said, "And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Those who heard Jesus were shocked at His strict law. Jesus, in this encounter with the Pharisees, reaffirmed Genesis 2:24--one man, for one woman, for life! When one divorces a mate for a cause other than fornication and marries another, he/she and the unlawful mate go to the bed of adultery. Paul taught that adulterers SHALL NOT enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 13:4).

It is impossible for the sexually immoral to enter the kingdom of God. The word "fornication" includes all sexual immorality. This word includes homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, rape, pedophilia, bestiality, whoredom, and adultery. It includes the ungodly "shacking-up," arrangement practiced by so many of today's couples! Paul condemned those involved in sexual immorality, as well as those involved in the sins listed in Romans 1:21-32; cf. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; and Colossians 3:5,6).

It is impossible for liars to enter the kingdom of God. John the revelator said, "And all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8). This includes "little white lies" to which we often refer. The "lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" is not the kingdom of God; it is eternal ruin!

It is impossible for those consumed with worldly pleasures to enter the kingdom of God. Paul said, in Philippians 3:18,19, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." It is sad, but true, that many brethren are in this condition. This truth can be applied to those brethren who indicate, by promoting and practicing the social gospel, that they are more interested in stuffing stomachs than feeding souls (John 6:26-37).

It is impossible for a covetous person to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus, in response to a man who requested that He be the divider of an inheritance, said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Jesus then spoke the parable of the rich fool, who was not rich toward God, neither cared, nor had any concern, for his fellowman. He was interested only in keeping all he had and canning all he could get, filling his own belly and living it up (Luke 12:13-30). How many do you know who are like this? Jesus called the man a FOOL! He lost favor with God, and he lost his life and soul and all the worldly treasures he laid up for himself. That very night, his soul was required of him, and in verse 21, Jesus said, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Are those who are miserly, grudging givers, or not givers at all, rich toward God? Can these people be pleasing to God? All who are like this man, including covetous brethren, will lose their souls because they desire to have worldly pleasures and to satisfy the lusts of the flesh (1 John 2:15-17). Think about it!

It is impossible for the unrighteous and disobedient to enter the kingdom of God. It should be obvious to all who are honestly trying to live Godly lives, that there is an unending (ad infinitum) list of things we could mention that will keep us from entering the kingdom of God.

In Galatians 5:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-19, Paul lists numerous sins that are "works of the flesh," then replies to his own rhetorical question. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9,10)

Conclusion

Some teach, and many are deceived into believing, that such people will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul taught that this is not true. The truth is: heaven is reserved for only the obedient children of God, whose faith has endured "the trial of fire" (1 Peter 1:3-9). Let these apostolic words sink deep into our hearts, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:11,12) Attempting to put the ungodly, the disobedient, the alien sinner, or an erring brother into God's eternal kingdom (heaven) is like trying to put that camel "through the eye of the needle." It is IMPOSSIBLE! "Be not deceived" dear friends and brethren!

Brother McClure has done an excellent job of properly applying what our Lord taught regarding the "eye of a needle." Please reread his points and notice the scripture he gave as proof text for each of the conclusions. He has not given his private interpretation. He allowed the text to make his case. Could it be any plainer?

Sadly, many in the religious world would disagree with this plain Bible teaching because it does not agree with their human theologies and creeds. Let's examine a few other beliefs that render it "IMPOSSIBLE" for men to enter God's kingdom:

  1. It is impossible for those who teach that a believer can never fall from grace. Read Galatians 5:4.

  2. It is impossible for those who believe that Christians cannot sin following their obedience. Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.

  3. It is impossible for those who claim to follow God but teach no-pattern theology. Read 1 Peter 4:11.

  4. It is impossible for those who believe in Allah. Read John 14:6.

  5. It is impossible for those who change the pattern of worship. Read John 4:24.

  6. It is impossible for those who claim that Jesus was not Deity. Read John 1:1-3.

  7. It is impossible for those who claim it was impossible for Jesus to sin while He was on earth. Read Hebrews 4:15.

  8. It is impossible for those who teach that the resurrection and judgment have passed. Read Revelation 20:11-15.

  9. It is impossible for those who teach the "unity-and-diversity" concept as the gospel. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10.

  10. It is impossible for those who teach that the Bible is a not a book of law. Read James 1:21-25.

Yes, dear reader many in the religious world would have us believe it is easy for a camel to go through the "eye of a needle." I'm not convinced! (KMG)


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