What is the Eye of a Needle? – What exactly are they talking about? A Sewing Needle? Rock Formation or something else?
What is the Eye of a Needle?
I am going to start a new series on Tuesdays called Theological Tuesday. I will try to do a theological blog post. In this blog post I am going to talk about the camel and the eye of the needle.
Camels have been used over 50 times in the Bible. They could have been used for transportation of people and goods from one city to another. Some having to pass over dessert land and rocky areas. They could go long distances without water. They could have been used to help provide food and milk for people too. However, according to Jewish beliefs they were not Kosher. Plus, they could withstand high temperatures too.
These could have included but not limited to the …
- llama
- alpaca,
- guanaco
- vicuña
Sewing Needle?
Some people may say the eye of a sewing needle, like that shown below.
Rock Formation?
But, others will say it was a rock formation that was very narrow to pass through.
It might be similar to this rock formation in South Dakota along Needles Highway. Like this photo below.
Something Else?
Of course a camel won’t fit through a sewing needle. Depending on the rock formation a camel may or may not fit through it. Either way both the rock and sewing needle use a narrow opening. In Matthew 19:23-26 (Shown below) it tells us it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. The main point of this is that we as man cannot do it. It can only be done with God! God is the one that does the saving. We cannot save ourselves, we are totally deprived.
The Rich Ruler asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all his goods and give them to the poor. If you remember that rich ruler left sad. He didn’t want to sell anything he had. That then brought to the eye of the needle topic.
Narrow Gate
Remember Jesus also mentions Narrow is the way to Life (life with Christ). But broad is the way that leads to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14) The way to Heaven is very narrow … Actually there is only ONE WAY to Heaven! That is through Jesus Christ! That is why the gate is narrow and the opening is narrow as used here with the Eye of a Needle.
Just like the Narrow Gate, I do believe the reference used for the Eye of the Needle is showing it is a narrow way to Heaven. It may have been symbolic.
Matthew 19:23-26 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
About the Author
