EYE OF THE NEEDLE
Bible scholars have continually had to differ over the semantic interpretation of the “eye of the Needle”. It’s a metaphoric expression to signify an almost impossible situation. There has been variations amongst Bible teachers and researchers over the connotative meaning of the camel and needle. Most of these variations arise from diverse language provenance; Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, that have all interpreted without correlations. These variations have been inaccurate, due to lack of substantial evidence and similarities in perception.
Jesus said, It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to make heaven. It was the aftermath of an encounter with one of the rich young rulers of his age. The young ruler had approached Jesus on his sojourn to heaven. He wanted to confirm if he was on course to eternal life. He eschewed confidence as he gave positive responses to the questions, Jesus asked him. (Matt19:20). What more should I do? He asked. Jesus replied “Go and sell thy possessions, you should become my disciple, take up the cross and follow me” (Matt19:21). This brought the conversation to an abrupt end. The young ruler retreated in remorse, his heart was filled with sorrow. He never saw his riches as an obstacle to heaven.
Considering the inerrancy and verbatim of Biblical text, the improbability of a Camel passing through the eye of a needle is significantly high. Scientific and other human derivations can’t abolish this fact. This tells the poignant tale of a rich man’s wealth as an impediment to the kingdom of God. A man’s total dependence on his wealth. Man’s extreme submissiveness to his material and earthly acquisitions. Christ did a comparative analogy of events. The camel would have gone into a needle’s eye before a rich man makes heaven. Couturiers have always expressed difficulty in passing a thread through eye of a needle. It’s always not an easy task. This is because the tailor depends more on his ability than the strategy, he considers his skill over the passage rites. The tragedy of the rich on his voyage to heaven, is his wealth. He looks to his wealth for peace, comfort and security. His riches per time determines joy and rest; his financial capacity is a major determinant of his relevance. He is very dependent on what his wealth can do for him. The Rich believer restrains what Jesus should do for him. He looks unto his economic ecosystem to expand wealth. He purchases luxury cars as a means to safeness. He designs and deploys contemporary security systems over God’s guidance.
The rich believer ascribes evangelical success to the affluence portrayed to unbelievers. He attributes social relevance to educational conquest. He believes more in what he is doing right and the wrong in his avoidance. Righteousness to him is carefully fulfilling the law. The rich believer evaluates his Christian race by the law. Subconsciously, he exalts the law over Jesus. The young ruler saw his wealth as a facilitator of the kingdom of God. He obviously thought it was an automatic ticket to heaven. He was a upright man, who believed that Jesus is Lord (Matt19:16). The disciples asked, who can make heaven out of curiosity. If a man who obliges to the law and sponsors ministry won’t make heaven. Who then will? The disciples didn’t see the possibility. It puzzled them. Christ said, “it is possible with God” (Matt19:26). We need to look beyond our abilities and resources, unto him who his able to keep us pure, from falling and blameless(Jude1:24). It is he, that can capacitate the camel to pass through the eye of the needle.
On a denotative view point, the Camel’s passage through the needle’s eye is not a charge of conquest. A strategy of faith predicated on discipleship; following the master to the letters. Our entrance into heaven is of God, not of man’s approval or our works. We can all pass through the needle’s eye, only if we believe and carefully oblige to what the spirit is saying. A rich man understands that Christ is the Lord, but his obstacle is the faith system. The law that strangulates him and the capacity he esteems. Riches can also be viewed as surplus of gifts and resources. The modern believer must take his eyes off the gifts he has in excess. The numeracy of sheep shepherd by a pastor does not qualify him for heaven. The efficacy of the prophetic office is not a stand point. Man’s ability to operate with diverse gifts of the spirit still won’t allow us pass through the eye of the Needle. Our entrance into heaven is discipleship through Faith in Jesus.
To access the life of a Victor. You must have a relationship with Jesus. Confess Jesus as your Lord and savior today, believing he died for your sins and resurrected for your justification.
