Matthew 19:24

Context

A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life. When Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, he replies that he has kept them all. Jesus then tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come and follow him. The young man goes away sorrowful, for he has great possessions (Matthew 19:16-22). When Jesus speaks this saying, the disciples are "exceedingly amazed" and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus answers, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (19:25-26).

Interpretation

• As hyperbole: This reading treats the saying as hyperbole that contrasts the largest animal in the region at the time with the smallest opening, signifying something impossible by human effort. Most modern commentaries read the verse this way. This view also explains the disciples' astonishment: they understood the saying to describe something literally impossible.
• As a warning about the danger of wealth: This reading takes the verse as a warning that, although wealth itself is not sinful, it has great power to captivate the human heart and keep a person from following God (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
• As an emphasis on grace: This reading focuses on verse 26 and stresses that salvation, for rich and poor alike, is the work of God.

Controversies and Issues

Sermons have often explained that the "eye of a needle" was the name of a small gate in the walls of Jerusalem, through which a camel could pass only after its load had been removed and it had knelt down. However, no historical evidence has been found that such a gate ever existed, and the explanation is widely criticized as a popular legend that blunts the shock of the saying. Some also argue that the Greek kamēlos ("camel") should be read as a similar word meaning "rope," but the manuscript support for this reading is generally considered weak.

The verse is frequently cited in critiques of prosperity theology, which presents wealth and success as blessings of faith, and it also appears in discussions reflecting on the church's handling of finances and the growth of megachurches. On the other hand, some hold that condemning wealth itself goes too far, pointing to rich people who used their wealth rightly, such as Joseph of Arimathea and Zacchaeus.

Related Passages

• Matthew 19:16-26
• Luke 18:24-27
• 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19
• Luke 19:8-9