A “camel” through the eye of a needle?

Have you ever wondered about that "it's easier to put a camel through the eye of a needle" thing in Matthew 19?  My husband and I actually lost a good friend (in part) over this issue, years ago, who went ballistic over our explanation (below).

For some reason, she refused to let go of the idea that the Matthew 19 verse referred to the "Camel's Gate" in Jerusalem .. the "Eye of the Needle" that has been claimed to be a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. It is said that a camel could only pass through this smaller gate if it was stooped and had its baggage removed.

Well, here's a newsflash! The word was not "camel"; it was "rope" ... that passage was yet another victim of the many mis-translations found in our modern Bibles.

Matthew 19:16. A certain man came and drew near and said to him, “Good teacher, what is good that I should do that I should have eternal life?” 17. Then he said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good except one Elohim? Now if you desire to enter into life, keep the Commandments. 18. He said to him, “Which ones?” Then Y’shua said to him, That you will not kill, and not commit adultery, and you will not steal, and you will not give false witness.[1] 19. And honor your father and mother,[2] and love your neighbor as yourself.[3]

20. That young man said to him, “All these things I have obeyed them from my youth. What do I lack?” 21. Y’shua said to him, If you desire to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me. 22. And that young man heard this word and went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23. Y’shua then said to his disciples, Truly I say to you that it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

24. And again I say to you that it is easier for a rope[4] to enter into the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohim. 25. And when the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed and were saying, “Who indeed is able to gain life?” 26. Y’shua looked at them and said to them, With men this is not possible, but with Elohim everything is possible. 27. Then answered Keefa and said to him, “Behold, we have left everything and have come to follow you. What indeed will we have?”

28. Y’shua said to them, Truly I say to you, that you who have come to follow me in this world, when the Son of man sits new upon the throne of his glory, you will also sit upon twelve seats, and you will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29. And anyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of my name, will receive one hundredfold and will inherent eternal life. 30. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (AENT)

Footnotes:

[1] Exodus 20:13-16; Deuteronomy 5:17-20

[2] Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

[3] Leviticus 19:18

[4] Gamala refers to a “heavy rope” rather than a “camel” which is also spelled gimel-meem-lamed-alap. Greek scholars puzzled over a camel passing through the eye of a needle, which is a physical impossibility. Y'shua is clearly not saying a rich man can't enter, or he would not "love" this one! The “heavy rope” lesson teaches about a rich man entering into heaven, after he "unravels" his fortune strand by strand as Y'shua instructs.

If his wealth was bound tightly and strong like a rope, it is to be unwound like threads which will pass through the eye of the needle! Careful attention is required to thread a needle; so are the rich obligated unto YHWH for how their wealth is acquired and dispersed. Theological attempts to "prove" the eye of the needle to be a geographical location have utterly failed.