The True Meaning behind the Parable of the Rich Man
Whenever I read through the bible verse, the parable of the wealthy man who was not able to follow Jesus, stood out to me. It felt a little odd to me often leaving me to ponder: How come a camel can pass through an eye of the needle? It is an impossible task no matter how you want to look at it.
I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. — Matthew 19:24
If you think about this scripture, even thou its a metaphorical illustration, the relation of that impossible task never felt related to that of the rich man not able to make it to the Lord’s Kingdom.
Have we had a wrong perception of this all along?
Actually, the eye of the needle had an entire different meaning. It is referred to the main city gate in Jesus’s time. The actual city gate was gigantic for big object to enter or exit but there was a small door within that gate which was meant for individual pedestrians to pass by. The below image is the perfect description of that.
In order for a camel to pass through this small door, it needed to off load all its baggage and then had to squeeze through the door in order to pass through. after this revelation, that very same scripture has a complete different meaning. It is not impossible for the camel to do so. Its definitely difficult but not impossible.
The camel has to really humble himself down and has to let go of all the possession it had carried this far in order to enter through that eye of the needle door to enter the city or Kingdom. Do you now understand the analogy?
If we are that camel (rich man) you have to unload all your worldly riches and have to humble yourself to fit through the narrow path for the Kingdom of Jesus. That is what Jesus meant when he told to the rich man.
This simple clarification changes the meaning of that Bible verse completely. Leave behind this world and the pleasures of it, bow our heads in submission to God’s will or else it would be impossible to enter in His Kingdom.
Thank you Lord for the clarification. And if you hung up soo far, consider following me on Medium and read my other article. Definitely read my testimony, How I came to know Jesus.
In these last of the last days, grow closer to Jesus everyday. In Jesus name, Amen
