Luke 18:25 kjv
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:25 nkjv
For 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."
Luke 18:25 niv
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 18:25 esv
For 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."
Luke 18:25 nlt
In fact, 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!"
Luke 18 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 19:23-24 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom... | Direct parallel, difficulty of wealth |
| Mk 10:23-25 | Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” | Direct parallel, challenge for wealthy |
| Mt 19:26 | Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” | God's power for salvation |
| Mk 10:27 | Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” | Emphasizes divine ability |
| Lk 12:15 | Then He said to them, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” | Warning against covetousness |
| Mt 6:19-21 | “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in... | earthly vs. heavenly treasure |
| Mt 6:24 | “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money.” | Divided loyalty, cannot serve two |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires... | Dangers of loving wealth |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches... | Proper use of wealth, trust in God |
| Prov 11:28 | Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. | Danger of trusting wealth |
| Ps 52:7 | See the man who would not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great riches and found refuge in his wealth! | Mistaking wealth for security |
| Prov 30:8-9 | ...give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you... | Prayer for balance, spiritual danger of fullness |
| Deut 8:17-18 | Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' | Warning against self-sufficiency |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said... | Contentment over greed |
| Lk 16:13 | No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love the other... | God and Mammon |
| Mk 4:19 | but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the message... | Riches choking the word |
| Jam 5:1-3 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... | Condemnation of misused wealth |
| Eph 5:5 | For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ... | Greed as idolatry, exclusion from kingdom |
| Lk 14:33 | So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. | Cost of discipleship, letting go of all |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss... | Surrendering all for Christ |
| Rev 3:17-18 | For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. | Spiritual poverty of the seemingly rich |
| Amos 6:1-6 | Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria... | False security in comfort/wealth |
| Is 5:8 | Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room... | Land greed |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me...” | Boasting in God, not riches/status |
| Ps 73:1-12 | For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... | Spiritual challenge of worldly success |
Luke 18 verses
Luke 18 25 Meaning
Luke 18:25 states that "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." This profound hyperbole highlights the immense spiritual difficulty faced by those who are wealthy in placing their trust solely in God, rather than in their temporal riches. It underscores the human impossibility of self-salvation, particularly for those entangled by material possessions, and points to the necessity of divine intervention for anyone to enter God's reign.
Luke 18 25 Context
This verse is Jesus' concluding commentary following His interaction with the rich young ruler (Lk 18:18-24). The ruler, a wealthy man, asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus initially recounted several commandments, which the ruler claimed to have kept from his youth. Then, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Upon hearing this, the ruler became very sad because he was exceedingly rich. Jesus then observed how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, leading directly to the statement in Luke 18:25 and the subsequent discussion with His disciples about the human impossibility but divine possibility of salvation.
Historically and culturally, wealth in ancient Judaism was often perceived as a sign of God's favor and blessing (e.g., Abraham, Job). Poverty, conversely, could be seen as a sign of divine displeasure. Jesus' statement radically challenges this prevailing assumption, presenting wealth not as an automatic blessing for salvation but as a significant potential impediment, directly polemicizing against the idea that material prosperity guarantees spiritual favor or entrance into God's Kingdom. He suggests that attachment to wealth can be a greater obstacle than outward transgressions.
Luke 18 25 Word analysis
- Easier (εὐκοπώτερον - eukopōteron): This is a comparative adjective meaning "more easy" or "more effortless." It emphasizes the sheer magnitude of the task ahead for a rich person rather than an absolute impossibility, highlighting the spiritual burden attached to riches.
- Camel (κάμηλος - kamēlos): Refers to the large, powerful pack animal common in the Near East. In ancient Jewish thought, it was among the largest known creatures. Its use here amplifies the hyperbole, presenting a comically absurd and physically impossible image. There is no strong evidence for the "needle's eye gate" interpretation; biblical scholarship largely favors the literal, tiny needle, enhancing the metaphorical impossibility.
- Go through (διελθεῖν - dielthein): An infinitive meaning "to pass through," "to go through," or "to penetrate." It implies an actual passage, emphasizing the physical incompatibility of the large camel and small opening.
- Eye of a needle (τρήματος ῥαφίδος - trēmatos rhaphidos): Trēma means a hole or aperture; rhaphis refers to a sewing needle. This is clearly descriptive of the very small hole of a literal needle used for sewing. The contrast between the large animal and the tiny opening creates a powerful, unforgettable image of utter human impossibility.
- For a rich person (πλούσιον - plousion): The adjective "rich" here refers not merely to having material possessions, but more profoundly to one whose heart and security are primarily fixed on wealth. This individual is entangled by their possessions, making true submission to God's reign and trusting Him above all things exceptionally difficult. It refers to someone who has placed their hope in wealth, rather than the wealth itself.
- To enter the Kingdom of God (εἰσελθεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ - eiselthein tēn basileian tou theou): This signifies spiritual salvation, active discipleship, and participating in the reign of God. It means accepting God's sovereignty over one's life, living according to His will, and receiving eternal life. For the rich, their trust in wealth obstructs their willingness to wholly submit to Christ's call and provision, thereby impeding their entry into His Kingdom.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle": This phrase is a classical hyperbole (an exaggeration for emphasis), illustrating something that is utterly humanly impossible or extremely difficult to the point of absurdity. It captures the imagination and makes the point forcefully clear. The unlikeliness serves to underline the greater unlikeliness of the parallel situation.
- "Than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God": The comparison asserts that a rich person faces a comparable, indeed greater, human impossibility when it comes to entering God's Kingdom while trusting in their riches. This isn't about the quantity of wealth, but the spiritual hold it has, leading to self-reliance and hindering surrender to God.
Luke 18 25 Bonus section
The strong imagery used by Jesus (camel and needle) was part of rabbinic teaching style, which often employed extreme metaphors to make a point memorable. The Jewish Babylonian Talmud uses a similar expression: "Perhaps you are from Pumbedita, where they make an elephant pass through the eye of a needle?" This shows that the hyperbole for human impossibility was a common teaching device. Jesus' teaching here reveals that true entry into the Kingdom of God demands total surrender and allegiance to God, which wealth often impedes due to the illusion of self-sufficiency it creates. It is not the having of riches that condemns, but the trusting in them and the love of them that hinders one's heart from truly embracing the Gospel. Ultimately, salvation is entirely by God's grace and power, regardless of one's earthly status.
Luke 18 25 Commentary
Jesus' statement is a vivid and stark hyperbole intended to shock and teach. It asserts the profound spiritual peril associated with material wealth, not because wealth itself is inherently evil, but because of its powerful tendency to breed self-reliance, security apart from God, and a love that displaces Him (idolatry). The "difficulty" arises from the rich person's inclination to trust in what they have rather than in God, and their reluctance to relinquish control or make God their absolute priority. The call for the rich young ruler to sell everything was not a universal command for all disciples but a specific challenge tailored to his central obstacle to God's Kingdom—his immense attachment to his possessions. For those whose hearts are tied to worldly treasures, genuinely seeking and surrendering to God's Kingdom is presented as humanly impossible. However, Jesus immediately follows this declaration with the reassurance that "what is impossible with man is possible with God" (Lk 18:27), signifying that God's grace and transforming power can enable anyone, regardless of their wealth or lack thereof, to enter His Kingdom if they place their faith in Him.