Matthew 19:24 kjv
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 19:24 nkjv
And again I say to you, 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."
Matthew 19:24 niv
Again I tell you, 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."
Matthew 19:24 esv
Again 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 nlt
I'll say it again ? 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 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 10:25 | It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle... | Parallel account, identical saying |
| Lk 18:25 | It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle... | Parallel account, identical saying |
| Matt 19:26 | But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." | God's power overcomes human inability |
| Lk 1:37 | For nothing will be impossible with God. | Reinforces God's omnipotence |
| Jer 32:17 | Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power... Nothing is too hard for you. | God's absolute power to accomplish anything |
| Job 42:2 | "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." | God's sovereignty and ability |
| Gen 18:14 | Is anything too hard for the LORD? | Question emphasizing God's limitless power |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | Money as an idol competing with God |
| Lk 16:13 | "No servant can serve two masters..." | Parallel teaching on serving God or money |
| Lk 12:16-21 | Parable of the rich fool, who stored up treasures for himself but was not rich toward God. | Folly of trust in earthly riches |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. | Danger and temptation associated with seeking wealth |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but on God. | Warning against trust in uncertain riches |
| Prov 11:28 | Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. | Wisdom contrasting trust in wealth vs. righteousness |
| Prov 28:11 | A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding sees through him. | Pride of the rich, contrasted with humility |
| Ps 52:7 | "See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches..." | Warning against finding security in wealth |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Faith is prerequisite for pleasing God, not wealth |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Renunciation of worldly gain for Christ |
| Lk 14:33 | "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." | Requirement of detachment from possessions |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. | Salvation by grace, not human effort or wealth |
| Jas 2:5 | Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? | God's preference for the poor in spirit and rich in faith |
| 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. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich..." | Spiritual poverty despite material wealth |
Matthew 19 verses
Matthew 19 24 Meaning
This verse conveys the extreme difficulty for a person who places their trust in wealth and possessions to truly embrace and enter the Kingdom of God. It highlights that self-reliance and the love of money can be significant spiritual obstacles to salvation, which is ultimately God's work.
Matthew 19 24 Context
Matthew 19:24 is part of a significant dialogue following Jesus' interaction with a rich young man (Matt 19:16-22). The young man, seeking eternal life, was told by Jesus to obey the commandments, then to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, and follow Jesus. The young man went away sorrowful because he had great wealth. Jesus' subsequent statements in verses 23 and 24 shocked the disciples, as wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing in Jewish culture, suggesting that wealthy individuals should find it easier to enter the Kingdom. This verse, therefore, delivers a counter-cultural shock, challenging prevailing assumptions about piety and salvation, and immediately sets the stage for the disciples' bewildered question in verse 25: "Who then can be saved?"
Matthew 19 24 Word analysis
"Again I tell you" (πάλιν λέγω ὑμῖν, palin legō hymin):
- Again (palin): Signifies repetition and emphasis. Jesus is reiterating a crucial point, reinforcing its gravity and truth.
- I tell you (legō hymin): An authoritative declaration from Jesus. It signals that this is an essential teaching, not an opinion, delivered directly to His disciples.
"it is easier" (εὐκοπώτερον, eukopōteron):
- Easier: The comparative form highlights a stark contrast in difficulty. It implies a near impossibility for the stated alternative.
"for a camel" (κάμηλον, kamēlon):
- Camel (kamēlon): The largest and most cumbersome animal known in that region, commonly used for transport. Symbolizes immense size and an absurd fit. This is a hyperbolic image, intentionally exaggerated to convey absolute impossibility. No reliable evidence supports the "eye of the needle" being a small city gate; this diminishes the hyperbole and the verse's punch.
"to go through" (διελθεῖν, dielthein):
- To go through: To pass completely from one side to the other. Emphasizes the entire process of passing, not just partially entering.
"the eye of a needle" (τρύπημα βελόνης, trypēma belonēs):
- Eye of a needle: Refers to a literal sewing needle, specifically its tiny hole. It is the smallest conceivable aperture for a common object, representing an impossible opening for something as large as a camel.
"than for a rich person" (ἢ πλούσιον, ē plousion):
- Than: Indicates the comparison between two scenarios.
- A rich person: Not merely someone with wealth, but implying a person whose identity, security, or focus is primarily defined by or dependent on their riches. The obstacle is not wealth itself but the attitude towards it and the self-sufficiency it often fosters.
"to enter" (εἰσελθεῖν, eiselthein):
- To enter: To come into, to gain access to, to participate in fully.
"the kingdom of God" (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn basileian tou theou):
- Kingdom of God: Refers to God's sovereign rule and reign, both present (as it impacts lives now through repentance and faith) and future (culminating in the full eschatological realization). Entering it implies spiritual transformation, submission to Christ's Lordship, and partaking in the new covenant salvation.
"a camel to go through the eye of a needle": This phrase creates an image of complete absurdity and impossibility. It is a striking hyperbole, a figure of speech used to emphasize the absolute difficulty or human impossibility, rather than a literal pathway.
"for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God": The contrast directly challenges the prevailing cultural belief that wealth signified divine blessing and eased access to spiritual favor. Jesus points out that wealth, when clung to, obstructs this access by fostering self-reliance rather than dependence on God.
Matthew 19 24 Bonus section
The shock of this statement to the disciples is crucial. Their follow-up question in Matt 19:25, "Who then can be saved?", shows their alarm, prompting Jesus' reassurance in Matt 19:26: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." This clarifies that while human effort and worldly means (like wealth) are utterly insufficient, God's grace makes salvation possible for anyone, regardless of their material state. The verse implies that the obstacle is often the heart's attachment to wealth, leading to a spiritual condition where God is not seen as the ultimate source and object of trust. True discipleship often demands a radical detachment from material possessions as a means of security or identity, enabling complete reliance on Christ.
Matthew 19 24 Commentary
Matthew 19:24 delivers a shocking truth that stands in direct contrast to human understanding, particularly in the culture of Jesus' time where material wealth was often equated with God's blessing. Jesus uses hyperbole, comparing the rich entering the Kingdom of God to a camel passing through the eye of a literal sewing needle. This imagery is not meant to imply an eventual, painful squeeze, but to declare an impossibility by human effort alone. The core issue is not the possession of riches, but the love of them (1 Tim 6:10) and the reliance upon them for security, status, or fulfillment instead of on God. Riches often foster a spirit of self-sufficiency, making it difficult for the wealthy to humble themselves, recognize their spiritual bankruptcy, and fully trust God for their salvation. This verse underscores that entrance into the Kingdom is a divine work, achievable only by God's grace and power, not by human merit, resources, or effort.