Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?"… (Mt 19:23-30)
A camel passing through an eye of a needle has often raised many questions. Answers have also been given for that. Some say that there was gate, by name needle’s eye, to enter Jerusalem and any camel carrying luggage would have to unload before entering through the gate. There are others who say that the term camel could also mean a rope which would not enter through the eye of a needle.
But what Jesus is trying to explain to his disciples is that it is impossible for man to enter into the kingdom on his own. It is possible only for God. Man on his own will not be able to achieve it even if he tries very hard. All human calculations come to a dead end with regard to entering into the kingdom.
God’s way of working out things is totally different from the rest of the possibilities. God’s world works through the reversal of human world. Normal idea as we think does not work in the kingdom. Yes those who think that they are the first will find themselves ending up the last.
