Mark 10:25
in Mark 10It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Mark 10
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe Saviour by no means has excluded the rich on account of wealth itself, and the possession of property, nor fenced off salvation against them; if they are able and willing to submit their life to God's commandments, and prefer them to transitory objects, and if they would look to the Lord with steady eye, as those who look for the nod of a good helmsman, what he wishes, what he orders, what he indicates, what signal he gives his mariners, where and whence he directs the ship's course.
This site's exposition
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God
on Mark 10:23-25
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God startles the disciples, whose culture generally read wealth as a sign of God's favor rather than an obstacle to it, and Jesus doubles down rather than softening the claim, children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. 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 is deliberately impossible imagery, and the bench rejects the popular but unattested claim that a literal small gate in Jerusalem's wall was called the needle's eye, a story with no ancient support invented to soften a saying Jesus meant to stay hard. The qualifier, them that trust in riches, locates the danger precisely in the trust wealth invites rather than in wealth as such, though the young ruler's own case shows how easily the two become the same thing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Salvian the PresbyterTHE FOUR BOOKS OF TIMOTHY TO THE CHURCH 1.4 · Written before 500.
proposed
There is no compelling necessity for you to store up large earthly treasures for your children. You would do better to make your offspring treasures of God than make them richer in worldly goods.
(ubi sup.) Or else, after saying difficult, He then shows that it is impossible, and that not simply, but with a certain vehemence; and he shows this by an example, saying, It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Medieval Church3 voices
It may be that by camel, we should understand the animal itself, or else that thick cable, which is used for large vessels.
(ubi sup.) How then could either in the Gospel, Matthew and Joseph, or in the Old Testament, very many rich persons, enter into the kingdom of God, unless it be that they learned through the inspiration of God either to count their riches as nothing, or to quit them altogether. Or in a higher sense, it is easier for Christ to suffer for those who love Him, than for the lovers of this world to turn to Christ; for under the name of camel, He wished Himself to be understood, because He bore the burden of our weakness; and by the needle, He understands the prickings, that is, the pains of His Passion. By the eye of a needle, therefore, He means the straits of His Passion, by which He, as it were, deigned to mend the torn garments of our nature.
This is evident from the example which the Lord adds, saying: "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." By the name "camel" understand either the animal itself …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
So a rich man cannot get to heaven unless he is willing to part with the burthen of his worldly wealth, and stoop to the duties of a humble religion, and so enter at the strait gate. [2.] Others suggest that the word we translate a camel, sometimes signifies a cable-rope, which, though not to be got through a needle's eye, yet is of great affinity to it.
It is easier for a camel,.... See Gill on Mat 19:24.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The story we have now read is recorded no less than three times in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were all inspired by one Spirit to write it for our learning. There is no doubt a wise purpose in this three-fold repetition of the same simple facts. It is intended to show us that the lessons of the passage deserve particular notice from the Church of Christ. Let us learn for one thing from this passage, the self-ignorance of man.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The story we have now read is recorded no less than three times in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were all inspired by one Spirit to write it for our learning. There is no doubt a wise purpose in this three-fold repetition of the same simple facts. It is intended to show us that the lessons of the passage deserve particular notice from the Church of Christ. Let us learn for one thing from this passage, the self-ignorance of man. We are told of one who "came running" to our Lord, and "kneeled to him and asked" the solemn question, "what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" At first sight there was much that was promising in this man's case. He showed anxiety about spiritual things, while most around him were careless and indifferent. He showed a disposition to reverence our Lord, by kneeling to Him, while Scribes and Pharisees despised Him. Yet all this time this man was profoundly ignorant of his own heart. He hears our Lord recite those commandments which make up our duty to our neighbor, and at once declares, "All these have I observed from my youth." The searching nature of the moral law, its application to our thoughts, and words, as well as actions, are matters with which he is utterly unacquainted. The spiritual blindness here exhibited is unhappily most common. Myriads of professing Christians at the present day have not an idea of their own sinfulness and guilt in the sight of God. They flatter themselves that they have never done anything very wicked. "They have never murdered, or stolen, or committed adultery, or borne false witness. They cannot surely be in much danger of missing heaven." They forget the holy nature of that God with whom they have to do. They forget how often they break His law in temper, or imagination, even when their outward conduct is correct.
Modern Voices1 voice
Instead of looking at books and pictures about the New Testament I looked at the New Testament. There I found an account, not in the least of a person with his hair parted in the middle or his hands clasped in appeal, but of an …
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εὐκοπώτερόν | eukopoteron | Easier | G2123 → | |
| ἐστιν | estin | it is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| κάμηλον | kamelon | [for] a camel | G2574 → | |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τρυμαλιᾶς | trumalias | eye | G5168 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ῥαφίδος | rhaphidos | needle | G4476 → | |
| διελθεῖν | dielthein | to pass | G1330 → | |
| ἢ | e | than [for] | G2228 → | 342 times |
| πλούσιον | plousion | a rich man | G4145 → | |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλείαν | basileian | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| εἰσελθεῖν. | eiselthein | to enter. | G1525 → | 194 times |
εὐκοπώτερόνEasier
eukopoteronG2123 →
ἐστινit is
estinG1510 →2333 times
κάμηλον[for] a camel
kamelonG2574 →
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
τρυμαλιᾶςeye
trumaliasG5168 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ῥαφίδοςneedle
rhaphidosG4476 →
διελθεῖνto pass
dieltheinG1330 →
ἢthan [for]
eG2228 →342 times
πλούσιονa rich man
plousionG4145 →
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείανkingdom
basileianG932 →162 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
εἰσελθεῖν.to enter.
eiseltheinG1525 →194 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 13:23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 2:22
Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
- Jeremiah 9:5
Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.
- Matthew 19:24–28
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- Jeremiah 2:30
“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 2:22
Through
Matthew 23:24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
it leads to
- Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
- Matthew 27:6–8
The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
- Matthew 15:2–6
“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
- Matthew 19:24
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Clement of Alexandria, Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?; GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy, Ch. 9: Authority and the Adventurer (1908); J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Salvian the Presbyter, THE FOUR BOOKS OF TIMOTHY TO THE CHURCH 1.4; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.