Assuredly, I say to you that 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

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that 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." When his disciples hear it they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

- Matthew 19:23-30

In the current readings, Jesus has come out of Galilee and is in Judea. In yesterday's reading, we first read that children were brought to Jesus, so that He would lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples tried to rebuke them, but He said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Then a young man came to Him and asked, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus told Him that no one was good but One, that is God. He first told the young man to keep the commandments. He asked, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that 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." There have been many debates on this statement by Jesus. Some speculate that in Aramaic, the word for camel sounds like the word for rope, thereby there is a kind of analogy here: a rope can be unwound, taken apart, and hence pass through an eye of a needle. Others say that the "eye of the needle" was a name for a city gate that was small enough so that a camel might barely squeeze through. My study bible notes that the Talmud uses a similar expression to the one here: "for an elephant to go through the eye of the needle." Whatever the origin of the expression, Jesus is making a clear statement about difficulties, and it wouldn't be the first time a great analogy is made so that we get a strong flavor of what he's talking about. He's speaking of tremendous difficulties in the attachment to riches as identity. We can see perhaps some kind of parallel of shrinking down, to the humility He's so recently taught is essential for entry into this Kingdom, that they should become like little children. Hence, a soul that identifies itself with great riches may need to acquire great humility to be a follower of Christ. In this sense, we can see "riches" as a parallel for all kinds of possessions, such as fame, or family name, or rank within a social group of any kind, or anything else that gives great status which may be an obstacle to becoming a follower, to the humility necessary in one's heart before Christ. This then is a question of material-mindedness, a form of idolatry. Knowing our weakness, Christ teaches this teaching. My study bible says that "whatever the phrase refers to, it displays the difficulty of salvation for those who are attached to riches."

When his disciples hear it they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Whatever obstacles there may be in our lives to our faith, Christ is there to help. In effect, with God, all things are possible. Our faith doesn't come from ourselves alone, and in this question for real discipleship, we can assume that neither does our humility, nor any other quality needed for membership in this Kingdom. With God's help, everything is possible for us, even tremendous personal changes, even the "peace that passes all understanding." Christ will teach His disciples that He gives, not as the world gives: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). Just as we noted in yesterday's reading, that "every good and perfect gift is from above," so we can also understand the good and perfect gift in faith within a willing heart, of those things we need to become members of this Kingdom.

Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." I wonder if we can really understand the great depth in this statement, the profundity it will really mean for these men, and may in fact mean for us in our lives. Not only have Peter and the other disciples left all for His sake, they will in future go on to much greater sacrifices, and live their whole lives as heroic servants for this Kingdom and for we who believe and share in its grace.

The phrase "many who are first will be last, and the last first" gives us a great and tremendous teaching on humility. These men who are Jesus' disciples are merely a handful by worldly standards, but they will go on to spread this gospel to all the nations. We today inherit the wealth they brought to us, along with all the tradition we are able to inherit as well. But they were first, in great faith: when will this Kingdom be fully realized? When will the fullness of time bring about the "end" or perfection of the Kingdom? Jesus' teaching is a great statement of the tremendous humility required as a true servant of this Kingdom. It tells us about the willingness to serve, that the first will be last and the last first. It also gives us the sense of the patience of the saints. Can we work through faith, for things which are promised and yet not tangible? For this we need Christ's help, His gifts to us, of His patience, His faith, and His peace. With God, all things are possible.