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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: the eye of a needle |
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On the other hand, Jesus is adamantly opposed to war, and in general to work. He has no consideration for money, even promising (or so the disciples understood him) that one has only to wait for deliverance, and this meant deliverance from work, among other things. The Sermon on the Mount is in favor of letting God handle all earthly needs. One glance proves the point beyond a doubt:
Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where it grows rusty and moth-eaten, and thieves break in to steal it. Store up treasure in heaven instead�
No servant can be a slave to two masters.... You cannot serve God and Mammon [money].
Behold the lilies of the field. They do not toil, nor do they spin [cloth], yet I tell you, Solomon in all his glory was not attired like one of them.
This sort of talk was disturbing. In the first place, it undercut the power of the rich. Jesus explicitly tells a wealthy man who is worried about the state of his soul that if he doesn�t give away his money, he has no more chance of getting to heaven than a camel of passing through the eye of a needle � no chance at all. |
1.What does 'it' mean?
2. Could you paraphrase 'he has no more chance of getting to heaven than a camel of passing through the eye of a needle' for me?
Thanks. |
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Barnez1
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 15
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:23 am Post subject: Re: pssing through the eye of a needle |
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It is referring to the idea that acquiring money, and accumulating wealth and personal possessions was an unfruitful direction for people to pursue. It would not lead to happiness or salvation (deliverance).
Regarding this sentence:
Jesus explicitly tells a wealthy man who is worried about the state of his soul that if he doesn�t give away his money, he has no more chance of getting to heaven than a camel of passing through the eye of a needle � no chance at all.
The idea of a camel passing through the eye of a needle is a simile used to express something which is impossible. The camel is very large and the eye of a (sewing) needle where you pass the thread through is tiny. Therefore, if a wealth man does not give away his money it will be impossible for him to enter into heaven, as he has the same chance of getting into heaven as a camel has of passing through the eye of a needle. No chance at all.
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