I recently read that one of the gates into Jerusalem was named "The Eye of the Needle," and was quite tricky to negotiate, since it was quite small. Does this mean that when Jesus said "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," He meant that, far from being impossible, it was merely tricky?

Dara O'Reilly, London, UK

• The interpretation that seems to make sense is this. The "Eye of the Needle" was indeed a narrow gateway into Jerusalem. Since camels were heavily loaded with goods and riders, they would need to be un-loaded in order to pass through. Therefore, the analogy is that a rich man would have to similarly unload his material possessions in order to enter heaven.

  Rick, Brighton Uk

• I was told that the point about the narrowness of the gate meant the camel had to be unloaded to pass through it. Thus a rich man would need to free himself of his possesions in order to enter paradise.

  chris, bristol england

• I've heard it said that this is likely a mis-editing of the Greek. It seems that the original was likely "kamilos," meaning "knot," which became mistaken for "kamelos," meaning "camel." I don't know of an "eye of the needle" gate in Jerusalem...

  Steve, Clearwater USA

• No. The failure is in the translation. The original word that should have been translated was "camella" which means rope. (presumably Greek, but I am open to this being corrected.) "It is easier for a rope to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven" makes more sense as a comparison.

  William Elsom, UK

• We were taught that there was, indeed, such a gate in Jerusalem and that the point of the image was that camels had to be unloaded of everything they were carrying before they would fit through it. In other words, it is not the rich man as an individual, but the rich man with his "baggage", who can't enter the kingdom.

  Bill Irving, Clacton UK

• I am currently studying the Aramaic language and indeed the word "gamla" (transliterated) does mean both "camel" and "thick rope." Assuming the original manuscript with that teaching of Jesus was recorded in Aramaic and later translated to Greek, the translator may have been familiar with only the "camel" definition of the word. I have not been able to find any reliable information on a city gate called "The Eye of the Needle." Nevertheless, these explanations do not rule out the possibility that it was intended to be heard the way it appears in most English Bibles today, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle..." We'll need to rely on God for this one :-)

  Xakk, FL USA

• I heard that it was a a small gate used for irrigation.

  "Raptor", Ephrata USA

• Amazing how God's word makes us stretch for understanding. There was no defined Needle Gate in Jerusalem. There was the possibility of Greek and Aramaic translation errors. Should the sewing needle be a carpet needle? Should the camel be a cable? "Study to show yourself approved". The rich who focus on and carry a love of materialistic things through life will be hard pressed to enter Heaven.

  Keith Lauer, Ashland, Virginia, USA

• The reality is this. It is impossible for a camel to pass thru the eye of a sewing needdle. So if Jesus is refering to a sewing needle than there will be no rich people in heaven. I know in my heart that this is no true. If it is, why would the bible encourage us to sow so we could increase? That woul also make god a respector of persons, which we know from scripture he is not! The eye of a needle is not a sewing needle, and the small opening makes the most sence to me.

  Jr. Helmick, Parsons USA

• In the NLT bible Jesus says in Matthew 19:24 "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!" Note that He says "a" needle, not "the" needle. It would appear to me that he is using a memorable metaphor about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter heaven, not referencing a specific gate in Jerusalem.

  Dan Stovall, Prattville, AL, USA

• I feel Russ is right!

  Lisa Arthur, Florida, US

• With so many different opinions I'd like to see some evidence to prove it is real or not.

  Janice Torres, Kirbyville, TX, US

• Are we making this too complicated? Surely it simply means you what it says. A rich man cannot take it with him when he enters Heaven. We necessarily abandon all material things. Don't imagine that wealth in Earth will be any benefit in Heaven.

  Dick, London UK

• Jesus never actually used the phrase “eye of a needle”. What he said was, “dia trypamatos raphidos”, which is Greek for “through the hole made by an awl”. Try getting a camel through that!

  Charles, Los Angeles, US

• It seems that most people appear to be relying on what they have traditionally believed or what they have heard. The eye of the needle is in fact not only narrow, but only tall enough for a human to get through. Thus, a camel would not only have to unload the baggage, but come through the gate on it's knees. Thus, in order for a rich man to be saved, not only must he unload his possessions, but he must also kneel before God. This is consistent with Christ's response to the rich man in directing him to give away his possessions and follow Him. Both are necessary.

  Mike, Chicago U.S.A.

• There is no reliable source that discusses there being any gate called the eye of the needle. That was due to a single 9th century source. It says what it means regardless of how uncomfortable that may be for the rich. Use your wealth to care for the poor.

  E Individ, Chicago USA

• Let's not forget the real issue that Jesus was talking to in this story. The rich man asked Jesus what he must do to enter Heaven and was referred to God's commandments. His answer was "All these things have I observed from my youth up." But, he was lacking the most essential foundation principle of the God's law - Love! Remember that Jesus said elsewhere that "all the law and the prophets" hang on our love for God and man. Only God can give us this love, therefore it is impossible for man to keep the law without God's love dwelling in him! "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom.13:10. We must die to self ("take up the cross", Mark 10:21) and selfishness in order to live in Christ and His love. Christ's love will compel us to share what we have with those who have not, which is "pure religion and undefiled"! (James 1:27)

  Randy, Texas USA

• It's fun to watch rich Christians dance around this passage while defending their wealth. The number of rumours they come up with about gates and mountain passages... A rich man cannot enter heaven, because his riches could have been used to save people from famine, illness or any other number of ailments. But it hasn't. A harsh, cruel example: "As of 2007, Bill and Melinda Gates were the second-most generous philanthropists in America, having given over $28 billion to charity; the couple plan to eventually donate 95% of their wealth to charity." In May 2013, Bill Gates was said to be worth $72.7 billion. Nobody else would donate 95% of their net worth to charity, but Bill would still be packing more than $3 billion once he's done. That money could still do a whole lot of Christian good, but it won't. It will fund Bill's lifestyle. Now to you and me, that's fair enough. He's earned that money. It's his to do with a he pleases. But from a purely Christian point of view, Bill Gates isn't going to heaven with $3bil left in his pocket that hasn't done any good. I remember a parable, not sure if it's in the Bible. A rich man donated half his wealth to a charity, and a poor man donated everything he had. The poor man's belongings made much less of an impact than the rich man's, but the poor man was blessed.

  Liam Pentland, Durham UK

• Jews created a religious system whereby people were required to pay the priests for sacrifices at the alter. Rich people were virtually guaranteed Heaven because they could buy their way in. Jesus knew the heart of the rich man and saw his pride in his obedience to the false law system created by Jews. I believe he was telling the rich man that his God was his wealth but he was also telling his disciples that no one can buy their way into heaven. I think he meant to illustrate the impossibility of that fact by using the impossibility of a literal camel passing through the eye of a literal needle. I don't think the passage has anything to do with having money. It's about Jesus proclaiming there is but one way to heaven and God provided it through His Son (With the Father, all things are possible). When his disciples asked how anyone could be then saved, they were asking from the basis of their understanding of the religious system they knew. Jesus was saying that if you follow the law and the system, you must then be perfect in it. Can't be done

  Ken Sierk, Arkansas, US

• There is a good BBC documentary that gives evidence that Jesus followed the silk road to the East and studied at a Buddhist Monastery, and that he returned there after his supposed resurrection to preach until his death in old age. All of his parables are derived from Buddhist teachings reinterpreted into the Jewish society he was trying to bring to awakening to grace. Here he states in a few words a Buddhist teaching. There is nothing wrong with wealth so long as you do good with it. As said above Jesus was supported by many wealthy supporters as was the following after he departed. Many were wealthy displaced Greeks who could not become Roman citizens. I tend to think the Aramaic mistranslation is correct and the footnote in the 10th century is correct. Just because some person today 'walked around' and found no small gate does not mean that 2,000 years ago there were not small exit gates referred to as such. The rich who tithed at the temple to buy there way to god were fooling themselves. All must in fact leave this earth with nothing. So better to do good with your wealth all you 1%ers while you are here. Enough with your second and third homes and fancy cars and diamonds and pearls.

  jim, delmar NY usa