JESUS WOULD VOTE DEMOCRAT RATHER THAN FOR PARTY OF THE RICH:
EASIER FOR A CAMEL? (MARK 10:25)
In all three Synoptic Gospels this saying follows the incident of the rich man who was anxious to know how to inherit eternal life—and, in the idiom of the Gospels, inheriting eternal life is synonymous with entering the kingdom of God. His record in keeping the commandments was unimpeachable—he assured Jesus that he had kept them all ever since he came to years of discretion, and Jesus said nothing to suggest that his claim was exaggerated. But, to test the strength of his commitment, Jesus bade him sell his property and distribute the proceeds among the poor. “And,” he said, “you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (RSV). At that the rich man’s face fell: this sacrifice was more than he was prepared to make. The incident brings out the real nature of the discipleship to which Jesus called people.
Then, to illustrate “how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God” he used this striking figure of speech. His hearers recognized it immediately to be a hard saying. It is not merely difficult, it is impossible for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God, just as it is not merely difficult but impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle—even a needle of the largest size. The listeners were dismayed: “Who then can be saved?” they asked. (“Being saved” in the Gospels is a further synonym for entering the kingdom of God and inheriting eternal life.) The disciples themselves were not affluent. Peter spoke for the others when he said, “We have left everything to follow you” (Mk 10:28). But they had not realized, perhaps, just how stringent the terms of entry into the kingdom were—and are. |
