MARK 10:23-27 (MATTHEW 19:17; LUKE 18:19)

Q: This appears to rule out any rich people going to heaven. Isn't that a little harsh? Also, why were the Apostles so shocked at this teaching?

You are not the only one to feel that way. Look at the way some manuscripts of this passage read: “The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom...'” The words in italics are in many manuscripts but not the earliest. This addition was probably an attempt to soften the teaching. By the way, this is the only time in the Synoptic Gospels that Jesus uses the term “children” to apply to his followers. It may stress their lack of understanding.

There have been other attempts to soften the teaching:

The Acts of Andrew and Peter has a story where a needle's eye miraculously grows until a camel can go through it.

A passageway in Jerusalem named The Eye of a Needle is being referred to here You can't enter mounted on your camel but must dismount and leave your possessions behind. Variation: a young camel can enter but only if its load is removed and it kneels. (This is a rather recent proposal. Unfortunately, there is no evidence at all for such a passageway).

The word camel (kamelos) was confused with cable or rope (kamilos) in Greek. However, that doesn't really make the situation any more likely to happen.

In Aramaic the word for camel is gamel; acts of benevolence = gemiluth as a reminder of what the rich should be doing. A rather fanciful explanation.

The most likely explanation is that Jesus followed a literal teaching about wealth with figurative hyperbole.

A 3^rd Cent. AD teaching in the Talmud uses the idea of an elephant trying to pass through the eye of a needle to express the idea of impossibility.

The camel was the largest animal in Palestine. That is why Jesus uses it, just as he talks about the Pharisees straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel (Matthew 23:24). Another example of hyperbole is taking the log out of your eye.

Why were the apostles shocked and unbelieving?

Many Jews assumed that wealth was a reward from God for the righteous. Look at the start and conclusion of the Book of Job; Psalm 128:1-2 and Isaiah 3:10, but it is not a pervasive teaching in the OT.

Alternatively, those with wealth were assumed to have an advantage over the poor in that they had the leisure to devote themselves to prayer, fasting, study and good works such as almsgiving. (Anchor Bible) “In Judaism it was inconceivable that riches should be a barrier to the Kingdom.” (NICNT)

But even if that were true, Jesus has a similar teaching in Matthew 5:20: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Charles Williams notes that we should consider that riches may include other forms of supposed blessings by God – reputation for righteousness, respect, power, talent, intelligence, etc. Example of rich young ruler. Paul said he counted all such things in his life as trash. Not only useless in entering the Kingdom, but they are a barrier since they are forms of self-righteousness in attempts to earn their way into Heaven.