St James Missionary Baptist Church Wednesday Night Bible Study 7/8/2026
Question – DO WE STILL NEED TO GET THROUGH THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE?
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
Allow me to share an experience I had as a child. I remember hearing (and then reading) this passage of scripture when I was very young. Being brought up going to church from Sunday School to B.T.U. and every time there was an afternoon service (did I say that my uncle was the Pastor)? I may not have known it then, but the Lord was dealing with me at a very young age because I remember the thought I had about this passage of scripture.
I remember thinking that Job was a man who loved God and God had a whole lot of confidence in Job; plus job wound up being a wealthy man. So the part about a rich man getting to Heaven left me befuddled. Then as I began to think more about going through the eye of a needle, I came to the conclusion that no camel can get through the eye of a needle so does this mean that not even Job made it to Heaven? So I was really confused, but I was at an age, and that was at a time when if I wasn’t in Sunday school, I didn’t think I could ask questions about the Bible.
Well, back then we did not have the internet, social media, cell phones or computers that we could use to access information; plus I would have been too young to even know how to use those things. So this bewilderment was one of a number of biblical questions that would kind of stay in the recesses of my mind. It wasn’t until years later that the Lord brought some information my way that gave me some understanding about this passage of scripture.
Picture those ancient cities or those western forts you use to see on television or in the movies. They had gates where they would let people with their wagons, cattle, camels, horses, etc. come through. At night time, when they had these gates shut, if a traveler approached the gate and they were allowed entrance, there was an entrance next to the main gate. This entrance was much smaller; for a person to enter through it they would have to get off of their beast and almost squeeze through. This entrance was often referred to “The Eye of the Needle!” Well when I read this, I can’t explain the jubilation I felt because this gave Matthew 19:24 a whole new meaning to me!
DO WE STILL NEED TO GET THROUGH THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE?
POINTS –
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- “. . . it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle . . .” – When we picture a sewing needle, I don’t care what size needle is being used, there is no way a camel is going to get through it. As a matter-of-fact, there is no way a man is going to get through it either. This made me wonder why the Lord used a camel to emphasize the point?! (Expound).
- “. . . than for someone who is rich . . .” – Already having an impossible task presented to us, the Lord also states that with the impossibility of the camel getting through the eye of the needle, it would still be easier for that camel than for a rich man to get through. This still had me bewildered because Job was a rich man. Then the Lord began to allow me to think about something; GOD stripped Job of his physicality possession his health), his heartfelt possessions (children), his material possessions (his livestock), his friends, and even his mate! (Expound).
- “. . . to enter the kingdom of God.” – This made me think that in order to get to the place where GOD resides, something very miraculous would have to take place (expound).
CONCLUSION –
Beloved ones, if we want to be saved and enter into the city where GOD dwells, we are going to have to be stripped like Job was. We are not going to be able to bring a wagonload of our stuff through the gate. We are going to have to get off of our “High Horse” and be prepared to leave our loved ones, to leave family, friends, and all of our possessions. We are going to find out that the entrance we are required to come through will be scarcely large enough for us to get through, and impossible to bring anything else! (Conclude).