Camels were one of the largest animals in the lands of the Bible. Their ability to go without water is legendary. Camels function like tractor trailers today because they can carry large amounts of cargo over great distances and harsh desert terrain. In Bible times, owning camels was a sign of wealth and many well-known individuals possessed them, such as Abram (Gen. 12:16), Jacob (Gen. 31:17), and Job (Job 1:3).

Jesus makes a spiritual point by referencing the size of a camel. In Matthew 19:16–24, a rich young man approaches Jesus, asking, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus responds by highlighting the commandments, which the young man claims to have kept. Then Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (v. 21). The young man, saddened by this response, walked away because he had great wealth. Jesus then turned to His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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” (vv. 23–24).

The imagery of a camel attempting to pass through the eye of a needle is jarring. Since camels were the largest animals commonly seen in Israel at the time, His audience would know this would be uncommon and extremely difficult. While some argue that the “eye of the needle” referred to a small narrow gate, it is more likely it meant the minuscule eye of an actual sewing needle. This underscored the seemingly impossible task of entering God’s kingdom with a heart gripped by material wealth and possessions.

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