The Christian & Politics (Part 4)

Question: “Isn’t the Eye of a Needle (Matthew 19:24) a Narrow Passageway of Rocks Through the Desert for Camels, Not a Sewing Utensil/Tool?”

I Preached the Text of Matthew 19 a Few Weeks Ago…

And I Wondered if Anyone would Bring this Question Up

(2 Silly Pictures)

Matthew 19:23–26 (NASB95)

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

There’s a Teaching that Became Popular in the 19th Century…

That the “Eye of a Needle” Doesn’t Refer to an Actual Sewing Needle

Some have Taught that He’s Referring to a Narrow Opening in a Mountain Pass

Many Others have Taught that it Refers to a Narrow Gate in Jerusalem

Here’s a Quote from Campbell Morgan Explaining the Basic Idea:

In Jerusalem, all commerce would stop when the gates of the city of Jerusalem were closed on the Sabbath day and every evening at sunset. Commerce stopped because camels and caravans could no longer enter. But there was a little gate called the Needle Gate that was actually a gate inside of the main gate. It could be opened to allow access and egress to only one person at a time. The only way a camel could possibly get through this Needle Gate would be if all of the baggage was removed from his back and if he crawled through the gate on his knees.

This would Mean that Jesus is Talking about an Actual Gate…

That His Disciples would have Known All About

There are Several Spiritual Lessons that have Been Made Using that Interpretation

The Only Way for the Rich to Enter the Kingdom…

Is by Stripping Themselves of Their Wealth/Possessions…

And Hitting Their Knees in Humble Submission to God

That Sounds Really Good, Doesn’t it?

The Only Problem with this Interpretation of the “Eye of a Needle” is:

It’s Not True

There’s No Archaeological or Historical Evidence…

That There was Ever a Gate in Jerusalem Call the “Eye of a Needle”

This Idea Started, at Earliest, in the 9th Century (800 Years After Jesus)…

And, at Latest, in the 15th Century (1,400 Years After Jesus)

In the Islamic Text, the Quran, You can Read:

To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: Such is Our reward for those in sin.

The Point of the Text is:

Those Who Reject the Signs will Never Enter the Gates of Heaven/Garden

In the Babylonian Talmud (Jewish Text from Around 500)…

The “Eye of a Needle” is Mentioned 2 Times

Once it’s in Reference to an Elephant Passing Through the Eye of a Needle

It Says that No One would Even Dream of Such a Thing

Elephants are the Largest Land Animals in the World…

And in Babylon, Elephants were Common

But in Palestine, Where Jesus was…

Camels were the Largest Land Animals that You’d Find

So, to Answer the Question…

“Wasn’t Jesus Referring to a Camel Going Through a Tight Space in Jerusalem?”

No, That’s Not What Jesus was Referring to

He was Referring to an Actual Sewing Needle

He was Using a Saying that His Disciples Clearly Understood

He was Using a Hyperbolic Illustration of Something that is Impossible

It’s as Impossible to Get the Largest Animal Through the Smallest Opening…

As it is for the Rich (And Anyone) to Be Saved

He Literally Says it in the Text:

Matthew 19:23–26 (NASB95)

23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Point is:

Only with Complete Trust in God, Not in Riches…

Can Anyone Enter the Kingdom of God

The Christian & Politics

We’ve Been Looking at Words that We Categorize as “Religious”…

But that the 1st Century World Categorized as “Political”

We Began with the Word “Gospel”

In Ancient Times (OT & NT Times)…

The Word “Gospel” Meant “Military/Political Victory”

To “Gospelize” or Share the Gospel…

Was When a Messenger was Sent From the Battlefield…

To Proclaim Victory Over an Enemy

“Gospel” was Also Used When Speaking of…

The Emperor/Ruler’s Birth, Coming of Age, or Enthronement

We Looked at Several OT Passages to Prove this

Now We’re Going to Take a Quick Look at this Idea in the NT

When We Get to the NT, We Find Gospel as the Word:

euangelion = “good news, good message”

euangelizomai = “to proclaim good news”

In the Beginning of Mark’s Gospel Account to the Romans, We Read:

Mark 1:1 (NASB95)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

This Sentence Doesn’t Stick Out to Us Very Much…

But it is Very Political

Gospel = Good News Typically About a New Ruler or Military Victory

Christ = Anointed King

Son of God = Sent From God, Special Relationship with God…

And Also Common Title of a King

So this First Sentence in a Letter Written…

Would have Sounded Extremely Political and Subversive…

To Christians in the Capital City of Rome

When They Thought of “The Beginning of the Gospel”…

They Thought About Caesar Being Born or Taking Power

When They Thought of “Son of God”…

They Likely Thought of Caesar as the Son of God…

Or Mediator of the Gods

Mark Started His Account with a Purpose:

To Show His Roman Readers that Jesus is King Over Caesar

He is the True Son of God Who Became Ruler of the World…

Not Through Military Might, But Through Suffering and Self-Sacrifice

When Jesus Began His Ministry, We Read:

Mark 1:14–15 (NASB95)

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The King has Arrived and His Rule is Soon to Come

It’s Time to Repent of Rebellious Living…

And Believe/Place Faith in/Give Allegiance to the Gospel Message

The Gospel Message is: God Reigns Over All Creation Through His Messianic King

Repent and Pledge Allegiance to Him

You Remember How Pilate Referred to Jesus When He was on Trial?

“King of the Jews”

Pilate Didn’t Take this Title Seriously Until the Jews Said this:

John 19:12 (NASB95)

12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

Being “King” wasn’t a Religious Title

It was Purely Political

“If You Release Jesus, You will Be Releasing Someone Who Claims to Be King Over Caesar Himself”

Thessalonica was a Very Important City Under Roman Rule

Paul Traveled There to Proclaim the Gospel

Acts 17:2–4 (NASB95)

2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

Paul’s Main Point was:

Jesus is the Christ

He is the Anointed King

Then We Read this:

Acts 17:5–7 (NASB95)

5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

“These People are Upsetting the Natural Order of Things!”

“They All Practice Things that Contradict the Decrees of Caesar!”

“They Say There is Another King Besides Caesar!”

“They Say that Jesus is the King!”

“Instead of Submitting to Caesar…”

“They’re Subverting and Giving Allegiance to Another King!”

Christianity was/is More Than Just a Personal Religion

It is Extremely Political

And Those Who Declare Allegiance to King Jesus are Often Hated By the World…

Because We Upset the Natural Order of Things

We Honor Our Leaders, But Our Allegiance Belongs to Another King

We Submit to Them When Their Ideas Align with Our King…

But We Subvert When They Don’t

Our Allegiance will Always Be with Jesus First and Foremost

That Often Makes Us Public Enemy #1 of World Governments

They Want Total Submission, But We Refuse to Give it

Seeing Gospel as a Political Word and Not Just a Religious Word is Important…

Because it Further Opens Our Eyes to the Truth

Jesus Didn’t Just Come to Save Us From Our Sins

He Came to Become King

And as King, He is Rescuing Us From Our Sins, Yes…

But Much More Than that

He’s Come to Defeat All Evil

He’s Come to Destroy the Effects of Sin (Corruption and Death)

He’s Come to Rescue Us From All These Things…

And Give Eternal Life to His People

He’s Come to Make All Things New/Good Again

Understanding the Fullness of the Gospel Message…

Will Encourage Us to Share it and Share it More Accurately

When We Share the Gospel with Others…

We’re Sharing the Good News that There’s a New & Better King

We’re Sharing the Good News that Satan, Sin, and Death have Been Defeated

We’re Sharing the Good News that Justice and Peace have Been Established

We’re Sharing the Good News that We are Going to Be Rescued When the King Returns

King Jesus has Come to Establish a New World Order

Jesus isn’t Just a Spiritual Teacher Who Tells Us How to Be Good

He is a King that is Going to Set Things Right for Those Who are Loyal to Him

What People Want Out of Politics is…

For Our Leaders to Establish a Utopian Society Where All is Good and Right in the World

What They Don’t Realize and What We’ve Failed to Properly Communicate…

Is that King Jesus has Began to and Will One Day Fully Establish that Very Thing

Everyone Wants What Jesus is Offering…

But Maybe Our Compartmentalizing of “Gospel” as Only a Religious Idea…

Has Undersold Just How Wonderful the Good News is