What was Jesus talking about when he mentioned the “eye of the needle"?

on Mar 23, 2026

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: With Israel so much in the news, it’s been interesting to see places and hear phrases that I’ve read in the Bible that never made much sense. A reporter showed a picture in front of the “eye of the needle,” and I was stunned to see a small opening in the wall of a cave. What was Jesus talking about when he mentioned this curious phrase? – E.N.

A: Luke 16 is the famous passage about a rich man whose disobedience to God led him to reject the very thing he longed for: eternal life. Jesus said, “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” (Luke 18:25, NKJV). Looking at such an opening demonstrates how difficult it would be for a camel to squeeze through such a small space. The goods on the back of a camel would have to be unloaded to allow passage.

People who attain great riches often trust in them more than trusting in God. This was the problem with the young man in Scripture. He sought Jesus. He came to Jesus. He even bowed before Him, desperately wanting to know how to gain eternal life in Heaven. When Jesus told him to forsake all, he walked away. He didn’t want to give up his vast wealth in order to follow Christ. His riches were a distraction to obeying Jesus. God doesn’t condemn people because of riches, nor does He justify others because they’re poor. Poverty is not a virtue, nor are riches themselves sin.

The rich man must put his riches upon the altar, and the poor man must put his greed upon the altar, and with one voice cry out to God, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” Money, with all of its advantages, cannot buy everything, but Christ gave His all to save us.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)