Matthew 19:24 (WEB)
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
Catechism · 1
“observance of the Commandments, is joined to the call to poverty and chastity.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 19:6-12, 21, 23-29.
Fathers and councils · 32
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VI.16Book VI
“…of Jesus against rich men, when He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,” Celsus alleges that this saying manifestly proceeded from Plato, and that Jesus perverted the words of the philosopher, which were, that “it was impossible to…” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. xix. 24.
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Jerome
“C. Since you press me to give what I am not bound to give, consider what our Lord says,“That it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xix. 24.
Read the whole comment“We must not hastily conclude that this statement conflicts with that of the Lord: “verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven; and again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 23, 24.
Read the whole comment“Cast from you the burthen of the things of this world, and seek not those riches which in the gospel are compared to the humps of camels.” — editor's note: Pravitates, deformities. Matt. xix. 24.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…for rich men foretold, so that He said, more easily could a camel pass through the eye of a needle, than a rich man enter into the kingdom of Heaven, were not forthwith the disciples grieved, saying with themselves, “Who shall be able to be saved?”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
Read the whole comment“For “with men these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24–26.
Read the whole commentChapter LXIII.—Of the Little Children on Whom He Laid His Hands; Of the Rich Man to Whom He Said, “Sell All that Thou Hast;” Of the Vineyard in Which the Labourers Were Hired at Different Hours; And of the Question…
Read the whole comment“As to how difficult it is, take heed to the comparison; “Verily I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
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John Chrysostom
“For “It is easier” (it is said) “for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” ( Matt. xix. 24.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““It is easier” saith He, “for a camel to enter in by the eye of a needle,than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.”” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
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Tertullian
“That rich man did go his way who had not “received” the precept of dividing his substance to the needy, and was abandoned by the Lord to his own opinion.” — editor's note: See Matt. xix. 16–26; Mark x. 17–27; Luke xviii. 18–27.
Read the whole comment- Tertullian, To His Wife II.8Book II
“A rich man is a difficult thing (to find) in the house of God; and if such an one is (found there), difficult (is it to find such) unmarried.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 23, 24; Mark x. 23, 24; Luke xviii. 24, 25; 1 Cor. i. 26, 27.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“There is a somewhat similar meaning in the expressions which imply that a thing impossible by nature is possible to God if He so wills; as that a man cannot be born a second time, or that a needle will not let a camel through it.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
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Clement of Alexandria
“Much more, then, is the Scripture to be believed which says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man” to lead a philosophic life.” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
Read the whole comment“…way, the utterance of the Saviour, “that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven,” despair of themselves as not destined to live, surrender all to the world, cling to the present life as if it alone was left to them, and so diverge more from…” — editor's note: Matt. xix. 24.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord took occasion from this rich man to hold discourse concerning the covetous; “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, &c.”
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What He spoke was not condemning riches in themselves, but those who were enslaved by them; also encouraging His disciples that being poor they should not be ashamed by reason of their poverty.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
To have riches is no sin; but moderation is to be observed in our havings. For how shall we communicate to the necessities of the saints, if we have not out of what we may communicate?
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
But though there be a difference between having and loving riches, yet it is safer neither to have nor to love them.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Whence in Mark the Lord expounding the meaning of this saying, speaks thus, “It is hard for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [Mark 10:24] They trust in riches, who build all their hopes…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because riches once gained are hard to be despised, He saith not it is impossible, but it is hard. Difficulty does not imply the impossibility, but points out the infrequency of the occurrence.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is a dangerous toil to become rich; and guiltlessness occupied in increasing its wealth has taken upon itself a sore burden; the servant of God gains not the things of the world, clear of the sins of the world.…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Having said that it was hard for a rich man to eater into the kingdom of heaven, He now proceeds to shew that it is impossible, “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
According to this, no rich man can be saved. But if we read Isaiah, how the camels of Midian and Ephah came to Jerusalem with gifts and presents, [Isa 60:6] and they who once were crooked and bowed down by the weight…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Gentile souls are likened to the deformed body of the camel, in which is seen the humpback of idolatry; for the knowledge of God is the exaltation of the soul. The needle is the Son of God, the fine point of…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is explained otherwise; That at Jerusalem there was a certain gate, called, The needle’s eye, through which a camel could not pass, but on its bended knees, and after its burden had been taken off; and so the rich…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, by the rich man He intends any one who is proud, by the camel he denotes the right humility. The camel passed through the needle’s eye, when our Redeemer through the narrow way of suffering entered in to the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The disciples though poor are troubled for the salvation of others, beginning even now to have the bowels of doctors.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Whereas the rich are few in comparison of the multitude of the poor, we must suppose that the disciples understood all who wish for riches, as included in the number of the rich.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This therefore He proceeds to shew is the work of God, there needing much grace to guide a man in the midst of riches; “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
This must not be so understood as though it were possible for God to cause that the rich, the covetous, the avaricious, and the proud should enter into the kingdom of heaven; but to cause him to be converted, and so…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And this is not said that you should sit supinely, and let alone what may seem impossibilities; but considering the greatness of righteousness, you should strive to enter in with entreaty to God.
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Cross-references · 8
Parallel passages
Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 share the same wording (22 words).
Matthew 19:24 and Luke 18:25 share the same wording (21 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 19:23–26 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 19:23–26 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.