Immediately after the rich young ruler turned and sadly walked away, Jesus turned to his disciples and told him how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 10:23). Jesus’ disciples, however, were utterly amazed at his claim. They wondered how it was possible for anyone to be saved (Mark 10:24, 26; Matthew 19:25; Luke 18:26), if those who were blessed by the Lord (cp. Genesis 24:35; 26:12; 30:30) weren’t saved. Yet, Jesus simply reiterated what he had just told them, saying it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 10:25).
Several explanations have been offered for this saying. For example, it has been claimed that after the main gate of Jerusalem was closed for the night, a smaller gate, called the needle was available for entry, and a camel had to have its baggage removed and his head stooped in order to enter therein. Nevertheless, such a gate has never been shown to exist, and the explanation is fairly recent, coming out of the 15th century or slightly earlier. Another explanation had been offered by Cyril of Alexandria of the fifth century AD, who claimed the word camel in the Greek is kamelos (G2574) is probably a misspelling of rope, which is kamilos in the Greek, a word not used in the New Covenant text. However, whichever explanation one chooses, or even if it is to be taken literally, neither the camel nor the rope could fit into the eye of a needle. Such a thing is an impossibility, and the disciples understood that. That is, they understood Jesus correctly. So, knowing that even the blessed of God couldn’t be saved, they asked Jesus: “who, then, can be saved?” (Mark 10:26).
Jesus replied that with man it is, indeed, impossible. That is, no man, whether poor or rich, righteous or unrighteous, can be saved through his own effort or through the abundance of his wealth. That is the point of Jesus’ statement, and it was something misunderstood by both the rich young ruler and Jesus’ disciples. Nevertheless, the Lord is not so weak or helpless concerning the salvation of men. With God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). In other words, salvation is a God thing, not a man thing.
It is in this context that we need to understand Peter’s reply: “We have left all and have followed you! (Mark 10:28), and Matthew adds: “…what shall we have, therefore?” (Matthew 19:27). In other words, ‘to what end have we sacrificed all to follow you, if no one can be saved?’ In other words, if nothing matters, riches or sacrifice, righteousness or labor, if nothing of what man does or gives to the cause of the Gospel matters, and salvation is the work of God alone, has all this been for naught? If what we do for the cause of Christ makes no difference, as far as salvation is concerned, what have we gained? If, after all is said and done, we are numbered with those who haven’t done anything or sacrificed anything for God and the Gospel, how does any of this matter? Why should anyone follow Christ?
Peter’s question was a legitimate one, and take note that he wasn’t rebuked by the Lord for asking such a thing. Rather, Jesus took Peter’s question seriously and replied in like manner. ‘No one who has left his home, family, possessions etc. for the sake of Christ and the Gospel shall go unrewarded for what they had done or sacrificed’ (Mark 10:29-30). If a man, who hasn’t sacrificed anything but does a good work in Jesus’ name, would be rewarded (Mark 9:41), it wouldn’t make sense, nor would God be honorable, if he didn’t reward his own who labored for him and sacrificed all in his name (Mark 10:29-30). Nevertheless, many who have been very generously blessed by God in this life will in the Kingdom of God find themselves behind those who had been blessed to a lesser degree (Mark 10:31).
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