Matthew 19:24

Matthew 19:24. It is easier for a camel, &c.— Or, a cable. See Boch. tom. 1: p. 92. Vorst. Adag. p. 14. The rendering of the original word by cable, undoubtedly coalesces more perfectly with the other metaphor of the needle; but, as there is nothing in the proverbial expression, as it stands in the common versions, but what is very agreeable to the Eastern taste, and may be paralleled in other Jewish writings, there seems no great reason to depart from it. The Jews generally made use of the phrase, An elephant cannot pass through the eye of a needle; which our Saviour changes for a camel, an animal very common in Syria, and whose bunch on its neck is apt to hinder its passage through any low entrance. In our Saviour's time, too, the word camel was proverbially used to express any vast object, that being the largest animal in Palestine. Thus we read, ch. Matthew 23:24. Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. We may just observe, that these strong expressions must be understood in their strictest sense, of the state of things at that time subsisting; yet in some degree are applicable to rich men in all ages: the reason is, riches have a woeful effect upon piety in two respects: first, in the acquisition; for, not to mention the many frauds and other sins which men too often commit to obtain riches,—they occasion an endless variety of cares and anxieties, which draw the affections away from God. Secondly, They are generallyoffensive to piety in the possession; because if they be hoarded, they never fail to beget covetousness, which is the root of all evil; and if they be enjoyed, they become strong temptations to luxury and drunkenness, to lust, pride, and idleness. See Heylin, and Mintert on the word Καμηλος .