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In Mark, Jesus says it is hard for the rich to enter God's kingdom, harder than a camel passing through a needle's eye. In the Shepherd of Hermas, wealthy believers who shun other believers also enter it with difficulty, like walking barefoot on briars.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Mark 10:23
New Testament
17 Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 The man said to him, “Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.” 21 As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.”
Shepherd of Hermas 97:3
Early Christian
1 “And from the third mountain, which had thorns and briars, those who believed are like this: some of them are wealthy, and others are tangled in many business dealings. The briars represent the wealthy, and the thorns those who are caught up in various business matters. 2 These, then, who are involved in many and varied affairs, do not cling to God’s servants but go astray, choked by their affairs; and the wealthy are reluctant to associate with God’s servants, for fear that they will ask them for something. Such people will have difficulty entering the kingdom of God. 3 For just as it is difficult to walk barefoot over briars, so also it is difficult for these people to enter God’s kingdom. 4 But for all these, repentance is possible, though it must be quick, so that in the days that remain they may now make up for what they neglected to do in the past, and do some good. If they repent and do some good, they will live for God; but if they remain in their practices, they will be given over to those women who will put them to death.
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Notes and References
“... The stinginess of the rich in v. 2b rather than their shame is here blamed for their breaking of the unity of the community. Because they do not want to be asked for alms, they avoid other Christians. [...] Their admission into the kingdom of God, that is, into the tower, is in jeopardy, as with any wealthy persons according to the Synoptic tradition. [...] Matt 19:23; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24. In all three texts the same word for "with difficulty" [...] appears as here in vv. 2-3 ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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