The Needle's Eye.

From: Good News for Young and Old: 1866

Matthew 10:25²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25).

“ON my return to the city (Hebron) with my two Jewish guides, we entered it further to the north than the side from which we had begun our walk. We were proceeding through a double gateway, such as is seen in so many of the old Eastern cities, even in some of the modern, one wide arched road, and another narrow one by the side, through the latter of which persons on foot generally pass to avoid the chance of being jostled or crushed by the beasts of burthen coming through the main gateway.

We met a caravan of loaded camels thronging the passage. The drivers cried out to my two companions and myself, desiring us to betake ourselves for safety to the gate with the smaller arch, calling it ‘Es Summel Kayût,’ the hole or eye of the needle. This entrance gate is low and narrow. The sumpter camel cannot be made to pass through it unless with great difficulty, and stript of all the encumbrance of his load, his trappings, and his merchandise.” —Lands Classic and Sacred.

“I have seen these strait gates and narrow ways ‘with here and there a traveler.’ They are in retired corners, and must be sought for, and are opened only to those who knock; and when the sun goes down and the night comes on they are shut and locked. ‘It is then too late’” (Luke 13:24-29²⁴Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ²⁵When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: ²⁶Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. ²⁷But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. ²⁸There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. ²⁹And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:24‑29); Matt. 7 13,14). —

W.M. Thomson.

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