pointed out that the young man was not angered by the word of Christ; he was "saddened." He went away "sorrowful," and his sorrow was for himself. He went back to his riches and was lost to the sight of the world. He is now known even anonymously only because he had a brief conversation with One who had not where to lay his head. Jesus saw the young man's retreating figure and then spoke his own "sorrowful" exclamation, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" The account in the Gospel of Mark indicates that the disciples were "amazed" by the saying, just as the men of the world have wondered ever since. Seeing this amazement, Jesus added, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 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." It was a startling figure of speech--an hyperbole, as the later conversation with the disciples would show, unless, indeed, the saying refers to a certain gate of the city through which only the unburdened camel could enter. This figure of speech has held the attention of the world for centuries. Strangely enough, the nineteenth century had a peculiar illustration of an accommodated meaning of the word "needle." We cannot help wondering what the people of many generations hence would think if they were to read in ancient history that in the latter part of the nineteenth century a certain millionaire paid more than one hundred thousand dollars for bringing Cleopatra's "needle" to America. Superficial as the suggestion is, it illustrates the manner in which a figure of speech could easily be pulled off into a path of false literalism. But if we take the view that the expression was either a vivid hyperbole or the description of a local gate, the warning still abides in strength. It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. It is sometimes very hard for him to remain there when his entrance into the kingdom preceded his entrance into wealth. Experienced pastors will tell us that not many wealthy are called. Yet Jesus distinctly declared that the rich could enter into the Kingdom. The disciples, "astonished out of measure," said, "Who, then, can be saved?" Jesus replied, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." It is not right that the man who clamors against the rich should omit this assurance from the teaching. Jesus says that a rich man can be brought into the Kingdom. He offers this as one of the evidences of the divine omnipotence--that the power of God can break through the complacency, the self-content, the tangle of materialism, and can win men from the idolatry of gold to the love and worship of God.