Again I tell you is almost the identical transitional formula used in 18.19; here it serves the same emphatic function as “Truly, I say to you” of verse 23. In fact I tell you translates the same Greek words as does “I say to you” of verse 23.
The order of the two Greek clauses, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, is inverted by Good News Translation. This requires that a shift be made from it is easier for to “it is much harder for,” thus forming an excellent balance with “will be hard for” of the previous verse: “it is much harder for a rich person to enter … than for a camel to go through.” For some languages it will be more effective to mention the comparison first, as do the Greek text and RSV. In yet other languages, the normal way to make the comparison is to say something like “It would be difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but it would be even more difficult for a rich man to become one of God’s subjects.”
Since it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, some interpreters have sought alternative meanings for eye and camel. However, Jesus is probably using a proverbial expression known to his hearers, which is intended to be an exaggeration. And, as has previously been noted, it is the nature of parables to exaggerate for the sake of emphasis and interest.
In areas where a camel is unknown, translators can use a descriptive phrase, such as “a large animal with a humped back,” “a large beast of burden called a camel,” or “a domestic animal bigger than a cow.” Jesus is illustrating his point by comparing the biggest domestic animal the people there knew with something very small, and there is therefore no real reason to substitute some other animal for camel. However, if retaining camel results in an unduly awkward sentence or one where too much focus is on what a camel actually is, then translators can consider using some other large animal such as a horse or a cow.
Most societies are familiar with needles but may call the eye of a needle different things; for example, “the mouth of a needle.”
This is one of the rare passages where kingdom of God is used by Matthew in place of the more common “kingdom of heaven” (see 12.28; 21.31, 43). That the two expressions are synonymous is supported by the observation that kingdom of God is used here parallel with “kingdom of heaven” of verse 23. New Jerusalem Bible employs “kingdom of Heaven” in both places, while New American Bible prefers “kingdom of God.” It is suggested that whatever form is chosen for verse 23 be maintained in verse 24. The problem is that for Jesus’ audience (as for Matthew’s readers) the two terms were immediately recognized as synonyms, whereas for contemporary readers this may not be evident.
See also the discussion on “kingdom of heaven” at 3.2.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .