Who can be saved

It is clear that he was talking about people like the rich young ruler (vs 18). That is the natural flow of the text. The ruler said that he followed all the laws, which is clearly impossible. Jesus went to expose his selfishness and lack of love for God by attacking him where he was ("give your money away, and follow me"). He wouldn't do that because he relied on his money rather than God. But the more important verse is the one that follows... Verse 27, where Jesus says that what is impossible with man is possible with God. Since salvation is of God and not man, man can be saved, no matter what it is harder than. It also shows Christs humor. Just imagine a camel being threaded in a needle like thread. That is funny. It was the subject of a hilarious SNL, where a rich man tried to liquify a camle, make a needle bigger, and after deciding that wasn;t what the verse meant, he went about trying to shrink camels. The important thing here is that man wants to get heaven on his own terms. That is impossible. But God softening a man's heart/drawing him to himself makes it possible for man to be saved through Christ.

No I don't agree with your last sentence. Jesus meant that those who are attached to the material things will find it more difficult to be saved and enter heaven. You can be a rich guy but you can use your material wealth to help others. You can be poor and still be attached to your few possessions. Thus those who are rich might find it more difficult to part from their wealth and thus it is harder for them to be saved.

We cannot deny the fact that accumulation of wealth does bring some degree of happiness and security. But we should not make the accumulation of wealth the sole purpose of our lives, as is happening now, and forget that there are many more things to make life meaningful than just the acquisition of wealth. The rich should practice generosity and share his bounty with the poor if he thinks of his soul. Afterall his property will remain when he die. His friends and relatives will follow him up to his grave but only his good and bad actions which he has done during his life time will accompany him beyond the grave. God will then judge whether he has done good while on earth and if he has helped the poor he will have place in heaven otherwise he is destined to the fire of hell. Being earthly rich and selfish is a one way ticket to hell, and that is a warning from this passage.

It is much harder for a rich man to humble himself to a point where they can inter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus just said it was harder not that it couldn't be done.

I think that Jesus meant that money changes people. I think that typically the Bible says something like "those who are poor are blessed". I don't think that it means that all people with money are going to hell or anything.

Jesus is just saying a fact of life and something about human nature. When money or wealth is involved people hang on to it so much. They enjoy their lives that they don't think of their sins or a need for a savior. Another aspect is that people will not follow just or renounce their sins since it meant they would have to quit an immoral business style or way of living that brings them money, comfort and security. Don't get me wrong, Jesus is not against rich people. Jesus is against the love of money that people do.You can be rich and make God #1 in your life and use your money for the Lord and help people but at the same time enjoy your financial blessings as well. You can be rich and have Jesus as #1 in your life and not idolize your money. But you can also be poor and have no care for God but salivate for money all the days of your life. The Bible does not say that "money" is not the root of all evil but the "love of money" is.

ANYONE CAN BE SAVED. =] I think Jesus wants the rich to share, and that's what He means. He means that if you really loved Him, you would drop your riches and follow him (like He asked that one rich guy who went away being sad). Everyone (even the poorest of us) needs to realize that God is worth more than all the money in the world, and that's hardest for those who have lots of the money, because all of our society is greedy.