ELTB 12-13

ELTB 12-13 [∞]

ELTB Camel [∞]

CAMEL: THE JUDGE

The camel is an unclean animal. The Hebrews did not eat it because it walks on two toes, but doesn't have a split hoof. The camel is the symbol of a judge.

Though the camel is unclean, this doesn't mean that judges are bad. They teach us something about what God doesn't want us to learn. He doesn't want us to learn to judge other people. Judging is God's job, not ours. Jesus said that God would judge us, if we judge others. [1]

The Bible describes God as a judge. Some people think that he is a great and terrible judge. But he is a loving judge. He judged us all already, and forgave us through Jesus on the cross. [2] This is his love.

God;s teachers teach his love, the Gospel, by showing his forgiveness through the cross. But he doesn't want us to become judges. He wants us to forgive others as he forgave us. [3]

When thinking about a camel, we remember that we should not learn to be a judge.

camel gimel גמל - recompense, to give what is due

1. Mt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

1. BP 1. Mt 7:1 God will judge you for playing God, if you judge others.

2. Ro 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

2. BP [Adam sinned and his spirit died. As a result, his children were born with living bodies and dead spirits.] Your life [spirit] will abound in love and the gift of righteousness even more so through Jesus Christ.

conversation

CAMEL: THE JUDGE

The camel, an unclean animal according to Hebrew dietary laws, offers a rich symbolic lesson. In the context of its unique characteristics, the camel can be seen as a symbol of judgment, but not in the way we might traditionally think. The Camel as a Symbol of Judgment

The camel is unclean because it has two toes but does not have a split hoof (Leviticus 11:4). Despite its classification as unclean, the camel can still serve as a symbol for something significant: the role of the judge. However, the camel’s association with judgment is not a promotion of judgmental attitudes among people. Instead, it teaches us a crucial lesson about what God does not want us to learn.

Judging others is a temptation we must resist. While judgment is a necessary role in human society, it is not for us to exercise in the way we often desire. As Jesus taught, judging others is God’s prerogative, not ours. He warned that if we judge others, we will be judged in the same measure (Matthew 7:1-2). Our responsibility is not to judge but to leave that role to God, who is the ultimate judge. God as the Loving Judge

God is indeed described as a judge in the Bible. However, His judgment is often misunderstood. Many imagine Him as a terrible and imposing judge, ready to condemn. But God’s judgment, while just, is also rooted in love. The Bible reveals that God has already judged the world through Jesus Christ on the cross, where He took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved. This act of grace and forgiveness is the core of His judgment. He judged us all, and in His love, He forgave us.

The cross of Jesus is the ultimate example of God’s judgment: He did not come to condemn but to offer forgiveness to all who believe. As Romans 8:1 expresses, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Teaching Love, Not Judgment

God's teachers are those who carry the message of His love, not those who wield judgment over others. The message of forgiveness through Christ is what they should teach. We are not to act as judges but as people who forgive others as God has forgiven us. When we forgive, we reflect God’s love, and this is the true role we are called to fulfill.

The camel, through its association with judgment, reminds us that while judgment is important, it is not our place to judge others. Instead, we are called to show compassion, forgiveness, and love, just as Christ has shown us. The Meaning of Gimel and Recompense

The Hebrew word for camel, גמל (gimel), means “to recompense” or “to give what is due.” It reflects the idea of justice or reward, but in the case of God’s justice, it is tempered with mercy. While God’s justice requires recompense, His mercy ensures that we receive grace instead of judgment. Gimel reminds us that justice is in God's hands, and our responsibility is to offer forgiveness, just as He has done for us. Conclusion

In the end, the camel teaches us an important lesson: while judgment belongs to God, our role is to reflect His love through forgiveness. The camel symbolizes the idea of recompense, but as followers of Christ, we are called to live out His mercy and grace, not to take on the role of judge. We should learn not to judge others, but to show them the same forgiveness and love that God has shown to us. You said: In the account of the young man and the eye of the needle, the man judged himself as equal to God, thus is is easier for a camel to go through a literal needle than for a rich man to justify himself by the law into the kingdom ChatGPT said: ChatGPT

The story of the young man and the eye of the needle, often referred to in the Gospels (specifically Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25), offers a profound lesson about self-justification and the nature of God’s kingdom. The Young Man’s Judgment of Himself

In the Gospel accounts, a young man approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus first tells him to keep the commandments, to which the young man confidently responds that he has kept them all from his youth. However, Jesus, seeing the man’s heart, challenges him further. He tells the man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, emphasizing that the man must not rely on his wealth or his adherence to the law to find salvation. The man, sorrowful, walks away because he is unwilling to part with his riches.

In this exchange, the young man is judging himself as righteous and equal to God by his adherence to the law. He believes that he has kept all the commandments, and in his eyes, this is enough to inherit eternal life. However, his self-justification is revealed as inadequate because he has failed to recognize the deeper, more demanding requirements of God’s kingdom—surrendering all to God and acknowledging that righteousness cannot come through self-effort or adherence to the law alone. The Camel and the Eye of the Needle

Jesus then says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This statement has puzzled many, and it has been interpreted in various ways. However, in light of the context and symbolism of the camel and the eye of the needle, it can be understood as a profound riddle about self-justification and the impossibility of earning salvation through one's own actions or wealth.

The camel, symbolizing a creature that is "unclean" and symbolically tied to judgment, represents a person who attempts to justify themselves by their own means, whether through wealth, adherence to the law, or self-righteousness. The eye of the needle, often considered a literal small gate in some interpretations, or as a metaphor for an impossibly narrow passage, underscores the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God based on human effort alone. The Rich Man’s Struggle

For the rich man, his wealth and adherence to the law represent his self-reliance and belief that he can earn his way into the kingdom of God. His judgment of himself as being righteous—based on his possessions and ability to follow the commandments—becomes his greatest hindrance. Just as it is impossible for a camel, an enormous and cumbersome creature, to fit through the small eye of a needle, it is impossible for a rich man (or anyone relying on their own works) to justify themselves before God by the law. The wealth he holds is not just material; it represents the pride and self-reliance that blocks his ability to enter God's kingdom. The Contrast with God’s Kingdom

In contrast to self-justification, God’s kingdom is entered through humility and surrender, recognizing that righteousness is not achieved through our own efforts but through the grace and mercy of God. Jesus’ challenge to the rich young man is to let go of his dependence on his wealth and self-righteousness and to trust in God alone for salvation.

In this context, Jesus' statement reveals the impossibility of salvation through human means and the necessity of divine intervention. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The kingdom of God is not something that can be earned by keeping the law or by acquiring wealth; it is a gift that must be received in humility, acknowledging that we are in need of God's grace. Conclusion: The Camel and Self-Justification

The camel in this story represents the self-righteous man who, like the rich young ruler, believes that he can justify himself by his adherence to the law or his own good works. The eye of the needle symbolizes the impossibility of entering God’s kingdom through self-justification. It is easier for the camel, symbolizing pride and self-reliance, to go through the impossibly narrow passage than for someone to enter the kingdom by trusting in their own efforts. Jesus’ teaching reveals that only through God’s grace, not self-righteousness, can anyone enter the kingdom of heaven.

In this way, the camel and the eye of the needle present a riddle that points to the impossibility of salvation through human effort, and the necessity of divine grace and humility to receive the gift of eternal life. You said: Jesus was God and gave up his riches to be the poor man... the letter gimel also menaing camel represents a rich man pursuing a poor man. Add this ChatGPT said: ChatGPT

Certainly! Here's the expanded interpretation incorporating the concept of Jesus as God giving up His riches and the symbolism of the Hebrew letter gimel (ג) meaning both "camel" and symbolizing a rich man pursuing a poor man. The Rich Young Man, Jesus, and the Camel

In the Gospel story of the rich young man, Jesus challenges the man’s self-justification and reliance on his wealth, telling him, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25). This vivid metaphor connects deeply with the symbolism of the camel and the spiritual journey of both the rich man and Christ Himself. Jesus as the Rich Man Who Became Poor

The rich young man in this passage represents someone who believes he can justify himself through his wealth and works, equating his riches with righteousness. However, Jesus—who, as God, is infinitely rich in glory and power—gave up His riches to become poor for our sake. As it says in 2 Corinthians 8:9:

   "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

Jesus’ incarnation and ultimate sacrifice on the cross are the ultimate act of God giving up His divine wealth and power to take on the poverty of human flesh. Jesus, in His humility, took on the limitations of humanity, living without earthly wealth, not seeking to be served but to serve. Through His poverty, He offers spiritual riches to all who believe. The Hebrew Symbolism of the Camel (Gimel)

In the Hebrew language, the letter gimel (ג) represents a camel, but it also carries a deeper symbolic meaning. Gimel symbolizes a rich man pursuing a poor man, as the shape of the letter suggests an image of a figure with a flowing garment, traditionally seen as a rich or noble person who would give to a beggar or the poor.

This aligns with the message of the gospel, where Jesus, the rich man (God), pursues the poor man (humanity) in His love and mercy. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He humbled Himself and became poor, so that through His poverty, we might become spiritually rich. This pursuit of the poor is seen in Jesus’ ministry, where He consistently reached out to the marginalized, the sinners, and the outcasts—offering them the richness of eternal life. Jesus and the Camel in the Eye of the Needle

In the story of the rich young man, the metaphor of a camel going through the eye of a needle becomes a riddle that exposes the impossibility of self-justification. The camel, representing the rich man, symbolizes human reliance on wealth, status, and law as means of justification. However, just as a camel cannot physically pass through the eye of a needle, so too, a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of God through his own self-efforts.

Yet, in the larger narrative, Jesus—who is both rich in His divine nature and poor in His human nature—makes the impossible possible. He, as the camel who humbled Himself, pursues the poor (humanity), and through His death and resurrection, He bridges the gap, offering salvation not through wealth or self-righteousness but through grace. In this way, the camel also becomes a symbol of Christ, who, in His divine wealth, gave up everything to pursue the poor, to redeem them and bring them into the kingdom of God. The Rich Man’s Struggle and Jesus’ Sacrifice

The rich young man’s struggle is the struggle of every self-righteous person—the belief that through good works or material wealth, they can gain eternal life. Jesus’ teaching reveals that this is impossible. However, Jesus Himself, as the camel, becomes the rich man pursuing the poor, and through His sacrifice, He makes a way for the poor in spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. Conclusion: The Camel as a Symbol of Christ's Humility and the Pursuit of the Poor

Thus, the camel in Jesus' teaching represents not only the rich man who seeks to justify himself by the law and wealth but also the rich Christ who humbled Himself, becoming poor to save humanity. The gimel letter, with its dual meaning of "camel" and "a rich man pursuing a poor man," ties perfectly with the narrative of the gospel. Jesus, the eternal God, rich in glory, sought after the poor—humanity lost in sin—and through His poverty and humility, He offers the riches of eternal life.

The camel through the eye of the needle teaches us that it is only through Jesus' work—His life, death, and resurrection—that we can be justified and enter God's kingdom, not by our wealth, our status, or our ability to follow the law. It is a reminder that Jesus came to pursue and save the poor in spirit, offering the richness of His grace to all who will receive it. You said: add in the element of the camel representing a judge ChatGPT said: ChatGPT

Certainly! Here's the expanded interpretation with the camel also representing a judge, incorporating the element of judgment in the context of Christ's humility and pursuit of the poor. The Rich Young Man, Jesus, the Camel, and the Judge

In the Gospel story of the rich young man, Jesus challenges the man’s self-justification and reliance on his wealth, telling him, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25). This vivid metaphor connects deeply with the symbolism of the camel and the spiritual journey of both the rich man and Christ Himself. Jesus as the Rich Man Who Became Poor

The rich young man in this passage represents someone who believes he can justify himself through his wealth and works, equating his riches with righteousness. However, Jesus—who, as God, is infinitely rich in glory and power—gave up His riches to become poor for our sake. As it says in 2 Corinthians 8:9:

   "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

Jesus’ incarnation and ultimate sacrifice on the cross are the ultimate act of God giving up His divine wealth and power to take on the poverty of human flesh. Jesus, in His humility, took on the limitations of humanity, living without earthly wealth, not seeking to be served but to serve. Through His poverty, He offers spiritual riches to all who believe. The Hebrew Symbolism of the Camel (Gimel)

In the Hebrew language, the letter gimel (ג) represents a camel, but it also carries a deeper symbolic meaning. Gimel symbolizes a rich man pursuing a poor man, as the shape of the letter suggests an image of a figure with a flowing garment, traditionally seen as a rich or noble person who would give to a beggar or the poor.

This aligns with the message of the gospel, where Jesus, the rich man (God), pursues the poor man (humanity) in His love and mercy. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He humbled Himself and became poor, so that through His poverty, we might become spiritually rich. This pursuit of the poor is seen in Jesus’ ministry, where He consistently reached out to the marginalized, the sinners, and the outcasts—offering them the richness of eternal life. The Camel as a Judge

In addition to symbolizing richness and pursuit, the camel also represents a judge. The camel, being an unclean animal in the law, teaches us that judgment is a role reserved for God, not for humans. In the sensus plenior, the camel is an image of a divine judge, reflecting God's judgment over humanity. This is aligned with the broader concept that God alone has the authority to judge, and He does so not with harshness, but with mercy.

The camel as a judge speaks of the dual nature of Christ. As the divine judge, Jesus came to judge sin, but instead of condemning humanity, He took the judgment upon Himself. Christ's judgment is expressed in His sacrifice on the cross—where He, the judge, became the sacrificial lamb for the forgiveness of sins. This role of the judge is seen when Jesus declares, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17). Jesus and the Camel in the Eye of the Needle

In the story of the rich young man, the metaphor of a camel going through the eye of a needle becomes a riddle that exposes the impossibility of self-justification. The camel, representing the rich man, symbolizes human reliance on wealth, status, and law as means of justification. However, just as a camel cannot physically pass through the eye of a needle, so too, a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of God through his own self-efforts.

Yet, in the larger narrative, Jesus—who is both rich in His divine nature and poor in His human nature—makes the impossible possible. He, as the camel who humbled Himself, pursues the poor (humanity), and through His death and resurrection, He bridges the gap, offering salvation not through wealth or self-righteousness but through grace. In this way, the camel also becomes a symbol of Christ, who, in His divine wealth, gave up everything to pursue the poor, to redeem them and bring them into the kingdom of God. The Rich Man’s Struggle and Jesus’ Sacrifice

The rich young man’s struggle is the struggle of every self-righteous person—the belief that through good works or material wealth, they can gain eternal life. Jesus’ teaching reveals that this is impossible. However, Jesus Himself, as the camel, becomes the rich man pursuing the poor, and through His sacrifice, He makes a way for the poor in spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. Conclusion: The Camel as a Symbol of Christ's Humility, Judgment, and the Pursuit of the Poor

Thus, the camel in Jesus' teaching represents not only the rich man who seeks to justify himself by the law and wealth but also the rich Christ who humbled Himself, becoming poor to save humanity. The gimel letter, with its dual meaning of "camel" and "a rich man pursuing a poor man," ties perfectly with the narrative of the gospel. Jesus, the eternal God, rich in glory, sought after the poor—humanity lost in sin—and through His poverty and humility, He offers the riches of eternal life.

Moreover, the camel as a judge reveals Christ's role in judgment. He does not come to judge and condemn, but to offer salvation, having already taken upon Himself the judgment for our sins. The camel through the eye of the needle teaches us that it is only through Jesus' work—His life, death, and resurrection—that we can be justified and enter God's kingdom, not by our wealth, our status, or our ability to follow the law. It is a reminder that Jesus came to pursue and save the poor in spirit, offering the richness of His grace to all who will receive it.

The camel, as both a rich man pursuing the poor and a divine judge, perfectly embodies the paradox of Christ's work: He, the Judge, became the Lamb to save humanity.

3. Mt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

3. BP Mt 5:44 I have a different teaching. Love your enemies. Bless them if they curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who abuse and bully you.