I believe historians have identified the "Eye of a Needle" as the local name, or nickname, of a very narrow gate (in Jerusalem?) too difficult even for a slim camel to negotiate.
If so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that the author of the Bible story simply quoted Jesus using a local saying to make his point.
Correct. The Eye of the Needle, Is a very narrow passage way between buildings and was used as one of the entries to Jerusalem in ancient times. It still exists and is now a popular spot for Biblical tourists to visit. In Jesus's time, the rich man was often a merchant who had many beasts of burden to carry his wares. Since his laden camels and donkeys could not pass through the Eye of the Needle, only poor people on foot could.
I have been to kindergarten. I have a long memory. This is about on the level of something that would come out of the mouth of a five-year-old.
Okay?
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven.
What that has to do with Jesus being alive or dead, eludes me. It is impossible for a rich man to enter heaven because he is concerned with the physical and not on what matters.
" It is impossible for a rich man to enter heaven ... "
An assumption that many people make, but nothing that Jesus actually said. Jesus merely implied it was very difficult, but did not say it was impossible. If rich people thought it was impossible, not one of them would bother being Christian or giving to churches or charities.
Durdle 