It seems more likely that it's a mistranslation of "thick rope", which is basically the same as the word for "camel" in Aramaic. It makes way more sense that way. Why would a camel go through the eye of a needle? That's just absurd. A rope is the same kind of thing you would put through the eye of the needle, it's just way too thick. And the fact that a single fiber from a rope could fit if you peeled away all the excess, makes it a much more apt metaphor.

Also the text says

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

That's not a metaphor. The camel thing was a colorful metaphor to demonstrate the point.

That's luke 18:22

Most people who call themselves Christians do a piss poor job of it. Some of them then go "oh well I'll be forgiven it's okay". That's not really following the intent. That's trying to take advantage of someone's kindness.

Citation needed