The disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus continued speaking with them and said, “Children, how hard it is for those who have put their hope in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
The disciples’ astonishment is understandable, because at that time many regarded wealth as a sign of God’s blessing. The Lord explains that the issue is not simply having wealth, but relying on wealth. When a person places his trust in possessions, his heart moves away from God. Christ’s address “children” is tender; He speaks a strict truth with fatherly care. This word is a warning for all times: a person may have little or much, but if he places his hope in material things, then for him the door of the kingdom becomes narrow.