In the house His disciples again asked Him about the same thing. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery with her; and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

In the same way the disciples were offended (concerning the divorce of husband and wife), so they also come to Him and ask the same thing. Their way of thinking was not yet perfectly sound. The Lord answered them: "Whoever sends away his wife and understands another, he becomes an adulterer with this second wife; In the same way, a wife who leaves her husband and marries another becomes an adulteress.

They brought children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples did not admit those who brought them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant, and said to them, "Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God." Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will not enter into it. And having embraced them, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

Great was the faith of the people, when they accepted the mere laying on of hands by Christ as a blessing for the children who were brought to Him, but the disciples did not allow those who brought Him, thinking that it was unworthy of Him. What about Christ? Teaching His disciples to be humble and reject worldly arrogance, He accepts and embraces children. By this He shows that He accepts those who are not malicious; Wherefore he says: "For of such is the kingdom of God." Note that he did not say: these children "are the Kingdom," but "such," that is, those who have acquired the same kindness as children have by nature. For the child does not envy, does not remember evil, and, being punished by his mother, does not flee from her, but even though she wears rags, he prefers it to the queen; so he who lives virtuously prefers his mother, I mean the Church, to everything and is not carried away by worldly pleasures. For this reason the Lord embraces such people, saying: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," and blesses them, saying: "Come, ye blessed of My Father." The Kingdom of God is here called the preaching of the Gospel and the promise of future blessings. Thus, whoever accepts the Divine preaching as a child, that is, without the slightest hesitation and without allowing unbelief in himself, will enter the Kingdom of God and inherit those blessings which he has already acquired by faith.

When He was going out on His way, someone ran up, fell on His knees before Him, and asked Him: "Good Teacher! What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not offend, thou shalt honour thy father and mother (Exodus 20:12-17). And he answered and said to him, Teacher! all these things I have preserved from my youth. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "There is one thing that you lack: go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross. He, embarrassed at this word, departed with sorrow, because he had a large estate.

Some falsely represent this young man as a cunning and cunning tempter. This is not so: he was only a covetous man, and not a tempter. For listen to what the Evangelist remarks: "When Jesus looked at him, he loved him." And why did Christ answer him thus: "No one is good"? Because he approached Christ as a simple man and as one of many teachers. It is as if Christ is saying: If you consider Me good, as a simple teacher, then in comparison with God no man is good; if you acknowledge Me good as God, why do you call Me only a teacher? With these words, Christ wants to convey the highest thought about Himself, so that it may know Him as God. In addition, in order to correct the youth, the Lord gives him another lesson: if he wants to converse with someone, he must speak without flattery, and know the root and source of goodness only one – God and give Him due honor. However, I am amazed at this young man that when all others came to Christ for healing from illnesses, he himself asked for the inheritance of eternal life, if only he were not possessed by the still stronger passion of love of money in him. In this passion, when he heard the words of the Lord: "Go, sell and distribute to the poor," he "departed with sorrow." Notice at the same time that the Lord did not say: sell in parts what you have and give away, but sell at one time and distribute, but only to the poor, and not to caressers or lechers; then, "Follow me," that is, adopt every other virtue, for there are many who are willing and not covetous, but not humble, or humble, but not sober, or have some other vice. That is why the Lord does not say only: "Sell and distribute to the poor," but: "And come, follow Me, taking up the cross," which means to be ready to die for His sake. "But he, troubled at this word, departed with sorrow, because he had a great possessions." It is not in vain that it is added that he had much: for it is bad and dangerous to possess even little, and the bonds of many acquisitions are completely insoluble.

"Turn away," it is said, "from evil": this means to throw sinful wealth to the poor, that is, to the powers of demons; — "and do good": what does it mean to follow Christ and take up His Cross.

And looking around, Jesus said to His disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! The disciples were horrified at His words. But Jesus answered and said to them, "Children! how difficult it is for those who hope for riches to enter the Kingdom of God! It is more convenient for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. And they were greatly astonished, and said among themselves, Who then can be saved? Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."