Although this story centres on the man's attitude to his wealth, the teaching that develops from it and which Jesus directed to his disciples, concerns the cost of discipleship and hindrances to following Christ. In the case of this man, his wealth prevented him from following Jesus, but many other hindrances can come between a person and God. The disciples were astonished at what Jesus said (10:23-25) perhaps because of the traditional Jewish understanding that wealth was a sign of God's blessing, as in the story of Job. In 10:26-27 Jesus taught the disciples that through God's grace what seems impossible becomes possible. The disciples would understand this when they led the Church and Peter began to understand as Jesus was teaching them (10:28). God had given them grace to follow Jesus, in contrast to the rich man who had gone away sadly. The teaching of 10:29-31 is assurance to the disciples of spiritual riches far more wonderful than anything the world could give them. In the Church they would find a great new family of the people of God and were promised heavenly riches after this life. But the warning note of suffering is also sounded in 10:30, followed by a reference to God's judgement in 10:31.