“And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God — the disciples' amazement communicates their assumption that wealth is a sign of divine blessing (the standard Jewish wisdom tradition view: the righteous prosper). If the blessed are excluded, who can enter? The children address is warm and instructive — the same word used in the children-and-kingdom teaching of verses 14–15. Jesus repeats the hard with emphasis: even without the qualification for the rich, entering the kingdom is genuinely difficult for all.
Church Fathers on Mark 10:24
A certain man had heard from the Lord that only they who are willing to be like little children are worthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and therefore he desires to have explained to him, not in parables, but openly, by the merits of what works a man may attain everlasting life.
I wonder at this young man, who when all others come to Christ to be healed of their infirmities, begs of Him the possession of everlasting life, notwithstanding his love of money, the malignant passion which afterwards caused his sorrow.
For in that He loved, or kissed him [ed. note: osculaius, interpretation in Ed. Ben. (?)], He appears to affirm the truth of his profession, in saying that he had fulfilled all those things; for on applying His mind to him, He saw that the man answered with a good conscience.