An unprejudiced examination of the total exegetical unity (10:17–31) teaches us that the story of the rich young man cannot be explained as a general condemnation of riches, but must be read as proof of the position that wealth can make the following of Jesus more difficult. And the following of Jesus is the primary issue here!1
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”