It is not a matter of asceticism here, and also not of a general command to isolate oneself. For the sake of Christ and the good news of the coming kingdom, however, one can be placed before a choice, whereby one either believes the news of the gospel or does not do so because of family or possessions. The twelve disciples are, because of their special task, very specially placed before such a choice. During the time when Christ gives his orders and the spread of the good news comes with its duties, when many do not believe and are even hostile, following also often means leaving things behind. This is not the detached leaving behind of the ascetic who lets go of the world, but the painful leaving behind by the believer who loves Jesus and the kingdom still more than his own loved ones and his possessions.1
29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,