In verse 21 Jesus' love for the man is expressed in a challenge, both stern and gracious. The one thing the man lacked was a wholehearted allegiance to God. So Jesus gave him a stern test to reveal the fact that he had made an idol of wealth, thus breaking the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).

Verse 25 serves as a love motivated warning from the Lord that those who trust in their wealth cannot make it to heaven. However this is balanced out in verse 27. Though we sometimes do not trust in God as we should, He can effect the change in us so that our full allegiance is to Him! (1 John1:9).