Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 19:23

"And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 19:23 (ASV)

Shall hardly enter — The Greek adverb is somewhat stronger than the colloquial meaning of the English. Literally, shall not easily enter. The words imply not so much the mere difficulty as the painfulness of the process. Here, as elsewhere, the “kingdom of heaven” is not the state of happiness after death, but the spiritual life and the society of those in whom it is realized even on earth. Into that kingdom, only those can enter who become as little children—as in other things, so in their unconsciousness of the cares of wealth.