In this brief passage, recorded in three gospels, and supported by dozens of other, similar, passages, the Lord's own way to spiritual life is laid out for us. The first, and therefore most important step, is obedience to the Ten Commandments, for unless our external lives are in order, there is no chance of bringing our spiritual lives into order. The first step to eternal life is to keep the commandments. This is why He sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Him. John did not teach any new doctrine, he only called the people to repent of their sins, to look to the Mosaic law which governed the Jewish Church, and to bring their lives into order because the Messiah was coming.
All teachers face the same problem.
If the students are playing and talking with one another, they will not be listening to the teacher, no matter how interesting the subject is. Before learning can take place, the teacher has to stop the disorder, restore a state of order, and then finally begin to instruct. This is why simple obedience to the Ten Commandments, because it brings a state of external order, is the first step towards spiritual life. We must learn to see the things of this world as tools for doing good works to others, and not as objects to obtain and possess. The second step is perhaps more difficult, or is made more difficult by the nature of our modern world with all its alluring comforts and attractions.