By this relation of events in the lives of the prophets, Jesus met the questionings of His hearers. The servants whom God had chosen for a special work were not allowed to labor for a hardhearted and unbelieving people. But those who had hearts to feel and faith to believe were especially favored with evidences of His power through the prophets. In the days of Elijah, Israel had departed from God. They clung to their sins, and rejected the warnings of the Spirit through the Lord's messengers. Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which God's blessing could come to them. The Lord passed by the homes of Israel, and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land, with a woman who did not belong to the chosen people. But this woman was favored because she had followed the light she had received, and her heart was open to the greater light that God sent her through His prophet.

Gennem denne beretning om begivenheder i profeternes liv imødegik Jesus sine tilhøreres spørgsmål. De tjenere, som Gud havde udvalgt til en særlig gerning, fik ikke lov til at virke for et forhærdet og vantro folk. Men de, som havde hjerte til at føle og evne til at tro, blev særligt begunstigede med beviser på hans magt gennem profeterne. I Elias' dage var Israel veget bort fra Gud. De holdt fast ved deres synder og forkastede Åndens advarsler, som de fik gennem Guds sendebud. Således afskar de sig selv fra den kanal, hvorigennem Guds velsignelse kunne tilflyde dem. Herren forbigik de israelitiske hjem og fandt et tilflugtsted for sin tjener i et hedensk land hos en kvinde, som ikke tilhørte det udvalgte folk. Men denne kvinde blev foretrukket, fordi hun havde fulgt det lys, hun havde modtaget, og hendes hjerte var åbent for det større lys, som Gud sendte hende gennem sin profet.