Christ "came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11. The light of God shone into the darkness of the world, and "the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5. But not all were found indifferent to the gift of heaven. The merchantman in the parable represents a class who were sincerely desiring truth. In different nations there were earnest and thoughtful men who had sought in literature and science and the religions of the heathen world for that which they could receive as the soul's treasure. Among the Jews there were those who were seeking for that which they had not. Dissatisfied with a formal religion, they longed for that which was spiritual and uplifting. Christ's chosen disciples belonged to the latter class, Cornelius and the Ethiopian eunuch to the former. They had been longing and praying for light from heaven; and when Christ was revealed to them, they received Him with gladness.

Kristus "kom til sit eget, og hans egne tog ikke imod ham". Guds lys skinnede i denne verdens mørke, men "mørket begreb det ikke" Men det var ikke alle, der ringeagtede Himmelens gave. Købmanden i lignelsen er et billede på en klasse mennesker der oprigtigt ønskede at finde sandheden. I de forskellige nationer var der alvorlige og tænkende mænd, som havde søgt i litteraturen, videnskaben og den hedenske verdens religioner for at finde det, som kunne stille deres inderste længsel. Blandt jøderne var der nogle, der søgte det, de ikke havde. De var ikke tilfredse med en formel religion og længtes efter noget, der kunne styrke dem og være til åndelig opbyggelse. Kristi udvalgte disciple hørte til denne sidste gruppe, Kornelius og den ætiopiske hofmand til den første. De havde længtes efter og bedt om lys fra Himmelen, og da Kristus blev åbenbaret for dem, tog de med glæde imod ham.