The Holy Spirit was pleading with this man to become an heir of the inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. He had seen evidence of the power of Christ. Now the opportunity was his to speak to the Great Teacher, to express the desire uppermost in his heart. But like the man with the muckrake in Bunyan’s allegory, his eyes were fixed on the earth. He saw not the crown above his head. Like Simon Magus he valued the gift of God as a means of worldly gain. {9T 217.1}

Helligånden påvirkede denne mand til at sikre sig den arv, som er uforgængelig, ubesmittet og uvisnelig. Han havde været vidne til udfoldelsen af Kristi magt. Nu fik han anledning til at tale med den store Mester, at udtrykke sit hjertes højeste tragten. Men han lignede manden med møggrebet i Bunyans Allegori - han fæstede sine øjne på jorden. Han så ikke kronen, som svævede over hans hoved. Som troldkarlen Simon betragtede han Guds gave som et middel til at tilegne sig jordiske skatte.