By the apostasy of Israel in Elijah’s day, Jesus illustrated the true state of the people whom he was addressing. The unbelief and self-exaltation of the ancient Jewish nation caused God to pass over the many widows in Israel, and the poor and afflicted there, to find an asylum for his servant among a heathen people, and to place him in the care of a heathen woman; but she who was thus especially favored had lived in strict accordance with the light she possessed. God also passed over the many lepers of Israel, because their unbelief and abuse of precious privileges placed them in a position where he could not manifest his power in their behalf. On the other hand, a heathen nobleman, who had lived faithful to his convictions of right, and fully up to his highest privileges, but who felt his great need of help, and whose heart opened to receive the lessons of Christ, was, in the sight of God, more worthy of his special favors, and was cleansed from his leprosy, as well as enlightened in regard to divine truth. {2SP 113.2}

Jesus skildrede den sande tilstand af de mennesker, som han talede til, idet han beskrev Israels frafald i Elias' dage. Det gamle jødiske folks vantro og stolthed gjorde, at Gud gik forbi de mange enker, som var i Israel, og de mange fattige og nødlidende for at finde et tilflugtssted for deres tjener blandt et hedensk folk og lade en hedensk kvinde sørge for ham. Men hun, som således blev særligt begunstiget, havde levet i overensstemmelse med det lys, hun havde. Gud gik også forbi de mange spedalske, som var i Israel, fordi de var vantro og misbrugte de dyrebare fortrin, Gud havde givet dem, hvilket bragte dem ind i en stilling, hvor Gud ikke kunne åbenbare sin magt for dem. Derimod var der en hedensk højbåren mand, som trofast fulgte sin overbevisning om ret og uret, og levede i overensstemmelse med det lys, Gud havde givet ham, men følte, at han trængte meget til hjælp, og hans hjerte var åbnet til at modtage profetens undervisning. Derfor var han Guds øjne mere værdig til at få nåde, og han blev renset fra sin spedalskhed så vel som oplyst om guddommelig sandhed.