The significance of the tale is that alchemy is practice only for those who wish to deceive others and that the philosopher stone shouldn’t be discovered because God did not want it to be discovered. A deeper meaning of the tale can be inferred, however. The tale could represent how the chase for greed can result in relentless punishment and turn wise men into complete fools. The priest, for example, is a smart, outstanding citizen who fell for the tricks and evil schemes of the canon, blinded by his own greed.