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I. THOMAS'S MISTAKE (ver. 24).

1. Perhaps justifiable. He may have been —

(1) Unwell and confined to his own abode, the intensity of his sorrow having preyed so heavily on his mind as to endanger his health.

(2) Uninvited to the meeting, which, however, if advised concerning it, he ought to have attended without an invitation.

(3) Unaware of the startling intelligence which had brought them together — hardly a likely supposition.

(4) Unsatisfied with the grounds on which that intelligence was based, and employed at the moment in sifting out the truth.

(5) Unwilling to be idle when there was good news to spread abroad — which is putting the best construction on his behaviour, as the next hypothesis is the worst.

(6) That Thomas had been present at the begining, and had listened to the "idle tales" of the women, Peter, &c., but had retired unable to accept the testimony even of so many.

(7) The likeliest assumption is that he was away because his morose and melancholy disposition felt unequal to accepting the amazing rumour.

2. Decidedly wrong.

(1) If away through grief it was wrong to be selfish in his sorrow and forget his brethren, who needed comfort.

(2) If absent because waiting for further evidence, he ought to have gone to the best place to get it — the company of the disciples. "If I go, I will come again."(3) Had he been where he should have been, in that upper room, he would have found what he sought, and so saved himself much misery.

II. THOMAS'S DECLARATION (ver. 25).

1. The occasion of it. The communication of the ten — a testimony —

(1) Clear and unambiguous. They had seen the Lord, not an apparition; they had seen Him, not dreamt about Him.

(2) Unanimous and decided — not the unsupported assertion of Peter who was always "enthusiastic," but backed up by James and John, our Lord's two other confidential associates; of Matthew the publican, a man accustomed to look into matters; of Andrew and Philip, both persons of sagacity, &c.

(3) Ample as to the number of witnesses and details of evidence; sufficient for the requirements of historic credibility.

2. The good in it. Thomas did not —

(1) Assume that a resurrection was impossible.

(2) Deny it in Christ's case.

(3) Assert that no amount of evidence would satisfy him.

(4) Allege that no weight of evidence would render it credible.

(5) Bargain for conditions of believing which were impossible.

3. The evil in it —

(1) Unreason, in rejecting this overwhelming testimony.

(2) Presumption, in dictating the amount of evidence in which he would believe.

(3) Pride, in demanding more satisfaction than was offered to or desired by the rest.

(4) Folly, in calling for demonstration which, as the event showed, was not required.

III. THOMAS'S INVITATION (ver. 27).

1. Gracious. Certainly he did not deserve it.

2. Startling. How had Christ come to know he had used these words? The higher knowledge of his Master would flash upon him (John 1:47, 48: 2:25; 4:17, 18).

3. Admonitory: that Thomas was on dangerous ground, "Become not faithless:" Not yet definitely committed to unbelief, he was at the parting of the ways.

4. Urgent. In earnest about him, Christ condescended to accept him on his own terms.

IV. THOMAS'S CONFESSION (ver. 28).

1. A declaration of faith in Christ's resurrection.

2. A recognition of Christ's supreme divinity.

3. An appropriation of Christ as Lord and God.

V. THOMAS'S REBUKE (ver. 29).

1. Graciously prefaced — "Thou hast believed."

2. Tenderly expressed.

3. Really conveyed.Learn —

1. How much a Christian may lose by absence from the house of God.

2. How foolish to lay down conditions on which one will believe.

3. How faithfully Christ keeps His promise.

4. How tenderly Christ deals with the errors of His own.

5. How dangerous to cherish doubt.

6. How graciously Christ accepts the homage of penitent and believing souls.

7. How high the felicity of those who now believe in the risen Lord.

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)

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KJV: But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

WEB: But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn't with them when Jesus came.