20:29John 20:29

Jesus told Thomas that his trust came only after looking at the risen Saviour, but the blessing rests on those who trust without ever looking upon him in person.Ms 155, 1904, par. 14–17+2 Thomas stands as the pattern of one who is sincere yet slow to trust, refusing his brethren's report and insisting on seeing and touching the wounds for himself.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6+4 Trust that rests on his word without demanding visible proof is more pleasing to him than trust that waits for sight to compel it.6RED 38.2–39.2+3 All who receive him now must do so through the testimony of those who saw and heard, passed from one to another, with abundant evidence already piled up on every side.ST Sep 26, 1878+4 Insisting on removing every cause for doubt before trusting is faithlessness that hardens the heart, yet he meets unreasonable demands not with reproach but with tender revelation of himself as the crucified Saviour to break down doubt.Ms 2, 1868, par. 1–2+4

Thomas was absent when Jesus first met the disciples after the resurrection and so missed seeing him in that interview.EW 155.2+1 Absence or delay over what seems a small spiritual advantage or religious privilege can cause missing Jesus.Lt 5, 1877, par. 17–18 All can do a work for God and must be minutemen, never off duty and ready at any moment to speak or act for truth, because a word spoken or an act performed at the right moment can balance a soul in favor of truth and save him to eternal life, and influences that seem small can attract souls to Jesus where a minister's labor would not touch the heart.Lt 5, 1877, par. 17–18

Thomas refused to humbly receive the report of his fellow disciples that Christ had risen and appeared to them, showing lack of confidence in his brethren.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6+1 He self-confidently boasted he would not believe unless he saw in his hands the print of the nails and put his finger into the print and thrust his hand into his side, demanding sight plus touch of the nail prints and the spear wound before he would believe.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6+1

When Jesus met the disciples again with Thomas present, he gave Thomas the evidence of feeling added to sight that he had demanded, meeting unreasonable demands for proof with tenderness, love, mercy and considerate revelation of himself as the crucified Saviour rather than reproach or argument.EW 155.2+3 Seeing the risen Jesus bearing the wounds of crucifixion swept away his doubts and broke down the barriers of doubt, so he needed no further evidence and wanted no further evidence.6RED 72.3–73.2+2 He then believed when he beheld him and confessed him as Lord and God, and his experience encouraged others who had not yet seen Jesus to consider the testimony about his resurrection.EW 155.2+2

The disciples likewise recognized Jesus by his voice and by seeing his wounded hands and feet.ST Oct 28, 1886+1 Seeing him moved their unbelief to give way to faith and joy.ST Oct 28, 1886+1 Their recognition confirms that he had truly risen in a body and not as a spirit.ST Oct 28, 1886

At the later meeting in Galilee many believers who had never seen Jesus before saw the marks of his crucifixion and worshiped him.DA 818.2–819.1

Thomas is the pattern called doubting Thomas, meaning one who does not believe without seeing, including one who does not believe in visions and needs proof that the testimony given is indeed the voice of God before believing and being made happy.1T 79.2–3+1 He was faithful and earnest yet slow of heart to believe, one widely varied type of character among the first disciples who were to be the world's teachers.ED 85.3 He was sincere yet unable to believe until given evidence.1T 79.2–3

Jesus mildly and reprovingly rebuked Thomas for unbelief when He gave him the evidence he had demanded, telling him to stop being faithless and believe.Ms 2, 1868, par. 1–2+4 He gave no commendation to slowness to believe, and God was not pleased with Thomas's unbelief in refusing to humbly receive the report of his brethren.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6+2 The same lack of commendation rests on those who are slow of heart to believe in the last days.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6+1

The verse pronounces blessed those who have not seen Jesus and yet have believed.Ms 155, 1904, par. 14–17+4 They cannot inspect the wounds of His crucifixion as Thomas did, but they believe the disciples' testimony, and God credits them with that belief.Ms 155, 1904, par. 14–17 Even though Jesus gave Thomas the evidence he demanded, He did not commend him for withholding belief until he had seen, but commended faith that does not insist on seeing first and rebuked boasting in unbelief.Ms 2, 1868, par. 1–2+1

Faith that believes without seeing for oneself would have been more acceptable and pleasing to Jesus than Thomas's faith after seeing.6RED 38.2–39.2+3 Thomas believed after seeing the risen Jesus, but faith based on the testimony of his companions who had seen Him would have been more acceptable had he believed that testimony.6RED 38.2–39.2+2 Everyone who receives Christ now must believe through others' testimony, and requiring personal sight before believing would leave no one able to believe unto salvation.3SP 220.2–221.2+2

The verse contrasts faith grounded in Christ's word with doubt that demands visible proof.4T 233.1–2 Spiritual knowledge of Christ as the glorified Redeemer, received by faith, is more desirable and enduring than knowing Him only by sight or earthly companionship.AA 452.1

The verse is an assurance that the merciful Saviour can bring rest to a doubting soul, as Jesus gave rest to Thomas's doubting soul.Lt 46, 1896, par. 4–5 Refusing to believe unless one can see is unbelief that keeps people from trusting God's power, while faith does not depend on seeing but turns to God when obstacles arise and asks Him to work.Lt 46, 1896, par. 4–5+1

Everyone who receives Christ now does so through the testimony of others who have seen and heard him, for that testimony was meant to pass from one person to another so that many who had not seen or heard him themselves would believe in his resurrection.ST Sep 26, 1878+4 Thomas believed after seeing the risen Jesus, but the blessing rests on faith that rests on trustworthy testimony rather than requiring sight, and such faith based on the testimony of others would have been more acceptable and pleasing.ST Sep 26, 1878+3 He was gently and mildly rebuked for refusing his fellow disciples' testimony until he saw for himself, when he should have believed what his companions reported.ST Sep 26, 1878+2

If all followed Thomas in refusing to believe until seeing for themselves, no one could now receive Jesus and believe in his resurrection unto salvation, since requiring the same direct sight and personal inspection before believing would leave no one able to believe.3SP 220.2–221.2+3 It is the divine will that those who cannot themselves see and hear the risen Saviour receive the report of the disciples, and God was not pleased with Thomas's self-confident demand for sight plus touch before he would believe.3SP 220.2–221.2+1 Christ's words and the peace he pronounced on his disciples are for those who believe their testimony, and God credits with belief those who cannot inspect the wounds of his crucifixion as Thomas did yet believe that testimony.Ms 155, 1904, par. 14–17

Those with weak and wavering faith who think the evidence Thomas had from his companions would cure their doubt already have not only that evidence but additional testimony piled up on every side.ST Oct 28, 1886 The evidence available through others' testimony, together with further evidence, is abundant and sufficient grounds for faith.ST Oct 28, 1886+2

Treating doubt as a virtue and boasting in unbelief is faithlessness, not wisdom, and insisting on unmistakable evidence with every cause for doubt removed before believing receives no commendation.Ms 2, 1868, par. 1–2+2 Thomas withheld belief until he had seen for himself, and he believed only because sight compelled him and left no room to doubt.2T 103.2–104.1 Even though he was given the proof he had demanded, he was told to stop being faithless and believe, while the blessing was pronounced on those who believe without having seen.Ms 2, 1868, par. 1–2+2 The same lack of commendation rests on those who are slow of heart to believe in the last days, who like Thomas boast they will not believe the testimony of their brethren unless they see for themselves.Ms 5, 1867, par. 4–6

Waiting like Thomas until every possible cause for doubt is removed risks never having that desire granted.ST Oct 28, 1886+4 Instead of reaching certainty, the waiter becomes gradually fixed and entrenched in unbelief until the weight of strong evidence in favor of Jesus cannot be perceived.ST Oct 28, 1886+4 Those with weak and wavering faith who suppose the evidence Thomas had from his companions would cure their doubt already possess not only that evidence but additional testimony piled up on every side, with abundant evidence sufficient for faith.ST Oct 28, 1886+1

Rejecting plain and conclusive evidences of divine truth hardens the heart and blinds the understanding.ST Oct 28, 1886+4 Like the skeptical Jews, the unwilling mind lets neglected precious light fade utterly away until what little light was possessed goes out in the closing darkness gathering around it.ST Oct 28, 1886 Needing even greater evidence than doubting Thomas needed is a wrong course of standing aside with indifference, expressing doubts, suspicions and fears until more proof is received, and refusing to put the hand zealously and energetically to the work of building up what is required.7MR 114.1–4+2 By that influence the advance and reform among God's people is retarded.7MR 114.1–4+2

Jesus met Thomas's unreasonable demand for set conditions of proof not with reproach or argument but with tenderness, love, mercy and considerate self-revelation as the crucified Saviour.ST Sep 26, 1878+2 That loving response broke down the barriers of doubt and drew forth faith, so that Thomas confessed him as Lord and God.ST Sep 26, 1878+2 His dealing is the pattern for meeting doubt over religious truth, which is to be met not with reproach or argument but by tenderly revealing Christ as the crucified Saviour.ST Sep 26, 1878+1

Doubting Thomases are those who, like Thomas, cannot believe published testimonies nor receive evidence through the testimony of others about visions they have never seen and whose influence they have no personal knowledge of, but must see and have the evidence for themselves.GW92 279.3–4+3 They need proof that the testimony given is indeed the voice of God before they will believe and be made happy.GW92 279.3–4+1 Such persons are not to be set aside or deprived of the benefits and privileges of the church if their Christian course is otherwise correct and they have formed a good Christian character.GW92 279.3–4+3 Toward them long patience, kindness and brotherly love are to be exercised, with no trial or hard labor against them, until they find their position and become established for or against.GW92 279.3–4+3 If, however, they fight against visions of which they have no knowledge, carry opposition so far as to oppose that in which they have had no experience, and feel annoyed when those who believe speak of the visions and comfort themselves with the instruction given through vision, they show they are not right.GW92 279.3–4+1 To such liberty is not to be yielded but labor is to be bestowed upon them, because their influence endangers souls and may lead the weak astray.GW92 279.3–4