John 20:27

The third particular in this Narration is, his dealing with Thomas, indirectly reproving him for his faithlesnesse, and offering unto him the satisfaction he desired, to cure this evil. Whence learn, 1. Christ perfectly knoweth, and is acquainted with the cases and distempers of his people, and can tell them what aileth them, albeit they do not tell him; for, his discourse with Thomas intimateth, that without any information, he knew Thomas doubtings and unbelief. 2. Albeit Christs followers do provoke him by their unbelief, yet he will not quit them, but will deal with them so much the more beyond others, as their need and weaknesse is greater: Therefore, when he appeareth here, he dealeth only with Thomas, though most faulty and weak, Then saith he to Thomas, &c. 3. Christ hath a great quarrel at unbelief in his people, (either when they do not beleeve and ponder the truth of what he reveals, or, make not due application thereof to themselves) as being exceeding injurious to him, and obscuring his glory, and as obstructing their own good; for, this Christ reproves, and would have amended in Thomas, be not faithlesse, but beleeving. 4. Such as have publickly sinned to the offending of others, should be publickly dealt with, to take with and amend their fault; That so their recovery may strengthen those whom their failings were ready to weaken: Therefore doth Christ deal with, and seek to reclaim Thomas, in presence of all the disciples, to whom he had professed his wilful unbelief. 5. Christs offering this satisfaction to Thomas, prescribed by himself, is not a warrant to every unbeliever and tempter of him, to seek and expect this or the like signes of their own prescribing, for helping of their faith, For Christs reproof, insinuate with his offer, and expressed after Thomas confession, v. 29. doth point it out as a sin, and should teach all beleevers their duty, that they be warned by his example to be humbled that any such presumption should enter their hearts, and to reject the first motions of it. And indeed, such signes not being promised by God, it is a limiting of him, and an high presumption, to prescribe them unto him; and it speaks their proud despising and contemning of the means appointed by God, so to do; And whatever effect this offer had upon Thomas, yet there is no promise that any of these signes prescribed should work faith, when we beleeve not the Word, Luke 16.29, 30, 31. and therefore it were to no purpose to grant them. Yet this procedure with Thomas may teach us, 1. Unbelief is so hateful to Christ in his people, and he is so sensible of the prejudice they sustain thereby, that he is very careful and earnest to have it removed and cured; for, so much doth his offering him, even his will, to amend his fault, teach us. 2. Christ is very condescending to his people in their infirmities, and doth oft-times yield very much to their weaknesse and peevishnesse, which yet it is their fault to seek, and of others to imitate them in it; for, so much also doth this instance of his condescendence to Thomas, teach us. 3. Christ may deny that to a beleever, which he will grant to a weak beleever; and yet the beleever is more approven, though kept at distance, then the unbeleever who is so dealt with; for, believing Mary gets not so much as leave to touch him, v. 17. when unbelieving Thomas gets an offer both to see and touch, but with a check. 4. Unbelievers can limit Christ to no proof of his love, which implieth not a contradiction, but, if he saw it fitting, he could give it; so that it is not for want of power, that such tempters are not satisfied, but because he will not learne them to sleight his Word, on which they ought to build; for, here, by offering unto Thomas all he desired, he gives proof how easie it were for him, to satisfie the like unreasonable desires.