Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side—Jesus directly addresses Thomas's specific demand (v. 25): "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Christ quotes Thomas's exact requirements, demonstrating omniscient knowledge of a conversation He wasn't physically present for. The invitation to touch proves Jesus's body is physical—bearing crucifixion scars eternally. These wounds are not defects but glorious trophies of accomplished redemption.
The verb "thrust" (βάλε/bale, from βάλλω/ballō) means to throw, cast, or plunge—stronger than gentle touching. Jesus invites invasive examination, meeting doubt head-on with tangible evidence. The scars in His hands (where nails pierced) and side (where the soldier's spear struck, John 19:34) permanently mark Christ's body. Even in glorification, He retains crucifixion wounds—the Lamb appears "as it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6).
And be not faithless, but believing (μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός/mē ginou apistos alla pistos)—The present imperative μὴ γίνου (mē ginou, "stop being") suggests Thomas was in danger of persistent unbelief. Ἄπιστος (apistos, faithless) means without faith, untrustworthy, unbelieving. Christ calls Thomas from unbelief (ἄπιστος) to faith (πιστός). This is gracious confrontation—Jesus doesn't reject the doubter but provides evidence while commanding faith. Doubt must be resolved through encounter with the risen Christ, not accommodation or intellectual argument alone.
Historical Context
Thomas's demand for empirical proof reflects Greco-Roman epistemology valuing sensory evidence. Yet even ancient skeptics recognized eyewitness testimony's value. Jesus provides exactly what Thomas required, validating reasonable investigation while ultimately calling for faith.
The permanence of Christ's wounds holds profound theological significance. In Jewish sacrificial system, the lamb was consumed—evidence of sacrifice disappeared. But Christ's eternal scars testify perpetually to His finished work. Hebrews 10:12 says He "sat down" at God's right hand—work complete. Yet Revelation 5:6 shows the Lamb "as it had been slain" standing—wounds visible eternally.
Early church fathers saw Christ's retained wounds as proof against Docetism (the heresy that Jesus only seemed to have a physical body). Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD) emphasized Christ's physical resurrection against such errors. The wounds demonstrate:
identity—same Jesus who was crucified
physicality—real body, not phantom
continuity—resurrection transforms but doesn't discard the crucified body.
For Thomas, representing honest doubters across history, this encounter became transformative.
Tradition holds he later preached the gospel in India, martyred for faith in the risen Christ. The doubter became a bold witness—evidence encountered and faith exercised.
Questions for Reflection
Why does Jesus retain His crucifixion scars eternally, and what do they reveal about the nature of His redemptive work?
How does Jesus's response to Thomas balance providing evidence with calling for faith—and what does this teach about apologetics?
What is the difference between honest doubt that seeks resolution and obstinate unbelief that refuses evidence?
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Analysis & Commentary
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side—Jesus directly addresses Thomas's specific demand (v. 25): "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Christ quotes Thomas's exact requirements, demonstrating omniscient knowledge of a conversation He wasn't physically present for. The invitation to touch proves Jesus's body is physical—bearing crucifixion scars eternally. These wounds are not defects but glorious trophies of accomplished redemption.
The verb "thrust" (βάλε/bale, from βάλλω/ballō) means to throw, cast, or plunge—stronger than gentle touching. Jesus invites invasive examination, meeting doubt head-on with tangible evidence. The scars in His hands (where nails pierced) and side (where the soldier's spear struck, John 19:34) permanently mark Christ's body. Even in glorification, He retains crucifixion wounds—the Lamb appears "as it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6).
And be not faithless, but believing (μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός/mē ginou apistos alla pistos)—The present imperative μὴ γίνου (mē ginou, "stop being") suggests Thomas was in danger of persistent unbelief. Ἄπιστος (apistos, faithless) means without faith, untrustworthy, unbelieving. Christ calls Thomas from unbelief (ἄπιστος) to faith (πιστός). This is gracious confrontation—Jesus doesn't reject the doubter but provides evidence while commanding faith. Doubt must be resolved through encounter with the risen Christ, not accommodation or intellectual argument alone.