Replies

It’s not a rebuke. Both are “yes and more than that” not “no, not at all.”

The underlying Greek is clear. He’s not rebuking the woman. He’s endorsing her honoring of his mother because of him. He says, “Yes, and the reason for blessing my mother is because she, like you should, hears and keeps the word of God.”

To Thomas, he’s not rebuking. He’s acknowledging the basis of Thomas’s belief. There’s NOTHING wrong with believing based on empirical evidence. NONE OF THE OTHER APOSTLES BELIEVED WITHOUT EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. They believed only when they saw him. They disbelieved the women, based on the women’s words. They believed when they saw.

Thomas disbelieved when all he had was testimony of his fellow apostles. He did not fully believe when he saw. He needed touch as well. (Of course, it’s possible the other apostles also touched but that isn’t recorded? But he told Mary not to touch? But not because she needed to touch in order to believe—she clearly believed. So we just don’t know; “touch” probably means “hold on, cling.”)

Jesus does NOT rebuke Thomas. He merely points out that Thomas’s touching is VERY, VERY, VERY important and good because in the future, generations will not be able to see or touch and the link we have with Jesus’ resurrection is via the testimony of those who touched and saw.

You’ve turned this passage on its head (and the other one as well.)

Your post shows exactly how Rome twists the clear meaning of Scripture into glorifying the creature intead of the creator.

He's endorsing her honoring of his mother because of him.

Dead wrong. He is correcting those who seek His mother and brothers...

"Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." -- Matthew 12:47-50

Believers are the equal of Mary. She holds no higher esteen in God's eye than you or I do.