How can images, pictures, or symbols such as crucifixes interfere with proper worship?ģ. Why would God not approve of using an object as an aid in worshipping Him?Ģ. It would be presumptuous of us to think that we could design or even think up anything representational of God.ġ.

Therefore we can have no detailed idea of the exact form and shape of God other than Genesis 1:26 Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.Īmerican King James Version ×. Sinai (Horeb)?ĬOMMENT: Moses spoke with God and God spoke with Moses but Moses did not see God directly. What was one important point that God told Moses to record about their conversation on Mt. How do we know that such use of art is sin?ĭEUTERONOMY 4:15-16 ' Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure….' Some people use pictures, images, or objects to REPRESENT God in their worship. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. In this study guide, the meaning of the second commandment will be explored.ĮXODUS 20:4-6 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. What does it actually say?) The first commandment has to do with WHOM we worship, while the second commandment has to do with HOW we worship the true and only God. (Read the 1st commandment in Exodus 20:3 Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.Īmerican King James Version ×or Deuteronomy 5:7 Deuteronomy 5:7 You shall have none other gods before me.Īmerican King James Version ×. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin.Do you think you really know the 10 Commandments? How about the 2nd one which says we are not to have any 'graven' or 'carved' images? What does that mean? Is it OK to own a statue of any kind? Some religions misunderstand the second commandment they combine the second commandment with the first. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver mefrom the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:22 – 25 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law inmy members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. The spiritual man being the Master and the natural man being the Servant.Įphesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. And that pride, and ones self intelligence is to be subdued, where the spiritual man has dominion over the natural man. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them, Signifies that no divine worship, or homage is to be paid them.įor I Jehovah thy God, Signifies the Divine Love and Truth from the Lord in each and all things.Īm a Jealous God, Signifies, that falsity and evil are therefrom, and that one turns himself away from God, or is adverse to God when so done.

Or that which is in the waters under the earth, Signifies of those which are in the sensuous corporeal realm. Of that which is in the heavens above, or that which is in the earth beneath, Signifies of those things which are in spiritual light, or of those which are in natural, or literal light

Nor any likeness, Signifies a semblance of those things which are from the Divine, yet are not divine. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, signifies, in the inner or a spiritual meaning, that from self-intelligence, or mans intelligence and pride, that thou shall not formulate reasonings, mans conclusions, or confirmations of any sort, other than the spiritual laws of God handed down to us by Him and or through his prophets and as directed by Him.

You shall not make any graven images