4:12-19).Ģ) There is some truth to the connection between making a visual depiction of God and worshiping God by it. “ Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God” (Lev. I will then readily allow these two things, which are inseparable, to be joined together only let us recollect that God is insulted, not only when His worship is transferred to idols, but when we try to represent Him by any outward similitude.” Hence it comes to pass, that those, who frame for themselves gods of corruptible materials, superstitiously adore the work of their own hands. And surely whosoever reverently and soberly feels and thinks about God Himself, is far from this absurdity nor does any desire or presumption to metamorphose God ever creep in, except when coarse and carnal imaginations occupy our minds. And assuredly it is a most gross indecency to make God like a stock or a stone… I do not deny that these things are to be taken connectedly, since superstitious worship is hardly ever separated from the preceding error for as soon as any one has permitted himself to devise an image of God, he immediately falls into false worship.

There is no need of refuting the foolish fancy of some, that all sculptures and pictures are here condemned by Moses, for he had no other object than to rescue God’s glory from all the imaginations which tend to corrupt it.

Therefore, to devise any image of God, is in itself impious because by this corruption His Majesty is adulterated, and He is figured to be other than He is. “There are two parts in the Commandment - the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness the second prohibits the transferring of the worship which God claims for Himself alone, to any of these phantoms or delusive shows. 4), and do not worship God with the use of images (v. 20:4-5).ġ) There are two parts in the second commandment: do not make an image of God (v. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God… ” (Ex. “ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. To worship God however we would like is the very definition of idolatry. The second commandment teaches that God alone prescribes how He wants to be worshiped. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin.The first commandment teaches who the true God is and that He alone is to be worshiped. 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