Commandment question.

Phil

Phil

Exodus 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself an idol (or graven image), or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the water under the earth."

Now for my question. It says no graven image or any likeness of what is in heaven or on the earth. No image or likeness of anything is what it says. So my question is, does that mean we cannot make an image of anything like it states? Including crosses, trees, flowers etc? That is what it says in the verse. Any likeness of anything it clearly states.
 
The Ark of the Covenant had images (two cherubim) on it for instance, and the lampstand for the Tabernacle had golden almond flowers. The curtains of the tabernacle also featured cherubim (presumably woven images). These were according to the express instructions given by God to Moses. The same God who gave the second commandment to the same Moses, so we must conclude that the commandment refers to the making of images and idols used in idolatrous worship. The point being that our worship would be focused on the One, True God and not on false gods, representations of those gods, or any part of His creation.
 
Phil said:
Exodus 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself an idol (or graven image), or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the water under the earth."

Now for my question. It says no graven image or any likeness of what is in heaven or on the earth. No image or likeness of anything is what it says. So my question is, does that mean we cannot make an image of anything like it states? Including crosses, trees, flowers etc? That is what it says in the verse. Any likeness of anything it clearly states.
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It says, you shall not make for yourself. FOR YOURSELF. However, if God would ask you to, that's different. This is akin to the commandment thou shall not kill. THOU. But it is clear that there were instances that God asked the Israelites to kill (this is not the case in the New Testament, God will never allow Christians to kill).

We just need to consider the context.

God the Father did not want us to worship other beings. But God said:

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him
Heb 1:6
 
Rumely said:
The Ark of the Covenant had images (two cherubim) on it for instance, and the lampstand for the Tabernacle had golden almond flowers. The curtains of the tabernacle also featured cherubim (presumably woven images). These were according to the express instructions given by God to Moses. The same God who gave the second commandment to the same Moses, so we must conclude that the commandment refers to the making of images and idols used in idolatrous worship. The point being that our worship would be focused on the One, True God and not on false gods, representations of those gods, or any part of His creation.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that seems right. And I asked the question in the Inner room bible studies so it was cleared up a bit so that is good.
 
Exodus 20:2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4Thou 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.
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

When we look at this in context instead of just one verse, it makes it clear He is saying we are to acknowledge that HE is our God and we are not worship anything or no one else above Him
 
GodSpeaks said:
Exodus 20:2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4Thou 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.
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

When we look at this in context instead of just one verse, it makes it clear He is saying we are to acknowledge that HE is our God and we are not worship anything or no one else above Him
Click to expand...
Yes.
 
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