In other words, the prohibition in Exodus 20 is not the production of graven images per se, but the bowing down and serving of such images (see also Deuteronomy 5:8-10). So while we can conclude that Christian statuary, icons and other artwork are permissible by God for reminding us of (and pointing us toward) his eternal grace and truth, we must never fall into worshiping such images. Moreover, the Bible is warning us of the error of venerating the manmade thing (the handcrafted image) rather than focusing on the creative Source of all good things (the Eternal God). Therefore, the main thing in Exodus 20:2-6 is simply to NOT worship lesser gods, and to ONLY worship and serve the One Almighty God of All. Scripture within its various historical contexts. Moses and Solomon (according to God’s intention) - and we clearly see this factīy interpreting Holy Scripture with Holy Scripture, and by interpreting Holy Consequently, those who interpret ExodusĢ0:3-4 as prohibiting any and all images do not agree with the interpretation of Is clear that an absolute rejection of all manmade images of earthly and In light of the Bible passages listed above (and their historical contexts), it See John 3:14-16 for Jesus’ comparison of his New Testament ministry and crucifixion with the healing grace of the Old Testament bronze serpent and pole. The Lord God commanded Moses in Numbers 21:8-9 to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole as a means through which the Israelites would receive grace for healing from wilderness snakebites.Also in First Kings 7:13-51, the Jerusalem Temple had oxen sculptures holding up the bronze laver (large water basin), and the base of the laver had earthly images of lions and oxen, as well as heavenly images of cherubim.In First Kings 6:23-28, the Jerusalem Temple had two large gold-overlaid olivewood cherubim on either side of the Ark in the Holy of Holies.God commanded that cherubim images be on the veil of the Tabernacle that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (“Holy of Holies”) where the Ark was placed.God commanded that cherubim images be fashioned on the curtains of the Tabernacle.God commanded that gold images of cherubim (winged angels of heaven) be made and placed on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.The prohibition against “graven images” in Exodus 20:4 and “molten gods” in Exodus 34:17 are both given in the context of the idolatry of the ancient Near East.So let’s look at other Bible passages that can shed light on Statuary, icons and other images of either earthly or heavenly subjects in ourįully understand Exodus 20, we need to use the principle of interpreting Holy Scripture with Holy Is this really the case? Are we breaking the commandment of God by having Jews) assert that sculptures and icons of Jesus Christ, or statues of saintsĪnd angels, or paintings of holy images, are all violations of Exodus 20. On this Bible text, some Protestant Christians (as well as all Muslims and most Images-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on theĮarth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth you shall not bow down You shall not make for yourself any graven God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery you The Ten Commandments of Exodus 20, it says the following: “I am the Lord your Or his early disciples, or great Church leaders of history (i.e. And since it is the heartfeltĭesire of every Christian believer to love God, I have heard this particularĬoncern many times over the years regarding Christian sculptures, carvings,Įtchings, icons, paintings and other artwork that depict Jesus, or his family, Was recently asked by a parishioner about the biblical prohibition against
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