Exodus 20 explained?

[curious mike]

Guys, can you all help shed some light on this please?

You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness which is in the heavens above, which is on the earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth.

Is that referring to statutes like that of Jesus, Saints e.t.c?

 

[HTacianas]

Guys, can you all help shed some light on this please?

You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness which is in the heavens above, which is on the earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth.

Is that referring to statutes like that of Jesus, Saints e.t.c?

No. It refers to creating images of the sun or the moon or astrological signs like the zodiac (in the heavens). It also prohibits creating images of animals (on the earth) or fish (in the waters).

In nearly his next breath God commands the Israelites to create images of cherubim to place on the top of the ark of the covenant, and other images such as pomegranates for use on the priest's clothing.

The prohibition was against creating your own god and worshipping it.

 

[curious mike]

I see some houses which have eagles, lions e.t.c on their fences so that would be wrong?

 

[Dave L]

Guys, can you all help shed some light on this please?

You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness which is in the heavens above, which is on the earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth.

Is that referring to statutes like that of Jesus, Saints e.t.c?

As an example, the Israelites made a golden calf and gave it credit for their deliverance from Egypt.

 

[Dave-W]

The prohibition was against creating your own god and worshipping it.

That is absolutely it.

 

[Dave-W]

I see some houses which have eagles, lions e.t.c on their fences so that would be wrong?

If people are bowing down to them as gods and worshiping, yes.
Otherwise, probably not.

 

[curious mike]

No, I think those are simply for decoration purposes

 

[Ken Rank]

Guys, can you all help shed some light on this please?

You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness which is in the heavens above, which is on the earth below, or which is in the water beneath the earth.

Is that referring to statutes like that of Jesus, Saints e.t.c?

Yes and not Mike. Let's deal with the weight of the verse first.

If you had continued on with the verse, you would have seen it says not to "bow yourself to them." In other words, it isn't so much the object, as it is our submission to them (bowing) or our expectation from them (we pray to it and expect a result). I go here, with this answer, because I don't believe God would break His own commandment and yet when He gave the order to built the Ark of the Covenant, the instructions included building two gold cheribim on top of the Ark. That's why I think we need to finish the verse... "and not bow." Because merely creating an object from rock or wood alone doesn't quite seem to meet what is being said in light of the Ark.

That aside, we don't know what Jesus looked like and what we don't want to do is fill our heads with a false image of him. When you think of Christ, what do you conjure up in your mind? Jim Caviezel from The Passion? The painting the Head of Christ (AKA Sallman Head)? Neither are him... so why is THAT the image we imagine? I think, personally, we fill our heads with imagery that is not accurate, and that it might skew our ability to see in the mind, where God can reveal to us, because we already have imagery filled there.

 

[Dave-W]

When you think of Christ, what do you conjure up in your mind?

The most observant Orthodox Jew that ever lived.

 

[Dave L]

The most observant Orthodox Jew that ever lived.

Idol?

 

[Dave-W]

Idol?

Scripture.

 

[Ken Rank]

Scripture.

I often think the other Dave thinks messiah came to create a brand new religion, not prophetically walk within an existing one.

 

[Dave L]

Scripture.

If Jesus' physical aspects are what you think of first, isn't that an idol?

 

[Dave L]

I often think the other Dave thinks messiah came to create a brand new religion, not prophetically walk within an existing one.

Except, the New Covenant replaced the existing one.

 

[Dave-W]

Except, the New Covenant replaced the existing one.

Ah - the false religion of Replacement Theology rears its ugly head ....

 

[Dave L]

Ah - the false religion of Replacement Theology rears its ugly head ....

Jesus is Israel along with those who believe in him. God will reattach any of the broken off unbelievers to Christ through faith (Romans 11).

 

[Dave-W]

If Jesus' physical aspects are what you think of first, isn't that an idol?

"Observant Orthodox Jew" is not necessarily a "physical aspect."

We know HE was born under the Law of Moses. Galatians 4:4
We also know He never sinned. Hebrews 4:15

So that makes Him the most observant Jew ever.

 

[Dave L]

"Observant Orthodox Jew" is not necessarily a "physical aspect."

We know HE was born under the Law of Moses. Galatians 4:4
We also know He never sinned. Hebrews 4:15

So that makes Him the most observant Jew ever.

It is a false religion however........

 

[Dave-W]

It is a false religion however........

It is the ONLY religion God created. How can it be false? Is God false?

 

[Dave L]

It is the ONLY religion God created. How can it be false? Is God false?

If it was true they would accept Christ as messiah.