Exodus 20 explained?

[Dave-W]

If it was true they would accept Christ as messiah.

They will. But remember, God himself has put a "partial hardening" to keep them from doing that. Yet. Romans 11:25

That is to give us gentiles the opportunity to fulfill OUR "great commission:"

Romans 11:11
I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.​

If you are not making traditional Jews jealous, you are not fulfilling this. This verse is the only place in all of scripture that says WHY the gospel came to gentiles.

 

[Neostarwcc]

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?

Some people say that statues of Jesus would count as idols but God was mostly referring to people making statues of other Gods and worshipping them. But it also could mean the worship of a statue of God too. Basically it means don't make a statue or idol for the purpose of worship even if the statue is of God. Because then you're worshiping the statue and not God.

 

[RaymondG]

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?

I happen to believe the sentiments of this verse warns against us conjuring any image in our minds when we pray to/worship the true and living God. Something that is almost impossible today given the prevalence of painting and tv and movies and churches who all gives us an image to look at. Yet a few will find a way(the way).

And if your eye offend you......

So this has little to do with what you look at without....in the world...but what you think and believe within...... If what we see outside influence our inward worship.....it would be wise to remove it....

 

[Ken Rank]

Except, the New Covenant replaced the existing one.

Not exactly... but it's not a discussion you would be willing to have.

 

[Dave L]

Not exactly... but it's not a discussion you would be willing to have.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

 

[Dave L]

They will. But remember, God himself has put a "partial hardening" to keep them from doing that. Yet. Romans 11:25

That is to give us gentiles the opportunity to fulfill OUR "great commission:"

Romans 11:11
I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.​

If you are not making traditional Jews jealous, you are not fulfilling this. This verse is the only place in all of scripture that says WHY the gospel came to gentiles.

All Israel = the church made up of Jews and gentiles. Not a national conversion of apostate Judaism. Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world.

 

[Dave L]

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

Only the few born again (circumcised in heart) got it right. And these accepted Jesus when he arrived.

 

[JoeP222w]

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, that could refer to statues of Jesus or Saints.

 

[FatalHeart]

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

The Old Testament law no longer applies. See Hebrews 7:11-12.

 

[Dave-W]

All Israel = the church made up of Jews and gentiles.

That does not work since in the same context he is saying the Israel he writes about are "enemies of the gospel." So that CANNOT be the church or even believing Jews.

 

[dqhall]

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?

It may have referred to the statues of Baal and the other gods of the Semitic speaking peoples north of Israel.
Stock Photo - 135. BRONZE FIGURINE OF BAAL, CNAANITE GOD OF WAR

The ancient Egyptians also had myths and statues of gods to worship. Some of these were Ra, Anubis, Osiris, Hathor and Bes.

Israel is not supposed to make idols nor worship them. Christians are not supposed to need statues of Jesus or the saints in their worship. God is spirit, not a statue.

 

[Dave-W]

Not a national conversion of apostate Judaism.

That is exactly what is promised all over the OT and in Romans 11.

 

[Dave L]

That does not work since in the same context he is saying the Israel he writes about are "enemies of the gospel." So that CANNOT be the church or even believing Jews.

Physical VS spiritual Israel. The church is spiritual Israel only. Physical Israel ended after abolishing circumcision and the last legally circumcised generation died off.

 

[Dave-W]

Only the few born again (circumcised in heart) got it right. And these accepted Jesus when he arrived.

Speaking of the end time when the Lord comes back:

Zechariah 12:10
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.​

National repentance and acceptance of Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer.

 

[Dave-W]

Physical VS spiritual Israel. The church is spiritual Israel only.

No such thing as a "spiritual" Israel.

 

[Dave L]

That is exactly what is promised all over the OT and in Romans 11.

God placed them under wrath until the end.
“Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost [end].” (1 Thessalonians 2:16)

Furthermore they trample down Jerusalem as gentiles until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled = at the end of the world. Jesus said:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [gentiles], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

 

[Dave-W]

Physical Israel ended after abolishing circumcision and the last legally circumcised generation died off.

If that is the case, the devil won and Jesus will never return to earth.

 

[Dave L]

No such thing as a "spiritual" Israel.

Born again, circumcised in heart = Spiritual Israel aka the church which is Christ's body.

 

[Dave L]

If that is the case, the devil won and Jesus will never return to earth.

Not, John says they are Antichrists who say the (Jesus) Messiah did not come in the flesh. The devil lost most of what he had to work with.

 

[Dave-W]

Born again, circumcised in heart = Spiritual Israel aka the church which is Christ's body.

Wrong. Paul calls the gentiles added to Israel - the CULTIVATED olive tree of Romans 9 - the "Commonwealth" of Israel; like Australia or New Zealand are in the Commonwealth of Great Britain. Not really Englishmen but citizens there anyway.

Ephesians 2:12
remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.​