Pictures and images are a significant part of human culture, but what does the Bible say about them? While Scripture warns against idolatry, it doesn’t prohibit the use of images entirely. Let’s explore the balance the Bible strikes when it comes to using pictures, especially in a spiritual context.
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What Does The Bible Say About Pictures
Exodus 20:4-5
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
This verse emphasizes the commandment against creating and worshiping images. It reminds believers to worship God alone and not to place any object or image above Him. It serves as a reminder of God’s jealousy and the importance of giving Him the proper reverence.
Creating pictures or images to represent God can lead to idolatry and the worship of false gods. This verse calls for believers to focus their attention and worship solely on the Almighty, rather than on man-made representations.
Leviticus 26:1
“‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.”
Similar to the previous verse, this passage reiterates the prohibition of creating idols or images for worship. It emphasizes the need for sincere devotion to God and the rejection of any form of false worship.
Setting up images or sacred stones to bow down to undermines the true reverence that should be reserved for God alone. This verse reminds believers to focus their worship on the One who deserves it and not on earthly representations.
Deuteronomy 27:15
“‘Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”
This verse speaks of the curse that befalls anyone who creates and worships idols. It highlights the detestable nature of idols in the eyes of the Lord and serves as a warning against engaging in such practices.
Idols, crafted by human hands and worshipped in secret, are an affront to God’s commandments and desires. This verse calls for a collective response from the people, affirming the righteous judgment of God against idolatry.
2 Chronicles 33:7
“He took the carved image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, ‘In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever.’
This verse recounts the story of King Manasseh, who made a carved image and placed it in God’s temple. It highlights the defilement of God’s holy dwelling place and the gravity of such an act.
Placing images, even within the context of the temple, goes against the sanctity and purity that God requires. This verse serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the consequences of disregarding God’s commandments regarding images.
Psalm 115:4-8
“But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
This psalm highlights the futility of idols, emphasizing their inability to see, hear, smell, feel, or speak. It emphasizes the contrast between the living God and lifeless idols made by human hands.
Believers are warned against placing their trust in inanimate objects that cannot respond or bring any assistance. Those who worship idols will become like them, lacking the ability to perceive the truth and experience the fullness of life found in a relationship with God.
Isaiah 40:18-20
“With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.”
In these verses, the prophet Isaiah challenges the foolishness of comparing God to any image or idol. He highlights the human effort involved in creating idols and the futile attempt to make them appear worthy of worship.
No man-made image can accurately reflect the majesty, power, and glory of God. Trying to compare the infinite Creator to something finite and crafted by human hands is a misguided endeavor that diminishes the true nature of God.
Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
These words from the prophet Isaiah remind believers that God refuses to share His glory with idols or any other false deity. God’s essence is unique, and He alone deserves all honor and praise.
Attempting to divert worship and adoration to idols is a direct contradiction to the nature and purpose of God. This verse serves as a reminder to give God the exclusive worship and praise He deserves.
Habakkuk 2:18-19
“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”
In these verses, the prophet Habakkuk exposes the foolishness of idol worship. He questions the sense in placing value and trust in objects created by human hands, which lack the ability to speak, offer guidance, or provide life.
This passage confronts the misplaced trust placed in idols and their inability to fulfill the deep longings of the human heart. It serves as a warning against relying on lifeless creations rather than the living, speaking, and guiding presence of God.
Matthew 4:10
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
These words from Jesus were spoken in response to Satan tempting Him to worship him. Jesus rebuked Satan and affirmed the importance of worshiping and serving God alone.
This verse reiterates the commandment to prioritize the worship and service of God above all else. It reinforces the need to reject any form of idolatry and to give God the rightful place of honor in our lives.
John 4:24
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Jesus spoke these words to a woman at the well, emphasizing the spiritual nature of God and the true manner in which worship should be offered.
Idols and images cannot capture the essence of God, who is spirit. Genuine worship entails a connection of the spirit and the truth of who God is. This verse challenges believers to worship God with sincerity, authenticity, and a deep understanding of His character.
Acts 17:29
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.”
During his sermon in Athens, the apostle Paul addressed the people’s idol worship and challenged their perspective on the nature of God. He emphasized that God cannot be confined to likenesses made of gold, silver, or stone.
As God’s creation and offspring, believers are called to recognize the inherent limitations of images and idols. This verse encourages a shift in understanding, acknowledging the incomprehensibility of the divine being and the futility of attempting to depict God’s essence through material representations.
Romans 1:22-23
“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”
In these verses, the apostle Paul highlights the foolishness and tragic exchange that occurs when people forsake the worship of the immortal God for the worship of created images that resemble mortal creatures.
This passage serves as a warning against the devaluation of God’s glory and the elevation of man-made objects. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not exchanging the worship of the one true God for counterfeit substitutes.
1 Corinthians 8:4
“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one.’
Paul addresses the issue of food sacrificed to idols in this verse, emphasizing the fact that idols have no real existence in the world and that there is only one true God.
This verse offers a perspective on idols that may influence one’s attitude towards them. It highlights their lack of significance and reinforces the understanding that true worship should be directed solely to the one and only God.
Ephesians 5:5
“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
This verse links the moral character of individuals to idolatry. It asserts that those who engage in immorality, impurity, and greed are, in essence, idolaters and will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Idolatry extends beyond the physical act of worshiping images to encompass any form of misplaced devotion or attachment. This verse serves as a reminder to examine one’s own heart and ensure that it is free from idolatrous tendencies.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
The apostle Paul instructs the Colossian believers to put to death the sinful desires that belong to their earthly nature. He identifies greed as a form of idolatry, equating the pursuit of material possessions with the worship of false gods.
This verse serves as a reminder that idolatry is not limited to physical images but includes anything that takes precedence over God in our hearts. It challenges believers to prioritize spiritual growth and the pursuit of godly virtues over materialistic and selfish desires.
1 John 5:21
“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
This short but powerful verse is a direct command from the apostle John, urging believers to guard themselves against idolatry.
Idols, in various forms, have the potential to draw us away from wholehearted devotion to God. This verse serves as a constant reminder of the need to be vigilant and discerning, guarding our hearts and minds against anything that may hinder our worship of the one true God.
In summary, these verses underscore the consistent biblical message against creating, worshiping, and placing trust in images and idols. While the physical representation of God is forbidden, the focus is consistently redirected towards worshiping the Spirit of the living God. These passages highlight the futility, foolishness, and detestable nature of idolatry, reminding believers of the importance of genuine worship and the exclusive devotion that God deserves. As Christians, we are called to worship God alone, recognizing His incomparable nature and rejecting any form of idolatry that may detract from our relationship with Him. May these verses serve as a constant reminder to examine our hearts and maintain unwavering devotion to the one true God.