How would you interpret this from the Scriptures?

Question

15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20 But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.

Deuteronomy 4:15-20

Does this affect one's production of religious material, pictures, scriptural and religious art, etc?

Answer 1

Do not have a image or idol and connect it with God. Don't worship it. I consider a cross a idol, because it has people associating it with Jesus.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church has probably answered this question a million times in this century alone. I often wonder what the intention is for asking this question repeatedly.

First of all, it is not fair to pick a verse in the Bible and draw a conclusion from it without checking what the entire Bible has to say on the subject.

Jesus Christ who is the fullness of revelation and the word of God made flesh redefined the meaning of idolatry in Matthew 6:24. "At the same time the Church has always acknowledged that in the body of Jesus 'we see our God made visible and so are caught up in the love God we cannot see'... He has made the features of his human body his own, to the point that they can be venerated when portrayed in a holy image, for the believer 'who venerates the icon is venerating in it the person of the one depicted.'" (Article 477, Catehcism of the Catholic Church)

There are also instances when God himself allowed the making of images. The bronze serpent (Numbers 21: 8-9), the images of heavenly creatures in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25: 10-22) and the prophecy of Zechariah: "they shall look upon him whom they have pierced (Zechariah 12: 10; John 19: 37)

My best answer to this question is the fact that Jesus Christ himself ordered some of our saints to make images of him.

Answer 3

Does the prohibition against making carved images mean that it is wrong to make representations of objects for artistic purposes? No. The prohibition here was against making images for worship—against ‘bowing down to idols and serving them.’ The Scriptures do not forbid carving sculptures or making paintings of objects for artistic purposes.—1 Kings 7:18, 25.

Since you asked 'religious' art, well it is fine to illustrate the scriptures, but again, not to worship what is created by man's hand.

Answer 4

That first poster should elaborate a bit more. I don't know how this has anything to do with slavery other than commanding ex slaves about idolatry. In these verses, God condemns the making of graven images. But in Ex.25:18 and Num.21:8 he commands others to make them.

Answer 5

God is ordering them not to worship idols or false Gods. There is only ONE true God, and it is He. He is basicly saying, "You don't know what I look like, therefore be careful in your efforts to make tribute to me. Don't fall into the age old traps of creating images of people or things in nature- this will lead you to err." What happens is that people throughout history have done this and have ended up worshiping a myriad of false Gods. Idols are a slippery slope- in one part of the bible, God even warns against making images of things "in heaven or below". (I think that's the reference.) I think God doesn't want us to be distracted from him and end up worshiping a statue instead of him, or anything else for that matter.

Answer 6

It is more than simply not worshipping graven images. The passage is a warning against worshipping things that do not change. To worship a static god, in ANY form (and that includes scripture) is to grow complacent and corrupt for it indicates confidence in understanding. Confidence leads to pride, pride leads to corruption....

This also means that, to be the 'people of inheritance' means that what one may gain, one may lose. As such, it is for this reason that Jesus gave the parable of the 'Good Samaritan'. Believing oneself to be 'blessed', so that one feels free to ignore the less fortunate of his 'brothers' invites shame and nakedness. Meanwhile those who, though considered less and/or cursed, act as their brother's keeper/sustainer will be the true inheritors of the title of 'blessed'.

Answer 7

God just set the slaves free and was telling them his requirement and the main one was "NO OTHER GOD" they would make idols and worship them instead of him and God hates that. To go into denial of him and worship a rock or bird or the sun!

Answer 8

If you mean Catholics and medals and statues...NO. The difference. Catholics do not worship the sacramentals. They are merely reminders of the unseen realities. Similar to carrying a picture of a family member. Its not really them...only a reminder of them.

Answer 9

My interpretation is that God is a jealous God.

He made it clear to Moses that the Hebrews should not follow the example of their neighbors and worship creations. Instead, they should honor the Creator.

Answer 10

Leviticus