The commandment about “graven images”?

Question

The commandment about “graven images” is one of the most misunderstood scriptures. Consider Exodus 25: 18-19: “And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends.” Here, God is commanding that images be made!

So is God contradicting himself? First he say don’t make a graven image, and then he orders graven images to be made?

No, he is not contradicting himself. The problem is that folks have misinterpreted the words “graven image.”

According to Strong’s Concordance, the original Hebrew words that were translated into “graven image” referred to idols (Here is the concordance link: http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=06459 ). Of course, we know that an idol is a false god, or something that you place above God. Since the Cheribum are not false Gods, there is no contradiction.

Therefore, also, statues in Catholic Churches are not a violation of the commandment either. (You knew I was going to go there, didn’t you?) They are not idols, because they are not false Gods. My Church has a statue of an angel, just like God commanded the Israelites to make. We have a statue of Jesus, who is CERTAINLY not a false God. We have statues of saints because they are heroes of the faith, not gods - just like America has statues of its heroes – Washington, Lincoln, etc. – and those are not idols either.

Bottom line: The commandments forbid images of false idols or false gods, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful artwork of Jesus, Mary, or angels, whether that artwork be paintings, statues, or whatever.

Comments? Who disagrees with me? (…besides CJ, God bless his little heart )

Answer 1

I agree that there's nothing wrong with religious art. In my own church, I find it helpful. The art (pictures, statues, and so forth) can definitely help put me in the frame of mind for thinking about spiritual things. Also, religious art has been found by archaeologists in rather early Christian sites, suggesting that the early Christians did, indeed, use icons, pictures, statuary and other art, and didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Answer 2

I agree with you in that your argument makes perfect sense. But now consider this: I come from Spain, where we have a Catholic majority, our churches are full of images of saints, angels, virgins, etc.. During religious festivities we take them out and carry them around town and people go crazy chanting and cheering those images. Most catholics in Spain have abandoned faith in God through His Word, for a superstitious faith directed to a visible object, such as certain statue of a virgin, or a crucified Christ. People pray to them for blessings, healing, etc...They pray to those images, not to God. Therefore they have become idols in God's eyes. I think that is why God warned us not to make graven images.
The Cherubim in the Mercy Seat had a purpose, they were looking at the blood that was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, as witnesses from Heaven for the sacrifice of sins. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy place. And when they transported the Ark, nobody could touch it. So I don't think there was any risk of turning those Cherubim into idols.

Answer 3

You make some very good points Crusader. I would like to point out also that God did tell Moses to make a statue of a serpent so that those who are bitten by a poisonous snake would be able to look up at it and be healed.

Num 21:8-10 "The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Now pray to the LORD to take these snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed. So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed.


So we see here that God asked Moses to make an image so that those who dying could look up at the snake on a poll (which would look like a cross) and be healed. This is a prefigurement of Christ. And Jesus mentioned Himself in John 3:14-15 "As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

Just wanted to give everyone another example that making images is not necessarily bad unless you begin to consider the object itself as being God or above God. Which is also the reason why the bronze snake was destroyed.

2Ki 18:4 "He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor. "

God Bless
Robin

Answer 4

Cats carved from stone is the devils work!

My mom would go ballistic if any wooden figures were brought in the house, but I don't think she minded the stone animals.

Answer 5

Since Jesus never existed and there is no god like the one portrayed in any Abrahamic text, that means 1) these ARE false idols, and 2) the commandment itself has no substance.

Answer 6

I do. What about Nehushtan? It had a purpose that God intended, and it was OK. Then when people offered prayers to it, gave it a name, etc. all of a sudden it wasn't OK.

How would you explain that?

Answer 7

You Know, I have Wondered About That for Years!
(just haven't looked into it yet!)

AND Thanks to You (Thanks!) I won't have to!

Thank You Very Much!
And May GOD Bless You (financially) in The Name of Jesus!!!

(GOD can do that if HE wants to! I Prayed it in, it is Up to HIM Now!)

Answer 8

The only times graven images are a problem is when people pray to them. Praying to an image of Jesus is not the same as praying to him.

Answer 9

the difference is catholics bow and pray to those idols. And you pray to the Virgin Mary.