The second commandment is found in Exodus 20:4-6 which states, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
The key aspects of this commandment are:
- Do not make idols or images to represent God.
- Do not worship idols or images as gods.
- God is jealous and will punish idolatry.
- God blesses those who love Him and keep His commandments.
The commandment prohibits making physical idols or images to represent the divine. This includes statues, sculptures, paintings, drawings or anything intended for use in worship. The ancient pagan nations around Israel used idols and images in their worship practices, but God expressly forbids this for His people. He is spiritual in nature and no man-made image can properly reflect His majesty and glory.
The commandment also prohibits the worship of idols or images as gods. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites struggled with idolatry as they were tempted to adopt the worship practices of the nations around them. But God demands exclusive devotion – He alone is God and there is no other. Therefore, worshiping anything or anyone other than the one true God breaks this commandment.
In giving this command, God reveals that He is a jealous God who does not share His glory nor tolerate rivals. His people are to worship Him alone. God promised to punish idolatry down to the third and fourth generations, indicating its seriousness. But He also promised to show love to those who love Him and keep His commandments down to thousands of generations, indicating His abundant blessings for obedience.
The command against idolatry applies not just to physical idols but also to anything that takes the place of God in our hearts and minds. Covetousness, greed, immorality or worshiping material things above God would all break this command today. The call is for complete and exclusive devotion to God. Idolatry in any form is offensive to our holy, jealous God who demands that He alone is God.
The meaning and application of the second commandment includes:
- God alone is worthy of worship.
- God is spiritual and cannot be represented by idols or images.
- Idolatry in any form is offensive to God.
- Coveting or prioritizing anything above God breaks this command.
- God demands exclusive devotion.
- Idolatry will be punished but obedience will be blessed.
The command requires acknowledging God alone as God, avoiding any form of idolatry and demonstrating complete and exclusive devotion to Him. This honors His holiness, majesty and glory as the one true living God who called Israel to be His own possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6).
The New Testament also emphasizes the importance of avoiding idolatry and living in exclusive devotion to God:
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14)
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21)
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:21)
Just as in the Old Testament, the New Testament writers knew the temptation and danger of idols. As new believers came out of idol-worshiping backgrounds, they had to leave behind those practices which were incompatible with their new faith.
Paul also knew that covetousness could take the form of idolatry when anything else takes the primary place in our hearts rather than God:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27-2:7)
James knew that empty religious practices were worthless if not accompanied by a changed heart and practical love for others. The command to avoid idolatry and cling to God alone matters just as much, if not more, to New Testament believers as it did to ancient Israel.
This commandment remains relevant for Christians today. While idol worship may look different in modern Western culture, the temptation remains to allow other priorities to subtly take the place of God in our hearts. Career ambition, wealth, relationships, entertainment, sports and achievements can all become idols if we devote ourselves to them above God. These are good things, but dangerous masters. This command calls believers to carefully examine their lives and repent from anything that has become more foundational than God Himself.
The true meaning of the second commandment is that God alone deserves worship as the one true living God. This worship is demonstrated through constant, exclusive love for and allegiance to God above all else. Honoring God requires intentionally keeping Him first in all areas of life and avoiding any form of idolatry in which anything else subtly takes His rightful place. The purpose of this command is to protect the covenant relationship between God and His people that honors His glory as the Lord and forms the foundation for all other areas of life. The sobering truth is that God is jealous for our wholehearted worship, and He will not accept divided loyalties. But the glorious news is that when we love Him above all else, we experience the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:8).
In summary, the key points regarding the meaning and application of the second commandment include:
- God alone is worthy of worship as the one true living God.
- Do not make idols or images intended for worship.
- Avoid idolatry in any form – worshiping anything other than God.
- Do not covet or prioritize anything above your devotion to God.
- God demands that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength as He alone is God.
- Be vigilant to identify and repent from anything becoming an idol in your life.
- This honors God’s glory and protects the covenant relationship with Him.
- Obedience results in knowing Christ as surpassing greatness.
- Disobedience will be severely punished.
The second commandment provides an essential foundation for honoring God’s glory and fostering an exclusive love for Him as His treasured possession. The true meaning and application of this timeless command remains pertinent for directing the hearts of God’s people toward Him alone.
