The Ten
Commandments
Commandment #2
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (any
idol)…Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them.”EXODUS 20:4, 5
The First Commandment tells us that we are to have
no other gods before God. The Second Commandment
tells us that we are not to make any images or idols
to represent God or other spirits. We are not to bow
down to them, nor serve them. We are not to worship
any object that we can see, touch, or feel. The
Bible says,
“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only
shalt thou serve.”
MATTHEW 4:10
God is a Spirit-being. We cannot see Him or touch
Him. When God spoke to His chosen people long ago,
the Bible says that they saw “no image or form.”
All idols are hateful to God. They rob God of the
worship that we owe Him as our Creator. If God
created us, then He certainly should have first
place in our lives. There is not a single time in
the Bible where a man was allowed to bow down to or
to worship anyone other than the God of Heaven and
Jesus Christ, His Son.
We should, however, realize that there are other
kinds of idols besides those that are made by men’s
hands. Whatever we love more than we love God is our
idol. We can make an idol out of success, money,
beauty, popularity, or even our family and friends.
Alcohol, drugs, and sex can become idols as well.
Whatever comes before God in your life is your god.
Many people make a god of money. That is what they
work for and live for. Others make a god of
pleasure. Whatever shuts God out of your life,
whatever comes between you and God, is an idol in
your life. God will not accept a divided heart.
Jesus said,
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will
hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the other….”
MATTHEW 6:24
Our duty to God is to love, worship, and serve Him
and no other. He refuses to be one of several gods
or even the chief of many gods. He says,
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and My glory will I
not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images.” ISAIAH 42:8
