As Swenson observes, it is ‘religious tradition’ that is responsible for our talking of ‘the Ten Commandments’. There are many more than ten commandments in the Leviticus chapter, but even the versions in Exodus and Deuteronomy aren’t numbered as a clear list of ten. However, the Leviticus commandments are more numerous, including prohibition against making fun of those who are physically disabled (19:14 reads ‘Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind’) and the famous rule about not wearing two different fabrics together (19:19 reads ‘thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee’). The first two of these are the ones we tend to know, and are clearly where the list now known as the ‘Ten Commandments’ was derived from. We are to avoid any involvement with graven images.Of course, there are instances in the Bible where all of these things are treated with less than respect, but the moral meaning of the Ten Commandments is fairly clear.Īs Kristin Swenson points out in her endlessly informative A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible, there are in fact three biblical versions of the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:2-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21, and Leviticus chapter 19. Even good things, when worshipped above God, can become idols. In addition, various sinful practices are also forms of idolatry that must be avoided and replaced with habits that honor God. God condemns creating and worshiping idols. ![]() Christians are called to flee from these sins that serve as idols in our lives and pursue godly living (vv. 6) and these were practices of life before Christ (v. In Colossians 3:5 we find, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Judgment would result from such practices (v. Second, giving sin priority over God in our lives is called idolatry. ![]() First Peter 4:3 also states, "For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry." This is a practice the Bible clearly prohibits for those who follow Christ (1 Corinthians 10:7 Galatians 5:20). Is there any sense in which people continue to worship graven images today? First, there are still many cultures in which people literally worship idols. In terms of function, however, both were specifically considered idol worship and were forbidden throughout Scripture. The difference appears to be that a graven image is a carved idol whereas a molten image is an idol molded out of a substance such as silver or gold. Judges 18:14 makes a distinction between a graven image and a molten image. Leviticus 26:1 commands, "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God." Again, the reason for commands against graven images is because only the Lord is to be worshiped. In the King James Version of the Bible, graven images are specifically mentioned more than forty times, always condemning the practice of making or worshiping them. ![]() In contrast, God commanded His people to worship only the one, true God of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). In Egypt, for example, the Israelites would have been aware of many idols that were worshiped by the Egyptians. Such images or idols were common in ancient culture, particularly in the nations surrounding Israel during its wilderness journey. The words "graven image" are first found in Exodus 20:4 of the King James Version of the Bible: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." It is a phrase that literally refers to an idol, whether made of wood, stone, metal, silver, gold, or other items. The Ten Commandments mention a 'graven image.' What is a graven image?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |