Q. 16. What is meant by the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image”?
We should not worship images, use them superstitiously, or make any image at all of God’s invisible divine nature. We should worship God in the ways which he has appointed in his Word, and look to God alone for our hope, happiness, and security.
For God is sovereign over us, has a rightful claim to our lives and devotion, and is zealous for his own worship.
Exodus 34:13–14; Leviticus 19:4; 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15–19; 12:31–32; Psalm 115:4–8; Isaiah 40:18; 42:8; 44:9–10; 46:5–7; Jeremiah 10:14–15; Jonah 2:8–9; Habakkuk 2:18; John 4:24; Romans 1:21–25; Acts 2:42; 17:29; Revelation 22:8–9.
- WSC 50–52
- Heidelberg Catechism 96–98.
NOTES: Worship. “The second commandment is concerning the ordinances of worship, or the way in which God will be worshipped, which it is fitting that he himself should appoint” (Wesley). “With the first commandment, God declared that He alone, and no one beside Him, should be worshiped: so now He shows us the correct form of worship, in order that He may draw us away from all superstitions, and carnal ceremonies” (Geneva Catechism 149).
Images … superstitiously. The second commandment does not prohibit all religious artwork or images of Jesus Christ. Although “no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18), the Son of God “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). We may make images of Christ according to the human nature which he assumed in the incarnation, so long as we do not bow down to them, serve them, worship them, or use them superstitiously.
Invisible divine nature. God is an invisible spirit, “without body” (Q. 5), and forbids us from foolishly attempting to depict his invisible divine nature, as if God was a part of the physical or material creation. “Watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female” (Deuteronomy 4:15–16). “There is no resemblance between Him who is eternal Spirit and incomprehensible, and corporal, dead, corruptible and visible matter” (Geneva Catechism 145).
Look to God alone. Not all idols are images. An idol is any created thing that we rely on for our hope, happiness, and security instead of the Creator. “Whatever takes our heart from him, or shares it with him, is an idol; or, in other words, whatever we seek happiness in independent of God” (Wesley, Sermon 78, “Spiritual Idolatry”).
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