Image created by AI via ideogram.ai.
One of the most common challenges thrown at Catholics goes like this: *“Doesn’t the Bible say not to make graven images?
So why do Catholics use statues, crucifixes, and icons?”*
It’s a fair question. But once you actually walk through the Scriptures, the supposed contradiction dissolves.
God did indeed forbid idols — yet He also commanded the making of sacred images. The difference is not in the artwork itself, but in its purpose.
The Command Against Idols
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He was crystal clear:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above… You shall not bow down to them or serve them.”
— Exodus 20:4–5
This was not about art in general.
The prohibition is tied directly to worship.
God was cutting Israel off from pagan practices, where people bowed down to statues and treated them as gods.
The Command to Make Cherubim
Just a few chapters later, however, the same God gave Moses detailed instructions:
“And you shall make two cherubim of gold… The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat.”
— Exodus 25:18–20
Yes—didn’t He just say “no images”?
Yes. But this wasn’t an idol. These cherubim sat on the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies, as heavenly guardians pointing Israel to God’s throne.
Nobody bowed to the cherubim; Israel bowed to the God who dwelt above them.
Sacred Art Throughout the Temple
God’s house was filled with visual reminders of His glory:
- Exodus 26:31 – The tabernacle veil embroidered with cherubim.
- 1 Kings 6:23–29 – Solomon’s Temple filled with giant cherubim, palm trees, and flowers.
- 1 Kings 7:29, 36 – Lions, oxen, cherubim, and trees carved into Temple furnishings.
- 2 Chronicles 3:7, 10–14 – More cherubim and woven designs adorning the sanctuary.
- Ezekiel 41:17–20 – A visionary Temple, covered wall to wall with cherubim and palms.
Far from banning images altogether, God wanted His people surrounded with sacred art that lifted their minds to heaven.
The Bronze Serpent Example
Perhaps the clearest case is the bronze serpent:
- Numbers 21:8–9 – God commands Moses to make a bronze serpent; those who looked on it lived.
- 2 Kings 18:4 – Centuries later, King Hezekiah destroys it because Israel started worshiping it.
The same image that once brought healing became an idol when the people misplaced their worship. This shows the true principle: art isn’t the problem; idolatry is.
Why This Matters for Catholics
When Catholics display a crucifix, kneel before a statue of Mary, or venerate icons, we are not worshiping stone, wood, or paint.
These images are sacred reminders—visual sermons, if you will—pointing us beyond themselves to Christ and His saints.
The Bible doesn’t condemn sacred art. In fact, it commands it. What God forbids is treating art as God.
Key Takeaway:
The Ten Commandments ban idols, not imagery. God Himself ordered the making of cherubim, the bronze serpent, and Temple art. The Church continues in that same tradition, using sacred images not as gods, but as windows into the reality of heaven.
Image created by AI via ideogram.ai.
Both images in this post are generated by AI using ideogram.ai.
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