Exodus 20:4–6: No Idols Before the Living God
The no-idols command in Exodus 20:4–6 is about worship, not decoration. God refuses to be reduced to an object his people control, and he sets judgment and steadfast love side by side.
Exodus 20:4–6: Images, Idols, and Pictures of Jesus
The second commandment targets images made for reverence and service, not every carved or painted thing. The real question about pictures of Jesus is what the image is for and what the heart does with it.
Exodus 20:4–6: Idols, Images and Worship
The second commandment targets images made and used as objects of worship, not every carved or painted thing. God anchors the boundary in who he is and in his zeal for his own honor.