Exploring the Commandments Part 4-Idols

For the backstory of what this blog series is on and why it has been written, check out part 1 and part 2 of the series. The original list of all 613 commandments in their textual order that I used came from the site Hebrew4Christians. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html> 

My second category deals with idols. Not only are we instructed to not make or minister to idols, we aren’t to discuss, think about, or worship idols. Even cutting stones for an altar to God can become an idol if we aren’t careful. We have one God, therefore we aren't to ask other “gods” to save us. We aren’t to practice the religion of those who practice idolatry.

# 2 Commandments Concerning Idols: When I sorted the commandments, I came up with 21 about idols.

1.    Don’t make an idol. (Exodus 20:4, 20:23)

2.    Don’t worship the idol you’re not supposed to make, even if it’s an image representing God (Exodus 20:5, Leviticus 26:1)

3.    Don’t worship other gods or practice other faiths (Exodus 23:13, Leviticus 20:23)

4.    Death is better than blasphemy, murder, and idolatry (Leviticus 22:32)

5.    Don’t think about, speak about, or touch idols (Exodus 23:13, Leviticus 19:4)

6.    If making an altar, use uncut stones, so they won’t become an idol (Exodus 20:25)

7.    We shouldn’t lure people to idolatry (Deut. 13:12)
 

Parsons, John J.. "Taryag Mitzvot 613 Commandments of Torah." Hebrew4Christians. Web. 2004. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html>.