Q49. What is the second commandment?
The second commandment is: "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth below or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments."
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Exodus 20:4–6
“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: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
Parent Guide
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Discussion Questions
- 1
What is the second commandment?
- 2
What is the difference between the first commandment and the second commandment?
- 3
Why do you think God calls himself a "jealous God" in this commandment?
Illustration
The first commandment tells us who to worship. The second commandment tells us how to worship. If your parent told you to clean your room, they would not be pleased if you cleaned the garage instead and called it the same thing. God cares about being worshipped his way.
Application
God is jealous for his people the way a parent is jealous for a child's safety. He will not share his worship with anything made by human hands. Ask him to help you worship him the way he has commanded in his Word.