## Lord’s Day 35
### 96. Q. What is God’s will for us in the second commandment?

**A**. That we in no way make any image of God <sup>1</sup> nor worship him in any other way than has been commanded in God’s Word.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Deut. 4:15–19](/References/Bible/05%20-%20Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy4.md#15); [Isa. 40:18–25](/References/Bible/23%20-%20Isaiah/Isaiah40.md#18); [Acts 17:29](/References/Bible/44%20-%20Acts/Acts17.md#29); [Rom. 1:22–23](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans1.md#22)
<sup>2</sup> [Lev. 10:1–7](/References/Bible/03%20-%20Leviticus/Leviticus10.md); [1 Sam. 15:22–23](/References/Bible/9%20-%201Samuel/1Samuel15.md#22); [John 4:23–24](/References/Bible/43%20-%20John/John4.md#23)

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### 97. Q. May we then not make any image at all?

**A**. God cannot and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Although creatures may be portrayed, yet God forbids making or having such images in order to worship them or serve God through them.<sup>1</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ex. 34:13–14, 17](/References/Bible/02%20-%20Exodus/Exodus34.md#13); [2 Kings 18:4–5](/References/Bible/12%20-%202Kings/2Kings18.md#4)

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### 98. Q. But may not images, as books for the unlearned, be permitted in churches?

**A**. No, we should not try to be wiser than God.He wants the  Christian community instructed by the living preaching of his Word<sup>1</sup>—not by idols that cannot even talk.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Rom. 10:14–15, 17](/References/Bible/45%20-%20Romans/Romans10.md#14); [2 Tim. 3:16–17](/References/Bible/55%20-%202Timothy/2Timothy3.md#16); [2 Pet. 1:19](/References/Bible/61%20-%202Peter/2Peter1.md#19)
<sup>2</sup> [Jer. 10:8](/References/Bible/24%20-%20Jeremiah/Jeremiah10.md#8); [Hab. 2:18–20](/References/Bible/35%20-%20Habakkuk/Habakkuk2.md#18)
