Deuteronomy 5:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, out of reverence for the Word who became flesh for us, you may possess an image of Him to remind you of the one it depicts, directing your worship through that icon to the most sacred body of the Savior, who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Likewise, have images of the saints and honor them—not as deities, which would be idolatrous—but with appropriate reverence and devotion, elevating your thoughts through the image to that which is represented. Moses fashioned the images of the cherubim within the holy sanctuary (Ex. 25:18-20, Ex. 25:37). The most holy place served as a symbol of heavenly realities, and the accessible parts of the tabernacle reflected the cosmos. Moses regarded these elements of the tabernacle as sacred, offering praise not to the creations but to God, the Creator of the universe through them (Ex. 26:33; Num. 6:20; Heb. 9:1-5). In the same manner, do not worship the icons of Christ and the saints but, through them, worship first Him who fashioned us in His image, and then, in His boundless humanity, chose to renew that image within us and assumed it Himself. Venerate not only the image of God but also the representation of His cross. The cross stands as the emblem of the supreme victory of Christ over the adversary and all the forces of evil, such that when they encounter its likeness, they quiver and flee. This icon has revealed great glory and performed miraculous deeds during the age of the prophets, even before the initial image was manifested. At the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified upon it and is returning to judge the living and the dead, this magnificent and fearsome banner of His will also appear before Him, "with power and with much glory" (Matthew 24:30). Therefore, honor Him now, so that later you may look upon Him with hope and share in His glory. Also, regard the icons of the saints, who were crucified with the Lord, as they bear the marks of the cross, serving as a reminder that they shared in Christ’s sufferings. Likewise, honor the sacred burial places and their incorrupt holy remains; for the grace of God has not abandoned them, just as the Godhead did not forsake the sacred body of Christ during His life-giving death. By doing this and glorifying those who have honored God through their exemplary deeds of love, you yourself will be glorified by God alongside them, and you will sing with David: "Your friends have been honourable to me, O God" (Psalm 138:17).

a) Attachment to worldly things: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: he that loveth the world, in him is not the love of the Father. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of worldly things, is not of the Father, but is of this world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

b) Dependency on wealth: "Do not hope for robbery, and do not be conceited by plunder: when riches are multiplied, do not apply your heart to them" (Psalm 61:11). "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be zealous for the one and not care for the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).

c) Reliance on humanity: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to hope in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to hope in princes" (Psalm 117:8-9).

d) Indulgence in gluttony: "Their (enemies of the cross of Christ) end is destruction, their god is in the belly, and their glory is in shame; they think of earthly things" (Philippians 3:19).

e) Arrogance: "Every haughty heart is an abomination before the Lord; we can be sure that he will not go unpunished" (Proverbs 16:5). The faithful are inseparable from God’s love: "Who shall separate us from the love of God: tribulation, or affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?" (Romans 8:35). "For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor beginnings, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

We must place our trust solely in God.

a) The essence of faithfulness to God is encapsulated in "commit your way unto the Lord, and trust in Him, and He will perform" (Psalm 36:5).

b) Our motivation to trust derives from "behold, the hand of the Lord is not shrunken to save, neither is His ear weighed down to hear" (Isaiah 59:1). "Therefore be not anxious, nor say, What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or, What shall we put on? For all these things the Gentiles seek; and because your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:31-32). "Cast all your cares upon Him; for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).

c) The rewards of trusting in God include "I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10). "If I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 22:4). "He who dwells under the shelter of the Most High rests under the shadow of the Almighty. He says to the Lord, My refuge and my defence, my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 90:1-2). "And they that hope in the Lord shall be renewed in strength; they shall lift up their wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

The second commandment from God prohibits the creation of idols for the purpose of worship or service.

a) The types of idols intended are any representations of creatures, whether celestial, terrestrial, or aquatic, that are worshipped instead of God.

b) Such idolaters exist, like those who do not recognize the one true God. True Christians revere the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while others venerate lifeless idols. It is empty, vain, and sinful to engage in worship of these images, for they lack existence and cannot offer assistance, regardless of how much one supplicates to them. Hence, it is vital to worship the one living God and seek His presence.

c) We honor sacred images and icons solely through veneration—kissing them, bowing our heads and knees, lighting candles, and burning incense—as these images depict the true God in flesh, His pure Mother, and His holy ones. While we show respect for holy icons, we do not worship them; doing so would be a violation of God's second commandment, equating us with idolaters. We recognize that icons serve merely as reminders of God's presence and His deeds and that engaging with them helps us visualize the figures they represent. Through honoring the sacred image of the Theotokos, we offer our veneration to her as the Queen of Heaven. Icons, like sacred scriptures, guide us towards spiritual growth and salvation. Therefore, while honoring the icons of the saints, we direct our prayers and petitions to God and the holy figures represented.

d) Additionally, the term idols extends to anything we may love excessively—something that could cause us to forget God, neglect His commandments, or cease to love and hope in Him. If one's desires for food, drink, or indulgent pleasures dominate their focus, leading to the neglect of spiritual practices such as fasting and prayer, such desires become idols. Similarly, if one is consumed by wealth, prioritizing the pursuit of riches over divine connection, one serves mammon. Lastly, if pride and self-importance overshadow humility and reverence for others, then self becomes an idol.

In conclusion, dear listeners, let us not become ensnared by earthly desires or temporary pleasures. We will not find fulfillment in anything worldly, and such attachments may lead us away from God and His commandments. In fact, temporary, sensory, and worldly affairs hold no true value. Let us ensure that nothing is exalted to the level of an idol in our lives, for all else is empty and inconsequential compared to the divine.

Yet, despite His sternness towards the unfaithful, the Lord exhibits mercy to thousands for those who love Him and adhere to His commandments. This highlights a significant imbalance—His mercy vastly outweighs His justice. The Lord’s compassion reaches to countless families of those who sincerely revere Him, allowing them to inherit devotion from their ancestors or inspiring them to emulate their piety through the riches of His grace. In contrast, the repercussions of justice are limited to the third and fourth generations.