Exodus 20:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the Old Testament, Moses frequently emphasizes God's jealousy, as He proclaims, “I am jealous for Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:14). In the New Testament, Paul similarly expresses, “I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God” (2 Corinthians 11:2). This aspect alone should resonate with a soul that is not entirely broken or desperate, as it conveys a sense of both fear and comfort. Zeal originates from a profound and passionate love, serving as evidence of God's intense and earnest love and disposition. Divine jealousy is not merely an emotion; rather, it reflects the inexpressible nature of God's love, which He often conveys using such terminology.

Consequently, whenever punishment is intensified, it also highlights the existence of love. Consider the Egyptian woman, whose deep affection led her to inflict harsh punishment on Joseph (Genesis 39:12-20). Her motivations were driven by a selfish love, yet God's discipline stems from a righteous purpose, demonstrating His love for those who truly matter. To illustrate the depth of His love, God does not shy away from employing stronger language, choosing to describe Himself in human terms, including calling Himself jealous. “I am the Lord your God, a jealous God,” He declares. Therefore, let us love Him as He desires; this act is greatly valued by Him. Even when we stray from Him, He continues to reach out; when we are unresponsive, He disciplines us out of love, never for the sake of punishment alone. In Ezekiel, He speaks to the city He cherished yet was scorned by, saying, “I will gather all your lovers... I will deliver you into their hands... and they will stone you and cut you down... and My indignation will depart from you, and I will be quiet, and I will no longer be angry” (Ezekiel 16:37-42). Who could express more fervent love than a devoted friend abandoned by his beloved yet still consumed by love? God does all to draw us toward Him; He even withheld not His Son for this purpose. However, we are often resistant and hard-hearted. Let us finally embrace humility and love God as we ought, enabling us to savor virtue with great delight.

Regarding the concept of transferring the sins of the father to the children for the third and fourth generation of those who oppose Me, this does not imply that any child is punished for the sins of another. Instead, it highlights that, despite warnings and punishment, these individuals failed to improve and instead chose to deed themselves to sin, thereby deserving of similar consequences.

Nevertheless, if children adopt the ways of their fathers and partake in their wickedness, then clearly sin reaches them as well.

While it may occur that God, in His greatness and through His loving-kindness, spares the former from punishment, He may justly direct His wrath towards the latter, which was rightfully deserved by that sinful generation. Thus, He instilled a sense of awe by identifying Himself as a jealous God, but He also reassured them in their faith by promising to show "mercy in thousands to them that love Him."

What does it mean when it is said that God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5)? The law represents the husband, while the people symbolize the wife. The Almighty teaches us this, as spoken through Isaiah, 'What is the book of your mother's divorce?' (Isaiah 50:1). And through Jeremiah: Just as a wife may forsake her spouse, so too will the house of Israel and the house of Judah forsake Me, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 3:20). Moreover, if a husband releases his wife and she marries another, will she return to him? Will that wife be pure and not defiled? Yet you have become unfaithful to many shepherds, and you have returned to Me, says the Lord (Jeremiah 3:1). The apostle also states, 'The law has authority over a person only while he lives. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning her husband. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead' (Rom. 7:1-4). Thus, God describes Himself as a jealous God—using human language—while at the same time imploring the Israelites to remain faithful. Like a husband who urges his careless wife, saying, 'I am jealous; I cannot bear to see you converse with another man,' so the Almighty seeks to protect them from idolatry and refers to Himself not only as jealous but also as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). His jealousy is rooted in profound love, as expressed through Ezekiel: 'My fervor will be extinguished against you because of this' (Ezekiel 16:42)—that is, while I loved you, I was jealous; but when I turned away from you, My jealousy ceased. The same sentiment is echoed through another prophet: 'I will not punish your daughters when they commit fornication, nor your brides when they engage in adultery' (Hosea 4:14). Therefore, love is demonstrated through jealousy.

Is it just for children to be punished for their fathers' sins? The Lord God of judgments has many penalties, as the Divine Scriptures show. It is written, 'Every uncircumcised male who is not circumcised on this day shall be cut off' (Gen. 17:14). Yet we see that those who were circumcised perished numerous times in the wilderness, while the uncircumcised received the promises granted to their forefathers, for Jesus circumcised them in Gilgal. Thus, God warned those with leaven in their homes of certain destruction (Exodus 12:15), but did not carry out the threat as stated. Likewise, for those who love their children, God threatens them, declaring, 'I will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.' Yet God teaches us to understand beyond mere letters, affirming, 'Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each shall be put to death for his own sin' (Deuteronomy 24:16). And through the prophet Ezekiel, He states: 'What do you mean by this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? As I live, declares the Lord, this proverb shall no longer be used in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die' (Ezekiel 18:2-4). The essence of these words emphasizes the Lord’s intent. However, the threats suggest more of God's compassion, as they are addressed to those who oppose Him; that is, I am patient with those fathers who sin, as well as their sons. Yet, if the grandchildren are envious of their fathers' iniquities, I will bring judgment upon them.

Orthodox: To whom and when was this addressed? It was given to those who were bound by the law before the arrival of grace and raised to the understanding of one God when the Lord had yet to manifest in the flesh. This was intended for those who, through Adam, were becoming part of the chosen lineage, to help steer them away from the depths of polytheism. They were reminded that there is one God and Father of all, "whom no man hath seen, neither can any man see" (1 Tim. 6:16), as Scripture affirms. He has no form, image, or limitation that can be grasped by human understanding. Indeed, it is rightly asked, "To whom shall ye liken the Lord? And to what likeness shall ye liken him?" (Isaiah 40:18). I refrain from mentioning that not every prohibition regarding God applies similarly to everything else. The Lord who previously forbade this to Moses later commanded, "And thou shalt make," instructing, "two cherubim of gold sculptured,... having them spread their wings upward, covering the mercy seat, and their faces toward one another" (Exodus 25:18-22). Additionally, in Numbers, it says, "And thou shalt make for thyself a serpent of brass, and shalt put it upon a banner: and it shall come to pass, if a serpent bite a man, every man that is bitten shall live. And Moses made a brass serpent, and put it upon the banner: and it came to pass, when the serpent bit a man, and he looked upon the brass serpent, he lived" (Numbers 21:8-9). These are scriptural truths. Though angels lack a physical body like ours, and though the serpent, which mystically symbolizes Christ, is significantly different in appearance, if God endorsed the ancient representation of Himself through the serpent, would it not be acceptable and fitting for an image reflecting His human form to be created since He took on our humanity? If simply gazing at a serpent could bring healing to those bitten, wouldn’t the sight of a holy image of Christ have even greater sanctifying power for those who behold it?

Heretic: Does this not imply that God contradicts Himself?

Orthodox: What folly! The prohibition applies to depicting God through any object resembling any creature, such as the sun, moon, and stars, which are part of idolatry. The allowance pertains to guiding Israel, through images and statues, toward the worship and contemplation of the one true God. Wasn't the design of the entire tabernacle—a vision shown by God to Moses filled with symbolism—a clear intention for spiritual service?

In love for Him, create an image of Christ, who became incarnate for our sake, to help you remember and worship Him; through this icon, lift your thoughts to the exalted body of the Saviour, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Similarly, create icons of the saints and honor them—not as deities, which would be inappropriate— but as a testament to your love and respect for them. This honors their memory and moves your mind toward them through their images, just as Moses fashioned cherubic images and placed them in the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was an illustration of the divine, while the accessible parts of the tabernacle represented the entire world. Moses called these sections holy, not to glorify the creations, but to honor God, the Creator of the universe through them.

Therefore, do not worship the icons of our Lord Christ or the saints as though they are gods; rather, through them, let your worship ascend to the Creator, who made humanity in His image, and who, in His unfathomable humanity, chose to restore that image in us when He assumed it Himself. Also, honor not only the image of Christ but the image of His cross, for it symbolizes Christ's ultimate victory over Satan and all hostile powers; even the enemies tremble at the sight of it. This image was exalted and performed wonders during the time of the prophets, well before the first icon appeared. At the second coming of our crucified Lord, who will come to judge the living and the dead, this powerful and awe-inspiring banner will also be revealed ‘with power and great glory’ (Matthew 24:30).

Revere Him now, so that you may look upon Him with confidence and be honored with glory alongside Him. Likewise, venerate the icons of the saints, who were crucified with Christ, bearing the marks of the cross on their countenance, reminding you that they participated in His sufferings. Honor also the sacred tombs of the saints and their incorruptible relics, for the grace of God remains with them, just as the divine essence did not abandon the holy body of Christ at the time of His life-giving death. In doing so, and by celebrating those who have glorified God through their admirable works, you too will receive glorification from God, and you will join in singing with David: ‘Your friends have been honorable to me, O God’ (Psalm 138:17)."

Additionally, those who limit their faith to superficial aspects and overlook the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faith—are likewise accountable (Matthew 23:23).

Moreover, those who are misled by dreaming illusions are also in error, along with those who are driven by passion and desires for images and idols that take root in their minds, as observed by St. Nicodemus.

The apostle Paul states that greed is akin to idolatry (Colossians 3:5) because a selfish individual serves wealth more diligently than they serve the Lord. What stands in contrast to greed? The second commandment forbids greed and thus advocates for love and generosity. Why is gluttony at odds with the second commandment? Gluttony is related to idolatry, as those who indulge excessively place sensual gratification above all else; hence, the apostle indicates that their god is their belly (Philippians 3:19), meaning their belly becomes their idol. What counters gluttony? By forbidding gluttony, the second commandment promotes moderation and fasting. Why do pride and vanity conflict with the second commandment? Pride and vanity connect to idolatry because the arrogant person esteems their own talents and advantages above all, making these attributes idols; and the vain individual desires recognition for this idol from others. The prideful disposition was starkly illustrated by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who erected a golden image of himself and commanded all to bow in worship (see Daniel 3:1-6). What sin is closely associated with idolatry? A sin closely related to idolatry is hypocrisy, wherein a person engages in outward expressions of piety, such as fasting and adhering strictly to rituals, seeking the admiration of others instead of focusing on the inner transformation of their heart (Matthew 6:5-7). What counters pride, vanity, and hypocrisy? The second commandment condemns pride, vanity, and hypocrisy, thereby encouraging humility and the practice of good deeds in secret.

What types of idols are being referenced here? Any representation of created beings, whether celestial, terrestrial, or aquatic, that is revered and served in place of the true God. Do individuals worship and serve these images? Indeed, there are those who do; for instance, those who do not recognize the true God partake in such practices. Christians, however, direct their worship towards the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while idolaters serve lifeless images. The reverence given to such idols is vanity and sinful. An idol is not God; it is merely a false representation, completely devoid of existence. Consequently, no matter the amount of devotion one feels toward an idol, it is powerless and cannot assist humanity. An idol, being nothing, is unworthy of reverence or respect. We ought to worship the one true God and seek the living God.

How do we regard holy images and icons? We honor holy icons by venerating them; this includes kissing them, bowing our heads and knees, lighting candles, and offering incense. We do this to show reverence for these icons, which represent the true God, His immaculate Mother, and His saints. While we honor these holy icons, we do not worship them. Should we begin to worship icons, we would transgress the second commandment, resembling idolaters, and offend God by believing that the icon itself possesses divine power or can grant salvation. Rather, icons serve as reminders of God and His deeds, allowing us to visualize and connect with the figures they represent. In venerating the pure image of the Mother of God, we honor her, the Queen of Heaven. Without the icons of saints, we would be nearly as deprived as without the Scriptures themselves. Icons, like sacred texts, help us to see, learn, and remember what is essential for our salvation. Therefore, when we gaze upon the icons of saints and pray before them, we should direct our hearts to God and the saints depicted—acknowledging our worship, honor, and reverence for them.

Moreover, what else might be encompassed by the term "idols," which the commandments warn against? Idols can also represent anything that we excessively love or venerate, to the extent that we forget God, neglect His commandments, and lose sight of loving Him and placing our hopes in Him. If one excessively indulges in physical pleasures, treating bodily satisfaction as paramount, their appetite becomes an idol. Likewise, if one becomes obsessed with wealth to the point of placing financial gain above spiritual commitments, then wealth is an idol for them, akin to how an idolater serves false gods. If one idolizes themselves, prioritizing their own desires over others', pride becomes their idol. In truth, anything that we elevate too highly can become an idol. Therefore, let us, dear listeners, refrain from clinging to earthly, fleeting pleasures. Nothing of this world holds true merit, and such attachments may lead us to forget God and neglect His commandments. Transitory and sensual things do not merit our devotion.

Let us ensure that we establish no idol for ourselves, as all else is meaningless except for God and the divine.