Idolatry

Given over to the worship of Idols - I John 5:16 – 5:21 (commentary)

John was probably writing to believers in the city of Ephesus, a city given over to the worship of Idols. In the city of Ephesus stood the Temple of Diana. The Ephesians were proud of the structure and the prominence it gave to their city. Few people today, bow to idols of …

The Lord’s Indictment Against Hypocrisy - Psalms 50:16 – 50:23 (commentary)

In the previous verses, we were told how dead works are judged. Now we are told how wickedness is judged (v. 16). The inadequacy of the old sacrificial system is especially shown by the list of sins given in these verses: 1. Hateful attitudes - (v. 17)2. Sharing with th …

The Trustworthiness of God - Psalms 115:1 – 115:18 (commentary)

Some Bible scholars think this psalm was written in the days of King Jehoshaphat (II Chron. 20) when the surrounding nations mobilized against that godly King of Judah. These surrounding people were all idolaters and Judah itself had been infected by their influence. However, ...

Eating Meat Offered to Idols - I Corinthians 10:14 – 10:22 (commentary)

Paul returns to the subject with which this letter began - the eating of meat offered to idols. In expressing their Christian liberty, some of the Corinthians were living dangerously close to idolatry. Paul says that it is true that an idol is nothing, but the ones behind …

Abominations in the Temple - Ezekiel 8:1 – 8:6 (commentary)

A series of visions by Ezekiel begin in chapters 8-11, relating particularly to the evils in Jerusalem among those not yet in exile. Chapter 8 concerns itself with the abominable kinds of idolatry currently practiced in Jerusalem. In fact, it was happening in the very Tem …

Idolatry is Foolishness - Isaiah 44:9 – 44:20 (commentary)

In this passage Isaiah describes how people make their own god’s. This exposure of idolatry is the most powerful in the Bible. How absurd to make a god from the same tree that gives firewood. It shows how those who make idols are just like them: blind and ignorant and not …

The Fallacy of Worshiping Idols - Jeremiah 10:1 – 10:11 (commentary)

The prophet concludes his temple message by painting a picture of the broad scope of God’s relationship to the nations (vv. 1-11), to nature (vv. 12-13), and to mankind (vv. 14-25). He brings a charge on the fallacy of worshiping idols. God addressed the house of Israel wit …

Persuading Others to Sin - Habakkuk 2:15 – 2:20 (commentary)

Two more woes are pronounced on the Babylonians: This fourth woe is pronounced upon them because of their treatment of their neighbors. “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink.” (vv 15-17).This fifth woe is pronounced upon the Chaldeans because of th …

Do Not Listen to False Prophets - Deuteronomy 13:1 – 13:18 (commentary)

The key phrase in Deuteronomy 13 is, “Let us go after other gods” (vv. 2,6,13). The Israelites were warned not to listen to false prophets or to anyone else who tried to get them to worship other gods (vv. 2-11). Loved ones and friends can be especially persuasive. But love for relatives should not ...