God specifically commanded Moses to make cherubim in His tabernacle as a copy of the way it is in heaven (Exodus 25:18-22; Hebrews 8:5; Ezekiel 10; 11; Psalm 99:1; Isaiah 37:16). Similarly to the Tabernacle, David told Solomon he had received plans for the temple from God “by the Spirit” (1 Chronicles 28:12) and “in writing from the LORD’s hand” (1 Chronicles 28:19). As a result, Solomon also carved cherubim in the walls of the first temple and made two cherubim in the Most Holy Place (2 Chronicles 3:7, 10-14). Similarly, God specifically commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8), but this was later destroyed after the people were idolising it (2 Kings 18:4). These objects and images were never intended to be “venerated”, or worshipped; they were made solely in obedience to God’s command for His specific purposes.

Meanwhile, today’s “icons” (or images) and idols are often prayed to, kissed, have incense burnt to them, and are adored. Furthermore, God’s second commandment explicitly forbids making images and idols for the purpose of bowing down to or serving them (Exodus 20:4-5). The Bible forbids making images and idols for worship, as substitutes for God, or as objects of devotion, and the serving of such images, all of which is idolatry. Common practices like praying to dead saints (even though Scripture teaches there is only one mediator, Christ Jesus—1 Timothy 2:5; and that the dead know nothing—Ecclesiastes 9:5), wearing or, for example, carrying or placing in your car or house religious objects such as icons or crosses for protection or special power, using items like rosary beads as prayer aids, or appealing to Mary (who has died) to intercede in place of Jesus, are all violations of God’s word in the Bible, idolatry, and in some cases necromancy.

The cherubim in the tabernacle and temple, and even the bronze serpent, were made by God’s command for specific purposes, not as objects or images of worship. When people later gave a name and burned incense to the bronze serpent, it became idolatrous, and righteous King Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4). This shows that even something God commanded to be made can become an idol if people misuse it.

As for artistic depictions of Jesus, Scripture nowhere commands, commends, or even shows the slightest example of creating images of God or Christ for “veneration”. In fact, it specifically warns against such practices numerous times; see, for example, John 4:23-24; Acts 17:29-31; Habakkuk 2:18-20. Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), not a painted, carved, or sculpted likeness based on man’s imagination. He is the living God, before all things, and in Him all things are held together (Colossians 1:17). Furthermore, the common portrayal of Jesus with long hair is misleading and dishonouring, as Scripture clearly states that it is a disgrace for a man to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). Jesus, in His heavenly, glorified form, is depicted with hair “like pure wool” in Daniel 7:9 (refer also to Revelation 1:14), not with long, flowing, feminine hair. Furthermore, how can we verify the accuracy of these depictions of His supposed earthly form, and therefore, how can such images avoid violating the command to worship God in spirit and truth (refer to John 4:23-24)?

Therefore, the cherubim and the bronze serpent were obediently made according to God’s command for His purposes, not as objects or images of worship to be bowed down to, prayed to, and served. But making and worshipping images and idols, as is common practice today, is fundamentally different and violates God’s command against idolatry.