Old Testament Reading: Exodus 22:1–15

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution. If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man’s house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, an oath by the LORD shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn. If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee.” (Exodus 22:1–15, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 19:1-10

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” (Luke 19:1–10, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

It was back in Luke 18:18-23 that we encountered the sad story of the rich young ruler who, after asking Jesus the question, what must I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18), and after receiving Jesus’ reply (Luke 18:20-22), walked away very sad because he was extremely rich (Luke 18:23). Since then we have encountered two very happy stories involving the conversion and salvation of two individuals. In Luke 18:35-43, we are told that Christ healed a blind beggar. Luke reports that the man cried out to Jesus for mercy, that Christ spoke to him, saying, “‘Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God” (Luke 18:42–43, ESV). Here in Luke 19:1-10, we hear of the conversion and salvation of another man—a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus. 

Please imagine these three men—the rich young ruler, the blind beggar, and the tax collector—standing side by side. Now I ask you, which of these three would the Jews of Jesus’ day have expected to have the favor of God on them and life eternal? No doubt, it would be the rich young ruler.  This man was wealthy, powerful, and religiously devout (at least in an external way). Many in Jesus’ day would have considered the poor blind man to be cursed of God. Most Jews would have dispised the tax collector. Tax collectors were viewed by the Jews as traitors, given their willingness to work for the Roman Government. Many tax collectors were extortioners—they would take even more than what Rome demanded in order to enrich themselves—and so they were greatly despised by the people.

Luke set the stories of the rich young ruler, the blind beggar, and Zacchaeus the tax collector side by side in his Gospel to teach us a lesson. As we consider these stories we learn what is required to enter the kingdom of Christ and obtain eternal life. As we consider these stories we see that it is not the self-righteous or those who possess earthy power and wealth who will enter Christ’s kingdom and have life eternal, but the humble, lowly, repentant, and faithful ones. He we learn that to obtain life eternal one must see their need for Christ, cry out to him for mercy, turn from their sins, and follow after him, trusting him for the forgiveness of their sins, and in so doing, receiving the gift of life everlasting. 

You are probably accustomed to hearing the good news that salvation comes to those who turn from their sins to trust in Jesus, but to many of the Jews of Jesus’ day, and to many who do not believe in Christ today, this teaching sounds radical. The prevailing notion is that it is those who are good and righteous in themselves who will enter into life eternal. These stories prove that idea wrong. The truth is, it is only those who are humble and contrite, who see their need for a savior and recognize that Jesus is the Savior, who turn from their sins to trust in him, who will inherit life everlasting in the blessed presence of God. 

The Story Of Zacchaeus The Chief Tax Collector

The story of Zacchaeus is very instructive. 

 What do we know about this man, Zacchaeus?

In verses 1 and 2 of our text, we learn that he lived in or near the town of Jericho. This town was on the road leading up to Jerusalem. It was very wealthy a and pleasant place to live. We are also told that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. At this time in history, the land of Israel, and the Jews who lived there, were under Roman occupation. As it is in every nation, the Romans required those who lived in their domain to pay taxes. These taxes would be collected by men appointed as tax collectors. The Jews despised Jewish tax collectors because they worked for the enemy. They were regarded as traitors. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. This means he was a high-ranking tax collector who had been placed in charge of other tax collectors. For this, he must have been doubly despised. Furthermore, Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was rich. Judging by what is said in the remainder of this passage, I think it is safe to assume that he gained at least some of his wealth dishonestly and by taking advantage of others. 

What did Zacchaeus do in this story?

In verse 3 we read, “And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature” (Luke 19:3, ESV). I can relate to Zacchaeus on this level—he was a short man. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he could not. The crowds were too large and he could not see over them to get a glimpse of Jesus. In verse 4 we read, “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see [Jesus], for he was about to pass that way” (Luke 19:4, ESV). 

One question we should ask is, what was the condition of Zacchaeus’ heart or soul as he went to these great lengths to catch a glimpse of Jesus? I do believe that at this point, Zacchaeus was merely curious about Jesus. As you probably know, many of those in the crowd who followed Jesus at this point in his ministry would fall away from him when he went to the cross. Clearly, many in the crowds were only curious about him. Some hoped that he would do great things, but their hopes were worldly. They had no place in their minds and hearts for a Savior who would suffer and call his followers to do the same, and so they fell away when he went to the cross. These did not possess true, lasting, and saving faith. Into which category should we place Zacchaeus? I do believe that at this moment in time—the moment in time wherein Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a sycamore tree—he was driven, not by true faith, but by curiosity.  

What did Zacchaeus do? Being driven by curiosity, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. 

The real question is not, what did  Zacchaeus do to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but what did the Lord do for Zacchaeus to enable him truly to see?

In verse 5 we read, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5, ESV). These are precious words. Notice a few things about them: 

One, the thing that makes all the difference in this story is not that Zacchaeus saw Jesus, but that Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Of all the people surrounding him, Jesus fixed his eyes on Zacchaeus. Had this not happened, Zacchaeus would have remained just one person in a large crowd who had the privilege of seeing Jesus Christ with his natural eyes. If on that day, Zacchaeus was blessed to fix his eyes on Jesus, but Jesus did not fix his eyes on him, this story would have never been told and we would not know this man’s name! The important thing is not that Zacchaeus saw Jesus, but that Jesus fixed his eyes on him.

Two, Jesus did not merely see Zacchaeus, he called him by name. Zacchaeus did not know Jesus. Luke made this clear in verse 3 when he said that Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was…” (Luke 19:3, ESV). Zacchaeus did not know Jesus, but Jesus knew him and called him by name. 

Three, Jesus did not only call out to Zacchaeus by name, he called him to himself. “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

This is the call that every true disciple of Jesus has received. What matters first and foremost, is not that we see Jesus, but that Jesus sees us. In eternity, he fixed his eyes on those given to him by the Father. For these, Christ died. And at the appointed and acceptable time, he effectually calls these by name to himself through the preaching of the gospel and by the working of the Holy Spirit.

And what do all who are effectually called by Christ do? How do they respond? They respond in the same way that Zacchaeus responded to the call of Christ. In verse 6 we read, “So he hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” (Luke 19:6, ESV).

I appreciate the words of Matthew Poole as he reflects on this text:

“Christ’s looks are healing looks”, he says. “There went virtue along with them to convert Zaccheus, though a [tax collector], and to recover Peter, who had denied his Master; but they must be such looks as carried with them a design to do good to souls. Christ looked upon thousands to whom his looks conveyed no spiritual saving grace. He that could heal by the hem of his garment touched, could change a heart by his look. How good a thing it is to be near the place where Christ is, whatever principle brings men [there]! Provided men come not as the Pharisees used to come, to execute their malice. Zaccheus was brought to the bodily view of Christ out of mere curiosity, but being there he [received] a saving look from him. How many have had their hearts changed by gospel sermons, who never went to hear the preachers with any such desire or design! Christ’s design may be executed in the conversion of sinners, though not ours. He is found of them that seek him not, and of those that inquire not after him. Preparatory dispositions in us are not necessary to the first grace. God can at the same time prepare and change the heart. Zaccheus is the first man we read of to whose house Christ (not asked) invited himself, and in it did more for Zaccheus than he expected. Oh the freeness and riches of Divine grace… which [seeks] not a worthy object, but makes the object worthy, and therefore [loves] it. What a word was this, Come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house!” 

A little later Poole remarks, “Curiosity carried Zaccheus up, but love to Christ [brought] him down; he therefore makes haste to come down, and he [receives] Christ joyfully, glad to entertain such a guest. When Christ [comes] to any soul, he never brings any sorrow to it, nor any thing but glad tidings.”

What a wonderful scene this is! What mercy and grace displayed by Christ the King! He fixed his eyes on this rich man and called him to himself. This, dear friends, proves the point that was made back in Luke 18:24-27 which concluded the sad encounter that Jesus has with the rich young ruler. “Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’” (Luke 18:27, ESV). Here Christ shows us what is possible with God. When Christ fixed his eyes on this rich man and called by name to himself, he did not walk away sad, but “hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” (Luke 19:6, ESV). 

How would you expect the crowds that followed Jesus to respond to this event? Would you not expect them to rejoice? In verse 7 Luke tells us that “And when [the crowds] saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner’” (Luke 19:7, ESV). It is true. This man was a sinner. But Christ went into his house, not to join him in his sin, but save him from his sin and to sanctify him further, for this was his mission. Those who grumbled and complained about this only showed how blind they were cornering the mission of the Messiah.

When Christ called Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree, we are told that he “hurried and came down and received [Jesus] joyfully” into his home. This was a very good start. But Zacchaeus demonstrated that his faith in Christ was true when he added repentance to this warm and joyous reception of Jesus. In verse 8, we read, “And Zacchaeus stood ”as if about to make a confession or vow, “and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’” (Luke 19:8, ESV)

Notice three things about the confession Zaccaeous made: 

One, he called Jesus “Lord”. Those who wish to have Jesus as Savior must have him as Lord. As the Apostle Paul says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). To have Jesus as Savior, he must be Lord. And Lords are to be obeyed. 

Two, the rich man, Zacchaeus, demonstrated that he had been freed from the sins of covetousness and greed that once consumed his heart when he showed concern for the poor. “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor.” Nowhere do the Scriptures command that a rich man sell half his goods and distribute them to the poor. Zacchaeus made this decision of his own free. And this he was able to do because he had been regenerated and redeemed. True disciples of Jesus Christ will not live for themselves. No, they will imitate the Savior and live for the glory of God and the good of others. When Zacchaeus vowed to sell half his goods and give to the poor, he showed himself to be a true disciple of Jesus. 

Three, Zacchaeus the sinner, demonstrated true repentance when he said, “if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” To defraud is to steal money or possessions through deception. The tax collectors of Jesus’ day were notorious for this. Zacchaeus turned from this sin and vowed to pay restitution for his past sins in obedience to the law of Moses. Even here, Zacchaeus went above and beyond. According to Leviticus 6:5, those who stole in the way that Zacchaeus did were to restore whatever was taken along with a fifth. This would require someone who stole $100 dollars to make restitution by paying back $120. But Zacchaeus vowed to pay restitution to all he had defrauded by paying four times the amount. This is what was required of those who stole sheep in the Exodus 22 passage that was read earlier. Zacchaeus demonstrated that his faith in Christ was true by turning from his sin and resolving to sin no more in the future. More than this, he vowed to right the wrongs he had done to others in the past. True disciples of Jesus should have this same impulse. As I say this, I’m mindful of the fact that some with tender consciences will be tempted to press this principle too far by attempting to remember every sin they have ever committed against everyone so they might repent before God and man. I do not think this is possible or required of followers of Jesus. But it may be that there is some work for you to do in this regard. If you stole from others in the past and have the ability to make repayments, it would be good for you to do so. If you were cruel to others in the past and have the opportunity to repent before God and man and to ask for forgiveness, Christ would be glorified in this and I trust your soul would be blessed. If you are struggling with a tender conscience concerning past sins, it might be wise for you to speak with a pastor to receive counsel concerning whether or not it would be appropriate to seek forgiveness from others or to attempt to make restitution for past sins. 

Here is the main thing to see: Zacchaeus showed that his faith in Christ was true when he added a confession that Jesus is Lord, repentance, and obedience to his joyous reception of Jesus. Clearly, Christ considered his profession of faith to be true. In verse 9 we read, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham’” (Luke 19:9, ESV).

Some will attempt to interpret the words, “Today salvation has come to this house” to mean that every member of Zacchaeus’ household was saved because of his profession of faith. To take this view is to read something into the text that is not there. Furthermore, to take this view would contradict the rest of Scripture. Salvation does not come to children because their parents believe, but to all individuals who turn from their sins to trust in Jesus. Salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus turned from his sin to trust in Christ and was therefore saved. His salvation would have, no doubt, been a great blessing to each member of his household as they would witness his repentance and faith and hear him testify concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 When Christ said, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham”, it must mean, that Zacchaeus had proven himself to be a true son of Abraham. Zacchaeus was a Jew. He was a fleshly descendant of Abraham from birth. Given his profession, many Jews would have regarded him as a traitor to the nation—an outcast. But when Zacchaeus received Christ, confessed him as Lord, and turned from his sins, he showed himself to be a true child of Abraham because he had possessed the faith of Abraham, that is to say, faith in the Messiah who descended from him. 

There is irony here. The rich young ruler of Israel appeared to be a true child of Abraham given his external piety and unrelenting devotion to the nation of Israel, but he was not. In his self-righteous pride and greed, he walked away from Jesus dejected and very sad. But the rich man, Zacchaeus, the traitor and sinner, he was a true child of Abraham. Salvation came to his house, and not to the house of the rich young ruler. Why? Because Christ called him to himself and opened his eyes to enable him to see his sin and his need for a Savior. Zacchaeus, being driven by curiosity, wanted to catch a glimpse of this famous man named Jesus. But Jesus graciously gave him much more. He opened his spiritual eyes and enabled him to see and confess Jesus as Lord. Zacchaeus knew he was a lost sinner and rejoiced when he was found by Jesus. The rich young ruler could not see that he was a lost sinner, and neither could he see that Christ was the Savior God had provided. 

This interpretation I have provided is confirmed by the concluding words of Christ. Look at verse 10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV). Who is the one who does the seeking? It is not us, but Christ! And who does he seek and save? Jesus saves lost sinners. Those who believe they are righteous in and of themselves will never see their need for Jesus. But those who, by God’s grace, can see their sin and misery will respond in repentance and faith when Christ the Savior calls them by name. Christ said something very similar in Luke 5:32: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32, ESV). By this he means, there are no righteous people. Those who think they are righteous will never be saved. But those who, by God’s grace, are able to see their sin and misery, their need for a Savior, and that Christ is the Savior, these are the ones who will be saved when Christ calls them to himself by his word and Spirit. All of this is beautifully illustrated in the conversion and salvation of the wealthy tax collector, Zacchaeus. 

Application

I’ll conclude this sermon with a few suggestions for application.

Firstly, I would urge you to ask the question, am I merely curious about Jesus or am I a disciple of his? There were many curious people in the crowds that followed Jesus, but very few were true disciples—very few were saved from their sin and misery. Zacchaeus was curious before he was saved. And it may be that you are here today sitting under the ministry of the word because you are curious. I pray that Christ would call you to himself and that you would be saved.  

Secondly, I would urge you to consider that true disciples of Jesus confess him as Lord, turn from their sins, and no longer live for themselves but for the glory of God and the good of others. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not live for himself but for the glory of God and the good of others, and surely his disciples will seek to imitate him. Dear brothers and sisters, you have confessed Jesus is Lord! Are you obeying him as Lord?  You claim to be a follower of his. Are you learning from him and striving to obey his teaching, in the strength God supplies? 

Thirdly, brothers and sisters, are you eager to see Christ call sinners to faith and repentance, or will you grumble and complain like those who were self-righteous in the crowd who said, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7, ESV). If Jesus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV), then his followers should rejoice whenever the lost are found by him and saved.

Baptist Catechism 56 & 57

Q. 56. What is forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment forbideth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His Word. (Rom. 1:22,23; Deut. 4:15,16; Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:18)

Q. 57. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship. (Ps. 45:11; Ex. 34:14; 1 Cor. 10:22)

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 4:15–19

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:15–19, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Baptist Catechism 56

Why are we forbidden from worshipping God using images? I suppose the most simple answer would be, because God said so! And that would be correct and sufficient. But I think we can say more. Why no images? Well, it is because God is a most pure spirit. He is invisible. He is infinite. There are no boundaries to God that lines on a paper or edges to a sculpture could accurately represent. An image—no matter how grand or beautiful—is incapable of communicating the truth about God, for he is boundless. Every image that man makes in an attempt to represent him is a lie, therefore.

This is what Deuteronomy 4:15-19 warns against. Hear it again.  “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure… And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:15–19, ESV)

You would do well to notice that all images are forbidden. The people of Israel were warned against making any carved images, “in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth”, etc. In other words, they were forbidden from attempting to make an image of God, and they were also forbidden from making images of created things to represent God.

You remember the episode of the golden calf, don’t you? The Hebrews had barely escaped the Egyptians when they, with Aaron at the lead, gathered gold and made a calf to bow down to it. I do not doubt that they wished to give worship to the God who had redeemed them. At least it seems like that was Aaron’s desire. But where did they go astray? They made an image. It is understandable, isn’t it? These people were raised in Egypt. This is how the Egyptians worshipped. And so this is how they wanted to worship. Their actions are understandable, but they were inexcusable, for God had already commanded them not to make images. It was in Exodus 20:23 that the LORD said, “You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.” The episode involving the golden calf happened after that. 

I have already warned you in previous sermons about our propensity to worship the creation rather than the Creator. That is clearly forbidden in the first commandment. Here the warning is a bit more nuanced. Not only are we forbidden from worshipping the creation instead of the Creator, we are also forbidden from worshiping the Creator with images of created things. 

So I will return to the question of why? Why no images? Answer: because all images of God, or all images used to represent God, are a lie. They are incapable of telling us the truth about him. They portray God as physical when he is truly spiritual. They confine God to a locality when in reality he is omnipresent. Images limit the One who is infinite and beyond measure. In brief, images make God small in the hearts and minds of those who see them. They bring God down and make him into an object to be manipulated and controlled by the hands of men and formed according to their wills and imaginations. 

Some may push back saying, but the artist knows that God is not really bound by the image. And the worshipper understands that these are merely representations of the infinite one. Do they? Do they understand this? And the question is not so much what the artist understands, but what the artist communicates to others. Will future generations understand when they run to images rather than to the Word of God to understand the truth regarding who God is. 

And be sure of this, they will certainly run to the images, and not to the Word of God, for images appeal much more strongly to our fleshly desires than does God’s Word. Images appeal to the mind of man, for an image can be understood. Images appeal to the heart of man, for an image may be crafted to suit one’s desires.  And images appeal to the will of man, for an image is under our control. We are able to manipulate it, take it where we wish, and use it as we wish. But the God who has revealed himself in history and in the scriptures is beyond our comprehension. He claims Lordship over us. He demands that we conform to his will and desire what he desires, for he has made us – we have not made him. 

No images of God are to be made. And neither are we to make images of earthly things to represent God. Both approaches are incapable of telling the truth regarding God, but will always tell a lie, leading to false beliefs concerning his nature. 

So what about images of Jesus? Should we have them? This is a controversial question. It didn’t used to be amongst protestants and the Reformed. In times past most protestants stood unified against Rome and their use of images of Christ in worship. But today, few protestants even stop to ask, should we make images of Jesus?

Some say, no, never. Others say, no, certainly not for use in worship (but perhaps for other purposes). And still others say, yes, it is permitted, for nowhere do the scriptures say “thou shalt not make an image of Jesus”. Those who are of this last opinion will reason thus: since the Son of God took on flesh in the incarnation, we are therefore free to make images of him, for he is the image of the invisible God. 

But let’s think about this. I have a series of questions for you. 

One, is Jesus to be worshipped? Answer: yes, he is to be worshipped. God the Father is to be worshipped through faith in him. But Jesus is also be worshipped.

Two, do we worship Jesus Christ according to his divinity or his humanity? Answer: We worship Jesus because he is divine. In Jesus, there are two natures, the human and the divine. And it is the person of the Son, the second person of the Triune God, who is the person, or acting subject, in Christ. 

Three, do images of Jesus communicate the truth regarding the object of our worship, or do they tell a lie. Answer: they most certainly tell a lie. They do with Jesus, who was and is the Son of God incarnate, the very same thing that images of God do. They misrepresent him. They limit him. They mislead.

It is not difficult to demonstrate that images of Jesus are misleading. 

For one, no one knows what Jesus looked like. No one who saw Jesus in the flesh decided to draw pictures of him or to carve statues of him. Think about that for a moment. Why didn’t they? If it was so important for the church to have images of Jesus to remember him by, then why was this not a priority to the eyewitnesses of Jesus? They did not paint or carve, brothers and sisters. They wrote. And I cannot help but think that the second commandment had something to do with that. We don’t have any pictures of Jesus dating back to the first century, so no one knows what he looked like. This means that every picture you have ever seen of Jesus is false. Some are probably more accurate than others. It is all but certain that he did not have blond hair and blue eyes! But all are wrong. No one is correct. And yet Jesus is to be worshipped. 

Two—and I think this is even more significant—every picture of Jesus is misleading because a picture can only portray his human nature, and not his divine nature, and yet we know that “two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man” (2LBC 8.2). And I ask you, how do we know this? How do we know that in the one Christ there are two natures, human and divine? Did any of you learn that from looking at an image? Of course not. We know this to be true from the Word of God.

So you are recognizing a common theme, I hope. How can we come to know and worship God in truth? Through special revelation, and not images. And how can we come to know and worship Christ in truth? Again, through special revelation (i.e. the scriptures) and not images.

So what is my view regarding images of Christ? Certainly, they are never to be used in worship. Never should we pray to them, or to God and Christ through them. This is a clear violation of the second commandment. And concerning images of Jesus in movies, manger scenes, and children’s story Bibles — I would urge you, brothers and sisters, to think very carefully about them. My convictions have changed over the years leading me to say that I will not have them in my home. I would urge you to come to the same conclusion, but will also acknowledge that godly men and women do disagree on this application. 

So how will we teach our children and others about Jesus then if not with pictures? Brothers and sisters, we are to teach the whole truth concerning the whole Christ from the Word of God. We are to say what the scriptures say. Things like this: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15–16, ESV). Imagine trying to communicate that with an image. Or better yet, imagine trying to form an image that will not distort that truth. 

And how are we to remember Christ and the work that he has accomplished for us if not with pictures? Answer: We are to remember him in the way that God has commanded, through Word and Sacrament. God has given to us baptism and the Lord’s Supper as visible signs which remind us of the work that Christ has accomplished for and done in us. And it is the Word of God that explains their meaning.   

You are probably recognizing that this comes back to the question, how is God to be worshipped? Is it the normative principle that we are to adopt — the one that says, we are free to worship as we wish provided that God’s word does not directly forbid it? Or is it the regulative principle that we are to adopt — the one that says, we are free to worship God in the way that he has commanded, not more or less? This second view is ours.  

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Baptist Catechism 57

As we begin to move now to a conclusion I would like to briefly address Baptist Catechism 57 which asks, “What are the reasons annexed [added]to the second commandment?”

The second commandment is, in brief, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image”, but in verses 5-6 of Exodus 20, and in verses 9-10 of Deuteronomy 5, we find that God states his reason for this commandment with the words, “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5–6, ESV).

And our catechism is right to summarize the reasons for the second commandment in this way: “ The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.” In other words, God says “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…”, etc. because of “God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.”

Some are disturbed by the words, “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” Many assume that all jealousy is sinful, and so it sounds very strange to hear God say, I “am a jealous God.” But is all jealousy sinful? No, it is not. Just as there is a difference between righteous anger and unrighteous anger, so too there is a difference between righteous jealousy and unrighteous jealousy. Jealousy is sinful when it is covetous. It is sin to be jealous of what others have wishing that it belonged to you! But it is right to be jealous for what is yours. If I say to you, I am jealous for my wifes’ faithfulness, I have not confessed sin to you, have I? Nor have I claimed that she has sinned. I have only said that she is mine, and I am hers, and I am eager to keep it that way. Now, even righteous jealousy like this can overflow its proper and reasonable bounds and become a consuming passion. But our God is not driven by passions. And neither is he jealous for things that are not rightfully his. His jealousy is not like ours tends to be, therefore. No, his jealously is perfectly right and pure.

So what is God jealous for? Answer: worship from his creatures. Just as it is right for a husband to be jealous for his wife’s faithfulness, and a wife to be jealous for her husband’s faithfulness, so too it is right for God to be jealous to have worship from his creatures. Or to put it in a more shocking way, God would sin if he was not jealous for the worship of his name. It is only right that he be worshiped, and it is a great evil when he is not, for he is our God, and we are his creatures. And this is especially true of those whom he has redeemed. We owe him worship, brothers and sisters. We owe him worship that is true, for he is our Creator and Redeemer. He is sovereign over us. He is our Lord and king. He has propriety in us, meaning, he has the right to call us to conform to his will. And he is zealous to be worshipped. And this is right. It is right for God to have as his highest aim the glory of his name, for he is God.