Idolatry

1
Idolatry

• Deuteronomy 1229-32

2
What Is Idolatry?

• AHTD offers this definition 1. a. An image
  used as an object of worship. b. A false god. 2.
  One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
  3. Something visible but without substance.
• The Old Testament Hebrew word most commonly used
  for idol is teraphim. The word literally
  meant household idols because that is what they
  were originally. This word later was applied to
  all idols.

3
What Is Idolatry?

• Examples
• Household idols (Gen. 3119).
• Groves (Deut. 1621).
• Pillars ( Deut. 1622 Ex. 2324).
• A substitute for Jehovah (Ex. 324).
• Even a good thing (Num. 214-9 2 Kgs. 184).
• Idolatry was a problem in New Testament times (1
  Cor. 1014 1 Peter 43 1 Jn. 521).

4
Idolatry Is Forbidden

• Examples
• Old Testament.
• One of the Ten Commandments 2nd (Ex. 204-6
  Deut. 58-9).
• Many verses forbid (Deut. 415-19 2715).
• Not supposed to even mention it (Ex. 2313).
• New Testament.
• Causes a barrier to inheriting the kingdom (1
  Cor. 69 Gal. 520).
• Idolaters cast into lake of fire and brimstone
  (Rev. 218).

5
Where Is The Problem?

• It is an abomination which Strong says is
  something disgustingan abhorrence (see
  Deut. 1231).
• Idolatry draws one away from God (Ex. 205).
• Isaiah 663 uses a word for idol that means an
  empty thing (Unger). Hence it denotes a
  vain, false, wicked thing, and expresses at once
  the essential nature of idols and the
  consequences of their worship.
• Baal did not answer the prophets (1 Kgs. 18).
• This point continues in the New Testament as well
  (see 1 Cor. 84 122).

6
Where Is The Problem?

• Covetousness is referred to as idolatry in the
  New Testament (Eph. 55 Col. 35).
• To be covetous is to be consumed with the
  possession of something.
• Covetousness is idolatry because it involves the
  setting of ones affections on earthly things and
  not on things above, and therefore putting of
  some other object of desire in the place which
  God should occupy in his peoples hearts (Bruce,
  p. 144). (see Col. 31-2).