Is it okay to have pictures of Jesus?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Old Testament prohibits making images of God or worshipping them (Exodus 20:4–5; Deuteronomy 5:8–9). Israel’s history shows how easily objects meant for good can become idols, such as the golden calf (Exodus 32:4–6) or the bronze serpent, which had to be destroyed later because people worshiped it (2 Kings 18:4). These warnings explain why many Christians are cautious about creating pictures of Jesus, who is fully God.

In the New Testament, believers are told to avoid idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21) and not to think of God as something limited by human art (Acts 17:29). Even so, Jesus truly became man, and Christians have debated whether that makes images of Him acceptable. Some see such images as reminders of His humanity or as teaching tools, while others view them as distortions that could divert attention from the risen Lord. The Bible does not give a final answer and leaves some matters up to conscience (Romans 14:5-6), but Scripture calls believers to protect their hearts from idolatry and to honor Christ through faith.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God forbids making carved images to worship or depict Him (Exodus 20:4–5; Deuteronomy 5:8–9). No visual representation can truly represent the LORD, as He is unlike anything in creation.
• Israel’s history shows how ignoring this command led to sin. Early on, they created a golden calf fashioned to represent the LORD (Exodus 32:4–6). However, it was a perversion of the true God and quickly led to sin (Exodus 32:7–8) and God’s judgment of death (Exodus 32:27–28).
• In another example, a bronze serpent, originally given by God as a means of healing during another time of judgment (Numbers 21:8–9), became an object of worship. Eventually, King Hezekiah had to destroy that artifact of Israel’s history because the people had turned it into an idol (2 Kings 18:4).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament never commands believers to create or avoid pictures of Jesus, but it does give principles for guidance. Paul told the Athenians that God is not “an image formed by the art and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29), and both he and John urged Christians to flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21).
• Jesus, though truly God, also truly became human (John 1:14). Because of that, some Christians believe that images of Him can help teach His incarnation and humanity. That is, they view pictures of Jesus as representing His humanity, not His divinity. Since the second commandment refers to God’s divinity, they do not believe images of Jesus’ humanity violate that command.
• Others object that since no one knows what Jesus looked like, any image of Him risks creating a false representation of the Son of God. They note that the apostles proclaimed Christ through the preached Word and never through any form of visual illustration (Romans 10:17). According to this view, images of Jesus can unintentionally distort who He was so should be avoided entirely.
• Scripture teaches that some matters are up to conscience (Romans 14:5-6). Since the Bible doesn’t give clear guidance on this specific issue and reasonable biblical arguments exist on both sides, it is a matter of conscience. That said, even those who believe having an image of Jesus is acceptable agree that it should never be worshiped or venerated. Doing so is a clear violation of Scripture’s overall prohibition against idolatry.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Deciding whether to use pictures of Jesus is a matter of Christian freedom. If your conscience is at ease with them, let them serve as a simple reminder that Jesus truly entered into humanity, becoming like one of us but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). However, guard against revering an image or treating it as an exact representation of Christ. Avoid such images if your conscience is even slightly bothered to prevent yourself from sinning (Romans 14:23).

What matters most is that your faith rests in the living Christ revealed in Scripture. Jesus is alive, reigning, and present with His people through the Spirit. He alone forgives sin, gives hope, and secures eternal life. Guarding your heart against idolatry means keeping your eyes fixed on Him who died and rose again. If you already belong to Him, take comfort in His finished work and walk in the freedom of His grace. If you do not yet know Him, then be aware that no picture of Him rightly explains Him. Instead, open the Bible and learn who He actually is. Then turn to Christ in faith; He alone saves!

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible forbids worshiping or venerating an image.
• Though true believers’ opinions differ on whether images of Jesus are acceptable, they agree that idolatry and venerating images is wrong.
• As the Bible doesn’t forbid creating images of Jesus or creating images in general, whether to do so is a matter of conscience.

REFLECT

• What is your reaction when you see images of Jesus?
• In what areas where Scriptural evidence is mixed or absent have you allowed your conscience to guide you?
• How do you guard against idols in your life?

ENGAGE

• How is Jesus most often visually depicted in movies and art?
• Have images and movies depicting Jesus helped introduce people to Him or have they distorted others’ view about Him?
• What are some ways that believers can help others know Jesus better without using images?