What other scriptures warn against idolatry similar to Ezekiel 8:6? Setting the scene: Ezekiel’s piercing rebuke “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing—to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations.” (Ezekiel 8:6) The verse exposes idolatry as a deliberate offense that pushes God away. Scripture consistently repeats this warning. Below are some of the clearest parallels. Old Testament echoes of the same warning “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” “Do not turn to idols or cast images of gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.” “They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, not to God…” “Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men… those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.” “Those who fashion idols are all nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless…” “For the customs of the peoples are worthless… like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak… Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, nor can they do any good.” “With their silver and gold they fashioned idols for themselves, so that they would be cut off.” “What use is a carved idol… Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’… there is no breath in it at all.” New Testament reinforcements “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” “Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature… greed, which is idolatry.” “The acts of the flesh are obvious… idolatry and sorcery… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” “But to the cowardly… idolaters… their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” Key truths that tie these passages together • Idolatry is never small; God calls it an abomination because it displaces Him. • Serving an idol is spiritual adultery—provoking God’s jealousy (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 32:16). • Idols are powerless; the worshiper becomes as spiritually lifeless as the object (Psalm 115:8). • Behind idols lurk demonic powers (Deuteronomy 32:17; 1 Corinthians 10:20). • God’s command is urgent and clear: flee, destroy, repent, and replace idols with wholehearted worship. Putting it into practice • Identify anything—visible or invisible—that competes with God’s rightful place. • Reject the illusion of self-made security; idols “cannot speak… cannot walk.” • Embrace the living God, who alone speaks, sees, hears, and saves. • Persist in vigilance; both Testaments close with sober reminders that idolaters have no share in the kingdom (1 John 5:21; Revelation 22:15). |
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