Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits the worshiping of idols?

Which of the Ten Commandments prohibits the worshiping of idols?

• A. You shall not murder.
• B. You shall not bear false witness.
• C. You shall not make for yourself an idol.
• D. You shall not steal.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is worship—who or what receives our ultimate reverence. The command that forbids making an idol directly addresses idol worship: it tells you not to fashion something to worship as a god. This sets the boundary that worship is due to God alone and not to created images or objects. That’s why this is the best answer: it targets the act of creating or bowing to an idol, which is the heart of idol worship. The other commands mentioned focus on how we treat other people—not murdering, not bearing false witness, not stealing—which are important moral guidelines but do not specifically prohibit worshiping idols.

The main idea here is worship—who or what receives our ultimate reverence. The command that forbids making an idol directly addresses idol worship: it tells you not to fashion something to worship as a god. This sets the boundary that worship is due to God alone and not to created images or objects.

That’s why this is the best answer: it targets the act of creating or bowing to an idol, which is the heart of idol worship. The other commands mentioned focus on how we treat other people—not murdering, not bearing false witness, not stealing—which are important moral guidelines but do not specifically prohibit worshiping idols.