Many sincere believers ask whether the papacy has altered or broken God’s commandments. This question often centers on two key concerns: the use of images in worship and the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. To answer this fairly, we must turn to Scripture, examining what God commanded and comparing it with religious practice. The Bible remains the final authority for faith and doctrine.
The Authority of God’s Law
The Ten Commandments were spoken directly by God and written with His own finger, highlighting their permanence and importance.
“And He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18, NKJV).
God’s law reflects His character and is not subject to human alteration. Jesus affirmed its enduring nature:
“Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18, NKJV).
Any system that modifies or contradicts God’s commandments must therefore be evaluated carefully.
The Second Commandment: Prohibition of Idolatry
What the Bible Says
The second commandment clearly forbids the making and worship of images:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above… you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5, NKJV).
This commandment contains two parts:
- Do not make images for worship
- Do not bow down to or serve them
The emphasis is not merely on having images but on using them in acts of devotion.
The Biblical Pattern Against Image Worship
Throughout Scripture, God consistently condemns image worship:
“You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations… served their gods… and you shall destroy their altars” (Deuteronomy 12:2–3, NKJV).
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21, NKJV).
Even when Israel attempted to worship God through an image (the golden calf), it was rejected:
“They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped the molded image” (Psalm 106:19, NKJV).
The Practice of Bowing Before Images
In many religious traditions associated with the papacy, statues and images are used in worship settings. While some argue these are only aids or representations, the Bible specifically addresses the act of bowing:
“You shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:5, NKJV).
The act of kneeling, praying before, or venerating images closely resembles what Scripture forbids. The issue is not artistic expression but devotional practice.
Has the Commandment Been Altered?
In some catechetical systems, the second commandment is merged with the first, and the tenth commandment is divided to maintain the number ten. This restructuring can obscure the clear prohibition against images.
From a biblical standpoint, removing or minimizing this commandment is serious:
“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NKJV).
The Fourth Commandment: The Seventh-Day Sabbath
God’s Original Sabbath
The Sabbath was established at creation:
“And on the seventh day God ended His work… Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (Genesis 2:2–3, NKJV).
This occurred before sin and before the existence of any nation, showing that the Sabbath is a universal institution.
The Commandment Itself
The fourth commandment clearly identifies the seventh day:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:8–10, NKJV).
God specifies:
- The day: the seventh day
- The purpose: rest and holiness
- The authority: “the Lord your God”
Jesus and the Sabbath
Jesus kept the Sabbath and affirmed its purpose:
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, NKJV).
“As His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16, NKJV).
Christ never changed the Sabbath. Instead, He corrected abuses and restored its true meaning.
The Apostles and the Sabbath
The early church continued observing the seventh day (Acts 13:14, 42-44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4):
“And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2, NKJV).
There is no biblical command transferring Sabbath observance from the seventh day to the first day.
The Change to Sunday Observance
Is Sunday Commanded in Scripture?
There is no explicit biblical command to keep Sunday holy. While the New Testament mentions gatherings on the first day, it never establishes it as a replacement for the Sabbath. The change from Sabbath to Sunday arose historically through church authority, not divine command.
The Issue of Authority
This raises an important question: Who has authority to change God’s law?
“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king” (Isaiah 33:22, NKJV).
Only God can establish or alter His commandments. Any human attempt to change them challenges divine authority.
Prophetic Warning
The Bible foretold a power that would attempt to change God’s law:
“He shall intend to change times and law” (Daniel 7:25, NKJV).
This is a clear reference to changes such as altering the Sabbath by the “horn” power.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
God’s Standard for Worship
Jesus emphasized that true worship must align with truth:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24, NKJV).
Worship practices must be grounded in Scripture, not tradition.
Tradition Versus Commandment
Jesus warned against elevating tradition above God’s law:
“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3, NKJV).
“In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9, NKJV).
This principle applies whenever human authority modifies divine instruction.
A Call Back to Biblical Faithfulness
The Importance of Obedience
Obedience is a sign of genuine love for God:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV).
True faith does not discard God’s law but honors it through Christ.
The Final Message of Scripture
The Bible ends with a call to commandment-keeping:
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, NKJV).
This shows that obedience and faith go together.
Conclusion
When examined through Scripture, two major concerns arise regarding the papacy’s teachings: the use of images in worship and the change of the Sabbath from the seventh day to Sunday. The Bible clearly forbids bowing to images and consistently upholds the seventh-day Sabbath as holy.
The central issue is not attacking individuals but upholding God’s Word as the ultimate authority. Every believer is called to test teachings against Scripture:
“Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, NKJV).
In a world of many traditions, the safest path is simple: follow the Bible.
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