Christianity & Religious images

Are visible images idols...

Q: Are pictures of Jesus against the second commandment?  I know most say only if they are worshipped.  But it says any heavenly images created.

A: 

I think it best to understand the 2C as referring to images that we intend to worship in place of God [idols or what could be one].

Here are some verses that talk about images in the tabernacle:

Exodus 25:18: "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat."

Exodus 25:22: "And you shall put the cherubim on the two ends of the mercy seat, in the innermost part of the ark; and the cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings."

The cherubim on the temple: In 1 Kings 6:23-28, King Solomon builds a temple for God. He places two cherubim made of olive wood on the ark of the covenant. The cherubim are depicted with their wings spread out, facing each other.

there were images embroidered in the tabernacle. Exodus 26:31-33 says:

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, woven with cherubim. You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold and fitted with hooks of gold and bases of bronze. You shall hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony behind the veil. The veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”

The veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was embroidered with cherubim. Cherubim are often seen as symbols of God's presence and holiness.

These verses describe cherubim images that were placed on the ark of the covenant, as well as the altar of incense, and on hanging material. Both of these objects were made of gold and had images of cherubim on them.

The construction of the tabernacle and temple where covered in images: pomegranates, palm trees, almond trees, cherubim, and even the snake sits in the temple for a while. Images were used in worship for ancient Israel. 

Yet in Exodus 20:4, God says, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

While not real, the images of the cherubim in the tabernacle were not meant to be worshipped. Instead, they were symbols of God's presence and holiness.

While not real but images, the cherubim on the ark of the covenant were also seen as guardians of the ark. They were depicted with their wings spread out, as if they were protecting the ark from harm.

Same with the images on the linen that were hanging presenting a visual image. 

It was also a OT command, and to Israel. It likely had to do with that purpose though, since otherwise this would violate that law.

On the irreverant side, when Moses was gone too long they thought he was dead so they made up a false god, a golden calf, and claimed again that old egypt pagan religions beliefs which they followed before they left egypt. They made up something false with intentionality. 

If things are done reverently in art or childrens pictoral for teaching or images for tribes to learn of God then it is intentioned for holy not for wickedness. Today some religions that claim to be Christian do believe those images are something they worship (such as catholics Jesus and Mary both by images and by food crackers & wine), which is wrong.  We Christians, on the other hand, do not ever claim those images are Jesus but simply represent a visual for education and rememberance (and we are reverently cautious about it). 

Christians follow the Law of Christ: Love the Lord your God with all your heaet, mind and strength, and love others as yourself. 

If you are loving and honoring God with what you make to point to God, and you walk in righteousness you cannot transgress the Law of Christ, for you walk in it by nature since you have the new righteous nature. 

 Hope that helps.