"Don't make an idol of me..."

June 2, 2010 7:51 PM

"Don't make an idol of me..."

Looking for specific biblical book, chapter and verse (if they exist) in which Jesus says something close to this.

Or did I just get it from a Mission of Burma song?

Thanks.

posted by ZenMasterThis to Religion & Philosophy (9 answers total)

It's from the song. Can't think of anything in the New Testament remotely like that.
posted by apartment dweller at 8:10 PM on June 2, 2010

I seem to recall that the Buddha said something along those lines.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 8:14 PM on June 2, 2010

Unless Mark 10:18 (and the Lukan parallel at 18:19) is what you have in mind:

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
posted by apartment dweller at 8:15 PM on June 2, 2010

Following up on The Light Fantastic:

If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him (attributed to Linji).
posted by apartment dweller at 8:17 PM on June 2, 2010

Obligatory audio link.
posted by intermod at 8:24 PM on June 2, 2010

Response by poster: Nope. Maybe there was also something similar said in "Godspell?"
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:27 PM on June 2, 2010

I've been watching the Godspell movie a lot lately, and I don't remember anything like that being said.

Though, I'm not very good at catching all of a movie's dialogue without subtitles, so I could be quite wrong...
posted by Silly Ashles at 9:20 PM on June 2, 2010

Could you be thinking of the second of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament book of Exodus, which in the King James version of the Bible reads: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (aka idol)? That would be YHWH (God) saying that btw.
posted by surewouldoutlaw at 9:39 PM on June 2, 2010

What about the part where Pilate questions Jesus before the crucifixion. He asks: Are you the King of the Jews? and Jesus answers: It is you who says that I am.
posted by CathyG at 7:09 AM on June 3, 2010