The second commandment forbids creating any image or likeness of God, and since Jesus Christ is God, this directly prohibits any depiction of His person. So-called pictures or statues of Christ bear no resemblance to how Jesus Christ truly appeared. Most portrayals show Him with long hair, soft, feminine features, and a sentimental, sanctimonious expression, which contradicts the biblical description. The Bible portrays Jesus in masculine terms: He was a carpenter engaged in rigorous outdoor labor, spent much of His ministry outdoors, and demonstrated strength by driving moneychangers from the Temple courts. He endured fasting for forty days and severe physical trials before crucifixion, showing no trace of effeminacy. Isaiah describes His human appearance as unremarkable, with no beauty to draw attention. Thus, most images and crucifixes of Jesus oppose every biblical description, presenting a false impression of the true Jesus Christ in every way. Instead of focusing on His earthly form, we should consider His glorified state as our Savior, High Priest, and soon-coming King, as described by John with hair white like wool, eyes like a flame of fire, and a countenance shining like the sun in full strength.

False pictures of Jesus Christ violate the Second Commandment by attempting to represent the incorruptible God through an image made like corruptible man. Any such depiction misrepresents and limits Who He was as a man and Who He is now, reducing His perfect character, infinite depth, and fullness to a shallow caricature fixed on a single expression or sentiment. Still pictures and moving pictures share this fundamental flaw, since human actors cannot replicate the divine reactions, expressions, words, and intangibles that constituted the glory of the only-begotten Son. The result distorts the viewer's concept of God, preventing worship in spirit and in truth and introducing leavening that leads back into spiritual bondage. Only the Son Himself possesses the qualification to portray the Son, because only He embodies the truth that sets people free.