Digging Deeper – Every Person Bears God’s Image

The reason murder is wrong is that every human being is created in the image of God. That truth gives every person dignity, worth, and value. Whether rich or poor, young or old, successful or struggling, every human life matters because every human life reflects something about its Creator.

This is why Jesus takes anger and contempt so seriously. When we harbor hatred toward another person, we are directing that hatred toward someone made in God’s image. When we insult, belittle, mock, or demean another person, we fail to recognize the value God has placed on them.

James addresses this issue directly when he writes about our tongue: “Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” (James 3:9–10, NLT)

James reminds us that it is inconsistent to worship God on Sunday while tearing down people made in His image on Monday. God values people, and He calls His followers to do the same.

This truth affects far more than physical violence. It impacts how we speak, how we treat people, how we engage online, how we respond to those who disagree with us, and even how we think about those who have hurt us. Jesus is teaching us that the sixth commandment is ultimately about valuing people the way God values people.

From the moment of conception in the womb to the final moments of life, every person bears God’s image and possesses God-given worth. That includes the difficult neighbor, the coworker who frustrates you, the family member who hurt you, and the stranger who cut you off in traffic.

A museum visitor accidentally brushed against a painting and caused a small tear in the canvas. The visitor immediately panicked because he knew the artwork was worth millions of dollars. What made the painting valuable was not the canvas or the paint itself. Those things merely cost a few dollars. What made the painting valuable was that it had been created by a famous artist. Its value came from the artist who created it.

In a much greater way, our value comes from our Creator. Every person is valuable because every person bears the image of God. When we remember who created people, it changes how we treat them.

The next time you find yourself becoming frustrated with someone, pause and remember: This person is an image bearer of God. They may not act like it. They may not deserve your kindness. But neither did we deserve God’s grace, and yet He extended it to us through Christ.

The gospel reminds us that Jesus died not only for people who are easy to love but also for people who are difficult to love. As followers of Jesus, we are called to see people through the lens of God’s grace rather than through the lens of our frustration.

Who in your life is most difficult for you to view as an image bearer of God? How would your relationships change if you intentionally viewed every person as someone created in God’s image?