“You shall have no other gods” Exodus 20:3
God understood the pretence of the Egyptians and their corruption in worshipping idols. God took it upon himself to let them know that those things they worshipped in Egypt were not gods worthy of worship. For example when Aaron threw his rod before Pharaoh and it became a serpent, the gods of the Egyptians also did the same and their rods became serpents. However, since the “I am” was involved the Egyptian gods never recovered their rods (Exodus 7:10-12). God hates people giving glory to things that are not God or to themselves, as he said, “I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 42:8).
This aspect of the commandment shows the believer whom he should worship and whom not to. He made the distinctions between the I am and images of any kind. The purpose of these distinctions was that the children of Israel should avoid being deceived and worshiping things other than God (Yahweh). Like Jesus said “God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
We see God through his faith, not images or imaginations, and we worship him through the Holy Spirit who resides in us. In as much as Jesus became a human being and Mary his mother, this is not a call to make images as their representations for worship. You shall not bow down to the images of Jesus and Mary. This shows outright disobedience to the commandments of God. “If really you love God keep his commandments” (John 14:21). According to Jesus, keeping the commandments is not based on the fear of punishment, but based on the love you have for the LORD your God.
The god of self is the greatest image in the minds of men. This idolatry is the default of human nature, thus the fist commandment is against it, to show us our selves and lead us to Christ. Only the gift of his faith through new birth destroys this idol.
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