Did Jesus forbid the disciples from worshiping him before the Resurrection?

Question

An occasion on which we see the disciples worshiping Jesus is described in Mtt 28:17 :

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

That happened after the Resurrection. Even though Jesus had appeared to three of them in glory during the Transfiguration, they did not worship him, but only got frightened (Lk 9:28-36; Mk 9:2-8; Mtt 17:1-7 ).

Matthew goes on to say in 17:9

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Of course, we also see Jesus being worshiped after his miraculous walk over the waters , in Mtt 14:32-33 :

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

One reason why the disciples did not worship Jesus in public before the Resurrection could be that it would appear blasphemous to an onlooker. But the Gospels do not mention whether the disciples wanted to worship Jesus in public before the Resurrection and whether he prohibited them .

My question therefore is: Did Jesus forbid the disciples from worshiping him in public before the Resurrection ? Inputs from any denomination are welcome .

Answer 1

Jesus accepted worship prior to His Resurrection. As one of the proofs that Jesus is God (because accepting worship would otherwise be condoning idolatry), there are quite a few sites that make note of those instances wherein this is recorded. For example:

• Does the Bible describe Jesus being worshiped?
• Was Jesus worshipped during His earthly ministry?
• Jesus Accepts Worship, Therefore He is God

Notable examples of Jesus "accepting" worship (prior to His Resurrection) include:

• The magi visiting Him as an infant. (Although one could argue whether Jesus had and ability to influence the magi at this point, hence the quotes around "accepted".)
• The triumphal entry ("hosanna" is a plea for salvation and an expression of adoration).
• Matthew 14:33.
• John 9:38.

This list is not exhaustive; refer to the linked articles for additional examples. As to whether he forbade the disciples, specifically, to worship Him, I am not aware of any prohibitions to that effect. However, given that He accepted worship on multiple occasions from those who may or may not qualify as "disciples", it would seem odd that He would forbid his closest followers from worshiping him for what might be called "reasons of image" while not making such a prohibition more broadly.

Answer 2

Jesus clearly taught that we should worship the Father.

²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:21-23, KJV)

He taught that the Father was both his God and our God.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17, KJV)

Jesus called the Father "the only true God."

¹ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ² As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:1-3, KJV)

Yet the Bible teaches that God, who is the Father, was in Christ.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19, KJV)

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10, KJV)

Because God was in Christ, invisible and unseen by human eyes, Jesus accepted the homage of people, without rebuking them, as directed to the Father. To Jesus, their act of worship demonstrated their faith in the Father, whose words and works were manifested in the life of Christ.

But the Bible teaches, further, that God the Father has authorized the worship of Jesus.

⁵ For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? ⁶ And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:5-6, KJV)

It is therefore no sin to worship Jesus, for the Father accepts this.

And Jesus accepted it, both before and after his resurrection.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. (Matthew 28:9, KJV)

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, (Mark 5:6, KJV)

Conclusion

The Bible's teaching is that it is acceptable to worship Jesus, for the Father has authorized this, and Jesus never once opposed it, but accepted it even before his death.

Answer 3

No Jesus does not reject worship. However, Jesus is NEVER worshiped AS the 1 God, YHWH his Father, who he always speaks of.

Jesus tells the woman at the well who to worship AS GOD.

John 4 KJV

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Instead of interpreting Jesus as receiving worship as the 1 God, a much more Rational interpretation is available for those with ears to hear. I present it for you now:

We see the worship of persons other then YHWH being permitted in scripture. Here are some examples.

Revelation 3:9 (KJV)

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Matthew 18:26 (KJV)

The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

1 Chronicles 29:20

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.

Joseph was also worshiped by his brothers as the ruler over them and he was also given a dream from God that he would be also and again it is the same word used for worship of God as was used for his brothers bowing to him in worship.

The Revelation Throne room scene in chapters 4 and 5 illustrate my conclusion the best.

Rev4:8- 11

⁸ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

⁹ And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In the next chapter, we read that the Lamb is in the midst of the throne with the elders. He takes the scroll from the One being worshiped as the Creator of everything.

^5:6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

⁷And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

So we can objectively understand by this scene in scripture that the Lamb is not being worshiped as God, but is receiving praise for his victory and his worthiness to open the seals. The only begotten is the only one who can do this.

ONLY worship our Father, YHWH, AS the One True God. John 17:3