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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:13-16
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Today, we finish a four message series from the eleventh chapter of 1 Corinthians and a series of verses that look at matters of the head from two different perspectives.
On one hand, we saw where there is definitely a hierarchy of authority established in the scriptures. God is the Head of everything including His Son Jesus to whom He delegated all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, Jesus became the head of all men, mere human males on earth. Finally, the Bible establishes men as the head of women because in the very beginning, a woman was made from a man, but again, God is the Head of all things. Everything and everyone are totally subordinate to Him.
The other matter of the head dealt with the actual physical head of a man and woman, and whether or not the head should be covered. Let’s refresh ourselves on what was said earlier in this chapter before we turn to today’s verses.
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. Vv. 4-6
In the Bible, if a woman had her head shaved, it was to publicly shame her for some sinful act she committed. Paul compared a woman who refused to cover her head to pray or prophesy as being akin to a disgraced woman with a shaved head.
Why was a woman’s disobedient act of not covering her head shameful?
Because the covering was intended to be a display of honor toward God. Nothing more than that.
Now, let’s turn to our verses for today and see how God intentionally designed a natural head covering for women.
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:13-16
The Bible directs a woman to have long hair for it becomes the natural covering for her head, a blessed covering given to her by the very God who is her ultimate Head. This is why long hair is the woman’s glory for that hair is a blessing granted by God Himself.
So how can a woman show her gratitude and appreciation for the glorious hair covering He has given?
She can cover her head when she prays or prophesies, a symbolic display of thanksgiving and respect to the God from which everything comes from.
And so we finish this matter of the head, remembering that the main focus needs to always be on God and the absolute authority He holds over all people, man or woman. It’s not our place to question Him but rather to comply with whatever He demands and to do so gladly, even if he asks someone to cover their hair to pray or prophesy.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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