MONDAY, JULY 4, 2022
TEXT: 1
Corinthians 11:2-16
2. Now
I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances,
as I delivered them to you.
3. But
I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of
the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
5. But
every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her
head: for that is even all one as if she were shaved.
6. For
if the woman be not covered, let her also he shorn; but if it be a shame for a
woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
7. For
a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and
glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8. For
the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9. Neither
was the man created for the woman; but the woman of the man.
10. For
this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11.
Nevertheless neither is the man without woman, neither the woman without the
man, in the Lord.
12. For
as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all
things of God.
13.
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray to God uncovered?
14.
Does not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a
shame for him?
15. But
if a woman have a long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for
a covering.
16. But
if any man seem to be contentious, we have not such custom, neither the churches
of God.
(King
James Version Easy Reading)
TOPIC: HEAD
COVERING IN THE EARLY CORINTHIAN CHURCH
Every community has customs
and traditions that have become the ways of life of the people. Therefore, it
becomes obvious if any member of the society violates the customs and needs to
be corrected by the authorities concerned.
So it is with head coverings
by men and women during worship. This must have been an issue with the young
church in Corinth which needed Paul’s attention as he had brought the Gospel of
freedom in Christ to them (vs. 2-10). It was customary for women in that
community to wear veils at public worship.
It was most likely that some
women were coming to the Lord’s Supper without wearing veils and Paul’s pinion
was sought about it. He had to go back to creation narratives to teach
orderliness and God’s view of male and female (vs. 5, 6). Although both sexes
are important before God, women should behave like women according to the
prevailing norms of their society (vs. 5, 6, 13, 15).
Praying or prophesying
without covering the head was seen as dishonoring their heads. We should learn
the eternal truth that it is expedient to know the norms of a given society and
endeavor to comply for the sake of the gospel and avoid controversies during
public worship (v. 16).
QUESTION: What
can you give up out of the love for the promotion of the Gospel?
PRAYER: Oh
Lord, may my liberty in Christ not be an obstacle to preaching the Gospel and
breaking customs that bind, in Jesus name, Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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