I appreciate your warm attentiveness to the Word of God in the previous hour, and I come anticipating that I will not have to compete with lunch as it sets heavy on your stomachs. Well, we'll be looking at First Timothy, chapter two and verse nine, especially in our study this afternoon. Now, as you're turning there, I would ask you this. Do we really believe those well-known words in 1 Timothy 3, verses 16, 17, that all Scripture is inspired of God, that it's all God-breathed, and is therefore profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, righteousness? Do we really believe it's the very Word of God and therefore profitable for us? And do we really believe, as Paul goes on to emphasize in verse 17, of its sufficiency for all of life? There he talks about the man of God who is probably one in a pastoral type situation, being able to instruct and give everything that God's people need from that very Word of God, sufficient for all of life. Do we really believe that? Well, it's true. And for us as the Lord's people, that means that God's Word then is to direct our thinking in all of life. That is, not only in matters spiritual, but also things moral. Not only in eternal matters, but also in those things which are temporal and even very mundane. Because for us, as the Lord's people, all of life is religious. That is to say, All of life is to be lived to God's glory under his sufficient word. Right? We know that. Right? That certainly is a distinctive for us as those who are embracing the Reformed faith. Sola Scriptura. And we know that that means Scripture indeed directs us for all of life. That being so, as we've seen previously, that means that it will address such things as even apparel, such mundane and common things. And so in our previous hour, we looked at six biblical perspectives on apparel. I just rehearsed those for you quickly. Firstly, as to how should we view clothing? How should we look at apparel? It must be seen, firstly, I say, as utilitarian, as having very practical or useful matter, that God has intended it that way. Secondly, we saw that it's also though quite legitimate to have regard to ornamentation, that which looks nice, the color, the texture, appearance. Thirdly, we saw that considered in and of itself, clothing is a non-moral issue. It comes under the heading of Christian liberty. It's a thing indifferent. But then we also saw that Fourthly, clothing has potential to communicate, to express a mindset, attitude, values, to express even our hearts. And therefore, fifthly, clothing can take on moral significance. It can cease to be a non-moral issue, and we must not sin against God in that regard. And then, sixthly, That's especially so, as we saw, because God is the ultimate provider of our clothing. He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And how Jesus would say in Matthew 6, verse 30, the Father clothes the grass of the field. How much more will He clothe you by His providence? He is the one. who grants us our clothing. And therefore, in whatever we do, eating, drinking, or what we wear, it must be indeed to the glory of God. And that especially when we consider a text like 1 Corinthians 6, verses 19 and 20. You're not your own. You've been bought with a price. And that price was nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ. And the application that Paul gives there, you're not your own. You're bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and some translations in your body and your spirit, which are God's. We've been bought to that end. And that would include what we do with our bodies and that would include even what we put on our bodies, all I say to the glory of God. Well, in our previous study, mention was made of certain guidelines for apparel that are found in Scripture. That is what God himself has said as to what is and what is not appropriate. Now, obviously, you know your Bibles well enough to know that there's no strict list of specific rules here. You know, the dress must be so long, etc. We don't find that, obviously. But we do find principles. We do find a broader framework. And within that framework, as I said in that previous hour, there is much liberty. And that's why I'm using the term guidelines or principles directing us. Now, we come to consider these, there are actually six altogether. Perhaps there are more in Scripture, but we'll be looking only at six. And this hour, we'll really only be looking at three. And then, God willing, tomorrow morning in the Sunday school hour, we'll pick up three more. But the three that we focus on this afternoon are especially addressed to ladies. And it's found in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 9. For the sake of context, though, let's back up to verse 8. 1 Timothy chapter 2, beginning at verse 8. Therefore, I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." Now, Paul is here addressing Christian ladies, especially in verses 9 and 10. And he's addressing them about their appearance when they come to church, because he's talking about the corporate prayer. He's talking about praying in every place. He's not meaning just out in the corner everywhere else you want to go and pray and do. That's a good idea. But that's not what he's addressing. He's addressing in this context, especially the importance of the corporate prayer life of the church. And so you've got the men, the women coming together, especially seeking God in prayer as their corporate gathering. So you have these ladies coming to church. But now, I would underscore that what is said here is not strictly limited to church clothes or church conduct. OK, so it wouldn't be right to say, well, this only has to do with church and these principles have nothing to do with anything else apart from when we meet together. That's not true. That's why I read verse eight, where he talks about the men lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting or without wrath and disputing. Now, does he mean by that? You men, when you come to church, lift up hands that are not defiled by sin and don't be duking it out with one another at church. But you know, once you go outside the doors, then, men, you can have your hands defiled with all kinds of sin, and you can duke it out with one another all you want to. That's obviously not what he's saying, right? He's saying, no, here's the principle of righteousness that must especially characterize you men when you come together as the Lord's people to seek Him in prayer. So in like manner, when he goes on to say, and now you women, when you're coming to the gathered saints, to the corporate gathering, church life, Well, again, here is the general rules of righteousness that are to be worked out, especially in that specific context. But it's not that, oh, this only applies to what you do when you come together to church. That's why we find, for instance, over in 1 Peter 3, similar emphases, at least, that we find here. And Peter makes no reference at all to gathering together to church. He's talking about the life more generally. So all that simply to say that though Paul, in this specific context, is addressing the corporate gathering of the saints, and how women are to come to gather with the Lord's people as a church. Yet it's really a standard, a principle of righteousness that he's setting before us that he's simply applying to that specific scenario. Well, I hope that I've won your conscience in that. Firstly, by way of the first guideline, he emphasizes modesty. Notice again, verse 9. like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel." Now, obviously that would mean apparel that could not in any way be considered immodest. Clothes that are not indecent or obscene. But in all fairness, this particular Greek word translated modesty is not quite as narrow as our English word, because really it means in good order, the idea of respectable, the idea of that which is seemly or appropriate. And so it would include modesty in the sense in which we use the word, that is to say, not too revealing, not risque, but please understand that the word actually is broader than just that. moral sense that we would normally attach to the word modesty. And then Paul follows this up with another word which carries much the same connotation. If you have a New King James, you'll notice it says, impropriety. If you have a New American Standards, you'll notice that now here it translates that second word, modestly. Okay, so obviously it's in the same ballpark. And then Paul gives still further emphasis to this matter when we come down to that which I read in your hearing in verse 10, where he talks about apparel that is proper for women professing godliness. That is to say, those who profess to worship a holy God, their apparel is to be consistent with that moral, sexual integrity of God's true people. So, we find this note sounded three times here, modesty, propriety, and then as befits those who profess to worship the true and living God, women professing godliness. And so, modest apparel is certainly an emphasis in this verse. Clothing that is not too revealing, that is not lewd, that is not sexually provocative, by design. That which would accentuate parts of the body that we normally associate with our sexuality, that which unnecessarily draws attention in a way that could be thought suggestive, surely all such is to be regarded by the Lord's people as entirely unacceptable. It's not modest. It's not seemly. It's not appropriate. Now, as we noted in that previous hour, even from Genesis chapter 3, the giving of clothing initially, originally, it was out of a concern to cover nakedness. That especially because of the corruption that sin has introduced into our race. Well, that being so, again, by design, that means clothing must cover, not reveal, nakedness, right? In other words, it's not to advertise our sexuality. That, surely, is apparent even from the first mention of clothing or covering back in Genesis chapter 3. And that practice throughout history to be provocative in dress, to expose, it reveals skin, but it reveals more than just skin, right? In other words, it also reveals human depravity. It reveals that rebellion against God, the provider of clothing for our first parents. That's what it reveals. That tendency again throughout history that's marked the history of our race. Well, it underscores how mankind is very ready to abuse God's good gift of human sexuality. It underscores how enslaved mankind is to lusts and pleasures. Now surely, just even in putting it that way, We as Christians, we cannot be indifferent towards these things, can we? This kind of rebellion and enslavement to lust and so forth. We cannot be indifferent to that. We cannot condone that. We dare not indulge in that. Right? This is sin against the true and living God. Romans 12, too, is certainly applicable here when it talks about do not be conformed to this world or this age. Well, surely it would include in this very matter of modesty, of how we view our sexuality and so forth, right? Even Timothy, a godly Timothy, is told to flee youthful lusts. I take consolation in the fact that Timothy must have been somewhere in his 40s, in his so-called youthful. I'm beyond that point, but hey, you know, if you can be youthful at 40, maybe in your 50s you're not too far off yet. Or how Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6, writing to the Corinthians, flee. Run from sexual immorality. Not toy with it, not kind of flirt with it a little bit, but turn heels and run from sexual immorality. Or he writes to the Ephesians and he talks about that you should not conduct yourself anymore like the other Gentiles. You've got the whirlings out there and how they're alienated from the life of God, how their understanding is darkened. They're so debased that they're actually greedy for their lusts to have their lusts satisfied. You have not so learned Christ. That is not to mark you, he says. Or Romans chapter 13 and verse 14. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. Notice, please, Galatians chapter five. Galatians chapter five. Now, we think of these, oh yes, flea immorality and making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. Yes, but well, that's talking about fornication. That's not about adultery. That's not talking about how you dress a little bit of flesh showing there more than should be. Oh, wait a minute. Notice what we find here. In Galatians chapter 5, Paul's talking about the works of the flesh. And you know how he writes of them. Verse 19, Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, generally that's understood as sexual immorality committed by those who are married. Fornication, that would be those who are unmarried or any activities outside, sexual activities outside the bond of marriage. But then notice he also adds uncleanness and licentiousness or lewdness. Now these, this uncleanness and lewdness, whatever that is, it's distinct from adultery and fornication. Right? It would be promiscuous conduct. Let's stop short of those grosser forms of that sin. It would include promiscuous words. We must also put under this heading, promiscuous dress. Even intentions and motives. for sexual sins that are not actually lived out, carried out physically, yet even that, the motives, the intentions of the heart, these are the works of the flesh. And you remember how he closes this section, verse 21. I told you before, I'm telling you beforehand, just I told you in time past, those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. God is not indifferent towards this. Those who make this their life, their aim, their concern. How about Proverbs chapter 7 and verse 10? Please turn there. Proverbs chapter 7 and verse 10. My dear sisters, all I'm trying to demonstrate is that this matter of immodest apparel is not something we can look at with indifference or even kind of ambivalent or it's not that big of a deal. No, it is that big of a deal. Proverbs chapter 7 and verse 10. I referred to this in a previous hour. And there a woman met him, this young man, this foolish young man, with the attire of a harlot and a crafty heart. Now, what does it mean here, Tyra Harland? Was it saying in that context that it was conspicuous for its immodesty? I don't know. Was it saying it was very revealing, it was very alluring? Well, whatever the case, however that particular apparel looked in that historical context, one thing is sure, it was that which was recognized as belonging to a prostitute, someone who was promoting sexual immorality. But what we must note about this attire of the harlot that this woman was wearing is she wasn't a harlot. Come on down to verse 19 and see what she says, her own lips. For my husband is not at home, he is gone on a long journey. She was a married woman. She wasn't a harlot, but she was dressing like one. Now, the point is, you've got this married woman who wanted to appear sexually desirable to someone other than her husband. She was there to, as it were, entrap this young man wearing clothing with that evil intention. Well, Scripture put this forward as some kind of, oh, that's no big deal. No, not at all. Now, it's very possible to not have such overtly evil designs with one's apparel. and yet to have that same sentiment of heart. Not quite so overtly evil as this woman by design, but the same sentiment. That is to say, not to physically commit adultery, as she evidently was out to do, but nonetheless deliberately dressing in a way as to produce, deliberately I say, to produce lustful looks, to appear sexually alluring, sensual to someone other than one's spouse, even to be desired, as it were, in a sinful way. That is possible. And this is the same intention of heart of this woman that we see here in Proverbs chapter 7. Even where there is not that actual going for it as this woman did, nonetheless, it's out for a kind of sinful gratification of a sexual nature. And going to church and being religious doesn't sound, well, that's okay for you to do it. Because notice what it said down in verse 14. Again, this woman from her own mouth. I have peace offerings with me. Today I paid my vows. Here's this woman who's talking about her religiosity. And I'm pure now. And look what I've done. I've got this facade of religiosity about me. And yet here she is. Well, her lewdness and dress. It wasn't OK. Or how about in First Timothy, chapter 2, verse 9, where Paul keeps saying there, emphasizing this matter of professing women, professing godliness, modesty, and so forth. That's addressed to church ladies. That's addressed to church ladies as they're going to church. OK? So the point is, a facade of religiosity doesn't mean that, well, it's OK for me to dress this way. Well, that's what we find here. The Westminster larger catechism, question 139. It's not wrong then including a modest dress under the violations of the seventh commandment. You shall not commit adultery. If you're familiar with the Westminster larger catechism and how it opens up exactly what that sin is and so forth and what that commandment requires. And I say that especially if it's worn deliberately in order to be alluring. That is a sexual sin. It's reflecting sinful lust in the heart. It's also sexual sin because it's promoting that lust in the hearts of others. Well, just by way of giving some application to that then, dear ladies, I say to you, it is right to ask, to ask yourself, what desires and what intentions direct the way I dress? As those concerned to do right and to be holy, What desires and intentions direct the way I dress? Or to look at a particular piece of garment and say, a particular garment or piece of clothing and say, why this? That might be perfectly legitimate. I'm not saying, you know, if you haven't asked that question, you've got to throw that thing away. No, no, no. But we do well to ask, why do I dress this way? Why this particular item of apparel? And parents must not think that children, especially teenagers, are exempt from temptation in this area. Were we? Were we exempt when we were teens? We didn't think in these terms. Well, no, in all likelihood not. And though these young people may not engage in actual fornication, let's hope they do not, nonetheless, it's easier to fall into this form of sexual sin, right? Just with the apparel, to be alluring as their own maturation, their own sexuality is developing and so forth, and the curiosity and the desire to be desired. Mind you, it's possible to fall into this sin for them and not even see the evil of it, nor see where exactly that it leads. And there we as parents allow this. It's not a matter of moral neutrality. No, we must protect our children from the world. We must protect our children from their own hearts, including this matter of immodesty and dress. And so, again, we must be convinced this is a moral evil, right? A modest dress. This is this is not something about which we can be indifference. We must make sure that our young people understand this is a moral evil. It's not just a case of, well, it's dubious. No, it is a moral evil condemned even by the seventh commandment. We must make sure young people understand that and why that is so. You know, again, when I look at this passage in First Timothy, chapter two and verse nine, Isn't it that Paul had to write these words to church ladies? Ladies who were going to church to pray with God's people? Isn't it that he had to write these words to them? There must have at least been some ladies there in Ephesus where Timothy was, where Paul himself had been, who really did not recognize the problem. Right? And so Paul says, see it. See this is a problem. So he gives it this three-fold emphasis here. Children or daughters in particular, It's possible that they could be a bit naive in this regard. But, you know, it's the style. I mean, everybody dresses this way. I've got friends who dress this way. What's wrong with this? Well, and it can be that there's no overtly wicked intentions on their part. I'm not suggesting that that would always be the case. But still, in modest apparel, that which is too revealing, that which is risqué, that which is accentuating those parts normally associated with human sexuality, That is entirely unsuitable for us, the Lord's people, women professing godliness in particular. And so I say, instruct and explain. Explain why it's wrong. Explain why this particular item is too tight or too revealing, and seek to win their judgment by instilling vital lessons in their thinking. OK? Especially, again, those with younger children and girls that you're training. You've got to instill the lessons. It won't do simply to say, you can't wear that. You can't wear that. Well, why not? Well, it's good to explain, to explain the whole psyche, the whole rationale, and so forth, the male-female interaction, and well, we'll leave it at that. I think one line of argument that is good to use is going back to that Proverbs 7.10. Here's a woman who's wearing the attire of a harlot, and she wasn't one, but she wanted to be mistaken for such. Now, my little darling, you say to your daughter, do you want to be mistaken for such? Is that why you dress that way? Because what you do communicates something and that's not the message. You want to sin. And then as need be, well, parents must exercise veto power over the wardrobe. It's not a matter of indifference, is it? For their own safety. We need to exercise that veto power and give instruction. But now it does raised the question, how do we define modest? I don't know what's modest apparel and what is immodest. If, to our amazement somehow, that dear Puritan theologian John Owen was resurrected suddenly and came walking in our midst, apart from the fact we'd all be rather shocked and dumbfounded, he would perhaps be shocked as well. Because you, dear sisters, By what he remembered when he went to the grave, you're dressed immodestly, in his estimation, as it would be back in the 17th century, right? So how do we define modest now? Are we to live in a time warp so we're all dressed like the Puritans were? Or are societal norms to have any input in what is modest now and what isn't? And if so, how much input? I mean, we rightly adapt to our culture in some areas. Paul did in 1 Corinthians chapter 9. You recall how the Apostle Paul there, in that context, he talks about becoming all things to all men that he might win some. OK. But how much should we adapt to our culture in defining what is modest and what is not modest? I confess to you, this is not an easy issue. Do you find that hard one to wrestle with? Do you? I find it a very hard one to wrestle with. others as well, to get some kind of input on this. Scripture doesn't give us a list of specifics, as you well know. You know, only this much flesh is to be exposed, and so forth. Now, by virtue of the fact that Scripture doesn't give us that kind of specific information, well, it would leave room, then, for some common sense. It would leave room for at least some sensitivity of conscience, and even for cultural differences. So we don't have some kind of infallible guide to define for us what is now modest in every given culture. But in the absence of an infallible guide, there are at least three fallible guides that I would mention that I hope will at least be of some help in determining what is modest and what is not. Okay, we know immodest, that's taboo, that's out of the question, but how do we know this? How do we define this? The first fallible guide is this. Listen to the voice of conscience. It's a fallible guide, yes, I know. But if conscience says no, or if conscience is even troubled, bothered, I don't know about this one. In Romans chapter 14, the Apostle Paul is talking there about what you can eat and what you can't. And here you've got these guys that their conscience is all bound up with. Well, you know, if we eat that particular thing, that could be sin. I don't know. Is it or isn't it? Well, okay, we'll go for it. It's a 50-50 chance, but I'm not sure. And it's in that connection that Paul says, whatever is not of faith is sin. That is to say, whatever you can't do in good conscience before God, if you have doubts about it, don't do it. Because what you're saying is, I'll run a 50-50 chance of sinning against God on this one. Those are not good odds. Right? So if I can't do it with a good conscience, then even if someone else, I'm not bothered, it doesn't matter. Whatever is not of faith is sin. So, again, That's a fallible guide. We need to educate our consciences. Okay? Because in the case of Romans 14, you have the guy who wouldn't eat certain things, and his conscience was not really rightly educated. Okay? He was holding back from certain things that were legitimate. But nonetheless, we need to educate conscience. As much as we can in our debased culture, we need to keep our consciences sensitive. not dulled by the advertisements and the peer pressure and so forth, but rather honed as to what is right and what is keeping the conscience sensitive against sexual sins of any form. And by all means, then, don't violate conscience. As Martin Luther put it, it's neither wise nor safe. OK? So there's one fallible guide. What's right? Well, what is modest? What's immodest? If the conscience is even troubled by it, rule that one out. Don't go there. OK? A second fallible guide. What about societal norms, the dictates of culture? Well, if societal norms are to have any input, what apparel is recognized as conveying sexual purity? That's the question to ask. Now, modesty, I think it's safe to say, dear ladies, I think modesty will be defined in measure by society and culture. In fact, one dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary, it defines modesty this way. Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress. Conventional proprieties. Societal norms. Call it what you will. Now, if that is a fair definition of modesty, then the question is, what would society say as is proper for women professing godliness? Get the point. Not simply what does today's society say is acceptable. Yeah, that's okay. I don't know. What does society say is very conservative? See the difference between the two? Because society is absolutely, all kinds of things are acceptable. I'm sorry. They've got this skewed thinking here. But what would society say is the very picture of moral purity? Society at large, I'm saying. Not individuals, but society generally. What would it say is the very picture of moral purity? This much I can say, Britney Spears and her ilk, or whoever the latest icon is out there, that's not what even society, at the base of society, would say is the picture of sexual purity. Right? Right? So we can pretty well say, that ain't it. What would society say is very conservative? That's not an infallible guide. But I say a society at large is to have any input in defining modesty, it must be what is recognized even in society as conveying moral integrity and purity. But now I come then to a third fallible guide, and it at least has given us in the infallible word. Not only conscience, not only society's definition of moral purity or what conveys moral purity, but then also the doctrine of male headship in the home. In other words, questions about what's modest, immodest, ask your husband. Or whatever teenage girl wants to hear, ask your dad as to what is accepted by way of modest and what isn't, even regarding specific garments. Now, of course, I can just imagine some teenage girl thinking, what? Ask my dad? This guy's going to have me wearing a turtleneck sweater under my wedding gown. What do you mean? Well, maybe mom can help out a little bit on what's reasonable at least. But even if you don't like dad's answer, we understand he's still the head, right? He's still the head in the home. And he has this as his God-given responsibility to direct and to protect. God entrusts men with leading their families for each member's good and safety and moral integrity and happiness. And so I say, use that which God has given for your good in all areas and no less in this matter of modest apparel. In fact, Pastor Gary Hendricks of the church in Lebanon, when I was speaking with him on this, he said, if you're going to teach modesty, you need to go after the men. You need to go after the husbands. They're the ones who need to be instructing and upholding and so forth. And so there's the very wise counsel of Pastor Gary Hendricks. But since the men aren't here, I had to address you, right? There's nothing wrong with looking presentable, even attractive, being pleasing to the eye. That's not wrong. We'll come back to that, God willing, tomorrow. But it's definitely wrong to entice, to appear provocative, to knowingly excite sinful desires in others. Do you want to be mistaken? As a person having low or loose morals, like that woman wearing the attire of a harlot, do you want your daughters to be seen as such? No. Then be committed to modesty and take what steps you must using these fallible guides in order to guard against immodest apparel, regardless of fashions and the dictates of our culture. Well, that's then the first guideline. that we see here in 1 Timothy 2 and verse 9. But I did say there are three that I'm wanting to touch on here, so let me hasten on to number two. Paul also insists here in this passage that apparel, attire, must be sensible. It must exhibit good sense and sound judgment. Now, I pointed out that two of these words that we have here, the first one is translated modest in the New King James, the second one translated propriety in the New King James. New American Standard translates that one, modest. Yes, the New American Standard does, I say. The idea of both of these words is that which is well-ordered, that which is becoming, that which is appropriate, that which is in good taste. And the word translated here, yes, propriety, in New King James, it carries the idea of even reverence, respectable. having a regard for others, even a thoughtfulness, a sensitivity to others. So both of these are saying much the same, not just by way of modest morally, but then also the idea of sensible. And then there's another word that Paul employs here in this context, which makes the point even more strongly. Notice again, in First Timothy, chapter two, verse nine, modest apparel with propriety and moderation. If you have a New American Standard, it translates it discreetly. Literally, this word means a sound mind. It's a word that's used in that Acts 26 context. You remember when Festus said of Paul, you're beside yourself. Your much learning is making you mad. And Paul says, no, I'm not mad, but I have reason. I have a sound mind. That's the word here translated moderation or translated discreetly by some translations. So you get the idea here. In other words, there's a great deal of emphasis not only on modesty in the sense of moral, but also placed on good sense in our prayer. I don't even see how that would be included, or how modesty, rather, would be included under that. Good sense, sound judgment. Well, in addition to that which is morally modest, there are three other subheadings that I would want to, or three subheadings, rather, I would want to consider under this broader heading of sensible, of sound judgment. And that would include, then, the idea of orderliness, of being well-arranged, tasteful. You know, as stated before, it's God himself who made us with aesthetic sensitivities or sensibilities. That is to say, the ability to recognize and appreciate beauty and that even in apparel, right? God made us that way. Well, to disregard that, to knowingly, intentionally go against that ascetic sensitivity, that's not sensible, is it? Right? Well, that's certainly not going to come under this heading of sound judgment here. And so the point is, it's right, dear ladies, it's right. to care about neatness and order. And even it's right, according to the wording that we have here, it's right to have a reasonable concern for aesthetics, how it looks. That's right. So you can condemn yourself. Well, you know, I'm concerned about how things look. That's sensible. That's sound judgment. Even as to what is reasonably fashionable, at least as far as cultural norms that are non-moral, okay? What is reasonably fashionable. If you see someone dressed in embarrassingly outdated styles, if I showed up wearing one of those leisure suits from the 1970s, I never had a leisure suit. If I wore up wearing my white jacket with the embroidered apparel, embroidered, what do you call it? Lapels, yeah, there we go. You see, I'm really up with it with clothes on, you know? Lapels, my white boots and white belt, my bell bottoms, back in the early 70s. You would hardly think that guy's got sound judgment. We're not even going to talk about what my wife wore back in those days. We'll leave that one alone. But that was back in those days. That's somebody who wears hopelessly outdated style. You don't look at them and think, you know, they're really sensible, right? Hmm? If you see someone wearing rumpled, ragged, dirty clothes in our culture, and I'm not talking about third world countries or those that are underprivileged, but in our culture and country. I mean, do you look at that person and think they're quite respectable? Well, no. If you see a mixture of colors that just hurt, And this hurts. Or the guy wearing the stripes and the polka dots. Does that strike you as being in good taste? Well, obviously, no. Would you look at that person as really, you know, that is a sensible way of dressing. Or, when you see this dear 70-year-old lady dressing like a 17-year-old. You say, now boy, she's sharp. You know, she's really sensible in what she's doing. Right? Well, scripture does not call us, it does not sanction foolishness, boorishness, rebellion, and non-moral norms, or for that matter, cultural insensitivity. Scripture does not, I say, sanction these things. And it's good that we should be different from the world, OK? That's good. But not in a way of being bizarre, OK? In a good way, in a righteous way. I would remind you how Paul, when he talked about becoming all things to all men and culturally adapting, it was that he might win some, not that he might show them how weird he was, okay? And so, same with us, yes, okay, we mustn't be worldly, we mustn't be like the, but wait a minute, where we're to stick out is not by dressing as people who are just downright kooky and strange, but rather how we show ourselves different in such a way as morally and spiritually to do the world good. And that would include them being sensible in the way we dress, having a due regard for others, even decorum and the like. So that's one subheading under the idea of sensible, right? But then also another one, this idea of sensible, it involves dressing appropriately to one's activity. If you should go visit one of your friends this afternoon after our time together and you show up wearing hip boots, I wonder what you do with hip boots anyway, you're probably not a fly fisherman, but nonetheless, if you show up wearing hip boots, I doubt your friend would think you're particularly sensible unless you two had arranged to go out fly fishing this afternoon, right? Or if you're out doing a little bit of gardening, wearing a formal evening gown, you're probably not gonna win any prizes for being sensible, okay? or if you go to a funeral wearing dirty, smelly work clothes, right? It wouldn't be appropriate to the activity. Well, there is surely a recognized standard amongst people generally as to what is suitable and sensible. And we see this, don't we, in Scripture. For instance, you remember when Joseph, how he'd been in this prison. Now, even though he had been elevated a bit and had some clout by that time in this Egyptian prison. Nonetheless, he was still a prisoner, and evidently he didn't look too good or smell too good. At least his clothes were not the best, because when he's going to be brought before Pharaoh, what do they do? Well, they shave him one day, but also they change his clothes, okay? Because you're coming before someone great here, and therefore your apparel must reflect that, and we don't want you coming with those old dirty prison clothes coming in here. Or how about Ruth? You remember when Ruth was to go and to make her needs known and sort of humble herself before Boaz to let it be known that she was indeed marriageable, available for marriage. Right? You remember that in the Book of Ruth, Chapter 3? And we're told how she put on her best garments. Not what she had worn that day working out in the field. So Boaz wakes up and says, whoo, lady, whoo. You know? Now, she wore her best garments, and that's not said as something to condemn her. It was set forth as being the very right thing to do. Matthew chapter 22. I would ask you to turn there, please. Matthew chapter 22. Notice verse 11. This is the parable of the wedding garment. You're familiar with it. The wedding feast. All these different individuals are invited in. Verse 11 of Matthew 22, but when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless, meaning there was no defense for it. You've been invited by this king very graciously to come to this wedding and you come without wearing that which is appropriate. Now, I understand our Lord's point here. He's addressing a spiritual lesson, that is to say, the idea of being truly suited to come before the king of kings and so forth. The great lesson is here. It's not just a matter of showing up and being in the right place. But the point is, the lesson that our Lord is teaching rests on this principle. that there is certain attire appropriate to certain activities. And the problem here in this parable, the problem with this man, is the way he dressed bespoke, as it were, a lack of esteem towards the occasion or towards the king who had invited him. Right? It was totally inappropriate. Improper attire. That was actually an insult to this king. It was disregarding the special occasion, this wedding. It was disregarding the king himself. And so, again, it underscores the point. that sensible would include right clothes for the right activity, okay? We see this, don't we, the way we dress for special occasions? You know, it's your anniversary dinner, your husband's going to take you out, and you're wearing your jogging tongs. You know, unless he's taking you to McDonald's, that's probably not appropriate, okay? Going to a wedding, and you show up wearing your work clothes, you may not be invited to another wedding anytime soon. Right. Come on, we recognize special occasions and so forth. OK, but now let me say this. What about public worship? The Old Testament priests, they have suitable attire. For beauty, for glory, we saw that, I referred to that in the previous hour. OK, but that's the Old Testament. What about now in the New Testament? Well, I pointed out previously in James chapter two, We have this rich man wearing fine apparel and a poor man, and he's wearing rather vile, as it's called, dirty or rags, poor apparel. And they both come to the meeting of the church, the congregation there. Now, we draw this conclusion that no specific attire was mandated then in the New Testament church, right? Because you did have a guy wearing poor or vile apparel, and they didn't say, I'm sorry, sir, you cannot come in here dressed like that. So there's no dress code for worship services. We can conclude that. However, having said that, the rich man, he came in his finer apparel, and that poor man, well, he came in all that he had. And that was proper. Better to come in all you've got there than not come at all. 1 Timothy 2.9 is actually addressing the gathering of the saints, corporate worship, seeking God in prayer. And it calls for that which is sensible. It calls for that which is proper, which is suited to the activity of honoring God. Now, surely, if rags is all one has for such a special occasion like that poor man, then that is entirely suitable. Right? If that's all you've got, then well and good. Come, God looks on the heart. But we must beware of being too casual in our approach to worship in God's new covenant temple, that is, the gathered saints. Of being too casual. Sloppy apparel, overly casual by choice, not by necessity, but by choice. Surely that could at least bespeak an irreverence, couldn't it? A lack of concern? for the specialness of the occasion. And it could convey to our children that after all, worship in God's new covenant temple with His people is not so important. It's not so special. And mind you, it could bring us to the place where we then begin to regard worship as a rather insignificant matter. No need to look more presentable and treat it as special. It's a special time when God's people gather together, especially on the Lord's Day. Again, the New Covenant Temple, as it's called, 1 Corinthians 3, 2 Corinthians 6. You're the temple of God when you come together. God dwells there by his spirit especially. Well, that surely is a special time then when the saints come together. That's what Paul is even addressing here in 1 Timothy chapter 2, an apparel that is sensible will reflect the specialness of that time. We need to be careful. We need to guard against being too casual in worship. You know, there's a trend in our day. Churches, you know, come as you are. Right? And I often add to that and leave unchanged. Right? Because there's a case of just casual. What makes us feel good? Well, wait a minute. It's not about us. When we come to worship God, it's about God. And it is a formal time indeed. Right? And our children know if we're going out to a special meal together or something to celebrate a wedding anniversary or something, that we don't go on our grubbies, that we treat this as a special occasion by the way we dress. And should we communicate to them that, well, you know, the Lord's Day is no big deal, or Lord's Day evening is not so important as Lord's Day morning. Why? It's the same God, the same New Covenant temple, right? So, sensible, wouldn't that include then even dressing appropriate? Not extravagant. You won't go on to see that. But it certainly would include. having a due regard to what we're about when we come together, wouldn't it? As God's new covenant temple, right? Again, that's the context Paul's addressing there. Well, let me pass on to a third heading, a subheading. Clothing should also, if it's to be sensible, it should also be in keeping with male-female distinctives, i.e., suited to our gender. Now, as you know, we've got many dear brethren would look to a text like Deuteronomy 22.5, a woman must not wear that which pertains to a man. And so you're wearing slacks and that is taboo. It's abomination. You ever heard that kind of stuff? I'm not going to say that. I would say as to your slacks that you're wearing that are cut especially for the female physique, would your husband be caught dead wearing those things? Then I don't think Deuteronomy 22.5 speaks to that. Do you? In actual fact, men in those days wore robes. Dresses are more akin to that than, well, we'll leave that. But the emphasis is not on the specifics of the garment, but there is the principle here on male-female distinctness. Men are to be masculine, and ladies are to be feminine. And this is to be reflected in our apparel. And in fact, when we come to the New Testament, it's that same principle that we find in 1 Corinthians 11, where it talks about the head covering. I'm not going to go into the whole matter of the head covering there. Your elders, I'm sure, will be very happy to deal with that text. But at least we can say this, OK? What everyone does with that passage, Certainly, it does emphasize the importance of male-female roles, and that text also does then take into consideration how this will be reflected in appearance. We can say that, right? And so, sensible dress will include then male-female distinctness. In other words, apparel that befits a woman, that is feminine, right? Gloring in God's goodness to you and making you a woman. Well, that is what we see then by way of something sensible. Not only modest, but sensible. Well, from this we see that our clothing says much about our own mindset, doesn't it? About our own attitude and outlook and our own regard for decorum. Our clothing says much about us, and we got good sense, right? Now, in light of that, let me ask you, in light of these principles or these subheadings that we've looked at, suited to the occasion and suited to the gender and the activity and so forth, what does your wardrobe say about you? Are you a sensible woman? Have sound judgment? I would just remind you, Paul's setting the sport as a command. This is commanded of our dear ladies, to be sensible in their apparel. Now what I come to by way of our third guideline from scripture this afternoon, it really could be treated as a subheading under what we've just seen. Sensible, but I think it deserves its own separate heading. And so thirdly, not only apparel must be modest, sensible, apparel should not be extravagant. That is to say, it's not to exceed reasonable bounds as to cost. Come again to 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 9. In like manner also that the women adorn themselves with modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair, gold or pearls, or costly clothing. We'll come back to some of these other matters tomorrow. But obviously when he's talking about costly clothing, he's talking about that which is very expensive. Same word used of that perfume with which our Lord was anointed that cost 300 denarii. That would be over a year's wages, perhaps closer to 18 months wages for the average working man. That's a pretty expensive perfume, wouldn't you agree? Well, costly, that's the word there. Costly apparel. Now, imprudent expenditures on clothing. I know it's common in our culture, right? Shocking, isn't it? Some of the prices that things cost. It certainly keeps our economy going, I guess, if there's any virtue to it. But this is really not acceptable conduct for us as the Lord's people, according to 1 Timothy 2.9 and other passages. And yet, here I think is an area where we may be vulnerable to temptation, being extravagant. very apt to feel the pressure of the world, right? Pure pressure, as to fashions. I don't want to look like I'm totally out of step with the rank and file of those who have at least some reasonable taste. And then you've got the world's spending habits and the values of the world, how these can be deemed not only as normal, but even right. Well, you've got to dress this way. You've got to have that, you know. Well, such a major emphasis on our land, isn't it? In our land, I should say, the idea of how you dress. You know, consistently bombarded by adverts. You get them in the mail. You see them on the TV. You see them everywhere you go. And then, of course, there are many opportunities to buy, right? I mean, you're not going to go anywhere shopping except for maybe the gas station or grocery store and not have clothing there that's begging to be purchased. And plus, we as Christians, have more occasion to wear nice clothes than the typical worldling in our culture does, right? I mean, at least weekly we're showing up and we are dressing in a way that would be maybe a little bit nicer than what the typical worldling would dress. And surely we don't want to wear the same old thing, so it feels like I'm wearing a uniform every time I go to church. Yeah, I wear that every week, you know? I think it was from a woman that I heard that very phraseology of uniform. I think I know her fairly well. I'll not mention any names. It is an area that we need to watch though. Because according to 1st Timothy 2.9, we're not to be extravagant in our apparel. But it raises the question. What is extravagant? How much is too much? When Paul wrote those words, costly apparel, to buy even one shoe with today's money compared to the money they talked about in those days, that would be costly apparel, right? Now, is he saying you shouldn't even have one shoe? Well, obviously not. What does he mean, costly apparel? How much is too much per item or for that matter, generally? And again, this is one of these matters, this is not easy. to determine. I mean, certainly we can't set a universal figure in terms of dollars. If it goes beyond this, that's costly, that's too much. We just can't do that. Because there are many factors, there are many variables that we have to take into account that are even peculiar to each individual's situation. For instance, you have somebody whose job puts them in a position where they have to wear a certain standard of clothes. And then you have somebody else that they don't have that kind of job. Well, wait a minute. Extravagant for one isn't for another. Now, let me hasten to add this. It needs to be underscored that this prohibition of extravagance, that does not negate what we've just seen about sensible, okay? In other words, it doesn't mean that threadbare clothes are to be the standard. And it's got to be poor stuff. Wore out stuff. You know, stuff that you go to the dumpster back at the thrift shop and you find there, that's okay. Anything else, if you buy in the thrift shop even, that's dubious. But the stuff in the dumpster outside, that's not sensible. Right? Aren't you relieved? Again, the idea of embarrassingly outdated clothes. You know? So they think you've been caught in a time warp for the last 20 years. No, that's not what it means here when it's talking about not costly apparel. Sensible in our spending. Wisely using the money we have to dress in a way that is sensible. And again, we mustn't confuse the idea of cheap with a wise use of money. Because as you would know, that's not always synonymous. Sometimes cheap is a waste of money. You buy clothes that are basically disposable. You know, you wear them one time. And those things, unless you're standing like this, they're just not going to fit right, you know? And so that's sometimes, in that case at least, sensible apparel would mean spending a little bit more for that which will last a whole lot longer, okay? So it's not a case of, well, this extravagance, you can't have that, therefore you've got to go to the bottom of the barrel as cheap as you can possibly get away with. One key principle is that our apparel, should be suited to our station in life and society. We read in 1 Samuel chapter 13 about the king's daughters wearing, evidently, what was fairly nice apparel. And you didn't have the rank and file of Israeli society, Jewish society, complaining about it. Because, well, they're the king's daughters. It's suited to where they are. In James chapter 2, you have that rich man, and he comes in wearing fine apparel. The poor man comes in wearing vile apparel. And neither one of them are condemned for the apparel they're wearing. evidently was suited to their station in life. Or, better yet, Proverbs chapter 31, verse 22, I made reference to it in a previous hour, the virtuous woman, she's wearing purple and fine linen. She's still a virtuous woman wearing purple and fine linen, right? I mean, these are fine duds that that lady's wearing. It teaches us a couple of lessons. One is it does underscore that there is legitimate enjoyment of the fruits of one's labors. This lady was a hard worker. You see how industrious she was. And now here she is. She's actually enjoying the fruits of her own labors and she's not condemned for that. But there's another lesson, another principle here, and it's this. It shows the importance of decorum. Of dressing in a way suited to station in society the way one is, the way one's life happens to be. We're told in the very next verse how her husband was known in the gates. He was recognized and was part of that ruling class perhaps. Okay? So here her husband, he's well known. And the fact that she was wearing purple and fine linen is not there said as a taboo. This is very wrong for this woman to dress that way. What's she doing? In fact, had she been in rags, it would have been more to the shame of her husband who was known in the gates. You see how this guy makes his wife dress? Right? Now don't go home and start using that one on your husband. But the point is suited to her station. A husband who's known in the gates of the ruling class, she should dress appropriately, right? If Mrs. Bush should dress in tattered clothes when she and our president are traveling now in Argentina, well that wouldn't speak well of her or him or our nation, would it? No, she should dress appropriate to her station in life and society. And so The amount spent on clothes should be at least somewhat proportionate to our income. And therefore, for young people who have no independent income, but rather they're dependent on mom and dad for their clothing, that certainly needs to be reflected in, I've got to have this very costly item. Well, maybe for some special occasions, sweetie, but you know, we're not going to go into debt and mortgage, second mortgage on the house for you to have that particular item of clothing, right? It should also be determined what is extravagant and what is suitable should be determined by need. When you have a person who must wear a suit every day, the CEO or someone who's regularly in public, they're going to have to shell out a little bit more, surely. And also there's the factor of women's clothes, the cost of women's clothes versus men's clothes. You ladies should really feel ripped off on this, you know. I can go to Sam's Club and get me a pair of blue jeans for $12. My wife can't begin to touch them for that, you know. I mean, there is really a, you know, the marketing, and women's apparel does cost more than men's apparel, right? Generally, at least, it's higher. So the point is, what would be extravagant for one, by way of dollar amount, may not be for another, right? Suited to station in life and society. That's the bottom line. And therefore, we cannot set the standard for others. Ah, you're wearing costly apparel. That's wrong. You're extravagant. We can't say that, especially because we don't know all the facts. I mean, you see this businessman, and he's wearing very high dollar suits. Yes, but how do you know? But what his company has furnished that as a fringe benefit. Actually, I knew a man that that was his job to go into these CEOs and to outfit them in suits. And at the end of the year, they would chuck those out and the company was buying them all because they wanted their CEO to be dressed top dollar. Okay, well, this guy, he's wearing these thousand dollar suits every day. Yeah, but wait a minute. That's not wrong. This company was paying for it. How do you know? You couldn't sit and judge this guy because of his suits. See? Or here you have this dear sister in the Lord, and she's wearing clothing. Oh, I know what that cost. That was very... What's she doing wearing that? How do you know but what it was a gift from her husband for their anniversary, where he really wanted to do something special for her? You see what I'm getting at? We cannot look at it and be judgmental. That's extravagant. So when it comes to others, well, we must recognize it's not for us as to what is right and what isn't. But we can and we must endeavor to recognize what is suitable for ourselves, as to our station in society, as to our income, as to our needs. And we can say it's extravagant if it's more than we can afford, right? However much or little that might be. It's extravagant if it's more than we need or could possibly ever use. If it leads to the neglect of other financial responsibilities, it's going to curtail my biblical giving in order to have this much invested in my wardrobe. Then we can say, no, I'm sorry, that's not on. That's unwise and that's unnecessary. That would be included under the broader heading of extravagance, right? Let me ask you ladies, do you feel the world's pressure in this regard to dress up to a certain level, certain name brands and certain... I would think for ladies that is at least more of a pressure that is for men. Or how about sometimes it's with our children, especially if they're in a public school or a Christian school or they're around other children where parents are kind of overindulging and they've got to have, you know, the top dollar clothes that are going to last for three months and then they throw them away or take them down to the thrift store and so forth. Well, there is in our culture generally, I think, a pressure in this regard, the amount spent on clothing. And here's a case where We must not be conformed to this world, right? And it's a good opportunity to show our priorities and to instruct our children that we are sensible and that we want to do that which is right and not needlessly embarrass the children ourselves. But on the other hand, we don't live by the world's standards. We don't live by their values. Well, we must be convinced that inordinate expenditures, spending too much on anything, and especially clothing, That that's not a non-moral issue. At best, it's a poor stewardship. It could be reflective of that which we see in that rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It could be a covetous heart. That here's what really matters to me. The clothes on my back. The impression I make on others. Loving the world and the things in the world. Sinful pride. This kind of one-upmanship. I'm going to look better than the next person. God forbid that that should be the case amongst the Lord's children. And again, it's right to ask yourself, why do I want that particular item? Why do I wear it? It might be perfectly legitimate, OK? It would be legitimate and suitable as the legitimate fruits of your labors and so forth. Be very charitable when assessing or thinking of others. But when it comes to ourselves, well, we must be very honest, not only to avoid sin, but especially that we might honor the God of heaven, that we might glorify him, even in very common everyday issues of life, like what we wear or what we eat or what we drink. Because we recognize, as Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 6, verse 13, the body is for the Lord. He made these bodies. He made them for Himself. That is for His glory. And of course, as you know, these bodies have been sold into sin. When Adam fell, the whole race plunged with him. And yet, God bought back these bodies for us as Christians. You're not your own. You've been bought with a price. These bodies have been bought back as the redeemed property of Jesus Christ. And therefore, glorify God with your body which is God's, and that would include what we put on them, living according to the guidelines that God himself has given in his word. Is that how you respond to these things? I hope it is. Well, I admit that these are common and mundane matters that we've considered today. We'll be coming back to them in Sunday school tomorrow, and then more looking at appearance tomorrow morning. And it's true that these things are not explicitly spiritual, but I hope that you would agree they're important nonetheless, right? These are not matters about which God is indifferent. Therefore, we shouldn't be indifferent, especially that we might glorify God in all even in the most mundane matters of life. And what does that mean? Well, it means living all of life under His eye, conscious of God's eye upon us in all that we do. It means living by His Word in order to please Him. It means walking in blessed fellowship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us to that end that we might walk in the light as He is in the light and doing so especially in response to, with a mindfulness of, God's great goodness to us, not only giving us the clothes we wear, but giving us new hearts, and giving us a Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us. How right that we should live to His glory. Might God help us, even in the most mundane matters of life, all of life, to the glory of God. If that's not your concern, why not? God gives to all life, breath, and all things. And yet, we're told in Romans 1, verse 21, as to the world generally, they would not glorify Him as God, neither were they grateful. All that God gives you, and you are such an ingrate, not even to recognize it? We're told in Psalm 10 about the wicked and how in their arrogance they will not seek God. God is not in their thoughts. Day by day, they don't give a single thought to God. What they put on and what they eat, no thought of God, the goodness of God to them. Is it in any way reasonable to give more thought to clothes than to the God of heaven who gave that body and is indeed in providence given those clothes? Is it right to love His gifts and hate the giver? Surely, surely no one will say, yeah, that's sensible, that makes sense. Such is God's goodness that not only has He given you that body and sustained that life and given you all the comforts of clothes and all that you have by way of creature comforts, But He also lets you hear the sound of the Gospel. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Rebel though you have been, yet God's mercy is extended to you in Jesus Christ. All your sins forgiven. A new heart. A new life. Life that is life indeed. Remember how the Lord Jesus talked of how the body is more than clothing. And how your life does not consist in the abundance of things you possess. Jesus Himself said, I've come that you might have life. and that more abundantly. If you're here as a stranger to grace, all that you have in life is what you put on your body. What a terrible thing to live for. Jesus Christ will give you true life. Will you have the Savior? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You will be saved. Let's pray. Our Father in Heaven, We thank you for giving us your word. We thank you that scripture is indeed sufficient for all of life. We thank you for all your many mercies that you bestow upon us. We especially thank you that you've given us hearts to know you and that long to please you and that you can be pleased. We thank you that we are accepted in the blood, our Lord Jesus Christ. Father grant then that even in the mundane matters of life, things most common, that we be mindful of you and endeavor to glorify you, which is the desire of our hearts. Please give us grace to that end. Prepare us this day for your day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.