1 Corinthians chapter 11, the Word of God says, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head. For that is even all one, as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. And if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head. For as much as he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman, but all things of God. Judge in yourselves, is it commonly that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, It is a glory to her, for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Amen. We know the Lord will add his blessing to the reading of his word. Again, let me read to you all a warm welcome to the Bible study tonight. As I said, a bit earlier on. I have my notes here, as you have before you. If I don't get them all finished tonight, if I feel we're getting to a stage where we're a bit late, I'll just leave it for next week and we'll come back to these other thoughts. But we'll try to get as much done as we can. And if we go on a bit extra, a wee bit, then hopefully we'll get that sorted out. But as we continue in our messages concerning head covering, you have the notes before you, we have noted Paul is presenting on changing principles concerning the teaching of head covering in the place of public worship. That women worship God with their heads covered with an extra covering, whereas men are not to cover their heads with an extra covering. Therefore, it is in the area of public worship to the Lord, that we must few this teaching for the church with the few of glorifying God. I say this because the teaching of head covering is now viewed by churches and many believers as outdated, cultural, for the apostles' time only, which really is another way of saying it's outdated. Some in raising objections to head covering and these were things that were put to me on many occasions and maybe you've heard this before yourself, those who would raise objections to head covering, they often take thoughts from John chapter 13 and 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 26 and they would say that these are indications reasons not to practice head covering in public worship or to have that extra covering because it's not needed. They claim that the practice of foot washing in John 13 or the practice of greeting with a kiss in 1 Thessalonians was something only cultural. and therefore they view head covering as cultural as well and so they say we could leave that out. For instance, with regards to foot washing, in John chapter 13, that was for the Jews and so they would say, well we who are Gentiles, we don't practice foot washing in the church. Therefore, as foot washing is not our culture, or for these times, then we don't need to practice head covering because it would be the same principle. It would be cultural. So how do we answer that question? Well, first, we have already established in our previous studies that head covering is not cultural. Rather, it's teaching handed down by the Lord. for his church in public worship services. Also with regards to foot washing, foot washing was a private matter, it was a private practice, it was in the home. it was to do with being hospitable. When the master of the house, the owner of the house that is, or visitors travelling as it was in John chapter 13, they came to the house, their open shoes or their sandals, their feet would have been dusty by the roads that they travelled. And so when they arrived at the house, it was the servant's role to wash the feet. but this was not binding on the church for public worship. Now, some cultures may practice foot washing and maybe you practice foot washing in your house. I don't know, that may be up to you. Maybe you want to introduce it in the South Grove and say, when we come in, we all get a nice wee foot massage and all that there. That's one thing. I do know when I do visitation for our church here in South Grove, There's different homes that I go to and when I go to different homes there's some people ask me could I take off my shoe when entering into their house. Some even provide me with slippers. Some even have me spray my shoes before I go into the house or they make me or ask me to say more say they asked me if I could stamp the feet down and wash it on this particular object before I enter into the house and that's fine and I do that because one, that's their house and they don't want any outside germs coming through their house and that's fine and there's no issue with that. However, When it comes to head covering, we're dealing with something that is public worship, giving glory to God, not private hospitality. Furthermore, the Lord used the illustration of foot washing to teach his disciples about serving with humility. Taking the role of the servant, serving one another, just as the servant got low down on the knees, low down to wash the feet, it was a humble task, it was a lowly task, the master didn't do it, the servant did it. So on that occasion, Christ washed his disciples feet to show he is the master but he is also the servant he came not to be ministered on to but to minister and to give his life a ransom for the many so Christ was showing his people to have the mind of Him, to humble yourself, to take that role of service to serve Him. So that's regarding foot washing. I hope that helps or answers that. Also the next one is 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 26. It says, greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. And again people say, well we don't do that in our culture. And so, for that reason, it's only cultural there. Then, head covering is cultural, so we just leave it out. But again, greeting people with this holy kiss or kiss, whatever way you want to term it, it was an act of hospitality. It was a greeting, a form of welcome. As you know, it's still practiced today in Spanish-speaking countries and also in France. Men and women will greet each other with a kiss on the side of the face. They will do it when they greet each other in church or on the street. It's just a cultural, whether they're in church or on the street, even among families, that is the greeting. Though I have to say, some churches are starting to practice it less and less because it leads maybe to other issues, maybe people maybe take advantage of it, maybe keeps people coming back for the wrong reasons and all the rest. And so for that, they're maybe starting to shake hands more or say good to see you. But that is to do with that. Now, these examples, they are fine, but there's nothing wrong with those. Every culture is different. but also culture changes. The British culture here has changed in many ways throughout the years. Since World War II, the culture of Britain has changed. Even since Covid, the culture of Britain has changed. So fruit washing and greet each other with a holy kiss, those are cultural matters, hospitality matters, greeting, welcoming, that's fine. Come, go, take it, do it, don't do it. But when it comes to head covering, that's not about hospitality. When it comes to head covering, that's not about aggreding. When it comes to head covering, That's not cultural, rather that's teaching, teaching the gospel. That is obeying the Lord's Word as the Lord has given it. Other things may come and go as culture changes. The Bible even says the fashion of this world changes, or I can't remember the word now just off the top, of my head, but the fashion of the world, it changes, it comes and goes. And so that's the same with culture. But when it comes to head covering, that's not culture. That's not a greeting. That's not hospitality. That is a word given by the Lord. That's not to be changed with, not to be tampered with, but his word is to be delivered throughout the generations as he has given it. There's a specific rule for the male and female in the specific area which is public worship and that's not to be set aside. So I hope that answers those two objections. Also another objection that was raised to me. Some ladies will say they don't wear an extra head covering and I've got this from different people in different churches. They don't wear an extra head covering because it makes their head itchy or it makes them feel uncomfortable, makes them fidgety. Well, in answering that remark, let me say that head covering refers to an extra material covering. Therefore, A light material such as a cloth, something as light as a napkin, can be used, something that you wouldn't even realize. The point is, it's not the type of material in view. Rather, what's in view is females cover their head, that's the issue. Also, it's interesting to think about during cold days, and Britain certainly has many cold days, I see ladies, whether saved, even unsaved, they wear woolly or big fluffy hats, but there seems to be no issue, there seems to be no itchiness, seems to be no awkwardness, they just wear it, it's cold outside, keeps the head warm, and they wear it as they walk around the place. Or in the summer times, when it's warmer, some may wear a hat, like a cap style at the front, maybe to keep the sun coming off the face or directly shining into the eyes. So both situations, I have seen women do these things and yet they question wearing head covering. in public worship. Makes their head itchy. They have no issue wearing hats in the cold or in the sun but yet somehow when it comes into God's house it all of a sudden becomes an issue. Really the truth is it goes back to Paul's foundational point, submission. It's the female saying I will wear a head covering when I want to or if I feel like it. If it suits me I will, if it doesn't suit me I will not. So it basically shows one who has not surrendered to Christ's word. One who will not surrender to the will of God in worship. It doesn't demonstrate a Christ-like spirit. It doesn't show one who has humbled themselves to glorify the Lord. So I hope that helps. and answering these objections. These are objections that have been put to me. They're also general objections that are mainly put when it comes to head covering. These are things that people raise. And so hopefully that helps you. Having considered then the principle of submission. Notice, secondly, there's two points I want to get through tonight. I may only get through the first one. I may have to come back again next week, though it would be nice to mention other stuff if I could. But secondly, Paul's teaching on the head covering. is based secondly on the principle of public worship to God. That's verses 4 through verse 6. This follows through. Since head covering teaches a submissive spirit, then Paul continues that this submissive spirit will be reflected in public worship to God. And so the point of this passage is that in public meetings where male and female assemble together to worship God, there is to be a sign of distinction between their roles in the form of head covering. That is, the woman wears an extra head covering while the man does not. Paul is dealing with public worship, that's made clear. Verses four to five, every man and every woman praying or prophesying. So here we come now to public worship. Here's what takes place in public worship. Paul's saying, verse four to five, every man and woman praying or prophesying. So here we have the format of public worship. The word praying is the general word for the New Testament, means prayer, can refer to prayer privately or prayer publicly. Let me just say by application, God's people are to pray at home. You should pray at home privately in your family devotions, getting the family around together, having a time of prayer. Also your own personal time before you go to bed or wake up in the morning, your own personal time to pray privately before the Lord. But in the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul is speaking of praying and prophesying in a public manner. And here as we come to prayer, he's dealing with prayer in a public setting where the congregation assembles together. This includes taking part in public prayer meetings. So whenever we have the public prayer meetings in our church or here even on Monday night, it's still a public gathering of God's people or ladies' head. is to be covered and the man's head is not to be covered. Also as well, in the church service on Sunday, whenever the minister leads the congregation in public prayer, the congregation is either to pray along with the minister in the same spirit or to listen prayerfully so their mind does not drift off. Prayer time is not to catch up on sleep time but praying as one man under one head in the Lord's presence. The point Paul is making is this, when men and women assemble to publicly worship the Lord and where public prayer is offered The woman's head is to be covered and the man's head is to be uncovered as a sign of submission to God to show the difference in creation of the roles between male and female. Now when it also comes to prophesying the word means telling forth God's truth. The same word is used in 1 Peter 1, verse 10 of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come on to you. However Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 not only is he speaking about prayer in the public setting but also men and women prophesying in public worship. You may ask, I thought the role for women to hold office such as a pastor or to preach in church is forbidden. We went through this a while ago when we spoke about the deacons in the church. And that's very, very true. You're spot on. Always remember, scripture never contradicts scripture. It always complements itself. And those words in Acts 6, 1 Corinthians 14, verses 34, 35, 1 Timothy 2, 11 and 12, 1 Timothy 3, 12, Titus 1, 6. These deal with God's form of government and office. Now, unless I'm wrong, a bit of research in this, but unless I'm wrong, you will discover that churches who have women ministers or women clergy, or women deacons or elders, whatever term you want to use, those churches upon examination have departed from Scripture in many different ways and in many different areas. But you will also find, and I think this is the case because you see it plenty of times on the news, the same churches or the same church that have women ministers are also the same churches that promote and favour sodomy and its community. They have given a modern message, a message that is not according to the Bible. And so their whole purpose in messages is they attack creation. They attack the distinction of men and women as given by the Word of God. So the Lord's teaching is clear that women are not chosen of God to hold office to be pastors in the church. Again it goes back to submission, understanding the role that has been given or not been given by the Lord. I say that because today we see women then taking that position of a pastor that they have not been given and therefore it is rebellion. they demand and take positions that God has not given. But having said that, there are many ways for men and women to prophesy, to tell forth God's truth in public by keeping scripture, by staying true to scripture. Paul wrote to the church at Colossae concerning praise. Because you'll find that the word prophesy or prophesying or prophecy, whatever it may be, it relates to praise. Again, we read in Colossians 3, verse 16 and 17. Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. In the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 25, verse 1, the word prophecy also included praise. We learn of the sons of Asaph. They should prophesy, notice, with harps, with psalteries and with cymbals. We learn as well in verse 3, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks. and to praise the Lord. So women can and must prophesy. They must tell forth God's truth in public worship by singing, by praising the Lord. In public worship there are no spectators. It's not the men sing only and the women remain silent. What I want you to see is this. Paul did not say men and women cannot pray and prophesy. He didn't even say women cannot pray and prophesy. He is saying when they do prophesy, pray, praise the Lord in public worship, The man is not to engage in prophesying and praising and worshipping with his head covered and the woman is not to engage in public worship and praying and praising the Lord with her head uncovered. Otherwise, verses 4 and 5, every man praying or prophesying with his head covered dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. I want you to see that the ultimate head of man and women is Christ. He is the one dishonoured. The reason being it would not show forced submission, but rather disobedience. It would be a sign that God's Word had been set aside of women worshipped with their heads uncovered and men worshipped with their heads covered. This means every time we assemble for a public worship, praying and prophesying, whether in church on Sunday, whether the Bible study Wednesday night, the prayer meeting on Monday night, Women are to have that extra covering on their head and men are not to have the extra covering on their head. What a great way to demonstrate to the unsaved the glorious gospel by using these visible signs, these object lessons that God has given to teach Christ is to have all the preeminence. God is to have all the glory. Paul uses the word in verse 4, covered. And we noted before that this particular word, covered, in verse 4, is the word kada kefale echo or echo, which refers to a physical, a material covering, something extra on the head. This proves that natural hair is not the covering in few. If natural hair is the covering that people claim Paul is mentioning from the very outset, then we would need to adopt the teaching and change the wording in verses 6 and 7 to follow that through. If natural hair is the covering, that's the people who claim that head covering is only cultural, If natural hair then is the covering in few we would have to change the wording and the meaning. For instance, in verse 6 the phrase be not covered would then have to read have no natural hair on her head. So let's read it that way. Verse 6 If the woman have no natural hair on her head let her also be shorn. That doesn't make sense. Why or how can a woman with no hair on her head have her head shaved? Likewise in verse 7, for a man indeed ought not to have natural hair on his head. That's the phrase meaning not to cover his head. So that would mean Paul is teaching that every man needs to be bold in order to worship God in public worship. And that would not make sense. In fact, that would promote a prideful spirit. It would make others more spiritual than the other one. It would create a false religion. And so having considered that head covering is based on the principle of submission, then we've seen it's also based on the order of public worship. Whenever God's people gather together, there is praise to the Lord, there's prayer, there's prophesying, there's giving of the word, then women cover their heads and men don't cover their heads. Briefly, Paul's teaching on head covering is based on the principle of creation. On the principle of creation. Verse 8 and verse 9. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man. Now Paul goes back to the creation of male and female for the reason to teach that men worship without an extra covering on the head and women worship with an extra covering on their heads. At creation there's a difference between male and female with regard to order. Man is the glory of God. In verse 7 the word glory refers to that which brings honour. Man at creation reflected and represented the glory of God's handiwork, the crown of God's glory. At creation man enjoyed a position of honour before God. Because there was no woman at this particular point, remember Adam was alone. Eve's creation was different from Adam's as Eve was created by God using Adam's rib. And by her creation she became the glory of man. in the sense that she was given the position that belonged exclusively to her. The woman is also given the role and honour of giving birth, bringing new life into the world. That's something a man cannot do. That's an honour that God did not give to a man. But again, the woman is not less value in the sight of God. Paul shows in verses 8 and 9 that the woman is the glory of the man because her life was derived or came from him. Paul said in verse 8, for man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. The purpose of her creation was to be man's helpmate. Eve was created to be a helpmeet to Adam. The word helpmeet used in Genesis means one suited. You maybe hear people say, you two go together, you're just suited for one another. And that's basically what the creation of man, for woman, for man, Eve was suited to Adam. But the point is this, since verse seven teaches that man is the glory of God, but woman is the glory of the man, then our glory must be hid out of few. The reason being in public worship only God is the have all glory. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 29 that no flesh should glory in his presence only the Lord is to be worshipped. Only the Lord is to be exalted above all. There's to be no rival to God's glory. Man is not to be praised or worshipped. Only God is to receive all glory and honour. Again, Psalm 145, verse 3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Psalm 29, verse 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Therefore, to symbolise this truth, the word covered in verses 6 and 7 is a different Greek word from verse 4. It is the word katakalypto, which means a veil, a material cover that is used to hide something. for man indeed ought not to cover his head. He is not to cut a calipto on his head. He is not to put a fabric material covering on his head because when a woman covers her head in public worship with a fabric covering she is in fact in the eyes of God, in the presence of God displaying a gospel sign hiding, putting out of sight the glory of man, so that God receives all glory. This is where it gets exciting, because in verse 15, which we'll come to in more detail next week, if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given for her a covering. Now the word covering in verse 15 is another Greek word, completely different from verse 4, and completely different from verse 6-7. It is the word peribolon or bol-ayon. This word is the word meaning a feel as the Bible margin, if you have one, shows. It means to put around. It's also translated in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 12 as the word fester. It refers to that which is long. It's dealing with the natural head covering, or the natural hair. This is the only place in this chapter, verse 15, where Paul is actually dealing with the natural hair. Paul is really making the difference between the male and female regarding the style of hair. Verse 14, what does Paul say? Doth not nature teach you itself? If a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him. But people will then raise the objection. Since the woman's hair is natural hair, it's given to her for covering, a feel, a festure, then women do not need that extra covering. And then people get fumbled and they panic and they go, oh, they've got me there. Didn't see that one coming. That's me blown out now. The argument's over. And they say, you see, that her hair is given to her for a covering. That answers it. Well, not really. The answer is simple. The word doxa, her hair is given for her, it says there, but a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her. The word glory is the word doxa, meaning doxology. God is stating that a woman's natural hair is a covering For her, it's her glory. There's nothing wrong with that. We're not shying away from that. We're not trying to get around that. A woman's hair is her glory. But for that reason, when she comes into public worship, her glory then must be covered. Her natural glory. must be covered so that God receives all the glory. It's the same principle. Men worshipping with their heads uncovered and women worshipping with their heads covered are declaring that Christ must increase and men and women must decrease. On the basis of creation, the woman's head is to have that extra covering to hide man's glory and so God will receive all glory. She covers her head to cover man's glory and by covering her head, her natural hair, she is glorifying God. So when we come to think about then the head covering, here we have the teaching what glorifies God. That classifies then what is head covering or what is this extra covering. It's something external. It doesn't have to be a hat. A head covering can be a napkin, a tea towel, can be a hood, a scarf, fold it round the head. If one feels that these things aren't comfortable, then a burnette is always the best. People today will often go by fashion, but it's not about fashion, it's about glorifying the Lord. And so, the whole head is to be covered as in the top, not the side, not just this wee part round here, the whole head is to be covered for the lady. And so, hopefully that helps you, that when it comes to public worship, we've looked at this already, In the area of public worship, women cover their heads with that extra covering and men don't cover their heads with an extra covering to show one, submission to the Lord. Also, then, to show that, let me get here for you now, that in the area of public worship, that whenever there's prophesying praise being offered on to the Lord, He receives all glory. And then again, when it comes to the principle of creation, that God is to receive all glory. Next time we'll look at the principle based on the last two points, based on angels. again that famous statement that for the angels and then also again on the principle of nature verses 13 and 4 through 15 which we'll go into more detail again on sort of that verse 15 and give more details but I hope that that's helped you tonight hopefully that's been a bit more clarity and some mostly just covering, if you like, mostly tonight, some of the objections that people raise at why they would not, why head covering is not for the day and why it shouldn't be practiced. And hopefully we've tried to answer that as best as we can. But again, thank you for your presence tonight. Thank you for your time. Now, we trust that these notes have been helpful to you. It will either do one of two things. It will either encourage you then to wear head covering or, well, you will look at the notes and listen and say, you know what, I've actually the opposite. I'm going to take it off and I hope that that would not be the case. Hopefully you have seen we put the case there according to scripture that this is for the honour of God and this is what God has given in his word. And so we'll just pray, bless the Lord to bless us and we'll commit it to the Lord just now. Father in heaven, we pray oh God you'll be pleased to give help even as we continue to meditate upon these things. We pray, O God, as we continue to search the scriptures, we pray, O God, that in all we seek to do, may we have the mind of Christ. We pray, O God, that even as these things that thou hast given in thy word to show the distinctions of creation, the different roles of men and women, we realize, O God, we live in a day when these things are blurred. We realize, O God, when we live in these things, when there's a great cry against the word of God, Therefore, Lord, we pray you'll help us to stand firm in the Gospel, help us to stand firm in the Lord, and while other churches may seem to depart, help us, Lord, to stay near the cross. In Jesus' name. Amen.