Turning in God's Word to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and we'll read verse 1 down to verse 16. Don't worry, there'll be certain things that will be obviously in the passage that we will look at in the next few weeks. So we will cover a lot of ground in the next few weeks if some things aren't answered tonight. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I have delivered them to you. 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. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonorth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth, with her head uncovered, dishonorth 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 but 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 the 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 for her a covering. But if any seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Amen. We know the Lord, for that is blessing to the reading of his word. Paul's letter to the church at Corinth is often seen as a letter of correction and guidance. Corinth, as you know, in reading the book, it was known as a troubled church that needed to be guided in the ways of God concerning doctrine and the application of that doctrine in every area of life. You'll read through Corinthians and you'll see that Paul handles one trouble and then goes to another trouble, whether believers behaviour or marriage or all these different subjects. And he covers that. So when you come to chapter 11 of Corinthians. Paul then is covering the area of public worship, and we must state that, public worship. It's clear to see that in the opening verses of this chapter, Paul is dealing with head covering, how the church were practising it. Notice verse 3, Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you. So Paul is praising those who are in attendance for keeping, for maintaining this practice of head covering, not lowering the standard. Concerning this teaching of head covering The church did not allow others to come in and to change the practice of head covering, even though there were some who sought to challenge the teaching as it even is today. And you may not or may know that sometimes even after church when we get visitors and we get people who come maybe after the church and they speak with me about the church, what our stance is and different things. And then they raise an issue with me when it comes to head covering. And some have said to me, well, my partner, whatever, wife or whatever it may be, someone getting married to, they do not practice head covering and would be very against that practice. And I say to them, I don't tell them not to come at that stage. I say, well, you're still welcome to come. and to learn, but if you really feel that it's going to be an area of contention for you, if you really feel that by bringing your wife or your partner to church she's going to be agitated, angry in that sense, then best to go to somewhere where you would be comfortable. And so as I said, this happens in all churches and Paul did not allow the elders or others in the church that he ministered to, allow them to come in and weaken the stance. There are many churches today and believers who have abandoned the scriptural teaching and practice of head covering. Remember, from this chapter we learn of the situation on Paul's day, that Jewish men they covered their heads in public worship, as they still do today. In verses four through seven, Paul uses the word covered or covering or uncovered. Now, we'll go in another few weeks, all the different meanings of the words. We have the English word maybe covered, but in the Greek, there are different words. Verse four, every man praying or prophesying Having his head covered dishonoureth his head. The word covered in this verse in the original Greek language is the word καράκλης. The word covered, therefore, in reference is a physical, a material covering, something extra on the head. If you break down the words, the Greek word kata means something that is downward. The Greek word κεφάλι means head and the word έτσι or έξω it means to have. And so when you put these words together, this word covered refers to something physical on the head that goes down. To cover the head or something that goes around the head, to cover the head. The original reading of these words in the Greek are this, every man praying or prophesying, having anything on his head, put to shame his head. That's the literal rendering in the Greek language. And so for that reason alone, that is why natural hair is not the covering. Because if natural hair was the head covering, then every man would have to be bold when worshipping God in public worship services. Now while this is the only time this particular word is used in this passage, in the LXS, the LXS, which is the Greek Septuagint, that is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, we discover that this word Kata Kephali is translated into the Greek using the word head covering. We read that in Esther chapter 6, verse 12, but Haman hastened to his house mourning and having his head covered. And so clearly when he ran he did so to his house with a material covering or covering over his head. That's the exact same word that is used in Hebrew translated into the Greek that you then have here in Corinthians. So head covering then refers to a covering that is extra, something external, a material covering, not a natural covering. The same principle applies in verse 5. every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. Now keep this in mind, while Jewish men prayed and worshipped they had their heads covered, yet the women in Jewish circles they had no active part. They were spectators, it was a mostly male orientated. The Jewish women did not participate some other religions are like that today. But with regards to the Gentiles, the Roman men, they also covered their heads in worship of their pagan gods. However, among the Greeks there was a mixture when it came to the women. Though it was held that women wore a covering at times during the day in public, yet they didn't cover their heads as they bowed to worship their false gods in their heathen temples, which was located here in Corinth. Therefore, when both Jew and Gentile were called by the power of the gospel, brought out of the bondage of sin and their heathen worship, they were made new creatures in Christ. They were no longer to glory or to boast in man's God, in their false religion, but they were to boast, they were to glory in the cross. As they joined the assembly at Corinth, Paul taught them that God alone is to receive all glory. That's really the whole subject of head covering. It's that God will receive all the glory. To demonstrate this truth, women were now to cover their heads in public worship, whereas men were not to cover their heads in Christian public worship services. The practice of head covering in the Christian church was contrary to the Roman, the Greek and the Jewish practices as the biblical teaching for women was to have their heads covered and for men to have their heads uncovered. The church of Christ purchased by his own blood was marked out by this visible sign or symbol of head covering. and public worship for women, but not for men. Just as you have baptism is a sign or a symbol. Or the bread and the cup at the table of the Lord. These are symbols. They mean something. The same as the rainbow as we thought of a few weeks ago, the rainbow in the sky. These are all visible signs, symbols. They teach the gospel. And so here you have again in Corinth, head covering, this material covering, this extra covering on the head for women, and not for men, it was a sign to teach the gospel that no flesh should glory in his presence but he should have all the glory. Paul praised the Corinth believers for keeping then the proper practice of head covering. which was in complete contrast to Paul's teaching on the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. It's interesting, Paul teaches head covering and then after he begins to teach about the Lord's Table. Isn't that interesting how You then prepare for the worship of head covering and then you go into the table of the Lord. That's not a mistake, that's not coincidence, there's a purpose there. And so whenever they came to worship in the Lord's table, the same principle, women heads covered, men do not. Whenever it came to the head covering at the table of the Lord, or when Paul mentions the table of the Lord, he says in verse 17, Now in this I declare unto you, referring now to the Lord's table, I praise you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse. With regards to the practice of the Lord's Supper, and if you read on down the chapter and we preached on it a few years ago, Paul could not praise the church by how they practiced the table of the Lord. Yes, they kept the ordinance that they did observe it, but they had not practiced the Lord's Supper as how the Lord had revealed it himself to Paul and others for it to be taught. There was division, there was drunkenness, many were called home by the Lord as chastised because of their behaviour at the table of the Lord. That's why when we come to the table of the Lord They ought not to be joking or messing around because it is a solemn occasion. It is to be still, to know that he is God. It's to have our mind reflected upon a redemption through Jesus Christ. Well, Paul gave instruction what the Lord's Table meant. And again, it was to teach the gospel and how it was observed, the bread, and the cup, they symbolised the body of Christ wounded for sinners and the blood of Christ that was shed for sinners by his death. And so how they practised the table of the Lord, Paul could not praise them for that because there was division, there was drunkenness. But in verses 1 through 16, when it comes to head covering, Paul can praise them. And that's how he starts that chapter of that section, because they keep head covering according to the Word of God. And so if head covering was not practiced among the Corinthians, then Paul would have had to include the words, I praise you not, but instead he doesn't. The point is the church had practiced head covering. according to scripture. They also practiced the Lord's table but not according to scripture. Paul said in verse 2 of the church, they keep the ordinances that I delivered them on to you. Now that word ordinance stands out. If you have a margin in your bible You will see that, by the way, the margin in the Bible is that middle part of your Bible. If it's in the New Testament, it will have the meaning in Greek. If it's in the Old Testament, it will obviously have the meaning in Hebrew. Well, it means traditions. That's what the word literally means, traditions. Now keep in mind, Paul is writing under inspiration. He's writing what he has received from the Lord. So this word ordinances or traditions really means teaching that is handed down, man's teaching handed down or God's teaching handed down. When we think today of traditions handed down, usually there's a sense of man's opinion or man's invention, man's tradition, what the church has made up to legalise or control others or dictate to others. This is what the church says and that's just it, reject it or accept it. It's interesting to note this particular word, ordinances or traditions, is used 13 times in scripture. Our Saviour, when using this word ordinances or traditions, did so 8 out of the 13 times, dealing with the traditions of men and concerning the rules and regulations of the Pharisees. The other 5 times, so out of the 13 times, 8 is used by the Saviour, but the other 5 times is used by Paul. Two of those 5 occasions, Paul speaks of the traditions of men. One is recorded in Galatians chapter 1 verse 14, when Paul himself refers to his unsaved days when, as a religious Jew, he was exceeding zealous of the traditions of my fathers. In other words, Paul was making the point that he followed the traditions of the Jewish religion, he followed the traditions of men, he was guided by what man said. Again, the other one is used in Colossians chapter 2 verse 8. So just to recap, this word ordinances or traditions is used 13 times in the Bible, 8 out of those 13 times it is used by the Saviour. The other 5 is used by Paul, 2 of them Paul refers to the traditions of men, but also the other 3 times out of that 5 used by Paul, here is in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 15 and 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 6. And it's used to speak of the ordinances or the traditions which were authoritative, a word from God. For example, 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 15, And so here was a word given by God to the apostles and they received that word, they delivered what they had received from the Lord. And so these references along with 1 Corinthians 11 reveal that the tradition or the ordinances handed down to the church regarding the Lord's table and head covering was apostolic teaching. It was doctrine, teaching from the Lord. It was stamped with his divine authority. It was given by inspiration. Therefore, just as the table of the Lord, so head covering is not something the church can just decide to accept or reject. And that's vital, because some will say when it comes to dealing with head covering, that 1 Corinthians chapter 11 is the only place in Scripture where head covering is mentioned. And so they will say, well, since Paul does not refer to it in writing to the other churches elsewhere in Scripture, then it's a practice that can be set aside. Oh yes, we understand the importance of the Lord's Table, we keep that, but when it comes to head covering, listen, we can just do away with that. Well, let me help you answer that objection. While 1 Corinthians chapter 11 is the only place where head covering in public worship services is referred to in Scripture. Yet, remember, 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16 and 17 teaches, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The point is this, how many times, if God's word is given by inspiration, how many times does God have to say something before it becomes official teaching? When can we actually say it's from God? Well the answer is once. When the word of God says something once concerning maybe this doctrine, then it has as much authority as if he says it twice or three times. Just because a subject, a topic or a doctrine is only mentioned once in scripture or one passage in scripture, that does not make it unimportant, untrue or something to be set aside. The Lord has only to mention something once for it to become authoritative and binding on our lives and in our worship. Furthermore, In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 there are 15 verses on, or thereabouts maybe a bit more, on head covering. When adding all these verses together, this passage, did you know there are more verses to prove the biblical head covering than there are to prove Bethlehem? was to be the birthplace of Christ, the Saviour of the world. Yet we would never question, we would never set aside Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Lord. It might surprise you to learn that there are more verses to prove head covering than the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet we would never question the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Was he virgin born? Of course. The Bible teaches that believers will judge angels. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 3. Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life. We believe that to be true. It's only mentioned once in the Bible, this place in Scripture. Yet we would never say, well, you know what, that's only mentioned one time there, 1 Corinthians 6, verse 3, that can't be true, do away with that. The Bible teaches in John 11, verse 33, Jesus wept. Those two words, that verse, and yet we would never question, did the Lord ever weep in his humanity? The reason being, these are foundational to the Christian faith. No one will ever be saved who denies the virgin birth or the life and death of Jesus Christ. But having or not having a head covering does not make someone a Christian. It's not a matter of salvation. Therefore, it's a matter of sanctification, going on with God, being submissive to the Lord, exalting God that in all things he will have the preeminence. A woman can wear head covering and still be lost in sin. However, those who have had their sins forgiven should seek to obey the Lord's word. And therefore, women worship with heads covered and men worship with heads uncovered. That's why I always try to say, it grieves me in public worship services really, you know, that when, I always prefer that when people, which we'll handle in a few weeks in the subject, when should you wear the head covering, when should be the time to take it on or take it off and all that there. But let me just say that it's a good practice When you come into the church, before you come into the actual auditorium part, through those double doors, ladies should have their head covering on. It shouldn't be walking into the church, sitting on, then getting your hats on or head covering on, whatever you want to use. That should be done before you walk in. Same with men. Men, when they come into the church, shouldn't be walking in with their hats on their head and then sit down and then take it off. It should be done before. So those are things just to keep before. I've heard many times that since head covering is not foundational to salvation, then does it really matter? I've heard people say, listen, don't make it an issue. Well, the only issue I see is when people seek to abandon it because it just shows there's no submission to the Lord. Paul didn't make an issue out of it. He just delivered what was given to him by the Lord. and he praises the church they kept the ordinances as I delivered them to you. On this basis head covering is not an invention of men to be taken or set aside but it is a teaching from God to be practiced in worship public worship services to teach the gospel and to demonstrate that in public worship he alone is to receive all honour, all glory and all praise, which we will get to in the next few weeks. That's why Paul said in verse 16, if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom. neither the churches of God. The word contentious means strife. The word seem means to be inclined or to have an opinion. In other words, if any person has their own opinion or inclined to a different view as to what is taught among the churches that Paul established or wrote to, then they are marked by contention, strife, They reject this teaching. They're moving away from the Lord's teaching to accommodate and please man. And so if anybody comes into our church, say a lady comes into our church and refuses head covering, then that's strife, that's contentious. Why? Because we hold it as a biblical practice. We believe it is biblical. Some want their own way. They seek to make it known by their few that men can worship with their heads covered and women can worship with their heads uncovered. And so they come in with that mentality. They undermine Paul's authority as an apostle, speaking on behalf of Christ, delivering the word from God. However, Paul will not permit them to change, alter or compromise Christ's teaching that a woman's head is covered and a man's head is uncovered in public worship. He will not allow the churches to be taken down a road rejecting the teaching that God has given. all the churches that Paul established will remain the same. That's why we take, we believe, the scriptural form of government in the Bible is a Presbyterian government ruling elders. That the elders set in every place, along with the minister, upheld the scriptural teaching throughout all the churches. That whenever you went to all the churches, they had the same teaching. And that's why the same point in every Free Presbyterian Church, the biblical teaching of head covering is upheld. As I said, you may get people come in for the first time or visiting who may not have their head covered, but that's maybe because they don't know about it or never been taught it and things like that there. But Paul states in verse 16 that head covering was the practice of all the churches. And so if anybody tried to come in with another few or to be contentious, Paul said, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. In other words, Paul saying, go to Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica, the churches at Galatia, here in Corinth, you will see for yourself. Ladies, worship with their heads covered and men worship with their heads uncovered in public worship. We have no custom of changing our churches to suit man, to compromise. Corinth will not be any different from the churches of God. Enter into them and they are all the same. And it is the same with the Free Presbyterian Church. I've always had the view that when ministers leave a church, the next minister coming in really should just be continuing on where the other minister has left off. And that's my goal, that when I retire from Southgrove in 60 years time, that the next man coming after me, when he comes into the church, he shouldn't have to raise the subject of head covering. And there's this big rebellion about it. Or, well, hold on, a brother knows, never worried about that there. A brother knows, never worry. He just said this was long to come, that's the main thing. No, the next man coming after me should be able just to continue on, actually should be able to come in and can see these things practised and worshipped. So the teaching of head covering, remained down through the years. This teaching was handed down. Matthew Henry. Interesting that Spurgeon obviously learned a lot from him. Have you ever heard of Matthew Henry's commentary? I don't know. Actually Spurgeon, if you actually read Matthew Henry's commentary, Spurgeon, actually Charles Spurgeon actually read that out to his children and Matthew Henry actually made that there. That was actually done for the purpose of devotions for his children. But Matthew Henry said this, it was the common usage of the Churches for Women to appear in public assemblies and join in public worship failed, that is, head covered, and it was manifestly dissent that they should do so. Those must be very contentious indeed, who would quarrel with this or lay it aside. So even in Matthew Henry's day. Now, we will look at the next few weeks of how history has shown in different churches about head covering. But Charles Spurgeon, interesting. Charles Spurgeon, as you know, he was known as the Prince of Preachers and he ministered in London in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. And he said this in his church. The reason why our sisters appear in the house of God with their heads covered is because of the angels. Now that is one of the points that Paul raises that we will look at another occasion. Now isn't that interesting? There in Spurgeon's day, ladies as they come into the tabernacle, they had their head covered and yet over 150 years down the line, I understand from resources, or sources that met Tabernacle have done away with the teaching of head covering, that it's not upheld today. And yet there's Spurgeon's time. Spurgeon made the point that the women came with their heads covered. Having identified the biblical teaching that men worship God with their heads uncovered while women worship God with their heads covered, it is not man's invention, it's not man's rule, It's not something the Free Presbyterian Church has dreamt up to be strict, to be awkward. Rather, it's what God has given in his word. Paul sets out his reasoning. Why the biblical teaching that men worship in public with their heads uncovered? That is something extra on the head. Whereas women worship in public with their head covered. Each time Paul teaches a truth for the church to practice, he does so by bringing them to the Saviour and his work of creation. The teaching and practice of head covering, it all centres upon public worship to the Lord. And as I stressed already, that in all things, he will have the glory. And that will be made evident next week. Just as Paul later said in verse 17 that while the teaching of the Lord's Supper brings the people's minds to remember Christ in his perfect life and atoning death, so head covering brings the people's minds to consider the person of Jesus Christ as the mediator in his office as a prophet, priest and king, but also in his work of creation. Once more, to teach a spiritual truth, Paul uses an object lesson, a visible sign to represent a truth. So whenever ladies wear the head covering in church, it is a visible demonstration, it's a gospel illustration. For instance, we have already noted in the Lord's Table that the bread and the cup were symbols, signs, representing something, the body and blood of Christ. So head covering is used by God to convey to us a spiritual lesson, a gospel message. God's to receive all the glory. Now today you go to churches, man receives the glory. Or someone else receives the glory. but God is dishonoured. And the whole point is this, by head covering, by women having that extra covering on their head and men not doing so, it is to exalt God, to glorify God. And so what are the principles that Paul will cover that means head covering? Well, there are five principles. But I'll give you them now and then we'll look at them in the next few weeks. Paul's teaching on head covering is based on the principle of submission. That's found in verse 3. And that shows you how Christ was surrendered. And so it's all about submission and we'll look at that, God willing, next week. The second point Paul raises about head covering is the principle of public worship to God, verses 4-6. Then thirdly, Paul's teaching on head covering is based on the principle of creation, verses 8-9. And then fourthly, Paul's teaching on head covering is based on the principle of angels again. Verse 10, didn't Spurgeon make that point? The ladies, the sisters have the head covering. because of the angels. And then fifth Paul's teaching on head covering is based on the principle of nature. Verses 13 to 15 there is this distinction between male and female and the point is this when head covering is neglected and I have to say A lot of churches that I have known that maybe don't practice head covering, you will actually find, you'll see more men with their heads covered than you will ladies. And the whole point is this, all these things that are being taught, the distinction between male and female, the glory of God, When these things are not practised then they're being set aside. And isn't that today, churches, isn't that the case today? You go in the churches or even in society, the distinction between male and female is blurred. And that's the case. You go in the churches today, God is not worshipped, he's not glorified, rather he's dishonoured. He's not given all the glory. And so that's why Paul was teaching head covering. Now, just in closing, I just want to briefly here for the last couple of minutes give you a demonstration if this will work. So I will try my best if this will work. Forgive me if it doesn't. I have here a doll. I don't have anything bigger. I'll try and maybe do this on Sunday. Now, I don't know, a lot of people I can't see because their screen's blacked out, but I hope that you can see this. What is biblical head covering? People say, does it have to be a hat? It doesn't have to be a hat. Head covering is what it is. It's head covering. It can be a napkin. You can have a napkin over the head. Some people wear their coat, their hood, they can do that there. The point I want to make now, with my helper here, is this here. This works if I get it. See if I put this on here. See this wee band? I don't know if you can see this or not. See this band? Okay? This band. That's not head covering. If you have your head covered at this front, and all that is showing, that's not head covering. Okay? If I also, if I do it like this here, if you have head covering like this, that's still not head covering. You go into some churches today, some people have wee things like this here, that sit like this here. That is not head covering, because the head isn't covered. Some people do this here. If this works or not, I don't know. That is Head covering, okay, where you have the head is covered. Hopefully that helps you with head covering. I make that point in all seriousness because people often ask those questions. What is head covering or what type of shape or form does it take? And what happens in churches today, people come into church and they start to wear these things that people then catch on. And sad to say, at the end people start to follow it and it's not head covering at all. So it's not. So keep that before you when it comes to biblical head covering. Again, we'll look at next few weeks. Head covering is not a fashion show. It's not about having the biggest bouquet of head covering. So hopefully that helps you when it comes to what is biblical head covering. We've just touched really on an introduction tonight. on the subject and we've tried to answer, as we've gone along, some objections. We'll do that again as we go through the next few weeks and we look at those points. If you have any things you want to say after, please let me know, text me, ring me or something, a point that maybe you've thought about or like Therese or, you know, whatever, let me know. It may be covered in the next few weeks, I don't know. But I trust that will be a help and I trust it will be a blessing to you and that's why we always try to say whenever we're singing in church or anybody's in the pulpit, ladies, we always have the head covered to honour the Lord. So we'll leave it there. I say we'll look at that again next week. We'll go into more things about the head covering and I trust it will be a blessing. My goal as I said in this whole subject is obviously if you're a church member then obviously it's head covering. But beyond church membership, that for you as a female or a male, that if you go any church, you're visiting family or you're on holiday and you go into a church and you're visiting family, maybe their church doesn't have head covering, that you will still have head covering yourself. Why? Because it's that big. That's the whole point I'm trying to show you. When my wife and myself on holiday or we've ever gone to a place where even when we went to Dominican Republic and the churches out there, Baptist churches seem to be the biggest leaders, American ones anyway, of doing away with head covering. When we went to them, they didn't have head covering. My wife still had her head covered. And that's the point, because it's not a based on where you are situation. It's not, well, I'm in this church, they don't do it, I take it off. No, as you still hold it because you believe it to be the beagle and you seek to honour the Lord. And so I trust that's been a help to you and encouragement tonight. So thank you for listening. Now, let's pray and we'll commit it to the Lord. And Father in heaven, we're just so glad tonight for help. We're so glad, O God, for the instruction that we have in the Word of God. Lord, we realise today we live in such a society, even going into the church where the distinctions have been blared. But, O God, we pray and thank you, Lord, that you've helped us, Lord, to honour thy Word. We pray, O God, you'll bless, you'll undertake. And, Lord, we pray as we seek to rightly defy the Word of Truth. Lord, we'll be honoured, we'll be blessed. In Jesus' name. Amen.