1 Corinthians 11:2-16 | "Judge For Yourselves"
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· 77 viewsSunday, September 05, 2021. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 | "Judge For Yourselves." Contentious issues in the church are not new. Plenty exist even today! We might do well to learn from the apostle as he addresses one such case in Corinth. After praising the church, he then instructs them to make judgments for themselves on what is proper. He offers three guidelines to think about, including relationships, perceptions, and intentions. This message preaches from 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. It is part of a preaching series through 1 Corinthians "To The Church." The title of this sermon is "Judge For Yourselves."
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I. Reading of Scripture
I. Reading of Scripture
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
This is God’s Word, Amen.
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1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “Judge For Yourselves”
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “Judge For Yourselves”
II. Introduction
II. Introduction
We must approach God’s word with humility.
The apostle has already written about this humble mindset we have in Christ:
“not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor 10.33).
God gives us a mind, that Christ (our example) models for us - a mind of humility.
We do not make much of ourselves. To do so would suggest that we are not following Christ.
For Christ did not make much of Himself. Instead, Christ emptied Himself and humbled Himself, and became obedient. Think about that!
Jesus became obedient.
Jesus, being one with God, submitted His will to God the Father.
Before the cross, Jesus had prayed:
“Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
And as God high exalted Christ, giving Jesus a name that is above every name, it was all “to the glory of the Father” (Phil 2.1-11).
The nature of humility is such, that it reflects authority that belongs to another.
And this kind of humility, and authority, is demonstrated in our text today, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.
We must approach God’s word with humility.
And lest we forget that, God will remind us by giving us a text like the one before us today.
This is a difficult text!
Interpreters wrestle and debate over how these words and concepts are to be understood, and even applied today.
Remember that this letter of 1 Corinthians was written:
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
So this letter was written to a specific church of God in a specific place, BUT ALSO for “all those who in every place” call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have to discern what instructions were given in response to the unique Corinthian situation, and what instructions carry forward to us today.
A few moments ago, we all prayed together. I noticed something interesting, that during the prayer time, we had women, specifically “wives,” praying in this church gathering, next to their husbands, and not one wife pulled out a covering to put over her head as she prayed.
But our text today says that when she prays, “let her cover her head” (1 Cor 11:6).
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
Are we being disobedient in the church today, by not requiring our wives to put a covering over their heads when they pray?
What about a woman preaching in church? Why do some people revolt at the thought of a woman preaching in church, or even leading a prayer in the gathering of the church?
This did not seem to even be a matter of question for the Corinthians, for our text today says “every wife who prays or prophesies” (1 Cor 11.5).
Are we being disobedient in the church today, by not allowing our wives or women to pray or exercise the gift of prophesy (which might involve preaching) in the church?
These were questions the church in Corinth asked of the apostle. Questions about head coverings and practices in the context of public worship.
We are not too far removed from these kinds of questions, are we?
We might ask them in a different ways, but the principles remain.
We could just as easily ask not about head coverings, but about facial coverings, as one example.
Should we, the church, wear masks when we gather in the Sanctuary to worship God together? Should we cover our mouths and noses with cloth on our faces?
Look with me a verse 13. The apostle says:
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
This simply states the question being addressed here. It seems a bit foreign to us, but it was near to them and their time.
The church witnessed women praying with uncovered heads, and wanted to know:
What is proper? What is fitting? What is good judgment here?
“Is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?”
To this question, the apostle gives this command:
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “Judge For Yourselves”
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “Judge For Yourselves”
Judge for yourselves.
That is, determine what is correct or valuable (LN).
While the apostle commands the church to judge for themselves — as a good teacher he does not leave them to themselves without guidance.
As I see it (and I admit this is a very difficult text),
I see three considerations the apostle values to help the church make a proper judgment.
Judge For Yourselves:
Proper Relationships
| “dishonors his/her head” [11.1-5]
Proper Perceptions
| “since it is disgraceful” [11.6-7]
Proper Intentions
| “that is why” [11.8-12]
Based on a proper understanding of relationships, perceptions and intentions, the church may make proper judgements concerning matters that could cause problems among them.
I’ll note the last verse, verse 16 —
16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
These issues can be very contentious in the church, and people argue about them.
The apostle warns against arguing about them, but instead commands that a judgment be made.
This requires humility.
First — Judge For Yourselves:
III. Exposition
III. Exposition
A. Proper Relationships | “dishonors his/her head” [11.1-5]
A. Proper Relationships | “dishonors his/her head” [11.1-5]
11.2
11.2
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
This word for “commend” is the word for “praise.”
The apostle is praising the Corinthians here - because they have remembered him in everything.
Perhaps they are imitating Paul, as Paul imitates Christ? (11.1).
Perhaps in their public gatherings of worship, they are doing all to the glory of God, and having concern for the conscience of others, and seeking to love others and build them up by not limiting their freedom in the Lord?
They are to be commended for this.
And the apostle also commends them because they have maintained the traditions that he has delivered to them.
Traditions may be very good and helpful, or they may be very bad and destructive.
Here is an example of traditions that were very good and helpful. These traditions were likely the apostolic teaching. The doctrines of Christ. The future we have in Christ.
And one such teaching is the wonderful truth that Christ has made us ONE!
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
In Christ, we are one!
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And holding fast to the traditions, the church was obviously practicing them.
Men and women together, were participants in public worship - praying and prophesying. Just as men and women together, will participate in future worship in glory.
Some interpreters suggest that the contention in the church in Corinth wasn’t so much what they were doing by way of practice, but they way they were practicing it with bold enthusiasm.
The apostle does not utter a prohibition here. He does not stop what they are doing. He does not rebuke them. And that is important to note.
If this chapter presented an issue in the church that was sinful, transgressing God’s command, that was idolatrous in nature, the apostle would surely have called that out.
In fact, looking ahead a bit, in the next section he does call them out on something wrong that they needed to cease and he says so!
That is not the case here. Instead, he imparts understanding:
11.3
11.3
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
This is a statement that presents three relationships.
The relationship of every man with Christ, the relationship of every wife with her husband, and the relationship of Christ with God.
And the theme the apostle brings forward that these three relationships have in common, is the theme of “headship.”
Notice the word “head.”
There are many different ways this word “head” can be understood. Some understand it to mean “authority.” Some understand it to mean “source.”
I think of it this way (whether I’m right or wrong, it makes sense to me).
A head is what is on top.
In this way, a head is what the other members “look up” to.
Whoever is “head” is who you look UP to in a relationship.
And so it is, in a relationship between a man and Christ, a man looks up to God who became a man - who is Jesus Christ.
Church’s like to have a “men’s ministry” and want to start a “men’s ministry.”
Here’s how a church starts a “men’s ministry” - it starts right here, with the preaching of the word so that the men see Christ - the perfect man. That’s the beginning of a fruitful men’s ministry.
A man looks up to Christ.
Likewise, a wife looks up to her husband.
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Notice there is oneness in this relationship, but a wife looks up to her husband.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
There is ONENESS in this relationship, but the wife humbles herself, and looks up to her husband.
And then thirdly, the relationship of Christ with God.
There is also oneness in this relationship, as Jesus is ONE with the Father. But Jesus also said:
“the Father is greater than I.”
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
There is ONENESS in this relationship, but the Son humbled Himself, and looks up to the Father.
The apostle wants the church to understand this - that although these relationships exist, and in some there is perfect oneness - there is also submission within those “exclusive relationships” (Vang).
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
11.4-5
11.4-5
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Relationships.
The relationships of every man with Christ, the wife with her husband, and Christ with God is brought to bear in the activities of public worship.
And this is evidenced by the phrase “dishonors his head” for the man, and “dishonors her head” for the woman.
It is possible to diminish the integrity and testimony of these exclusive relationships and what they stand for.
And the apostle says - what we do in worship must not dishonor these relationships.
Notice that verse 4 does not begin addressing women, but men. This is not just about what the women are doing.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
In Corinth, for a man to pray with a covered head dishonors his head, who is Christ. In the culture of Corinth, head coverings had meanings that they do not have for us in our culture.
A covered male head was viewed as bringing dishonor to the man’s head, who is Christ.
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
A wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, who is her husband.
A woman wearing a covering in public was understood to be married, a respectable woman. Off-limits. A woman not wearing a covering was understood to be available, with hair loose and flowing - they were thought to be adulterous or promiscuous (NIVAC).
Notice here, that both men and women perform the same actions in worship.
Both men and women are praying. Both men and women are prophesying.
The actions in this text in the public worship of the church are not restrictive to a man only, or to a woman only. The gifts of God here are not restrictive to a man only, or to a woman only!
But as they are practiced in the church, they are to be practiced in such a way that maintains the testimony of their relationships and submission in those relationships.
They are to reflect who they look up to.
Preben Vang says:
“The fact that Paul begins his discussion by commenting on the veiling of men rather than of women hints from the outset that this paragraph is not primarily about women and gender roles but about Christian versus pagan worship” (TTC).
In other words, as we study the Roman culture and history, we would learn something about head coverings, and how they were employed to resemble one’s status and prestige.
And it seems that these trends were making their way into the Christian worship - where they did not belong.
Trends that seemed to draw more attention to oneself than to God through the way one dresses (NIGTC).
Again, the apostle is not quoting a Scriptural command concerning head coverings in worship. Instead, he’s calling the church to judge for themselves and do what is proper.
And guidance may be found in relationships.
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Relationships.
What do your actions say about who you look up to?
But also,
Judge For Yourselves:
B. Proper Perceptions | “since it is disgraceful” [11.6-7]
B. Proper Perceptions | “since it is disgraceful” [11.6-7]
How will your actions and appearance be perceived by others?
This touches on the theme of “witness.” What kind of witness are we bearing?
11.6
11.6
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
11.7
11.7
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
As Warren Wiersbe says - Paul is bringing together here “local custom and biblical truth.”
The local custom said that a woman with a shaved head, or with short hair, was either a prostitute or being publicly humiliated because of adultery (commentators).
Notice the words of verse 6 “since it is disgraceful.”
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
This is the perception. This is the local custom.
Again, the apostle is not citing a specific Scripture here that says a woman with short hair or shaved head is disgraced.
But that was the perception. That was the local custom.
And a church who desires to be a witness for Christ, must not be ignorant of local custom, because it will cause a distraction in worship. It causes attention to be upon someone other than God.
If punk rock music is associate with a cult, for example, then the church should not sing praise to God with punk rock music. That’s the idea, and it extends to many different applications.
The apostle says simply:
“since it is disgraceful…let her cover her head.”
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Relationships
What will our actions say about who we look up to?
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Perception.
How will our actions and appearance be perceived by others?
Lastly,
Judge For Yourselves:
C. Proper Intentions | “that is why” [11.8-12]
C. Proper Intentions | “that is why” [11.8-12]
What will our relationships say about our intentions.
More importantly, what will our relationships say about God’s intentions? God’s design? God’s plan?
This is where the apostle takes another turn in offering instruction to the church on this issue of head coverings in worship, by getting to the question of WHY.
And the WHY is always grounded in God.
The answer to WHY, if it is to be known, will be known through God’s plan and design.
This is proper intentions. Our aim. Why we do what we do and what this communicates to others.
The apostle goes back to Creation. What was a man created to do - his original intention, and why a woman was created?
11.8-9
11.8-9
8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
11.10
11.10
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
Genesis says it this way:
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created male and female.
God created man in his own image.
And from the man, God created woman.
20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
The apostle is appealing to God’s design, and God’s intention for man and woman. To make them one by becoming husband and wife. And in another place, the apostle will say of this union:
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Relationships properly maintained, projecting proper perceptions, also witness to proper intentions.
God intends through marriage, to provide an illustration and example of the relationship of Christ with His Church.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
This is a difficult statement to make sense of - “because of the angels.”
But remember that angels are created beings too.
Angels worship God too.
2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Angels cover their faces.
Angels are ministers to God, and in a mysterious way, angels watch what we are doing as the church.
We are witnessing in our worship not only to the world, but also to angels.
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
As Warren Wiersbe says:
“Public worship is a serious thing; for the angels are present; and we ought to conduct ourselves as if we were in heaven.”
There is a heavenly witness to our worship that must maintain proper relationships, proper perceptions, and proper intentions.
So the apostle concludes:
IV. Conclusion
IV. Conclusion
11.11-12
11.11-12
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
As he began with men, he ends with a word to men and a reminder to all - that “all things are from God.”
And this is the primary focus of whatever we do in worship. To reflect that all things are from God! God is the sole focus of our worship!
So we must careful discern and judge what we do, being the church in the world.
So that our witness as Christ’s church, might remain pure and powerful for the salvation of many.
11.13
11.13
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
Much more is said, and could be said about these verses.
For now, let us not be quarrelsome in our acts of worship.
Because running underneath all of this, is the important truth that our public worship is designed to be a witness to the glory of God!
And in every way possible, may God help us to reflect that.
So that we might be reminded in every gathering, and so the world might see in us, the worthiness of God for our worship, and the plan of God for all who would receive Christ by faith, through His death, burial and resurrection, for the forgiveness of sin and new life.
So that all who believe might know God in right relationship with Him.
So Church —
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Relationships
What will our actions say about who we look up to?
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Perception.
How will our actions and appearance be perceived by others?
Judge For Yourselves: Proper Intentions.
What does our worship say about God’s plan and God’s design?