A MAN INDEED OUGHT NOT TO COVER HIS HEAD

Not only is the woman’s head to be covered in order that Christ’s glory may be pre-eminent, but also, to give further testimony to the Headship and Lordship of Christ, the man is to pray with his head uncovered.

When ‘praying or prophesying’, the Christian man is to do so with his head uncovered because he is ‘the image and glory of God’, v. 7; if he did not do so he would dishonour his Head, which is Christ, vv. 3-4.

Were he to pray or prophecy with a covering on his head, he would dishonor his Head because, if his head is covered, this is a sign of subjection. While he is involved in the preaching of the word of God and praying, he is considered to be a representative of Christ.

This teaching by the Spirit of God is contrary to the practice of the Jews for they will not allow a man to pray unless his head is covered. The reason they give for this is that he should cover himself to show that before God he is ashamed and unworthy, with open face, to behold Him. Therefore, when praying, the Jewish custom is for a man to cover the head with his tallith or shawl. They uncover their feet because, figuratively, the place on which they stand is holy ground, but they cover the head as a sign of humility, following the angels who veil their faces with their wings, Isa. 6. 2.

In our reading today, we learn that man is God’s ‘image and glory’, v. 7. The Bible clearly sets forth both the failure and sin of man but also his dignity. Originally, God made man in His own image. He was given the moral and spiritual capacity to apprehend truth. In his power of will, man resembles his Maker. When the fall occurred, that dignity was lost. Yet, through the grace of God it is recovered to the believer in Christ.

In these verses we should not assume that the Holy Spirit is teaching that the woman is not the image and glory of God, or that she is in some sense inferior. Rather, it is that man is firstly and directly this image and glory, the woman subsequently and indirectly. Man represents the authority of God; he is, in the sight of God, the ruler, the spiritual head of each family.