The Least Commandment: Head Coverings

First published: 2015-06-21 —- Last edited: 2021-01-05

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20).

This passage has been understood in diverging ways. Bible teachers do not agree easily on the interpretation and application of this passage to our lives as followers of Christ. I will only mention here the two extremes that are taught concerning this passage. Some say that Jesus requires that the Church keep all of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) commandments, especially the keeping of the Sabbath. Others say that this passage does not apply to the Church at all, because the New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant. - I am using the word “Covenant” instead of the word “Testament” because Hebrews 8:7-13 and Jeremiah 31:31-34 use the word “covenant.”

We can find in the text of this passage itself indications of how we have to understand it. There are several details here that we need to consider carefully.

In the last verse of this passage, Jesus states the condition for entering into the Kingdom of Heaven: “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is laid out in detail in the following verses: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time … But I say unto you …” The righteousness that will allow us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven culminates in this command:

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).

Who of us is perfect and therefore enter the Kingdom of Heave?

Jesus states the purpose of His coming. He says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The emphasis is here on the little word “I”. Jesus speaks here about himself, he says that He has come to fulfill both the commandments of the law and the words of the prophets. His remarks are about himself.

Who of us living today can perfectly fulfill all that is written in the law, especially since the Temple has not been standing in Jerusalem for nearly 2000 years? Many commands in the Old Covenant require the existence of the Temple! Yom Kippur, for example cannot be kept without the Temple. Who, living today, can fulfill all that is written in the prophets? Jesus alone fulfilled all the commandments of the law, and he alone fulfilled all that was spoken by the prophets concerning him. Who else can fulfill the prophecies made in the Bible concerning Christ, the Messiah?

His death on the cross for the atonement of ours sins was announced by the prophets and foreshadowed in the sacrifices commanded in the law. His death fulfilled both: the law and the prophets. Jesus alone fulfilled the righteousness required by God for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

Because of His righteousness, and because he took our sins upon himself and died for our sins, we are able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Nothing less than His righteousness is required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. His righteousness is our pass to the Kingdom of God.

There is another detail in this passage that is often overlooked or just ignored. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” How can this believer, this follower of Christ, who breaks one of the least commandments, still be found in the Kingdom of Heaven? How did he get there not having kept the law perfectly? The righteousness of Christ and His atonement for our sins on the Cross enables the imperfect believer to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We are not saved by our goot works; but we will be rewarded according to our works.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:11-15).

Which are the commandments that we need to do and to teach? Are they the commandments of the Old Covenant? If so, why does Jesus say, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time … But I say unto you …” The standards of righteousness that we find in Matthew chapter 5 through 7 are far higher and far more demanding than the standards of the Old Covenant law.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).

Jeremiah describes the New Covenant in this way:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33).

The New Covenant requires not only that our actions are righteous, but that also our thoughts, our hearts are righteous.

The commandments that Jesus refers to are his commandments, the commandments of the New Covenant. Before Jesus was taken up in a cloud to heaven, he said to his disciples:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20).

The commandments that we are to keep are the commandments that Christ gave, the commandments of the New Covenant.

Jesus cleansed us from all sin and clothed us with his righteousness. Our response can only be that we love him and keep his commandments in our hearts. Jesus says:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15).

How strong is our love for Him? He had to say to the Church in Ephesus:

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

I have heard people say, “I want all that Jesus has for me.” I think that it is wrong to say this. It should be the other way around: “I want Jesus to have all of me, all that I have and all that I am.” I think that is closer to the self-denial that the Lord requires of those who want to follow him. Obeying all that He has commanded us is a matter of love. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Wouldn’t this include the least commandments, too?

We do not find anywhere in the writings of the New Covenant (New Testament) that commandments are categorized as important and as less or least important. Some Christians declare some command or ordinance to be non-essential, or outdated.

In Romans 14 the Apostle Paul discusses the choice of some believers not eating certain foods and observer certain days or feast. He concludes that believers must not judge other believers in matters of foods, Sabbaths and feast
days. The believer must follow his conscience in the matter foods, Sabbaths and feast days. But these are not commandments of the Lord.

To designate one of Christ’s commandments or an ordinances of his apostles as non-essential or least is done so by man and not by God. Keeping Christ’s commandments is not question of minimum requirements, but of love and faithfulness.

I want to bring to our attentions one of the “least, unimportant, outdated and non-essential” commandments that we find in the New Testament. In the visible realm it seems that this command is completely irrelevant, very much politically incorrect, absolutely embarrassing and culturally antiquated. Christians are ashamed that this is in their Bible. Pastors never ever preach about it. However, If we look into the spiritual world, we see t hat there are battles raging. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:11-12).

One piece of the armor is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Why do some believe, that we can break off parts of the Sword and win the spiritual battles in disobedience to the Word of God?

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 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, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth 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, forasmuch 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 comely 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 [raiment].

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1Corinthians 11:1-16)

It does not matter what opinion we have about this passage. The only thing that matters is what the Word of God says. At one time Jesus asked:

What is written in the law? How readest thou? (Luke 10:26).

In chapter 1 verse 2 of this epistle Paul writes: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” In chapter 11 verse 16 he writes: “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” Both of these verses show that his teaching is not confined to the church of Corinth, but includes “all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Why Is Paul Writing This?

In verse 2 Paul writes: “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” Paul is not rebuking the church for not keeping the ordinance of the head covering. We have to conclude that Paul previously had not taught this in detail in the church of Corinth. Obviously the church was divided on this issue. Now he writes to the church to clarify this ordinance, and to show them what the foundations of this command are.

In the fall of 2012, during a Wednesday night Bible study, a lady asked about this passage. She wanted to know if this is still applicable today. She said that she did not want to disobey the Word of God, and she would “slap on a hat” during the church services if this was required today. Through the simple reading of this passage she came to the conclusion that there is a discrepancy between what she read and what the church practices, today. Otherwise she would not have asked. Both, the Bible study leader and the pastor told her that this practice was culturally conditioned and only valid at the time of Paul’s writing. The pastor explained that a lady missionary in Afghanistan, for example, should wear a head covering because that culture requires it. But once she comes home to the United States she no longer would have to wear a head covering.

He finished by saying, that if a church here in the United States would require this practice today, only few people would attend church.

Not expressed, but implied in the reasons given was a concern: If people do not come to church, nobody will be saved, there won’t be anybody raising his hand during the invitation when “every eye is closed and every head is bowed.” What is more important, to practice a custom that does not fit any more into our modern culture, or that people will be saved? So, more people will be saved through disobedience than through obedience?

I believe most Christians do not understand the relationship between the church and the culture surrounding her. In the center of every culture is a world view, that is, how we see and how we understand life and the world around us. A world view is a system of common held beliefs and values. Even today, in our scientifically oriented world, we are guided by a system of beliefs and values, beliefs that cannot be proved scientifically. Fore example, there is no proof that the elements, by chance,
suddenly appeared out of nothing. Whatever people believe about the origin of the universe is unproven, is believed and has nothing to do with science. Man was not there to observe how the world came into existence, neither can scientists repeat that process, today.

Our world view tells us what is right and what is wrong, what is important and what is not so important. When we feel that something is right or wrong, it is our culture, that has shaped our thinking and feelings, and is guiding our actions. Our culture, our view of the world, directly influences our daily lives, our customs and practices.

When a culture changes, the change is caused by a change in commonly held beliefs and values. One hundred years ago, it was believed to be wrong to engage in sexual activities outside of marriage. This belief has changed. Today schools are passing out condoms to minors. The change in belief has changed the daily life of our teenagers, has changed our culture. Cultures change when commonly held beliefs and values change.

The Bible, the Word of God, has its own world view. The Bible teaches us a system of beliefs and values.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:25).

This statement, that Jesus made, expresses values. These words clearly teach us that eternal life has an infinite higher value then all the wealth that one could accumulate on this earth. The Bible constitutes its own culture. We do not find the word “culture” in the pages of the Bible, the Bible uses for the cultures outside the Church the word “world” instead.

The Old Testament clearly differentiates between the worship of the God of Israel, and the worship of the idols of the gentile nations. Joshua, at the end of his life, confronted the people of Israel with one choice:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

The Old Testament, the Israelite culture considers the sacrifice of children to be an abomination. In the worship of Moloch, a pagan culture, the sacrifice of children was practiced. Our modern day humanistic American culture is close to the belief system and values of the worship of Moloch. Recently I read that some people want to legalize what they call “post-abortion”. If a child survived somehow an abortion attempt, then they want to be allowed to snuff it out after birth! It is important to see that the heart, the driving force of any culture is its belief system and its values. In the humanistic American culture of today the unborn has no or little value. The pleasure of sexual activities are valued higher than the life of an unborn child. That is the reason why we have “the pill,” and abortion in case the contraceptive dis not work. The purpose of the reproductive organs is no longer reproduction but pleasure. A child has only value if it is wanted. Our culture says, if the unborn is not wanted, it can be disposed of, it has no value.

The New Testament still forbids idol worship, but mostly it uses the term “world” to refer to a world view that is not taught in the Bible. The New Testament confronts us with the choice between the faith in Christ or the love of the world.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1John 2:15-17).

One culture is the Christian culture, the other one the non-Christian culture, the world.

Many things in life can only be believed. People usually believe that their parents are their parents. However, sometimes babies have been switched in a hospital, and those children have believed all their lives that the people who raised them were their parents, when in reality they were not. Since a culture is based on a world view, a system of commonly held beliefs, it is very possible that what we feel to be right is actually wrong, and what we think has value is actually worthless, and what we feel is true is not reality.

If we consider ourselves to be Christians, and profess to follow Christ, then we must follow his teachings, his commands, his values, and his way of life. If we want to know and follow Him who is the Truth we must be willing to step “outside the box” and compare the beliefs, values, customs, and the way of life of the world with the beliefs, values, customs, and the way of life taught in the Word of God. We must ask ourselves whether we live and walk in the faith of Jesus Christ, or in the faith of the humanistic American culture.

The more a culture differs from the teachings of the Bible, the greater is the clash between that culture and the Christian culture. If the church moves away from the Word of God and conforms to the world culture, then the clash can be be softened, and persecution can be avoided. But this is the opposite of what the Scriptures teach:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

If some women in the Corinthian church tossed the head covering away, it was because of the influence of the worldly Corinthian culture, a culture in which “anything goes.” Paul was not asking the church to respect the Corinthian culture, quite the opposite: his teaching was not conditioned by the Corinthian culture, he defended the Christian culture:

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:16)

The values and customs of the churches of God are what constitutes the Christian culture, the Christian way of life!

One well known Bible teacher uses the cultural argument against the head covering without using the word “culture.” He says in a sermon on 1 Corinthian 11:1-16: “Paul is not forcing a first century dress code on us today.” He says that this passage teaches that we have to maintain the distinction between men and women. There are two problems with his reading of this passage.

The Old Testament forbids men to wear women’s clothing and forbids women to wear men’s clothing.

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God (Deuteronomy 22:5).

The instructions that Paul gives to the Corinthians are more specific than the Old Covenant command: the church has to maintain that distinction between man and women in a specific way while “praying or prophesying!” The distinction has to be made when serving and worshiping God! So, we must maintain that distinction in the way the Word of God instructs us.
Why are we not willing to maintain the prescribed distinction given here? Why not make that distinction between men and women when and in the way it is required!

This teacher shows a strong bias when he says: “Paul is not forcing a first century dress code on us today.” This is a very offensive and inappropriate statement. I am surprised to see so much arrogance! Why is he using the word “forcing?” Paul is not forcing the head covering on us as much as he is not forcing us to love one another (chapter 13):

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Paul invites us, urges us, pleads with us:

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

If you don’t want to follow Paul’s example as he follows Christ, say so openly! Don’t hide behind “dress codes.”

Now back to the text of 1Corinthians 11:

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 (11:3).

Paul does not base his reasoning on Corinthian or any gentile culture, far from it! His argument is based on the eternal order of authority instituted by God. Every argument that follows is built on this foundation. Take the order of headship the chain of authority away and the rest of the passage does not make sense any more. As a little side note here: In God’s plan, angels were never given authority over man. When Satan seeks to gain authority over a man or a women he is opposing God’s order of authority in his rebellion against God.

Paul states: “the head of every man is Christ.” Was this true only in Corinth and at the time when Paul was writing, or is this still true here and today? Is Christ not any more the head of every man in the church today?

Paul states: “the head of the woman is the man.” Was this true only in Corinth and at the time when Paul was writing, or is this still God’s order today?

Paul states: “the head of Christ is God.” Was this true only in Corinth and at the time when Paul was writing, or is this still true today? Has any culture changed the relationship between Christ and the Father?

The order of authority established by God has nothing to do with the Corinthian or any gentile culture. These facts are still true today, therefore the instructions that Paul gives, based on these facts, are still valid today.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head.

The word “head” has two meanings in this passage. “The head of every man is Christ.” Here the meaning of “head” is “headship” or “authority.” “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered …” This time “head” refers to the body part that is physically visible. But which is the meaning of “head” in “dishonoureth his head” and “dishonoureth her head”? I believe that the meaning here is “dishonoring the person in authority”, because body parts can be marred, damaged or disfigured, but only a person can be honored or dishonored. But even if the meaning would be the physical head the facts do not change. For example, if a women makes a fool of herself, will this not affect, dishonor her husband? If a man dishonors himself in some way, will this bring honor to Christ? - Of course not! Taken the meaning of “head” one way or the other, the result will remain the same: the person in authority will be dishonored.

We do not decide what is honoring and what is dishonoring. God has decided the issue: “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head.”

Even if a man and a woman agree that the women does not need to wear a head covering while praying, the spiritual fact remains, she is dishonoring her husband. Our opinions and our disobedience will not change the spiritual realities. In the unseen spiritual world happens what we can observe with our eyes in nature: A steady drip of water will split a stone. There is a correlation between the doing away with the head coverings and the rise of divorces in the churches. For 1900 years the church has followed Paul’s instructions concerning the head covering during prayer. It is only recently, after World War II, mainly in the 1960’s that the churches have abandoned this practice. Since then divorces have invaded the “evangelical, Bible believing” churches. The invisible dishonoring on the spiritual level will do its work: little by little it will split a husband and wife apart.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones" (Proverbs 12:3).

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch 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.

The apostle Paul gives another reason for the man not to cover his head when praying, and why the women aught to cover her head when praying. Paul refers to the creation of man and women. This of course has nothing to do with Corinthian culture either. The facts given in the creation account in Genesis transcend every culture. As much as the order of authority may not be set aside in any culture, so the facts of creation are true in any culture. Denying the truth does not change the truth. The Western culture, in which we live today, rejects the creation story and with it the different roles that God gave to men and women. But no denial and rejection will change God’s creation. God has decreed his very own policies: laws, commandments, and values. From his point of view our modern culture is very much politically incorrect. God’s patience should not let us conclude that he will not judge the living and the dead. In the “Day of the Lord” multitudes will painfully find out which policies were correct, God’s or man’s.

Another reason the apostle Paul gives for men not to wear a head covering, but for women to wear a head covering is also related to the facts of creation.

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 (11:14-15).

This verse has often been used to prove that the long hair is already a covering, therefor the women do not need another head covering. There are two problems with this interpretation. Previously Paul says: “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth 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.” If her hair is already the covering, why does he say she needs a covering?

Paul does not say here anything about the length of her hair. He does not say, “If your hair is long then you are fine, you don’t need to cover your head.” The only thing that he talks about is to cover the head or not to cover the head. The other problem is the word translated in verse 15 with “covering.” The word “cover” that is used in the previous verses has the meaning “hide” both in the Greek and Aramaic texts of 1 Corinthians. The Greek word used is katakalypto, hide below something, which is the opposite of apokalypto, to lay open, to reveal. The word in verse 15 translated with “covering” is a different word and does not mean to hide or conceal; it has the meaning of “garment.”

Paul draws a parallel here. The all important words here are shame, glory and garment. If the long hair is given as a natural garment, then the short hair is equal to not having a natural garment. As it is a shame for a man to have long hair, a natural garment, so it is a shame to hide his head under a covering when he is praying. And as it is a glory for the women to wear long hair, a natural garment, so it is a glory for her to hide her head under a covering when she prays. The man having short hair, no natural garment, does not hide his head with a garment, like a hat or prayer shawl. The women having long hair, a natural garment, has to hide her head with a prayer shawl or scarf.

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.

Paul gives one more reason why women need to cover their heads while praying. He makes the surprising statement that because of the angels the woman has to have “power” on her head. The word that is used for “power” in both the Greek and Aramaic texts of the New Testament can be translated as “power” or as “authority.” We need to keep both meanings in mind. The word in the original texts comprises both meanings together, and that makes sense; because there is no authority without power, and there is no power without the authority to exercise it.

Angels, like man, are created beings. Angels, like man, had a choice to obey or not to obey God and accept their position and purpose for which they were created. We know that one third of the angels rebelled with Satan against God, they are now called demons or fallen angels. The other angels who did not rebel against God are called in the Bible the holy angels of God.

Even though we cannot see Angels, they are observing us. Demons will follow us and tempt us to disobey God’s commands and to give in to the desires of the flesh. They are coordinated by Satan himself. Often demons will use people that do not fear God. Most of the time people are unaware of the presence of demons and their influence on us. We do not know everything, and of course we do not know what things we don’t know. Therefore when the Bible, God’s Word, reveals to us the things unseen, we must take that seriously.

God’s holy angels obey God and protect and serve us.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. (Psalms 103:20).

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalms 34:7).

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me" (Daniel 6:22 ).

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." (Matthew 4:11).

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:10).

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53)

We cannot see the holy angels of God, but the angels can and do observe us.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10).

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Corinthians 4:9).

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality" (1 Timothy 5:21".

The holy angles accepted God’s authority and power over them; Satan and the demons rejected God’s authority and power over them. By wearing the head covering, the women acknowledges God’s order of authority and her role for which God created her. This visible sign of acceptance of God’s order authorizes her, and empowers her to directly pray to God, bypassing her “head”, the man. The head covering gives her authority and power when she prays to God.

One of my supervisors at work, thought that one time I had bypassed her authority. The CFO of the company rewarded me compensation time for work that I had done late at night. I had not asked for it, but my supervisor thought that I had asked him, and in no uncertain terms she made clear that she was my supervisor and nobody else. If the chain of command, chain of authority, matters in the corporate world, why does it not matter in our relationship to God? Why can the chain of authority that he established be ignored?

Most Christians today, and that includes most pastors and Bible teachers, do not realize the severity of failing to obey God’s commands. “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” The head covering symbolizes the acceptance of authority. The holy angels are offended when they see us rejecting God’s order of authority. Satan and the demons gleefully triumph when they see us not obeying God’s Word. We do not see the angels, but they see us. Obedience or disobedience reaches into the spiritual realm. We are siding either with God’s holy angels who accepted God’s authority, or we are siding with Satan and his demons who rejected God’s authority.

For many years I have asked myself this question: “Why is there such a stern opposition to wearing the head covering in the churches today?” Women are wearing multiple earrings of diverse shapes and sizes. Some earrings are so big that they are called monkey swings. Women wear rings through their nose and lips, they display all kinds of hair styles, from towers to crew cut, medium length and long hair. They color their hair in the range from white and blond to purple. So why not wear a modest and beautiful head covering? The answer is simple: there is a strong Satanic opposition to the head covering. Satan does not want to give up the foothold that he has gained in the churches. In Germany we have a saying that goes like this: Give the devil your little finger, and he will take the whole hand. The churches have handed over to Satan the head coverings, that “embarrassing, demeaning, legalistic, outdated and unimportant” tradition. In return he has destroyed our families, taken away our power in prayer, and is leading the churches deeper and deeper into apostasy. Maybe, wearing the head covering is the very least of the commandments in the New Testament. However,

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

I mentioned above the question that a women posed in a Wednesday evening Bible study group. She said that she recently read 1 Corinthians 11 and wanted to know if she should wear a head covering when praying in the church. Both, the pastor who was present that day, and the Bible study leader, told her that this custom was culturally conditioned and not any more valid for us today. The Bible study leader has worn a Cap all of the time when I have seen him outside the church building. But during prayer time on Wednesday evenings and during the Sunday morning church services he never wears the Cap. At all funerals that I have attended all men took off their hats when the pastor said a prayer.

So, why is the command for men not to wear a head covering when they pray still valid and practiced today, but the command for women to wear a head covering is a thing of the past? Both commands are given in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. The only reason for this discrepancy is that preachers and Bible teachers today are ashamed to teach something politically so incorrect. They are giving in to the stern opposition from the principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickedness in high places.

Only two or three times have I seen, in contemporary church services, one or two men wearing baseball hats during a whole church service. I dread the day when this becomes common place in the churches. “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.” It is one thing to dishonor man, it is another thing to dishonor him, to whom is given all power in heaven and on earth, the Son of Man. The apostle John describes him this way:

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead" (Revelation 1:12-17).

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.

In the previous verses Paul stated the differences between men and women. Here now he states the interdependence of both men and women and their equality before God. The different roles that God gave men and women in creation do not constitute unequal value. Today it is “politically incorrect” to state that women are to be in submission to men. But before protesting with indignation we should clarify the Biblical concept of submission. Neither the secular world view and the present American culture, nor most Christians today understand the Biblical concept of submission. Would not intellectual integrity require to understand God’s concept of submission before condemning it?

The New Testament clearly states that Christ has submitted himself to the Father. Even this passage here in 1 Corinthians states that the head of Christ is God.

1. True submission is entirely voluntary. Submission is different from subjection; if someone is subjected to the rule of another person he did not voluntarily submit,
   he did not make a choice, he was forced to obey orders.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father (John 17:17-18).

2. Submission requires that both sides agree with each other. Jesus said

I and my Father are one (John 10:30).

3. Jesus could not have worked out our salvation without submitting himself to the Father. Satan hates submission, because the Son of God defeated him by submitting completely to the Father. Jesus saved us through submitting to the fathers will.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39).

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11).

Those who despise submission, despise Christ’s submission to the Father on the cross.

4. In submitting to the Father Jesus did not lose his equality with the Father. He submitted his complete divine being to the father, his omnipotence, his omnipresence and his omniscience. A women submitting and accepting the authority over her is still equal to a man, she has as much value as a man.

5. Leaders in God’s Church are not called to rule over other believers. Husbands in the Christian family are not called to subjugate their wives. Leaders in the church and husbands in the Christian family lead by example and seek to agree with each other.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:42-45).

If the Word of God asks women to accept the authority of the man over her, this is not demeaning. Only in submission can a women fulfill the role, the work, the tasks that God has given her. A women in submission does not lose her value, in the contrary, God can use her in mighty ways. The reason for her to submit, is her love of Christ and his Word.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1Corinthians 13:1-4).

This passage is found in this same letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians!

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21).

We love him, because he first loved us (1John 4:19).

Most of the time Christians apply the “love chapter” to loving our neighbors, our fellow man. I do not remember hearing in my whole life even one sermon or one Bible study that applied the “love chapter” to loving God, and to loving the Son of God. But it is written:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matthew 22:27-28).

If we keep Christ’s commandments because we want to get something back from God, then we are just as sounding brass. If we keep his commandments without a deep gratitude for God giving us eternal life, then we are just tinkling cymbals. If I keep his commandments without deeply loving him who loved me, and gave himself for me, then I am nothing!

The way to the cross was not a path of honor, it was a trail of shame. Jesus was beaten, spit into his face, hit on his cheek, mocked and finally crucified. The devil had a heyday when the priests and scribes were mocking him:

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:42-43).

In the view of the world, and in the view of the religious world, he died in shame.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Do the churches today, the preachers, evangelists and Bible teachers esteem the “reproach of Christ” greater than to be popular, to be honored by men? We love him, because he first loved us. Do we love him enough to take up our cross and follow him on the trail of reproach?

If the church today disregard the head covering, that will opens the door to toss out other passages in the Bible. The slippery road to apostasy begins with tossing out the least commandments. Do we expect that our disobedience accomplishes more in “winning souls” than our obedience?

PS: It is now June 2015. It took me three years to complete this article. I knew deep in my heart that I had to write this, but I did not want to write it. Who would read it? All that I would get for doing so would be criticism from all sides. Had I not received enough rejection so far, who needs more of that? But God reminded me of the words Jesus spoke:

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20).

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