I Corinthians 11:2-16 – Head coverings

First view – The covering is long hair and it does apply today.

• The passage starts by talking about God’s arrangement.
  • Notice that this goes all the way back to the beginning.
• What is the covering under discussion?
  • This seems to be referring to long hair – not some sort of clothing or artificial covering. I Corinthians 11:15 specifically says the woman’s long hair was given to her for a covering.
• Was Paul stating a universal truth or just referring to a Corinthian custom that doesn’t pertain to us today?
• When is this passage binding?
• What does nature mean in I Corinthians 11:14-15?
• What is meant in I Corinthians 11:16?
• How long should our hair be?

Alternate view – This covering is something placed on the head, and this passage applies today.

• I Corinthians 11:6 – This implies that two coverings exist – a symbolic covering and hair.
• This was not simply a Corinthian custom.
  • Universal truths are stated throughout the passage (I Corinthians 11:7-12).
  • I Corinthians 11:10 – Angels are not unique to Corinth.
  • I Corinthians 11:14 – “Nature” is not Corinthian custom, but human nature, which exists outside of Corinth.

Third alternative view – Whatever the covering was, Paul is talking about a Corinthian custom and this does not apply today.

• This is the only place in the whole Bible that talks about this, although the concept of woman’s subjection is found in numerous places.
• A man being covered or a woman being uncovered is a disgrace (I Corinthians 11:4-6). But why? Paul is not appealing to an established scriptural principle. Perhaps he is referring to it being a disgrace in their culture.
• “Nature” (I Corinthians 11:14-15) is not referring to a universally recognized principle (example: Samson).
• I Corinthians 11:16 – We have no such custom (of women being covered – this is what the context has been talking about).
• There is a difference between God’s law and a custom that is one way to fulfill that law.

Introduction

Bad news

• Romans 3:23 – We’re guilty of sin and lost.

Good news

• Luke 19:10 – Jesus is my savior!

Bad news

• Romans 1:18, 29-32; 3:21-24
• “sin is lawlessness” – I John 3:4
• Mark 16:15-16
• Acts 2:23, 36
• Ignoring the problem of sin is not a good option!
• Sin destroys our relationship with God.
• Matthew 13:47-50
• “the day of the Lord will be just like a theif in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:3)

Good news (“gospel”)

• John 3:16
• John 12:42
• We must do more than just acknowledge that God exists.
• Matthew 7:21
• Romans 3:23-24, 27-28
• “for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift ofGod; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Romans 5:1-2 (Romans 1:5; 16:26); Romans 6:3-7, 11-13
• “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)
• Matthew 25:31-33

Flight to Midian

• Exodus 2:11-15
• Moses tries to reconnect with his people
  • Seeks to deliver
  • Furtive
  • Unappreciated
  • Pharaoh seeks to avenge
  • Moses flees to Midian
• Exodus 2:16-22
• At the well
  • Seven daughters of Reuel (Jethro)
  • Mean shepherds – Moses helps
  • Early return
  • Duty of hospitality

God remembers His promise

• Exodus 2:23-25
• No doubt Israel had already been praying for deliverance
• Here, it is time for God to deliver as He had planned
  • Leads us to the burning bush
  • Reads Moses in on the plan

Moses and the burning bush

• Exodus 3:1-8
• The attention getter
  • Who can resist a burning bush that doesn’t burn
• God introduces Himself to Moses
  • He is holy as the ground around Him
  • Moses reacts – hides face
• This is why I am here
• This is where we are going

Who am I?

• “I will send you to Pharaoh …”
• Objections of Moses
  • Who am I
    • Seeks to minimize self
    • Who better to be the negotiator?
      • Israelite
      • Raised in Pharaoh’s household
    • Well educated
  • Former failure stifled his enthusiasm?
    • Tried to deliver
    • Rejected by his own
    • Those who had raised him sought to kill him

I AM THAT I AM

• “I Am” in its simplicity
  • Not dependent on time
  • Depends not on anyone’s ideas
  • 1st century Jews – understood
  • John 8:58; Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13

God’s prediction of success

• Exodus 3:16-22
• You will inherit the Promised Land
• Pharaoh will refuse you
• I will compel him – let you go
• You will plunder Egypt as you leave

Signs for Pharaoh

• Exodus 4:1-9
• What if they won’t believe me? (Exodus 4:1)
  • Staff to serpent and back to staff (Exodus 4:2-5)
  • Hand to leprosy and back to normal (Exodus 4:6-8)
  • Water of Nile to blood (Exodus 4:9)
  • But even after all that …

God’s anger burns

• Exodus 4:10-17
• Moses – not eloquent (I Corinthians 1:17; I Corinthians 10:10)
• God – Who made your mouth?
• Moses – Send someone else!
• God -
  • Aaron your spokesman
  • I’ll put words in both of your mouths
  • I’ll direct your actions

Moses leaves Midian for Egypt

• Exodus 4:18-23
• Takes his leave from Jethro
• God informs Moses of death of Pharaoh
• God reminds Moses of the task
• Reminds Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will harden

First stop, then Aaron

• Exodus 4:24-31
• Rest stop
  • God seeks to kill Moses
  • Zipporah intervenes
• God sends Aaron
  • It’s been forty years
  • Moses reads in Aaron
  • Gathering of the elders
  • Aaron does the spokesman thing
  • They believe – for now

Get your own straw

• Exodus 5:1-23
• Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh – Let my people go
• Pharaoh – Who is he, and no
• Moses and Aaron
  • Three days’ journey for sacrifices
  • Or bad things happen
• Pharaoh
  • Back to work
  • No straw for bricks
  • Make quota

The Kingdom is coming

• Isaiah 9:1-7 – Prophecy of the coming of Jesus.
• Matthew 4:12-17
• Luke 1:31-33
• Daniel 2:31-45 – Prophecy of Babylon, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans. As prophesied, Jesus came in the days of the Roman Empire.

The Kingdom is at hand.

• Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 16:18-19, 28 – The Kingdom was coming in their lifetime!
• Acts 1:6-8 – The apostles would receive power.
• Luke 24:49

Acts 2

• The apostles receive power to speak in the necessary languages and deliver the gospel.
• Acts 2:29-38
• Now people can enter Jesus’ kingdom through baptism.

The Kingdom is here now.

• Colossians 1:13-14
• Revelation 1:9 – John was partaking of the kingdom.

Why this matters

We must obey King Jesus!

• Mark 6:27 – Human kings have tremendous authority.
• Acts 12
• Matthew 16:19
• Acts 8:17
• The apostles received delegated authority.

We must honor King Jesus!

• Revelation 1:4-7, 13-18; 5:11-14; 17:14

We must thank King Jesus!

• Matthew 25:31-40
• II Timothy 4:18
• A good king rewards those who serve him. Jesus is a good king!

I Corinthians 10:1-4 – Our fathers

• I Corinthians 10:1-2 – See Exodus 13:21; 14:29; Psalms 105:38.
• I Corinthians 10:3-4 – See Deuteronomy 8:1-3. We are living on the word of God. See John 4:34.

I Corinthians 10:5-12 – Examples for us.

• I Corinthians 10:7 – See Exodus 32:4-6.
• I Corinthians 10:8 – See Numbers 25:1-9.
• I Corinthians 10:9 – See Numbers 21:4-6.
• I Corinthians 10:10 – It is not clear which specific event this is referring to. It could be referring to the general case that happened repeatedly with the Israelites or possibly to Numbers 16:41-49.

I Corinthians 10:13-14 – Temptation.

• I Corinthians 10:13-14 – God always provides a means of escape. Jesus appealed to the word of God when He was tempted. This is a comfort for our future and a conviction of our past.

I Corinthians 10:15-22 – Don’t worship idols.

• I Corinthians 10:19-20 – Paul didn’t want them to be involved with idol worship. If they joined in an idol feast, they were taking part in idol worship. There was nothing wrong with the meat itself – it was what they were doing with it that was the problem.