Today's Daily Bread

VISIBLE SIGNS OF AUTHORITY

Date : Friday, June 19, 2026
Passage : 1Corinthians 11:2~16
Keyverse : 3  
2
I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
3
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
4
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
5
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is the same as having her head shaved.
6
For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7
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 did not come from woman, but woman from man;
9
neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
10
It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.
11
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
12
For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14
Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
15
but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
16
If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God.
Paul here encourages the Corinthian church to keep the tradition of men having their heads uncovered and women wearing head coverings during worship. He teaches them to follow the current standards for what was considered respectable women and men (6), so that the church of Jesus would have a good reputation. Paul is following the principle he gave in Chapter 10 of using our freedom in Christ to set an example that unbelievers can respect.

The meaning of head coverings is that they are a sign of being under authority. We know that ultimately, we are all under Christ’s authority, and that Christ humbly submitted himself to God’s will (3). So, there is nothing wrong with visible signs of authority. There is a natural order to the roles of women and men in earthly society, but in Christ, men and women are interdependent (11-12), so everyone should be humble under God.

Clothing is merely a visible sign and so is not an essential matter of faith. But it is good to dress, speak, and act in a way that indicates we are not our own but belong to Christ, and not to be contentious about debatable matters but seek unity in the church (16).

Prayer: Father, thank you teaching us that everything is under you. Help me build unity in the church, knowing we are all under Christ’s authority.
One Word: The head is Christ