Last post we discussed how the head covering shamed Christ.  Before we carry on with 1 Corinthians 11:5 in our verse by verse discussion, I want to skip over to verse 7 to discuss the second reason that a man is not to have his head covered and this has to do with honoring his head.  1 Corinthians 11:7 says:

For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God…

The man is not to cover his head when he prays or prophesies because the covering of the head hides the glory and the glory of God is not to be hidden but to be reflected.  Matthew 5:14-16 says:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The glory that shines through us is not to be hidden.  The glory properly reflected glorifies the Father in heaven.  2 Corinthians 3:18 says:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Do you get these points?  The man’s head is Christ.  He is not to have a head covering that signifies the shame of his sin (see last post) because Christ has died to take away that shame.  He is not to cover the head because he is a reflection of Christ’s glory and he is to bring glory to Christ through his being transformed into Christ’s image from glory to glory.

Now does this mean that the woman is not the glory of Christ?  No not at all.  2 Cor. 3:18 says that we all are to be with unveiled face.  We all shine forth the glory of Christ.  So why does Paul emphasize the man as the image and glory of God?  He does so to teach an extremely important lesson that will help to get rid of a faulty tradition concerning women.  More in the next post.