A Place in Grace

Head coverings may seem like a silly thing to argue about, but it was taken very seriously by both Jews and Gentiles in Paul's day. But it was the Jewish scruples about the Law and their accompanying attitude of superiority that caused Paul to address this issue head on.

The Jewish believers would have been accustomed to worshipping with uncovered feet (an acknowledgement that the place of worship was holy ground) and with a covered head (by wearing a tallith, which was done out of humility towards God). They were quite legalistic about this. On the other hand, the Greek custom was to pray with the head uncovered. Paul defends the Gentiles, pointing Jewish believers away from the legalism that was so firmly engrained in them. He directed them toward grace: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10.4, see also Romans 6.14).

Paul experienced firsthand the insufficiency of legalism and stated emphatically: “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head” (1 Corinthians 11.4). When we are in Christ, we may stand with an uncovered head in the presence of the Lord. In Galatians 4.7 Paul says, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” We are no longer slaves to the law, but sons and daughters of grace! Have you claimed your place in grace?