Rules concerning both man and woman: (11:11-12, 14):
Both man and woman are made in the image of God and for the glory of God; but since the woman was made from the man (Gen.2:18-25), she is also the “glory of the man.” She glorifies God and brings glory to the man by submitting to God’s order and keeping her head covered in public worship. Thus, Paul tied together both local custom and biblical truth, the one pointing to the other. In a general way, it is true that nature gives women longer hair and men shorter hair. The Romans, Greeks, and Jews (except for the Nazarites) followed this custom. Nowhere does the Bible tell us how long our hair should be. It simply states that there ought to be a noticeable difference between the length of the men’s hair and the women’s hair so that there would be no confusion of the sexes. This principle eliminates the so-called “unisex” styles. It is shameful for the man to look like a woman or the woman to look like a man. Since God created both man and woman separately, it is rebellion against God and nature that if a man tries to dress and imitate like a woman and woman like a man. A man must thank God saying Lord! I am glad that you created me a man and similarly a woman must thank God, saying Lord! I am glad that you created me a woman. Again the most important thing is the submission of the heart to the Lord and the public manifestation of obedience to God’s order. If a man or a woman are out of place in their dress and action, they will always be a hindrance to the work of God. We dare not conform to the world, lest we lose our testimony.
Paul gave several reasons why women must keep their proper place in the church:
- It shows honour to their husbands;
- It honours Christ, the Head of the church.
- It agrees with the plan of creation itself, for God created woman for man.
- The angels watch our worship and know what we do (11:10)
- Nature itself gives the woman long hair and the man short hair, thus teaching subordination of woman and man.
- This is the practice in all the churches (11:16).
- There ought to be modesty in the local church, both in dress and action.
The guidance while observing the Lord’s table: (11:17-34):
Paul put great emphasis on Lord’s Table, because it was a commandment that the Lord gave us as a memorial to observe it.
The decency of get-together activity: (11:17-22; 31-34):
The early church had the custom of believers eating together when they come for the worship (Acts 2:42,46). It was also an opportunity for fellowship by sharing with those who were less privileged. No doubt the Corinthian church had climaxed this meal by observing the Lord’s Supper. They called this meal “the love feast” or the “Agape feast” because it was an expression of love for the saints by sharing food with one another. Chloe’s servants had given Apostle Paul the news which had disgusted him. He could hardly believe the news about the behaviour of some people in their meetings. Corinthian Christians used to share a meal before they carried out the Lord’s Supper. They brought food and wine to share with each other. They have forgotten that Christ removed social differences between rich and poor people. But some Corinthian Christians were selfish. They did not care about the poor people. The Christians who arrived first had the most comfortable seats. They did not wait for the Christian slaves who came later, after completing their work. Instead, they started their own meal. They ate and drank more than their fair share. So there was little or nothing left when the poor Christians arrived later. In this way the rich were getting drunk and the poor were remaining hungry. So, the meeting was not a sign of Christian love and unity. Instead, it was causing divisions further.
The Jewish Christians failed understand what God had done for them when He rescued the people of Israel from the bondage of Egyptians. God freed Israel and took them to the Promised Land of Canaan, but only two people out of 6-lakh males (including ladies, children could be about 24-lakhs) of vast company gained God’s approval and entered the land. The Lord’s Supper should have been the remembrance of a pre-eminently selfless act, Christ’s death on behalf of others. Instead the Corinthians had turned the memorial of selflessness into an experience of selfishness and had made the unity into a riotous disunity. While one brother went hungry because he lacked the means to eat well, another brother drank too excess.
Paul pointed out that if the Corinthians wanted private parties they could have them in their homes. The meeting in the church was no place for a sectarian spirit of any sort, especially when the Lord’s Supper is followed soon after the meal. Their attitude showed that they did not care about the unity of God’s church. So, they might as well stay at home for their meals. So Paul once again had to remind them about the meaning of the Lord’s supper.
Further the Apostle makes a point that if someone is hungry, let him eat at home and come to the church. When you come together to eat, wait for one another. This is the good manners and also showing love towards others. Paul didn’t say to abandon such love feasts, but restore proper meaning to such love feasts. Then everyone gets enough to eat, instead of some being gorged and others going home hungry. Because of this simple selfishness, the Corinthian Christians were bringing the judgment of God upon themselves. Just for the sake of food! Paul wants to put it all in perspective and remind them that it isn’t worth it at all.