Modesty God Cares About How We Dress

ModestyModestyGod Cares About How We DressGod Cares About How We Dress

Do we care about how we dress?

Ephesians 5:17Ephesians 5:17

17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand understand

what the will of the Lord iswhat the will of the Lord is.

Luke 6:39-40Luke 6:39-40

39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will “Can the blind lead the blind? Will

they not both fall into the ditch? they not both fall into the ditch? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but

everyone who is perfectly trained perfectly trained will be like his teacherbe like his teacher.

2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15

15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be does not need to be ashamedashamed,

rightly dividing rightly dividing the word of truththe word of truth.

Why do people dress immodestly?Why do people dress immodestly?

Ignorant or untaught To draw attention to

themselves Conformity or acceptance Carelessness and a lack of

forethought Apathy and Indifference—

they simply don’t care!

God cares enough to God cares enough to leave us some leave us some

commands to obey!commands to obey!

1 Peter 3:1-71 Peter 3:1-71Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2when they observe your chastechaste conduct conduct accompanied by fear. 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on putting on fine apparelfine apparel— 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentlegentle and and quietquiet spirit spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5For in this manner, in in former times, the former times, the holy womenholy women who who trusted in Godtrusted in God also also adorned themselvesadorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 77Husbands, Husbands, likewiselikewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Timothy 2:8-101 Timothy 2:8-108I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 99in like manner alsoin like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in adorn themselves in modestmodest apparel apparel, with proprietypropriety and moderationmoderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10but, which is properproper for women for women professing professing godlinessgodliness, with good works.

God cares enough not God cares enough not to leave us without to leave us without further guidance!further guidance!

A Controversial Subject?A Controversial Subject? The danger of moral relativism…

• What is modest to me might not be modest to you!• What is chaste to me might not be chaste to you!• What is shameful to me might not be shameful to you!

The danger of engendering controversy…• Who is to determine specifically what is modest,

shameful, chaste, meek, quiet and proper?• Who can say for sure what professes godliness

in regards to apparel?• Is there only gray area or can a finer line be drawn?

A Controversial Subject?A Controversial Subject? Is there a more specific standard?

• Should we turn to the world (i.e., customs, fashions, styles and time)?

• Should we let our individual consciences decide?• Should we turn to the subjective reasoning of men?• Should we dig deeper into God’s word to see if He has

given us further guidance? – Luke 6:48

We must consider the whole counsel of God! • 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jer. 10:23; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11;

Acts 17:11

God cared about the God cared about the attire of His children in attire of His children in

the Old Testament!the Old Testament!

God cared about howGod cared about howAdam and Eve dressed!Adam and Eve dressed!

What does God consider NAKED?• Gen. 2:25 – Naked and not ashamed• Gen. 3:7a – Naked and ashamed• Gen. 3:7b – Tried to cover themselves• Gen. 3:10 – Still naked, hid themselves and were afraid• Gen. 3:11 – God confirms their nakedness

Chagorah Chagorah Girdle, loin-covering, belt, loin-cloth, armor


What does God consider CLOTHED?• Gen. 2:21 – God clothed Adam and Eve with tunics of skin

Strong’s (#3801) – tunic, under-garment, a long shirt-like garment usually of linen

Wilson (p. 81) – a tunic worn next to the skin by men and women chiefly of the priests and Levites, generally with sleeves, to the knees, but seldom to the ankles

Brown, Driver, Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon (p. 509) – A tunic… generally with sleeves, coming down to the knees, rarely to the ankles



Nelson’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, (pp. 482-483) – “The tunic, a kimono-like inner garment reaching to the knees or ankles, was worn next to the skin. Both men and women wore tunics made from cotton, linen, or wool. ...The earliest of these garments were made without sleeves and reached only to the knees. Later the inner garment extended to the wrists and ankles.”



God set a standard “in the beginning” and He has not changed – Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Jas. 1:17

The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (p. 225) - “This garment usually had long sleeves, and extended down to the ankles when worn as a dress coat, and was held in place by a girdle. Hard-working men, slaves, and prisoners wore them more abbreviated—sometimes even to their knees, and without sleeves—as shown on the Behistun inscription.”

God cared about how God cared about how the priests dressed!the priests dressed!

God specified clothing for the priests that would cover their nakedness – Ex. 28:40-42• Tunics – kutonet• Linen trousers – miknas

To cover their nakedness Covered from the loins to the thighs

God specified that there were to be no steps going up to the altar that their nakedness be not exposed – Ex. 20:26

God used nakedness to God used nakedness to reveal the shame of a person!reveal the shame of a person!

If the thighs were exposed, it was shameful – Isa. 47:2-3• Metaphorically speaks of Babylon, but principle holds true• Consistent line for the lower body!

If the buttocks were exposed, it was shameful – Isa. 20:4 (cf. 2 Sam. 10:4; Isa. 3:17; Jer. 13:22; Mic. 1:11)

If the breasts were exposed, it was nakedness – Ezek. 16:7-8• Metaphorically speaks of Jerusalem, but principle remains true• This applies to men also – cf. John 13:25

Righteous men in the New Righteous men in the New Testament cared about Testament cared about

how they were dressed!how they were dressed!

Two changed men…Two changed men… Peter cared enough to put on his outer garment

in the presence of the Lord – John 21:7• Naked (#1131) – clad in undergarments only (the outer

garments or cloak being laid aside)• What do we typically do when we go swimming?

The man healed of a demon possession cared how he was attired – Luke 8:27, 35• When he was possessed, Satan had him running

around naked!• When he was healed and in his right mind, he was

clothed!

Christians should care Christians should care about how they dress!about how they dress!

Lust and Stumbling BlocksLust and Stumbling BlocksMen and WomenMen and Women

Have you ever wondered why the scriptures seem to focus on women regarding modest apparel?• Women are specifically addressed regarding modest

apparel – 1 Pet. 3:1-6; 1 Tim. 2:8-10• Men are specifically instructed not to lust after a woman

– Matt. 5:28

“Why do I have to alter my apparel because some man cannot control his dirty mind?”• Do you want to be the one to cast the stumbling block?

– Luke 17:1-2• Are you dressing to turn heads? – cf. Prov. 7:10• Some men will lust anyway—but it will not be because

of your apparel choices!

Immodest Apparel and ChildrenImmodest Apparel and Children Should we allow our children to wear

immodest apparel?• Train them up in the way they should go – Prov. 22:6• Let them bear the yoke in their youth – Lam. 3:27• Teach them the scriptures from their youth

– 2 Tim. 3:15

There are perverts out there who will prey on children for this very reason!

Is immodest clothingIs immodest clothing always immodest? always immodest?

Can immodest clothing be acceptable in certain circumstances?• Sports? • Work? • Weddings?• Everyone else is wearing it?

In what circumstances should a Christian surrender his/her modesty?

In what circumstances should a Christian stop being a Christian?

What is influencing our dress?What is influencing our dress? The world

• Rom. 12:1-2• 1 Pet. 4:4• Ex. 23:2• 2 Cor. 10:12

Our conscience • 1 Tim. 4:2; Jer. 6:15

God’s word • 2 Tim. 2:15

God cares about God cares about how you dress!how you dress!

Do you care?Do you care?

Modesty God Cares About How We Dress

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