This is a second part on a topic already mentioned in Christian Headcovering. Because of this I will not be repeating the scripture or walking through it yet again, instead hoping you will read that first, but turning the table to focus on the man within the passage of 1 Corinthians 11: 1-16.
Rather than my usual style of starting with scripture I an going to start today with history. We all know what a kippah is, even if we don't recognize the name. It is the small skull cap worn by many Jewish men, also known as a yarmukle. They are taught from extra-biblcal sources that it is a symbol of piety, or even that it represents the turban the Priests would wear. But nowhere in scripture is there a mandate for a man to cover his head outside of those Cohen in the Tabernacle and Temple.
One very popular teaching is that it represents the barrier between Man and God, like the curtain separating people from the Holy of Holies in the Temple. But we run into an issue then for believers. As Matthew 27:51 says, At that moment the parokhet (veil) in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom; and there was an earthquake, with rocks splitting apart. And this is backed up in Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45. Then we are told in Hebrews 10:19-22, So, brothers, we have confidence to use the way into the Holiest Place opened by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated it for us as a new and living way through the parokhet, by means of his flesh. 21 We also have a great cohen over God’s household. 22 Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full assurance that comes from trusting — with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.[a] Showing us that that very barrier between Man and God is gone, so the covering for this reason is the void with it.
But then we review the passage in 1 Corinthians. In which is specifically states that for a man to pray with his head covered is a dishonor to God! So while there is no biblical mention for a man to cover his head in prayer there is a mandate not to do so. So for a believer, Messianic or otherwise, to do so is a grave act. A defiance. While we can not call it a sin outright, as I mentioned in the last part as it can not be a "new law" but does fall under a man's headship in the home. To cover his head would be to show that there is something between him and God, when the only thing above a man is Yeshua himself. For this reason it saddens me to see Messianic men still donning the Kippah!
But what then of the Tallit? After all, there is actually passages to support the use of this item by men! Today when we hear the term of 'prayer closet' we think like the movie War Room portrays, of hiding away in a peaceful place to pray. While this idea certainly has merit it is actually not what is being spoken of! Yes, we are to be private in our act of prayer, and not parading it about or praying as the pagans - using repetitions. But back in the days of Yeshua and before, even some time after, a prayer closet was in fact an idiom for the Tallit. The broad prayer shawl usually woven with blue and white and holding the tzitzit on the ends. This would have been worn (and we can see it was in Matthew 9 and Luke 8 with the story of the woman bleeding) by Yeshua himself, and likely Paul as he was a teacher of the Law. They are commonly worn by any male teacher of scripture. Historically even brought over the head when praying. But again, there is no scriptural support for this action to be taken.
Instead, when we turn to our prayer closets in private it is in fact to be alone, to draw our tallit around ourselves and come to Yah in prayer through his son Yeshua. For a man this would be around the shoulders, not on the head as we see this as scripturally dishonoring; and for a woman who uses a tallit she may pull it over her head. After all, if you believer that the tzitzit can be worn by a woman there is no arguement for a tallit to be for men only, as the tallit is a shawl specifically designed for the purpose of the tzitzit, no matter what the tradition of the tallit is.
This would go for prophesying as well, which could be also translated as teaching. So a Rabbi in a Messianic synagogue is again doing a dishonor to Elohim to pull his tallit over his head.
But wait, there's more! While the Levites in the Temple were commanded to cover this wasn't a general commandment to the men of Israel. Jeremiah 14:4 says, Because of the ground, which is cracked, since it has not rained in the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. Showing us that covering a man's head is a sign of shame, and thus drawing the example for us that for the Levites to do so in the temple was a sign of their submission and humility before Elohim.
The covering of the head isn't the only thing mentioned in 1 Corinthians however, a man's hair length is also discucssed. We need to understand that short hair was the norm for the Jewish people for many a millenia, that long hair on a man was a sign of one who had taken the Nazarite Vow. This passage specifically states that for a man to have long hair is a disgrace, but this can not negate what scripture teaches of those who have taken the Nazarite Vow - Including Paul himself who took it to prove he'd never taught against Torah! (Acts 18) So it can only be seen as a disgrace by those who have not taken this vow. In the end then, men, be aware to keep your hair short as a grace to God - unless you feel like undergoing a harder regime of cleanliness and avoid all alcohol.
I hope this has made some thing clearer for you when it comes to a man covering his head and the use of a tallit and kippah! May Yah bless you in all that you do.
