Sermon Summary:
[8] I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; [9] likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, [10] but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (1 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV)
"Paul assumes that men will pray with upraised hands. His concern is not, however, about bodily posture but about the attitude with which they will pray. This instruction is in the context of the apostle’s call for prayer for “all people” (v. 1), echoing his comments in 2:4 about God’s desire that “all people” be saved. Paul exhorts that this prayer be conducted by “lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.” In other words, godly prayer comes from godly hearts—all rooted in the gospel.
As to the conduct of women, they should dress modestly—“with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works” (v. 10). Paul was concerned that the way women dressed and deported themselves would not detract from but would enhance the gospel mission" (ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible.
The point is that it's not about what you look like - whether you appear godly or whether you are the best-looking person in the room. God doesn't look at outside appearances; he looks at the inside. At the end of the day, what God is concerned with is the condition of your heart - whether it is surrendered to the Gospel or not. We would be wise to be chiefly concerned with the same thing.
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