The Hidden Man of the Heart
Modesty
Sexualisation of girls
When a person’s value comes only from
her/his sexual appeal or behavior to the
exclusion of other characteristics
 & when a person is sexually objectified
eg made into a thing for another’s sexual
use

Modesty defined

Modesty is a mode of dress and
deportment intended to avoid
encouraging sexual attraction in others;
actual standards vary widely. In this use,
it can be considered inappropriate or
immodest to reveal certain parts of the
body. A modest woman would behave so
as to avoid encouraging the sexual
attention of men.
Wikipedia
Modesty – further definition
 Unassuming
or moderate in the
estimation of one’s abilities or
achievements
 (of an amount, rate or level of
something) relatively moderate,
limited,or small
Called to purity

1 Tim 4:12 be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in behavior, in love…in
purity
 1 Tim 5:2 deal with ‘the younger (women) as
sisters, with all purity’
 2 Tim 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, love, peace with them
that call on the Lord out of a pure heart’
 also see Psa 24:3,4; Prov 22:11; Matt 5:8
Responsibility
Modesty
 General
introduction
 Bible pointers about dress
 Bible principles that apply in our
decisions/ choices
Bible pointers about dress
 1.
Focus on dressing up the inner
man
 2. How should we adorn
ourselves?
 3. External signs of inner sanctity
 4. Distinction between the sexes
Bible pointers about dress
1.
Focus on dressing up
the inner man
1 Pet 3:3-5
Bible pointers about dress
2. How should we adorn
ourselves?
1 Tim 2:9-10
Bible pointers about dress
 V9-10
decorate themselves with 3
things
 1.
modest apparel
 2. shamefacedness & sobriety
 3.
good works
Bible pointers about dress

Modest Gk kosmios
 = good behaviour 1 Tim 3:2
 Bullinger: well ordered, orderly, ie well
behaved, discreet, decorous
 other versions …becoming, seemly, suitable,
orderly, proper, appropriate
Modest apparel for skaters

‘So you want to dress like a skateboarder?
First begin by purchasing a cool pair of skater
sneakers. The most popular are Vans because
of their slip on nature and rubber sole for good
gripping. Second, you'll want to choose the
right pants. For skateboarders, the baggier the
better to keep comfort and flexibility in working
the board. One of the common brands for
skater pants is Dickies. Third, pick out your
shirt and add some hoodie flare. Loose fitting
t-shirts from Volcom and sweatshirts from Zoo
York are some of the hot brands available.’
Bible pointers about dress





Shamefacedness Gk aidos
= reverence Heb 12:28
Most versions translate ‘modest’
not ref to sheepishness
Bullinger: the inner grace which recoils from
any thing unseemly or impure, an innate moral
repugnance to the doing of a dishonorable act,
shamefastness, modesty (cp 1 Pet 3:4)
Bible pointers about dress
Sobriety Gk sōphrosunē
 ESV self control
 Bullinger: soundness of mind, discretion,
prudence, which controls all inordinate
desires and exercises a dignified
restraint on all the actions

Bible pointers about dress
 3.
External signs of inner sanctity
Num 15:38-41 band of blue to be worn
 Ex 19:10,14 washed clothes in preparation
to meet with God at Sinai
 Gen 35:2 Jacob’s household commanded
to be clean, wash clothes before arriving at
Bethel

Bible pointers about dress
4.
Distinction between the
sexes
Deut 22:5
Modesty
 Introduction
 Bible
pointers about dress
 Bible principles that apply in
our decisions/ choices
Is forced compliance the answer?
What’s appropriate?
Bible principles that apply
1. Do all to the glory of God
 2. No flesh should glory in His presence
 3. Be not conformed to the world
 4. Inward adornment counts
 5. Let’s not just please ourselves
 6. Be loving. Support the feeble, weak.
 7. Don’t respect persons on account of
their dress.

Bible principles that apply
 1.
Do all to the glory of God
1
Cor 10:31-33
 Appropriate honour, reverence,
fear Mal 1:6-8, 11, 14; Psa 89:7
Bible principles that apply
2.
No flesh should glory in
His presence
1

Cor 1:29
Nb beauty, adorning is not to be
despised - see Jer 2:32; Isa 61:10; Psa
45:9-17; Rev 21:2,9-20
Bible principles that apply
 3.
Be not conformed to the world
 Rom
12:2
 1 John 2:15-17 all that is in the
world will pass away; judgement is
coming
Bible principles that apply
 4.
Inward adornment counts
 God
looks upon the heart 1 Sam 16:7
 See also Rom 2:29; 7:22; 1 Pet 3:4;
Psa 51:6; Eph 4:23,24; Heb 4:12-13
 avoid pretences, hypocrisy, insincerity
Mt 23:25-26
Bible principles that apply
 5.
Lets not just please ourselves
1
Cor 10: 31-33; Rom 15:1-2
 pleasing ourselves is the opposite
to what Christ has taught us!
Bible principles that apply
 6.
Be loving. Support the feeble and
weak.
1
Thess 5:14; 1 Cor 13:4-7
 respect the good conscience of others
 patience, longsuffering
Bible principles that apply
 7.
Don’t ‘respect persons’ on
account of their dress
 James
2:2-4
 And don’t covet what others wear!
Acts 20:33
Responsible exercise of conscience
 And
herein do I exercise myself,
to have always a conscience
void of offence toward God, and
toward men. Acts 24:16