What Does the Bible Say About Modesty?

The Bible’s Definition of Modesty.

Tight pants, short shorts, revealing shirts, and other items that expose too much skin are commonplace when people go out in public. Since modesty isn’t always respected, the concept may seem antiquated. However, spiritually, modesty is still valued by both sexes. When it comes to clothing, what does the Bible teach? Understanding the spiritual importance of dressing modestly may aid in making good wardrobe decisions. Modesty, which at first glance may appear stifling, is in fact the key to personal independence.

What Does “Modesty” Mean?

To be modest is to make ethically sound judgments, particularly with regards to one’s clothing, in an effort to avoid drawing negative attention to oneself while yet showing respect for oneself and others. The Latin word modestus, which means “measure,” is the source of our English term modesty. To dress modestly is to limit one’s clothing choices to those that are polite and acceptable for the settings in which they will be worn. Being humble means prioritizing others’ interests above our own and acting in accordance with that rather than following our whims. Exercising such restraint is difficult.

What Does the Bible Teach Us About Modest Dress?

There are a number of passages in the Bible that address modest clothes and broader ideas related to modesty, such as being respectful of one’s body and practicing self-control in order to maintain purity in one’s life. Key Bible scriptures on modest clothes are as follows:

• Women who claim to serve God should dress modestly, with decency and appropriateness, adorning themselves not with extravagant hairstyles or gold or pearls or costly garments, but with good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
• Therefore, I encourage you, brothers and sisters, in light of God’s mercy: present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; this is your true and legitimate worship.
• You should not seek beauty from things that can be seen, such as makeup, a fancy haircut, expensive jewelry, or designer clothing (1 Peter 3:3–4). In contrast, let it be the unfading splendor of your own gentle and peaceful soul, which is of immense value in God’s eyes.
• Dress yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the body, with its lusts and wants (Romans 13:14).
• Because all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, for it is by baptism that you have been saved (Galatians 3:26–27).
• Do you not realize that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) There was a price paid for you, thus you should not consider yourself to be your own. Therefore, give God the glory due His creation.
• You were instructed to “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful wants; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, which was created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
• A person who does not have self-control is like a city whose walls have been breached (Proverbs 25:28).
• Encourage younger women to love their husbands and children, to exercise self-control and purity, as outlined in Titus 2:4-6. In a similar vein, remind the young guys to exercise restraint.
• For God’s mercy has arrived, offering salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11–13). It instructs us to deny our sinful nature and worldly desires and instead to conduct ourselves in a way that is holy and blameless before God and man.
• Think about what the Bible says in Philippians 4:8: “… brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable… if something is excellent or praiseworthy…”
• Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ because of your youth, but rather provide a good example for the believers in speech, in behavior, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
• To God be the glory! Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best; and that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.”
• I pray that God would “create in me a pure heart” and “renew a firm spirit” (Psalm 51:10).
• “Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God,” Matthew 5:8.

Is There a Way This Can Be Applied to Our Christian Lives?

Practicing greater restraint is a great place to start incorporating this into our daily life. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the “fruit of the Spirit” that the Holy Spirit will help us cultivate, and self-control is one of them. Being disciplined in our appearance is only one area where self-control training may help. Understanding this allows us to choose the most suitable attire for any given circumstance. In other words, when we exercise self-discipline, we realize that the clothes we wear to work or church should be different from the clothes we wear while we’re at home alone with our partner. At first, exercising restraint may feel uncomfortable, even cruel. For our own good, however, so that we may mature and make good decisions. As 1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “I have the right to do everything,” you claim, yet not everything is useful. The statement “I have the right to do anything” is true, yet not all actions are helpful. Looking for God’s wonder in our life is a potent method to urge ourselves to practice self-control. In my book, “Wake Up to Wonder,” I discuss the findings of studies that indicate how a sense of wonder might improve one’s ability to exercise self-control. According to one research, being struck with awe makes individuals more disciplined because they are more likely to respond carefully to challenging circumstances (rather than react on impulse). Another research discovered that via prayer, individuals are given the tools to alter their thought processes in ways that improve their self-discipline.

When a result, we might ask the Holy Spirit to give us restraint as we make our daily clothing decisions. Dressing modestly is a method to show respect for God, oneself, and others, and we may improve our ability to do so the more we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing our thinking. By not drawing attention to ourselves via our clothing, we are able to fully accept God’s love for us. Modesty is a liberating choice because it frees us from the stress of attempting to impress other people with our physical appearance when our true worth lies in our inner selves and not in our outside appearance (thus, sexual harassment).

Conclusion

Learning what the Bible says about modesty makes it evident that it is vital in God’s sight and that it helps ourselves and other people, even though it may not seem like it at first. Putting aside skintight garments in favor of those that fit well and respect our bodies may seem confining, but it ultimately results in more freedom. To be humble is to be at peace with ourselves and with God, and to have trust in ourselves and in others.