It's so easy to become entangled isn't it? Lol - I'm not saying we should rinse our hair with conditioner even though it might sound like a set-up line for a commercial.
But when we discuss the OP we have several things to keep in mind.
Part of the instructions can include the message (about holiness) given to the children of Israel and how they should not shave or "notch" their beards like the heathen do. SO we who desire to please God may choose to refrain from "looking like them" who have no such desire and serve the "other gods". Please notice the use of the word "may" not "must". Pleasing the Lord can only come from our hearts. The other things (within the topic of discussion) are permissible, some are required of all but others not.
From such general principles and the tenor of the bible we might teach about tattoos (there are OT laws about that too, but I have not studied them) or looking like a "skin-head" or looking effeminate as male or purposely too masculine if female. We are specifically told not to dress as the other gender and our hairstyles (as pointed out by a previous poster) should remain clear for our gender. Before any hurry to the Quote/Reply button and ask,
"Sparrowhawke, what do you mean??" let me say, that I only said, "we might teach from those principles". I did not say that this was me trying to teach it. I'm your brother here, no authority from me about it what-so-ever. These then are the general principles and tenor. We can start from some understanding of what the Lord was teaching
(and to whom He was speaking and why) but from there?
We can also see that "hair and head-coverings" speak analogously to submission. For instance, Samson was strong as he remained submitted to the Lord. Contrary to popular opinion Delilah didn't cut his hair. That's beside the point though. We can also hear mention of "doing for the sake of the angels" in some of these things.
There are a number of confusing beliefs about Jesus and it is not my purpose to debunk the belief, but only the root of the confusion. Part of which is mistaking Jesus who was from Nazareth as a Nazarite or one under that vow. John the Baptist voluntarily took upon himself the "Vows of the Nazarite" (at least once) but was not under the vows for his lifetime, contrary to what many believe.
The vows of a Nazarite can be found in Numbers 6:1-27:
- First, he could eat "nothing of the vine tree from the kernels even to the husk." (v.4).
[list:z6f93k7l]No vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
[/*:m:z6f93k7l][*]Second, “there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled†(v.5).
- All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
[/*:m:z6f93k7l][*]Third, during the days of his separation, “he shall come at no dead body†(v.6).[/*:m:z6f93k7l][/list:u:z6f93k7l]
There were sacrificial offerings required on the eighth day of his separation. Then later we see:
Num 6:18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. At that time the restrictions of the vow are removed.
As far as what Jesus looked like? He is said to be a man acquainted with sorrow. He was said to be "uncomely" <<---- that is not beautiful. Our brother,
Paidion is right about painters mis-representing him. Oftentimes they would hire a woman to be a model for the "Christ" they would paint. I'd like to ask
Fembot about that scripture describing his hair as 'wooly' because I know I've read it too
(but can't place the verse at the moment, if you get a sec and it's easy enough).
~Sparrow
Isa 53 said:
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
