By nature, man is full of pride and pretty certain of his own greatness. From early childhood, he seeks the praise of others for what he deems great accomplishments. He constantly boasts of his abilities, both physically and mentally. In order for a man to get saved, or a saved man to get his fellowship right with the Lord following salvation, each individual must humble himself under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6). Conviction brings such humility. Eventually, God’s hand causes the mouth of pride to shut. It reminds the sinner of his sinfulness and the just guilt he feels within. It shows him that he comes short of the glory of God and stands in need of repentance.
Many Bible words have been subjected to loose interpretations and the word modest is one such word. Generally, today’s passage is used to teach that a lady’s apparel ought to be loose fitting and flowing. Though this is certainly true, that is not the primary interpretation and application. Something that is modest is something that is not extravagant. In fact, the Lord placed an explanation within the passage. The lady was not to adorn herself with such items as “gold, or pearls, or costly array.” In other words, a person should not dress in a way that would purposely draw the attention of others to the attire itself (see 1 Peter 3:3-5). This includes insuring that clothes are not form fitting, but the application has a much broader context.
