God’s creational order should always inform the way in which men and women relate to God and to each other. This principle lies at the root of the whole discussion concerning head coverings. The principle does not fall away when the church gathers for worship. In fact, the presence of angels in the worship service should be a further incentive for worshippers to honour the creational order.
The brief (and unexplained) reference to angels in this verse has puzzled many commentators. From other parts of Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:9; Ephesians 3:10; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 1:12) we know that the angels are servants of God’s people and that they are closely involved in church life. They regard the worship service with interest; in fact, they participate in it (Hebrews 10:22). Paul seems to have these facts in mind when he urges his readers to take care how they are dressed for worship.
The principle still stands today: men and women should worship in a way that honours the creational distinction between them. Specifically, women (or wives) should dress and act in a way that shows that they are under the authority of men (or their husbands). In the time of the early church, this entailed the wearing of head coverings.
Should women still wear head coverings today? Reformed commentators have differed on this point. Most commentators would argue that, while the general principle still stands, the application of this principle should be guided by what is culturally understandable and appropriate for the time. Women should ensure that they are dressed properly and in a distinctively feminine way, especially when they come to the worship gathering.
10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.