“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5.
These words show that in the time of Moses a clear difference existed between the dress of male and female. There can be little doubt that this difference originated in the garden of Eden when God clothed our first parents. As to the law here stated in Deuteronomy 22 verse 5, it is part of that law by which Moses, in the wisdom of God, governed the people. In as far as it embraced the principles of God’s moral law it has permanent authority. Indeed, in all the laws of the Old Testament, civil, ceremonial and moral, there are unchangeable underlying principles. The underlying principle in Deuteronomy 22 verse 5 is the distinction which God requires in the clothing of male and female. Anything that tends to obliterate or even weaken that distinction is abomination to God.
Trousers have for long been regarded as the male dress. Consequently the wearing of trousers (whatever name may be given) by females is clearly contrary to Deuteronomy 22 verse 5.
Poole, a worthy commentator, has this to say on the verse: “Now this is forbidden, partly for decency sake, that men might not confound, nor seem to confound, those sexes which God hath distinguished, that all appearance of evil might be avoided, such change of garments carrying a manifest umbrage or sign of softness and effeminacy in the man, of arrogance and impudence in the woman, of lightness and petulance in both and partly to cut off all suspicions and occasions of evil, which this practice opens a wide door unto.”
In the light of the clear teaching of Scripture it is a sad reflection on the last General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland that, given the opportunity to express condemnation of this common but evil
practice, the members of Assembly failed to respond. We would urge the young women of our own Church not to follow the world in this practice but show respect for the Word of God. We trust that it is unnecessary to ask professing women in the Church to abstain from a practice which even nature, far less grace, would teach them is abhorrent, and which is not according to the practice that is after godliness.