John's Raiment and Food Matthew 3:4

Matthew shared how Joseph after being in Egypt with Mary and Jesus, “came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew continued, “In those days came John the Baptist, and saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”, and in chapter three and verse four of his book, Matthew shared about John the Baptist's “raiment”, “leather girdle” and “food” where we read:

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair,

and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

The verse reads, “And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and the same” which means “the selfsame” “John” which refers to “John the Baptist” “had his raiment” or “and John's clothing and outer cloak” “of camel's hair” which means “made of camel's hair”. Matthew shared how John the Baptist wore clothing made of “camel hair”.

The verse continues, “... and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. ” Matthew added the words, “and a leather girdle” which means “a belt made of skin serving not only to gird on flowing garments but also, since it was hollow, to carry money it” “about his loins” or “surrounding John's the place where the Hebrews thought the generative power (semen) resided ”; “and his meat” which means “and John's food and nourishment” “was locusts” or “species which especially infests oriental countries, stripping fields and trees” “and wild honey” which means “savage, uncultivated, boorish and rude bee's honey”. John the Baptist also wore a “leather belt” around his waste and his nourishment came from eating “locusts” and “wild honey”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we discover how John the Baptist was an unusual man. He lived in the “wilderness”, dressed in “camel hair” and wore a “leather belt” and ate “locusts and wild honey” for food. Most people would not have thought him to be the “fore-runner” of the Messiah, and yet, John the Baptist was God's choice. God has a plan for the salvation of mankind, and before He sent His Son Jesus to be ”Savior and Lord”, He sent John the Baptist in an extraordinary manner to proclaim Him. May all who read these words consider the greatness of God's choice of John the Baptist to be the “fore-runner” of Jesus Christ.

Next time Matthew shares, “then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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