What does Matthew 3:4 mean?
Scripture's description of John the Baptist intends to show him as something more than just a wild character. Of course, he was wild, indeed. He wore unusual clothing, like a camel's hair garment with a leather belt, and ate unusual food, such as locusts and wild honey. Matthew's description also connects John the Baptist to the prophet Elijah, who dressed in a similar way (2 Kings 1:8). Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return (Malachi 4:5).John's clothing and diet also connected him to the poor. Wilderness-dwelling people in the Middle East still eat locusts, which are similar to large grasshoppers. John's simple, frugal lifestyle echoed his message to the Jewish people to humbly confess their sins and repent: to turn back to following God.
