John Calvin Commentary Matthew 3:4

"Now John himself had his raiment of camel`s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey." — Matthew 3:4 (ASV)

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair. The Evangelist does not want us to consider it as one of John’s chief excellencies that he followed a rough and austere way of living, or even that he avoided a moderate and ordinary degree of elegance. Rather, having already stated that he was an inhabitant of the mountains, he now adds that his food and clothing were adapted to his residence. He mentions this not only to inform us that John was satisfied with the food and dress of the peasants and partook of no delicacies, but also that, under humble and contemptible attire, he was held in high estimation by men of rank and splendor.

Superstitious persons view righteousness as consisting almost entirely of outward appearances and have commonly thought that abstinence of this kind was the perfection of holiness. Closely related to this is the error of supposing him to be a man who lived in solitude and who disdained the ordinary way of living, as the only superiority of hermits and monks is that they differ from other people. Indeed, gross ignorance has gone so far that out of camel’s hair they have made an entire skin.

Now, there can be no doubt that the Evangelist here describes a man of the mountains,²⁵² far removed from all the refinement and delicacies of towns. He was not only satisfied with such food as was available, but ate only what was suitable for use in its natural state, such as wild honey, which that region supplies in great abundance, and locusts, with which it also abounds.

Alternatively, he may have intended to point out that when a man of humble appearance and without refined manners appeared in public life, it had the advantage that the majesty of God shone alone in him, and yet struck all with admiration. For we must observe what is added: that there was a great crowd of people from all directions, from which we infer that his fame was very widespread.²⁵³

Or the Evangelist may have indicated God's purpose: to present, in the person of John, a unique example of frugality, and, in this manner, to fill the Jews with reverence for his doctrine, or at least to convince them of ingratitude, according to that saying of our Lord, John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine (Luke 7:33).

²⁵² “Montanum hominem;” — “;” — “un homme suivant les montagnes.”.”

²⁵³ “Qu il a ete merveilleusement grand bruit de luy par tout le pays.” — “That there was an astonishingly great noise about him through all the country.”.” — “That there was an astonishingly great noise about him through all the country.”