And the same John had his clothing of camel's hair, and a leather belt about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
All Commentaries on Matthew 3:4 Go To Matthew 3
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Having said that he is the voice of one crying in the desert, the Evangelist well adds, “John had his clothing of camel’s hair;” thus shewing what his lifewas; for he indeed testified of Christ, but his life testified of himself. No one is fit to be another’s witness till he has first been his own.
It becomes the servants of God to use a dress not for elegant appearance, or for cherishing of the body, but for a covering of the nakedness. Thus John wears a garment not soft and delicate, but hairy, heavy, rough, rather wounding the skin than cherishing it, that even the very clothing of his body told of the virtue of his mind. It was the custom of the Jews to wear girdles of wool; so he desiring something less indulgent wore one of skin.
