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Explanation for:
Matthew
3
:
4
And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He states: of hair, not: of wool. The former refers to the attire of those who are exceedingly humble, while the latter suggests the indulgence of the affluent. The leather belt that Elijah wore represented self-denial. Furthermore, the description that follows—And his food was locusts and wild honey—indicates that the inhabitant of the wilderness was marked not by sophistication in his meals, but merely by the sustenance required for the body's needs."},{"author-name":"Athanasius the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c889457b66f7fc274d1066_Athanasius%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"There exists a plant known as prugh, as Solomon instructs us, stating, ‘The almond will blossom, and the grasshopper will be weighed down (Ecclesiastes 12:5). However, wild honey is not simply any common herb; it is truly wild honey, quite bitter and unpleasant to all palates."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It was indeed remarkable and wondrous to observe such endurance within a human form: this quality particularly captivated the Jews. They perceived in him the likeness of the great prophet Elijah; the scene they encountered evoked memories of that holy figure, leaving them even more astonished. While that prophet had received sustenance from cities and homes, this one had, from his very birth, continuously inhabited the wilderness. The herald of the One destined to abolish all ancient burdens, like labor, curse, sorrow, and sweat, should naturally exhibit signs of such grace and transcend the former condemnation. Indeed, he did not cultivate the earth, nor did he gather thorns, nor did he earn his bread through toil; instead, he found sustenance readily available, clothing more comfortable than fine attire, and he valued his shelter even less than his garments. He was unencumbered by the need for a home, a bed, a table, or any material comforts, living instead an existence reminiscent of angels while clothed in flesh. For this reason, he donned a simple garment, intending through this attire to instruct us to renounce worldly desires and return to the original nobility of Adam, before the need for clothing arose. The very raiment of John symbolized both royal honor and repentance. Do not inquire as to how he managed to obtain a sackcloth and belt while living in the wilderness. Such questions lead to others, like: How did he survive in the wilderness during harsh winters and under the blazing sun, particularly at a tender age when his body was still fragile and unaccustomed to such conditions? How could his youthful form withstand these variations in climate while facing the extreme conditions and hardships of life in the desert? Where are those Greek philosophers who envied the overt disdain of cynics? What benefit did they achieve by confining themselves to a barrel while indulging in such disgraceful lives? Where now are those who, ignoring all decency, adorned themselves with numerous rings, extravagant bowls, attendants, and luxuries, ultimately succumbing to two extremes? However, John was not among these; he inhabited the desert as if it were paradise, adhering rigorously to the principles of philosophy, and from there, like an angel descending from above, he entered the cities—an ascetic of virtue, crowned by the cosmos, a philosopher of genuine wisdom, deserving of the heavenly realm. He lived thus at a time when sin remained unaddressed, when the law was still in effect, when death was not yet vanquished, and the iron gate had not yet been shattered, all while the old covenant remained intact. This exemplifies the brave and resilient soul that ventures forth and triumphs over every obstacle. Paul embodies this spirit under the new covenant. But you might wonder why John wore a belt along with his garments. This was the traditional practice of the ancients, prior to the advent of soft and luxurious clothing. Peter also girded himself in such a manner, as did Paul: as it is noted, “a man, it is said, whose girdle is this girdle” (Acts 21:11). Elijah likewise wore similar attire; so did all the saints, for they were perpetually engaged in work, travel, or necessary tasks. Their choice of dress was not solely based on practicality but also stemmed from their rejection of adornments and their appreciation for a simplistic and austere lifestyle. Christ extolled this virtue, asking “What did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king’s houses” (Matthew 11:8). If John, the most virtuous among men, the brightest in heaven, and the preeminent among prophets, who attained such boldness—if he lived such a strict life, completely foregoing all excessive pleasures, what rationalization do we possess? We, who are favored beyond measure, and who carry the weight of countless sins, do not exhibit even the slightest semblance of his repentance. Instead, we become intoxicated, indulged, entrapped by incense, and live no better than performers in a play, giving in to every form of excess, thereby rendering ourselves vulnerable to the adversary."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"John was dressed in a robe made of camel's hair since our sacred Lamb had not yet been sheared."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The mantle made from camel's hair symbolizes the traveling attire of John as he proclaimed God's message. This attire, comprised of the skins of animals deemed unclean, reflects our own condition. Everything that once seemed insignificant or devoid of value in us is made holy through the prophet's garment."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The sustenance that John the Baptist consumed, often misinterpreted by some as living creatures like insects, were in fact the tender shoots of plants. Likewise, the honey he ate, referred to as wild honey, was truly honey harvested from mountainous regions by wild bees, known for its bitterness and unpalatability. Through this, John exemplified the profound trials he endured, not only through deprivation but also through the harshness of his conditions, as he disciplined all physical cravings.\\n\\nThe inquiry into the nature of the springs and wild honey that nourished John the Baptist, as mentioned in Matthew 3:4, is unnecessary for those who approach the teachings of Scripture with true understanding. If we learn from John's example what constitutes the appropriate nourishment and attire for achieving genuine asceticism in accordance with God's will, we should aim to clothe ourselves minimally and sustain ourselves with simple herbs and plants. Yet, should we find ourselves unable to maintain such discipline due to our frailty, we must look to the guidance and direction of our spiritual leader regarding our nourishment and spiritual growth."},{"author-name":"Chromatius of Aquileia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a3df6d7a747a33b4f4a_Chromatius%20of%20Aquileia.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Initially, the sublime life and profound humility of John are vividly illustrated. He who disregarded the world did not seek after its valuable attire; he who looked down upon worldly pleasures had no need for excess in nourishment. What value do fine earthly garments hold for one clothed in the robe of righteousness? And what delicacies from the earth would one long for who is sustained by heavenly truths, for whom the teachings of Christ serve as true sustenance? He who dedicated himself entirely to the divine, rejecting worldly distractions, certainly exemplifies the role of the Lord's forerunner, serving as both prophet and apostle of Christ."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"He could have chosen to craft garments from the wool of goats, yet there was no necessity for it. Instead, he selected the wool of the most unrefined creature, lacking in straightness, beauty, or elegance, one that nature had deemed fit for arduous labor, burdened with heavy loads, and subjected to severe toil. The teacher of repentance was to don such attire so that all who had strayed from the true faith and had become utterly marred by sin would take upon themselves the significant weight of repentance, subjecting themselves to harsh afflictions in pursuit of justification, and offering deep sighs of remorse. This would allow them to pass through the narrow path of repentance into the vastness of forgiveness, fulfilling the Lord's words that a camel can go through the eye of a needle (Matt. 19:24).\\n\\nHis sustenance consisted of locusts and wild honey. The locusts are rightly understood as an element of nourishment symbolizing repentance and the restoration of sinners, enabling those who have fled from sin to soar towards heaven on the wings of forgiveness. This aligns with the prophet's declaration, I fade away like an evading shadow; they persecute me like locusts. My knees are weary from fasting, and my body is bereft of strength (Psalm 108:24-25). You have witnessed how he, like the locusts, hurried from sin to repentance and humbled himself to bear the weight of that repentance. The addition of honey to his diet serves to alleviate the harshness of repentance with the sweetness of divine mercy."},{"author-name":"Maximus of Turin","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8950a7724e7f0a0cbc85f_Maximus%20of%20Turin.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"When the Forerunner of Christ wore a garment made of coarse camel's hair, it symbolizes that Christ, who was to arrive, took on a mortal form tainted by the sins of humanity, wrapped as He was in the hair of the most unclean of animals, representing the Gentile nations, He carried their transgressions. \\n\\nFurthermore, the leather belt illustrates that our frail flesh, which prior to Christ's arrival held sway over us, leading us to sin, was transformed to promote righteousness after His coming. Previously, due to a lack of self-control, it was overindulgent and bulky, but now, through self-discipline, it has become streamlined and refined."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The herald also proclaimed a call to repentance through his appearance, attire marked by mourning. It is stated that the camel occupies a position between clean and unclean animals: clean due to its ability to chew the cud, yet unclean because of its unpartitioned hooves. By serving as a bridge for both the seemingly righteous Jewish populace and the unclean Gentiles, John became a mediator between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, donning garments made from camel's hair. Throughout Scripture, the saints are depicted as girded, representing either their constant exertion in labor—unlike the negligent and indulged, such as the Saracens today—or their victory over the desires of sinful flesh, since the skin is derived from a lifeless creature. Some interpret 'acrides' as herbs, also referred to as melagra, while others consider them to be nuts or wild fruits. Wild honey, sourced from the work of feral bees, can be found within trees and nestled among rocks."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He spoke of his attire and sustenance, underscoring their simplicity and hardship, which served to instruct him to be indifferent towards his physical form and to reject wastefulness. It is of little importance to ask who crafted his garments or the origin of his belt; what is far more remarkable is how he, having been a child raised in the wilderness, adapted to such an unstable environment from such a tender age. Understand this: just as God's providence provided for him in that instance, he was fortified through enduring various challenges. There are differing opinions regarding \\"acridia\\"; some believe they refer to the tops of certain herbs, others suggest it is a herb named acridus, while some consider it a type of insect. People in those regions are said to still consume them after foraging. The law has classified them among clean creatures; however, they possess an unpleasant smell and taste. It may be wise to adhere to the first interpretation. Wild honey, on the other hand, comes from wild bees residing in crevices of rocks, but it has a bitter and unpalatable flavor. John's very appearance signified repentance, as he wore garments associated with mourning. It is said that the camel occupies a middle ground between clean and unclean animals; it is deemed clean for regurgitating its cud, yet unclean due to its uncloven hooves. By bringing forth to God both the ostensibly clean Jews and the unclean Gentiles, John also donned attire made from camel's hair. Scripture depicts all the saints as girded, either because they were constantly engaged in labor, and the idle and careless do not gird themselves, or because they have renounced their passions, and the skin is a remnant of a lifeless creature."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord is close at hand: He stands at the threshold of your heart, so prepare yourself to encounter Him! John, who mirrored Isaiah the prophet in his messages, also bore resemblance to the ancient prophet Elijah through his coarse attire and austere lifestyle of fasting. His stern, sun-weathered countenance marked by his fasting, his penetrating gaze, and his overall demeanor compelled listeners to pay heed. He was adorned with a mane of rough hair, long and spiky, and wore a leather belt, akin to that of Elijah. A belt traditionally symbolizes readiness for service, but a leather belt also indicates the mortification of the flesh. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey, with locusts being a type consumed by Arabs, and more likely the tops of a specific desert grass that he subsequently subsisted on, as noted by St. Clement of Alexandria. The wild honey he consumed was from desert bees and quite bitter in flavor. The Forerunner of the Lord showed even less care for his dwelling than for his garments. The proclamation of repentance from such a herald surely captivated his audiences. His words hit like a hammer against the hardest hearts, igniting flames that pierced the deepest thoughts. Word had spread broadly that a figure reminiscent of the great prophets of old had emerged in the wilderness of Judea."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This is not the fine hair of a camel, which is now used for making elegant garments, but rather a long, coarse, and prickly hair that in ancient times was utilized to create a rough fabric, similar to that which is still made in the East for the attire of the less fortunate and for monks. The prophet John the Baptist thus called people to repentance through both his message and his appearance, as he donned garments of mourning. It is noted that the camel is considered an animal that straddles the line between clean and unclean: it is deemed clean since it chews its cud but classified as unclean due to its un-split hooves. However, because John rallied both the allegedly clean Jewish people and the unclean Gentiles, and represented a transition from the Old to the New Covenant, he wore a cloak made from camel’s hair. \\n\\nAs for his ‘girdle of leather,’ instead of the more ornate belts typically worn by Eastern inhabitants to secure their flowing garments, John chose a simple leather belt, thereby echoing the great prophet Elijah who is described in 2 Kings 1:8. The term ‘acrides’ refers to locusts, which were a common food source in the East that Moses’ law permitted the Jews to consume (Leviticus 11:22). Particularly, the poorer communities in Arabia relied on locusts, and John’s diet of locusts indicates his humble means or his consumption of the food typical for those in hardship. Locusts are small, winged insects with numerous species. They can appear in great swarms in the East, darkening the sky, and when they descend, they consume everything edible and can ravage extensive areas. Consequently, locusts are often seen as a plague in eastern regions. Some species are still consumed today, with Bedouins and Arabs gathering them in large quantities and preparing them in various methods: frying, boiling, smoking, drying, or salting, after a specific cleaning process. The historical use of locusts, as mentioned by Moses' law, is also documented by Pliny and St. Jerome. It is perplexing that some scholars, aware that locusts were common fare for the impoverished, hesitate to interpret ‘acrides’ in this context, deeming the notion of John consuming them as inappropriate. Nevertheless, some believe that ‘acrides’ may refer to the tops of grass known as ‘melagra,’ while others suggest it could indicate wild apples. \\n\\nRegarding ‘wild honey,’ this likely pertains to honey produced by wild bees, which could be found in abundance in the rocky terrain and hollows of desert trees. There also exists another type, known as forest honey (1 Samuel 14:27), which is created by small insects that rest on tree leaves and dripped abundantly to the ground; accounts suggest that such honey is still harvested in Arabia. It may also refer to a sweet liquid exuded from certain trees, like palms and figs. However, wild honey is noted for its bitter flavor that is unappealing to many palates."}]}
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