God Looks Inward, Not Outward - Matthew 3-4

 Matthew 3:4-6 (ESV)

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

God Looks Inward, Not Outward

It is noticeable that in the above text, Matthew gives us a description of John’s preaching outfit.   To fully understand this brief mention of his clothing, we have to recall the religious leaders of the day.   In those days they priest from the tribe of Levi did all the “spiritual” functions for the nation of Israel.   They “professional” religious Pharisees and Sadducees would parade around in long robes and in official “spiritual” attire.   How they looked was important to the spiritual leaders in Matthew’s day.  Here we read that the one sent to prepare the way for the Messiah (John the Baptist) was dressed in anything but “religious attire.”    John the Baptist was not in his Sunday go-to-meeting clothes.  Yet, people came to see him from miles around to confess their sins.   Imagine if this was today.  The above text might read:

“Now John wore a button down Gucci shirt, Armani faded jeans, with a Louis Vuitton belt.   He sported a pair of Oakley Holbrook sunglasses and black Jimmy Choo saddles.   He ate Wyke Farms Cheddar cheese and drank Chevalier Blanc St-Emilion wine. His entourage included many world, national and local dignitaries. Before he spoke, the headline band was ...”. 

That would be the announcement for today.   We seem to be captured by brands, names and connections.  That is what draws crowds.   Name recognition is a billion dollar industry.   John the Baptist was not a brand.  John the Baptist was a pauper.   John the Baptist was a man of God that was used to prepare the way for Christ.   Men today look on the outside. John the Baptist was serving God by preparing people to confess their sins on the inside.   Centuries before there was a similar situation.  Samuel was looking for someone in Jesse’s family to anoint as king to replace wicked King Saul.  He went through each of the first sons of Jesse, only to discover they were not the would-be-king.  When Samuel saw David he saw a young man of small stature.   God made the point to Samuel that Matthew is making to us when he takes time to describe John the Baptist’s appearance:

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”