MLJ Trust Logo Image
Search
Sermon #5465

Man and His Unbelief

A Sermon on John 8:13

Originally preached June 12, 1960

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Play Sermon
btn-play
Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

John 8:13 ESV KJV
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” (ESV)

Sermon Description

John 8:13 titled “Man and His Unbelief,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the unbelief of the Pharisees when they questioned Jesus. He elaborates that whenever Jesus made big claims, the Pharisees would interrogate Him on small matters of theology and the law. They would hold fast to their understanding of the law and miss seeing the Messiah altogether. Moreover, Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows that these kinds of accounts are included in Scripture to reveal unbelief and shed light on the common sins that plague this world. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that every generation claims to have the solution to sin and suffering while simultaneously shutting out the possibility of God revealing Himself through His word and through His Son. Finally, Dr. Lloyd-Jones brings his discourse to address his audience: “Do you believe? Do you know that your sin must be dealt with? Do you believe that Christ can make the vilest sinner clean? Do you know your need of Him?” He encourages the listener to waste no more time in unbelief and sin, but to hasten to Christ and live.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The Pharisees rejected Jesus because of their prejudice against him. They missed the main point of his message and focused on trivial details.
  2. The Pharisees questioned Jesus with the wrong spirit and attitude. They were contemptuous, mocking, and sarcastic towards him.
  3. The Pharisees judged Jesus “after the flesh” meaning they only evaluated him based on outward appearances. They failed to see his divinity and glory.
  4. Judging “after the flesh” means rejecting revelation and making human reason supreme. The Pharisees rejected miracles and spiritual truths they did not understand.
  5. Judging “after the flesh” leads to spiritual blindness and deadness. The Pharisees lacked spiritual understanding and missed the meaning of Jesus’ words.
  6. Many today are like the Pharisees, rejecting Jesus because his claims do not fit their preconceptions or reasoning. They need spiritual rebirth and enlightenment.
  7. The state of the world today, with its wars and troubles, proves Jesus’ warnings were true. His prophecies have been fulfilled, showing he is the light of the world.
  8. People must see their blindness, repent, and ask God for spiritual understanding and new life in Christ.

The Book of John

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.