Pride and Prejudice
A Sermon on John 7:15
Originally preached May 24, 1959
Scripture
15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
Sermon Description
Modern people like to think they are different from those of the past. Do technological and scientific advancements mean they can dispense with the past, especially the Christian past? Many in leading universities and intellectual centers around the world think Christianity is no longer relevant and say that science teaches differently now. The problem with this outlook, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, comes down to pride and prejudice, and this is nothing new. The Pharisees and scribes held this same kind of intellectual hubris against the Lord Jesus Christ. In this sermon on John 7:15 titled “Pride and Prejudice,” when Jesus began to teach, they quickly dismissed Him because He did not belong to their schools. Due to their pride, they were unwilling to face the “facts” of His message. What is the result of this intellectualism? How does the example of the scribes and Pharisees help modern people understand the human condition? How might they miss the vital questions of life because of spiritual blindness? Do the philosophers of today truly have the answers to life’s most important questions? Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones diagnoses the problem: pride and prejudice.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Jews marveled at Jesus' teaching but reacted against him due to prejudice and pride.
- Their prejudice blinded them and caused them to behave illogically. They focused on personalities over truth and never faced vital questions about Jesus.
- They should have asked how Jesus obtained his knowledge and authority without formal training. But they dismissed him instead.
- People today also dismiss Jesus without examining him or Christianity. They should consider Jesus, his works, his teachings, and the spread of Christianity.
- Jesus taught about God the Father, the spiritual nature of God's law, man's sinfulness, salvation through Jesus alone, new life in Jesus, Jesus' keeping power, Jesus' second coming, and judgment for unbelief.
- People should consider what happens after death, their moral problems, and Jesus' power to transform lives. They should humble themselves and examine Jesus, unlike the prejudiced Jews.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 7:15: The Problem of Unbelief
What was the central verse that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focused on in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focused on John 7:15, which states: "And the Jews marveled, saying, how knoweth this man letters having never learned." This verse shows the religious authorities' reaction to Jesus teaching in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, highlighting their amazement but also their skepticism and unbelief.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define the main problem addressed in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies the problem of unbelief as the central issue. He describes it as "the greatest tragedy that the whole world has ever known" - that Jesus "came unto his own, and his own received him not." He explains that this problem of unbelief persists today, with people dismissing Christ and Christianity despite all the evidence, just as the religious authorities did in Jesus' time.
What were the two main barriers to belief that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identified in the Jewish authorities?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identified two primary barriers: 1. Prejudice: The Jewish authorities had already made up their minds about Jesus. They were not genuinely considering his teaching, but always looking for ways to criticize Him regardless of what He said or did. 2. Pride: Particularly the "pride of the schools" or intellectual pride. They couldn't accept that someone without their formal training and credentials could have divine knowledge and authority. They dismissed Him based on His lack of credentials rather than evaluating His actual teaching.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the Jewish authorities' unbelief to modern skepticism?
He shows that the same patterns of prejudice and intellectual pride exist today. Modern skeptics dismiss Christianity without truly examining it, just as the Jewish authorities did with Jesus. They say things like "science has taught us" or "with our present knowledge" while looking down on Christian beliefs. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that "the world doesn't change" - the forms and specific arguments may be different, but the underlying principles of unbelief remain the same across centuries.
What logical failure did the Jewish authorities make in their assessment of Jesus?
The Jewish authorities failed to ask the right questions. They acknowledged Jesus' extraordinary teaching (they "marveled"), but instead of investigating how an untrained carpenter's son could possess such wisdom and authority, they simply dismissed Him because He didn't fit their preconceptions. They never asked, "Where has He obtained this knowledge?" or "What is the source of His authority?" They were interested in personalities rather than truth, focusing on His lack of credentials instead of the substance of His teaching.
What challenge does Dr. Lloyd-Jones present to unbelievers regarding Jesus?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges unbelievers to honestly examine Jesus as a phenomenon in history: How could a carpenter from Nazareth with no formal education produce the most profound teaching the world has ever known? How could His followers, simple men, transform the world? How has Christianity persisted despite attempts to exterminate it? He urges skeptics to actually face Jesus' claims and teachings rather than dismissing them out of pride or prejudice, saying: "Have you ever really examined it? Can it be truly explained? Can Jesus Christ be thus dismissed?"
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about Jesus' teaching regarding salvation?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus taught that: 1. All people are lost and sinful, unable to save themselves 2. People need not just improvement but complete transformation 3. Jesus is the only way to God: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" 4. Salvation comes through His death as a ransom for many 5. He offers new life, power, and protection to those who believe 6. He promises to return and take believers to be with Him eternally 7. Those who reject Him face judgment and "everlasting destruction"
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones conclude his sermon, and what is his final appeal?
He concludes by urging listeners to face the reality of eternity and their own moral struggles. He points out that intellectual knowledge cannot solve these problems, but Jesus can transform moral wrecks into saints. His final appeal is for people to humble themselves, set aside their pride and prejudice, and face their need for salvation: "Face him. Face the teaching. Face the thing that causes you to marvel." He closes with the reminder that human efforts cannot atone for sin - "Thou must save and thou alone."
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.