The Manifestation of Sin
A Sermon on the Manifestation of Sin from Jeremiah 17:11
Originally preached June 12, 1955
Scripture
11As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
Sermon Description
In this sermon on the manifestation of sin from Jeremiah 17:11, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the essential problem with humanity, namely, pride. Humanity is convinced that they are smart enough and can handle their own problems. They can understand their own issues and deal with them. They don’t need God to explain their predicament or give help. Moreover, humankind thinks that it can get away with sin. Why does someone look back and forth before stealing a cookie from a cookie jar? It is because they know it is wrong, and at the same time they think they can get away with it. However, no one will “get away” with sin. God sees every sinful act and covetous heart. Notice, too, that anyone who cheats or steals also measures success by dollars rather than by character. And so not only do they lose out on character and basic morality, but they also lose sight of what is important in life. At the end of the day, a thief trades in morality in order to gain material goods. Meanwhile, Jesus asks, “what good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?”
Sermon Breakdown
- Man deceives himself regarding his own wisdom and ability.
- Man deceives himself into thinking he can ignore laws and rules with impunity.
- Man deceives himself into thinking he is serving his own best interests.
- The things man lives for inevitably fail to satisfy and leave him in the midst of his days.
- At the end of his life, man finds he has nothing and has made no provision for what really matters.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Say About the Deceitfulness of Sin in Jeremiah 17:11?
What does the partridge analogy in Jeremiah 17:11 represent according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the partridge analogy in Jeremiah 17:11 represents how sin deceives people. He explains that while scholars aren't certain of the exact meaning (whether partridges steal eggs or young birds from other nests), the core message is clear: just as the partridge thinks it's being clever by acquiring a family without effort, people who get riches dishonestly believe they're being wise but ultimately lose everything. The partridge is left without a family when the young birds hear the call of their true parent, just as sinners ultimately lose what they gained wrongfully.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the ideas of deceit and folly in his sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects deceit and folly by showing they work together in sin. He states: "The two main things that the Bible has to tell us about sin are combined together in one picture." Sin first deceives us into thinking we're clever and can break God's laws without consequences. This self-deception then leads to foolishness when we discover we've failed to make provision for our souls, finding our ill-gotten gains worthless at life's end. He explains: "The man was so wise, so far sighted, so worldly, wise... What he's neglected above everything else is himself, his soul."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the "sin of sins"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies intellectual pride as the "sin of sins." He states: "I have no doubt that the sin of sins is intellectual pride. It has been the cause of men's trouble from the beginning, and it continues the same until this very night." He traces this back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan tempted Eve along "the line of the intellect," suggesting God was withholding knowledge from them. This intellectual pride manifests as man's confidence in his own ability to think, reason, and solve problems without God's help.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain why people think they can break God's laws with impunity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that people think they can break God's laws with impunity because they believe they are exceptions to the rules. He states: "We all think that we are the exceptions, that we can afford to break the rules." Using examples like the biblical principle "what a man sows he will also reap," he points out that humans consistently ignore divine and natural laws, thinking they alone are clever enough to evade consequences. This self-deception leads people to believe they can "disobey God, ignore his holy laws, spit upon the sanctities and still everything will be all right."
What final solution does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer to those who have "played the fool"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers repentance and faith in Christ as the solution. He explains that though we deserve to "reap the consequences of our own folly to all eternity," God in His love is "prepared to forgive us if we but acknowledge and confess our folly." He quotes 1 Corinthians where Paul says, "If any man willeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be made wise." The solution is to humble ourselves, confess our sin and folly, and believe God's word even when the world considers it foolishness. As Lloyd-Jones concludes: "Become a fool in the eyes of the world, that you may be wise in the sight of God by accepting his wisdom, which is Jesus Christ and him crucified."
Old Testament
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.