The Mind of Man
A Sermon on Numbers 11:4-6
Originally preached May 12, 1957
Scripture
4¶ And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, …
Sermon Description
How has sin affected humanity and their reasoning? Many scorn the ideas of God, Jesus, and the need for salvation and say that no rational person can possibly be a Christian. In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled “The Mind of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture has a very different idea of what it means to be reasonable. After the people of Israel are set free from bondage in Egypt, they quickly begin complaining that they do not have the food and comfort that they had while they were slaves. This is wholly irrational, but it serves to show that humans are fallen, and sin has affected minds and hearts. It is rational to believe that God has sent Jesus into the world and died, but people are blinded to this truth until God graciously opens the eyes to see Him and believe Him. Humanity’s essential problem is that they are fallen and blinded by sin and immorality. Fallen people are slaves to sin until Jesus Christ overcomes the sinful heart and makes them new.
Sermon Breakdown
- Sin has made man's mind empty.
- Sin has made man's mind uncritical. Man has lost the ability to critically analyze ideas and thoughts.
- Sin has made man's mind prejudiced and dishonest. Man suppresses unpleasant facts and only considers evidence that supports his preexisting views.
- Sin has debased man's mind and judgment. Man is more concerned with pleasure and enjoyment than principles and higher truths.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Dr. Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Sin's Effect on the Human Mind
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the root of all human troubles according to the Bible?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Bible clearly teaches that all human troubles are due to sin. He states: "The Bible says that all men's troubles are due to what it calls sin. Everything is due to sin. Sin is that which has entered into us and has ruined life and ruined men." He emphasizes that sin has "ruined men," using such strong language deliberately to convey the seriousness of sin's destructive power.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe what sin has done to the human mind?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes four destructive effects of sin on the human mind:
-
Sin makes the mind empty - "When you turn your back upon God and God goes out of your life, your mind becomes empty." This emptiness makes us vulnerable to passing thoughts and desires.
-
Sin makes the mind uncritical - It "takes from men the power of criticism," making them "incapable of testing ideas and sifting them."
-
Sin makes the mind prejudiced and dishonest - "We are, every one of us, the creatures of prejudice. Our minds are made up before we listen to the evidence."
-
Sin debases the mind and judgment - It makes people "incapable of grasping principles," focusing only on "feelings and sensations and pleasure and joy."
What biblical illustration does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to demonstrate sin's effect on human thinking?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the account from Numbers 11:4-6 about the Israelites in the wilderness who complained about manna and longed for the food they ate in Egypt. He points out how they selectively remembered the pleasant aspects of Egypt (fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic) while completely ignoring their slavery and cruel treatment. This demonstrates how sin distorts human thinking, making them value immediate pleasures over freedom and dignity.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the claim that Christianity is anti-intellectual?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly refutes the claim that Christianity is anti-intellectual. He states: "Christianity, anti-intellectual. Christianity is the only true intellectualism. All else is folly and madness and nonsense." He argues that it's actually sin that destroys proper intellectual function, while Christianity restores the mind's proper operation. He emphasizes that Christianity highly values the mind, which is "part of God's image in men."
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the only solution to the problem of sin's effect on the mind?
The only solution is Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states: "No one can do it for you, but one. The Son of God. He came from heaven to earth to set the captives free, to give sight to the blind, understanding to the fool." He teaches that Christ "can give you a new nature, a new mind, a new understanding, a new outlook" and can set people free from sin's bondage. He concludes by urging listeners to "go to God without any delay," confess their condition, and ask Him to "open your eyes by the Holy Spirit" to see Jesus who can reconcile them to God.
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.