Because He First Loved Us
A Sermon on Luke 7:36-50
Originally preached Sept. 19, 1954
Scripture
36¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s …
Sermon Description
There is a difference in knowing Jesus and simply know things about Him. In this sermon on Luke 7:36–50 titled “Because He First Loved Us,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this statement by looking at the life of Simon the Pharisee. Jesus was invited to dine with Simon, but Simon had not believed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. This is unlike the woman who washes Jesus’s feet with her hair and anoints him. She is a sinner who recognizes Jesus for who He is and treats Him as such. Those who know they are the greatest sinners are driven to come and worship at the feet of Jesus while those like Simon do not submit to Christ Jesus as Lord of their lives are ignoring the only source of forgiveness. This is because true religion has Christ at the center. It is one that is concerned with loving God and others because they have been transformed and made new in Christ Jesus. They see themselves for who they are and come to Christ for salvation and cleansing from all sin and unrighteousness. It is God’s law that drives sinners to see their need for salvation and it drives them to Jesus Christ who alone can save sinners from judgment and condemnation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The ultimate test of our Christian profession is love.
- The proof of our love is provided by our lives, if you like, by our actions.
- What is it that creates this love? The test of our profession is love. We show the reality of the love in our actions. Yes, but what is it that produces the love?
- The first thing is the realization of who he is.
- The second thing that always produces love is a consciousness and a realization of our own sinfulness.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Dr. Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Love for Christ
What is the central message of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the most important aspect of Christianity is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He states, "Our greatest danger, all of us probably, is to forget the person. And while we are interested in many things and in many truths concerning Him, to forget the person himself." The sermon focuses on how our relationship with Christ, particularly our love for Him, is the ultimate test of genuine Christianity, using the contrast between Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50 as his primary illustration.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast Simon the Pharisee with the sinful woman?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts these two figures by highlighting their different relationships to Jesus:
Simon the Pharisee: - Had an intellectual, detached interest in Jesus - Was formal, cold, and maintained distance - Failed to show proper hospitality (no water for feet, no kiss, no oil) - Had a superficial relationship with Christ - Lacked true understanding of who Jesus was
The sinful woman: - Had a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus - Displayed warmth, passion, and abandon - Washed His feet with tears, dried them with her hair, kissed and anointed them - Demonstrated deep devotion and gratitude - Recognized both her sinfulness and Christ's greatness
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the proof of our love for Christ?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "The proof of our love is provided by our lives, if you like, by our actions." He explains that true love for Christ will naturally express itself in various ways:
- In words - speaking about Him, to Him, and telling others about Him
- In actions - serving Him with devotion and abandon
- In obedience - "the man who really loves the Lord is anxious above everything else to please Him" by keeping His commandments
- In motives - doing everything for His sake and His glory, not for self-interest
He emphasizes that love cannot contain itself but must manifest outwardly, as seen in the woman's actions toward Jesus.
What creates or produces this love for Christ, according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two key factors that produce love for Christ:
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The realization of who Christ truly is - understanding that He is "the Lord of Glory," the Son of God who came to earth. Those who properly recognize Christ's identity naturally offer Him devotion and worship.
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A consciousness of our own sinfulness - "The measure of the height of your love is your realization of the depth of your sin." People who understand their true sinful condition and the great forgiveness they've received love Christ more deeply.
As Lloyd-Jones states: "It is the realization of our sinfulness... followed by a realization of the greatness of his love" that produces this devotion to Christ.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the principle of "loving much" versus "loving little"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains Jesus' statement that "her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (Luke 7:47). He clarifies that this doesn't mean people who commit more outward sins have an advantage. Rather:
- Sin must be judged not merely by actions but by one's understanding of God's holiness
- Those who have a deeper understanding of God's holiness see more clearly the depth of their own sinfulness
- Those who recognize the magnitude of their forgiveness respond with greater love
- It's not about the quantity of sins but the quality of one's understanding of sin and forgiveness
He notes that even people who've led "exemplary lives" can be deeply aware of their sinfulness when they've "come near to the holiness of God," like Isaiah who declared "I am a man of unclean lips" when confronted with God's holiness.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe this message is so important for his listeners?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents this message as vitally important because:
- It addresses "the most important matter of all in connection with religion and our Christian faith"
- It forces self-examination about our true relationship with Christ
- It confronts the danger of substituting intellectual interest or orthodox beliefs for personal love
- It reminds us that Jesus is "sensitive to our response to Him" and notices how we relate to Him
- Our eternal destiny depends on truly knowing Christ: "A day is coming in the life of every one of us when nothing will matter but this"
He warns that many may be interested in Christianity intellectually or doctrinally while missing the personal relationship that constitutes true Christianity.
Other Sermons
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.