Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on "Who Jesus Came to Call" - Matthew 9:10-13 Sermon Analysis

What is the main message Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is conveying in this sermon about Jesus eating with sinners?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Jesus came specifically to call sinners to repentance, not the self-righteous. The central message is that Christianity is for those who recognize their spiritual sickness and sinfulness, not for those who believe they are already righteous through their own efforts. Lloyd-Jones states: "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Christ doesn't call you to do anything positive first. He calls you first to something negative, and he calls it repentance."

What were the characteristics of the Pharisees that made them unable to receive Christ's message?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Pharisees had three fundamental problems:

1. A wrong view of themselves - They saw themselves as "whole" and not sick, believing they were righteous through their own efforts.

2. A wrong view of religion - They reduced religion to external observances and sacrifices: "This externalized, mechanized religion. As long as you go to a place of worship Sunday morning, you're all right... nothing more is demanded."

3. A wrong view of others - They despised sinners and had no hope or compassion for moral failures: "Religion is for good people. Religion is for moral people. Religion is for religious people. It's got nothing to do with publicans and sinners."

Who are the people Jesus came to call according to this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus came to call:

1. Those who know they are spiritually sick - "The people that he's come to call and in whom he's really interested are those who know that there's a running sore in their souls."

2. Those who acknowledge they are sinners - People who recognize they've not just failed as humans but have offended God: "Against thee, thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight."

3. Those who repent - People who feel genuine sorrow for sin and condemn themselves: "To repent means this. That you not only recognize that you are a sinner, that you condemn yourself for it."

4. Those who rely entirely on God's mercy - "He relies upon nothing in himself and nothing that he can do. He simply cries out and says, 'Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.'"

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the relationship between church membership and true Christianity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a sobering statement: "There are many people in the world tonight who are not Christians. Very largely because they think they are Christians. We are living in desperate days, my friends. I therefore mustn't mince my words. There are many people who think that they're members of the Christian church who are not Christians."

He distinguishes between formal religious participation and true Christianity. Someone may attend church regularly but still have the Pharisaical attitude of self-righteousness rather than the repentant heart of a sinner who needs mercy. True Christianity requires repentance and reliance on God's mercy, not merely religious observance.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the meaning of repentance in this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes repentance as:

1. Sorrow for sin - "Repentance just means sorrow for sin. A realization that you're an evil person. That there's no good in you at all."

2. Self-condemnation - "That you not only recognize that you are a sinner, that you condemn yourself for it. That you admit it to yourself. You admit it to God."

3. Accepting deserved punishment - "You say that you deserve punishment."

4. A broken heart - "Repentance means that you've got a broken heart because of your sinfulness, your unworthiness, your wrong attitude towards God."

He emphasizes that repentance is essential to salvation: "If you have not repented at some time or another, you are not only not a Christian, but you're a pharisee."