CAIN AND ABEL
[Genesis:4:3-16 [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. [8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. [16] And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. ].
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer“ (I John 3:15).
I The Significance of Cain‘s and Abel‘s Offerings
1. A confession of their need of God‘s favour was indicated, [Genesis:4:3-4 [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
[4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
].
2. The presenting of offerings was an evidence of the inherited sin of their parents, [Psalms:51:5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
]; [1 Corinthians:15:22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
].
II The Difference in the Offerings Presented
1. Abel‘s offering of a lamb was made by the shedding of blood, [Genesis:4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
]; [Hebrews:9:22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
]; [Hebrews:11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
].
2. Cain‘s offering of the fruit of the ground was made by virtue of his self-righteous works, [Genesis:4:3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
]; [Isaiah:64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
]; [Luke:18:9-14 [9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
[10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
].
III Cain‘s Resentment and Crime
1. Envy and anger are the first motions of sin, [Genesis:4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
].
2. The warning that sin lieth at the door is unheeded, [Genesis:4:6-7 [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
[7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
].
3. Hatred and murder are the last motions of sin, [Genesis:4:8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
]; [Matthew:15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
]; [Matthew:23:34-35 [34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
[35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
]; [Galatians:5:19-21 [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
]; [1 John:3:12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
].
IV Cain‘s Punishment
1. His crime was not hid from the eye of the Lord, [Genesis:4:9-10 [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
[10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
]; [Hebrews:4:13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
].
2. A curse was pronounced upon him and his fields, [Genesis:4:11-13 [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
[12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
[13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
]; [Hebrews:6:7-8 [7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
[8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
]; [Jeremiah:17:5-6 [5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
[6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
].
3. He was banished from the presence of God and man, [Genesis:4:14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
]; [Matthew:25:41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
].
Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve, were born after the fall -- after Adam and Eve had disobeyed God and thereby been separated from fellowship with Him.
Cain and Abel must have known of Adam‘s transgression, and that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.“ No doubt they had been told many times that the Lord had shed the blood of animals to make coverings for Adam‘s and Eve‘s sin and shame. They knew that nothing but death -- the shedding of blood -- would make atonement for sin.
Perhaps Cain was very diligent in tilling the ground and taking care of his crops. He was proud of his good works, and he must have felt that he was not subject to God‘s wrath, that he was good enough -- he had not sinned as had his father and mother, or even as his brother. This we may infer from the fact that he did not bring a substitutionary offering. God had specifically commanded Adam and Eve: “Thou shalt not eat of it [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil): for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,“ and no doubt they had told their children that it was truly death to be separated from fellowship with God.
Abel‘s offering showed that he realised he had sinned. By faith he offered “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain“ He believed that God‘s requirements are just and right. He trusted, whether he understood or not, that the way of worship which God had laid down was the only right way, the only way that leads to a restoration of fellowship with God here and hereafter. But his implicit trust and obedience no doubt led him to realise something of the deadly far-reaching effects of sin. It is of such enormity that succeeding generations, no matter how far removed from the original sin, bear the nature of sin in their soul. Each person who comes to the age of accountability and chooses sin, the way of disobedience to God, brings death to his soul. Abel knew he was subject to the righteous wrath of God, and to eternal separation from Him. Life had to be forfeited -- blood had to be shed. If he was to escape this penalty himself, he must bring a substitute as an offering unto God.
Cain‘s offering consisted of the fruit of the ground. That offering, a meat or meal offering, is explained in [Leviticus:2:1And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: ]. It was a gratitude offering and paid respects to God as the Creator of all things, the Source of material blessings; but it did not have in it the blood atonement, which is the only way by which fallen, sinful man may be redeemed. He sought justification by the works of his hands rather than by simple faith and obedience to God‘s plan.
In the same way many people worship God today. They go to church, sing the hymns, listen to the minister pray, and go through the form of pious worship; but they have no conviction for sin. They have performed a religious duty and thereby eased their conscience and shaken off their fears of an angry God. In such a worship, their own sinful nature is not exposed and they are not made to see and feel their need of the atoning Blood. They feel self-sufficient. Their duty, they think, is to mankind. They try to cover their own guilt with deeds of mercy.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost“ [Titus:3:5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ]).
Abel felt guilty of sin. He brought a sin offering. He brought it in faith that through the shedding of blood he might find remission of sins. “Without shedding of blood is no remission“ [Hebrews:9:22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ]).
A Witness in the Heart
The Lord looks down into the heart. He saw in Abel a heart that was penitent, one that was crying out for mercy. He was coming God‘s way to obtain mercy. He brought his offering for sin according to God‘s instructions, and by faith obtained the witness in his heart that his offering was accepted. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous“ [Hebrews:11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
]).
Today we do not have to bring a lamb and offer it for our sins. Jesus is God‘s Lamb, and over 2000 years ago He was offered on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the whole world. Any sinner can come with a truly penitent heart, confess his sins and turn from them with all his heart, look to Jesus, and by faith receive pardon for his sins and obtain the witness in his heart that he is forgiven.
A Bloodless Religion
Cain‘s religion has a large following today through Christian Science, Modernism, and other bloodless religions. A bloodless religion is a powerless religion. These bloodless religious movements all date back to Cain. The first head of their movements was a murderer.
The Israelites found there was power in the blood of the lamb (which lamb typified Jesus) that was slain the night they left Egypt. The death angel passed over every home where the blood was applied. But in every home in Egypt where the blood was not applied their first-born was slain [Exodus:12:1-51 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, [2] This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. [3] Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: [4] And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. [5] Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: [6] And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. [7] And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. [8] And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. [9] Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. [10] And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. [11] And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. [12] For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. [13] And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. [14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. [15] Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. [16] And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. [17] And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. [18] In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. [19] Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. [20] Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. [21] Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. [22] And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. [23] For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. [24] And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. [25] And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. [26] And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? [27] That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. [28] And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. [29] And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. [30] And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. [31] And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. [32] Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. [33] And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. [34] And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. [35] And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: [36] And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. [37] And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. [38] And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. [39] And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. [40] Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. [41] And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. [42] It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. [43] And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: [44] But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. [45] A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. [46] In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. [47] All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. [48] And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. [49] One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. [50] Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. [51] And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. ]).
Persecution
Who was Cain angry with, Abel or God? He was angry with God because He did not accept his offering but he took his spite out on Abel. The devil and his emissaries are angry with God but they take their spite out on God‘s children. It is a significant fact that the first strife in the world was over religion. The devil hates true religion.
Murderers and Liars
Sin is at the root of an evil-doing. The Lord said to Cain, “If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.“ He also told him if he did well his offering would be accepted. It all speaks of the condition of the heart. If sin is in the heart the incense from the offering one may bring does not bear to the Lord a “sweet-smelling savour“ [Ephesians:5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
]). “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: . . . Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him“ [Isaiah:3:10-11 [10] Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
[11] Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
]).
Cain‘s countenance was fallen. It is said of the wicked that the “show of their countenance“ witnesses against them. The jealousy that was in his heart led to anger, anger to hatred, and hatred caused him to murder Abel. The Apostle John tells us that he that hateth his brother is a murderer. Cain was a murderer in the sight of God before he actually committed the deed, for God looks upon the heart.
One sin leads to another, and when the Lord asked Cain where his brother Abel was, he lied, “I know not.“ The Word tells us that “murderers, . . . . and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone“ [Revelation:21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ]).
One time Jesus said to the Pharisees: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it“ [John:8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ]).
Covering Up
Possibly Cain had thought he could hide the crime he had committed and it would never be known. Many people up to the present time have tried to do that. Sinful man often wants to keep his sins under cover and hidden from the eyes of man. God‘s question about the whereabouts of Abel touched the “quick“ of Cain‘s guilty heart and caused his anger to flare anew. In a vain effort to conceal the truth from God, he retorted, “Am I my brother‘s keeper?“ “But all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do“ [Hebrews:4:13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
]).
“You cannot hide from God,
His eye is fixed on you.“
Banished from the Presence of God
Cain went out from the presence of the Lord a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. The Lord had warned him that sin couched at his door. The warning went unheeded, and was eventually followed by judgement. Cain felt that his punishment was more than he could bear. The burden of sin becomes very heavy for the sinner. Many have testified that they staggered beneath the load. But oh, how merciful the Lord is if a sinner will repent! Jesus says: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest“ [Matthew:11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
]).
If Cain felt that the banishment here on this earth from the presence of God was too great for him, what about being banished forever from the presence of God in a burning hell? That is the end of a life of sin. Sin separates a soul from God. No sin can enter Heaven. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die“ [Ezekiel:18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. ]).
What a warning this lesson should be to all who read it! Flee to the Blood for a refuge, and hide beneath its cleansing flow. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“ ([1 John:1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ]). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whose confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy“ [Proverbs:28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. ]).
1. Why was Cain angry?
2. What reason did God give Cain for not accepting his offering?
3. Did God show Cain his sin before he slew his brother?
4. Name at least three sins of which Cain was guilty.
5. Has Cain‘s posterity, in a spiritual sense, continued to the present day?
6. Why was Abel‘s offering a “more excellent sacrifice“ than Cain‘s?
7. Was Abel a righteous man? How do you know?
8. Of whom did Jude speak when he said, “For they have gone in the way of Cain“
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