Later god approached cain about the whereabouts of abel just as he did with adam and eve with their sin. A hypocrite may possibly hear as many sermons, say as many prayers, and give as much alms, as a good christian, and yet, for want of. He was very angry that god accepted abels offering, but did not accept his. The book of genesis, interested in this section in the origin of the different occupations of men, tells us that cain became a husbandman while his brother abel tended flocks. It is possible to do the wrong thing with the right attitude.
And the lord respected abel and his offering, but he did not respect cain. Cain brought some of the produce from the land while abel brought the first born of his sheep. The lord looked with favor on abel and his offering, 5but on cain and his offering he did not look with favor. Genesis 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Introduction as soon as we begin to read the bible, we are creating midrash that is, we are interpreting what we read in order to bridge the distance that separates us from the text. Cain, in the bible hebrew bible, or old testament, firstborn son of adam and eve, who murdered his brother abel genesis 4. And abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
Six lessons from the lives of cain and abel sermon by william. Jan 21, 2020 it is clear that the offering was to be a substitutionary atonement, because we read in hebrews 11. That the religious worship of god is no novel invention, but an ancient institution. Why did god accept abels offering but reject cains offering. And jehovah had respect unto abel and to his offering. Later god approached cain about the whereabouts of. Genesis 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The bible gives no indication that he was following what was then popular among the children of adam and eve, nor that he was following common sense, human reason, or his feelings. God showed favor upon abel s sacrifice because it was an offering that came from the best abel had to give.
Cain, a farmer, became enraged when the lord accepted the offering of his brother abel, a shepherd, in preference to his own. And the lord had respect unto abel and to his offering. And the lord had regard for abel and his offering, but for cain and his offering he had no regard. This is the bible story and study lesson about cain and abel as told in genesis. The brothers made sacrifices to god, each of his own produce, but god favored abels sacrifice instead of cains. In the course of time cain brought to the lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The problem with cain s offering was not that it was a grain offering rather than an animal, or blood, offering. The lord looked with favor on abel and his offering, 5 but on cain and his offering he did not look with favor. Cain and his offering 365 we commence our study with the observation that the text syn tactically distinguishes between the offerer and his offering. David guzik commentary on genesis 4, which describes life immediately after the. Abel story, a part of the books of moses, neither sin offering nor guilt. But abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. While abels offering showed his complete submission to god, cains hints at grudging worship of god and that done in his own way. A twentydollar bill or something comparable intro activity.
The story of cain and abel is one of sibling rivalry and murder. Abel became a herder of flocks, and cain a tiller of the ground. Cain and his offering posted on june 10, 20 by claude mariottini the biblical narrative of cain and abel is well known among students of the bible and continues to captivate the imagination of those who seek to understand the issues related to the story of these two brothers, a story that involves mystery, murder, and the issue of personal. In the biblical book of genesis, cain and abel are the first two sons of adam and eve. Feb 02, 2016 cain brought some of the produce from the land while abel brought the first born of his sheep. He murdered abel and was banished by the lord from the settled country.
This 25 verse book is the longest of the one chapter books, yet im afraid its the least known. God was pleased with abels offering of a lamb, but not with cains offering from his harvest. There are two basic reasons why god accepted abels offering and not cains. Why did god accept abels offering and reject cains. Cain and abel project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Instead he took out his anger on his righteous brother, abel. Cain brought a sacrifice, but god would not accept it because it did not meet his standards.
Cain killed abel after a quarrel over a sacrifice to god. They both offered to the lord a sacrifice, acknowledging, in a manner analogous to that later prescribed in the law, the sovereign power of the creator. Old testament scholarship to help you understand this important book. As to the acceptance of abels offering and the rejection of cains, some have. God knows the number of hairs on our heads luke 12. The sacrifice was accepted for the man, and not the man for the sacrifice ainsworth. By faith abel offered up a more excellent sacrifice than cain hebrews 11. Abels offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and god. And the lord had regard for abel and for his offering. Why did god accept abel s offering and reject cain s.
By faith he was commended as righteous, when god spoke well of his offerings. Use this cain and abel childrens sunday school lesson to teach kids about jealousy and giving their best to god. The lord offered cain an opportunity to repent, but cain denied knowing where abel was, as if he could fool god. Mar 16, 2006 we know that god had revealed to cain an abel the way he desired to be worshipped, as well.
Now why is it that god accepted abel s sacrifice and did not accept cain s sacrifice. While abel s offering showed his complete submission to god, cain s hints at grudging worship of god and that done in his own way. By faith abel brought god a better offering than cain did. The new testament is by far our best commentary on this chapter and. She said, with the help of the lord i have brought forth a man. As abels example proves, true worshipers will give the first and best of their time, money, and possessions to god. Prepare your messages about cain and abel with sermon outlines or an entire sermon series. Genesis 4 bible commentary matthew henry concise christianity. The book of genesis, chapter 4 king james version, kjv. Abel was murdered, even though he lived a pleasing life before god. Cain and abel now adam knew eve his wife, and she conceived and bore cain, saying, i have gotten a man with the help of the lord. Genesis 4 cain and abel bible story sunday school lesson.
Now why is it that god accepted abels sacrifice and did not accept cains sacrifice. In the course of time, cain brought an offering to the lord from the fruit of the soil. Our sermon ideas on cain and abel will help you preach a powerful message. The birth, employment, and religion of cain and abel. God showed acceptance to abel, rather than cain, because abel made his offering to the lord in faith. The story of cain and abel in genesis 4 tells much more about cain than abel. So cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Study the bible online using commentary on genesis 4 and more. When god shows disappointment in cains sacrifice and pleasure in abels, cain kills abel.
When abel came for worship, it was by faith that he brought his offering, the fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock genesis 4. Now abel was a keeper of sheep, and cain a worker of the ground. A hypocrite may possibly hear as many sermons, say as many prayers, and give as much alms, as a good christian, and yet, for want of sincerity, come short of acceptance with god. And by faith abel still speaks, even though he is dead. Mar 25, 2016 this is the bible story and study lesson about cain and abel as told in genesis. Henry morris, one of the founders of the modern creation movement, speculates on why cains offering was rejected the bible does not actually say specifically whether such sacrifices had been commanded by god, or whether the practice arose merely as a spontaneous expression of thanksgiving and worship. Book of hebrews stresses the fact that abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than cain.
Cain and abel in the bible biblical archaeology society. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the trespass offering leviticus 6. Why did god accept abels offering but reject cains. God was pleased with abel s offering of a lamb, but not with cain s offering from his harvest. Cains was only a sacrifice of acknowledgment offered to the creator. There are two basic reasons why god accepted abel s offering and not cain s. Cain lured his brother abel into the fields and killed him with a rock. By faith abel offered to god a better sacrifice than cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, god testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. Cain and abel childrens sunday school lesson purpose.
Cains wicked heart, manifested more clearly in his murder of abel, is first observable in his formal yet faithless worship 1 john 3. This is interesting because the book of hebrews states that the blood of jesus. They received this as a part of the pentateuch, the first five books of the bible. In the course of time cain brought to the lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of. The problem with cains offering was not that it was a grain offering rather than an animal, or blood, offering. Vainly do we assume our devotion is acceptable if it is done without faith. Cain spoke to his brother likely as a friend, to decieve him, and lure him into the field to kill him. In the course of time cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the lord. It was by faith that abel brought a more acceptable offering to god than cain did. Jun 10, 20 cain and his offering posted on june 10, 20 by claude mariottini the biblical narrative of cain and abel is well known among students of the bible and continues to captivate the imagination of those who seek to understand the issues related to the story of these two brothers, a story that involves mystery, murder, and the issue of personal. Man avenging death penalty for killing revenge marks on people revenge, and retaliation. And cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell gen.
God showed favor upon abels sacrifice because it was an offering that came from the best abel had to give. The writer to the hebrews clearly explained why the offering of abel was accepted and the offering of cain was rejected. And abel also brought an offeringfat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Predestination weekly assignments read the following. What do you learn about god from the narrative of cain and abel. And cain was very angry, and his countenance fell genesis 4. And in process of time it came to pass that cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto jehovah. Nov 21, 2008 in cains offering, david reagan uses romans 10. But the author of hebrews says that, through abel s faith, though he died, he still speaks hebrews 11. Cain thought god was unfair to him by rejecting his sacrifice. It is clear that the offering was to be a substitutionary atonement, because we read in hebrews 11. Cain, the firstborn, was a farmer, and his brother abel was a shepherd. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.
Cains offering was the effort of dead religion, while abels offering was made in faith, in a desire to worship god in spirit and in truth. Now join me in the fifth and final onechapter books in the bible. The king james bible commentary on genesis, chapter 4. The lord paid heed to abel and his offering, but to cain and his offering he paid no heed. The text is silent regarding anything wrong with the quality or type of cains offering. But the author of hebrews says that, through abels faith, though he died, he still speaks hebrews 11. Mankinds first murderer, a weary cain contemplates the death of his brother, abel, who lies face down at right in this 1944 painting by the germanborn artist georg grosz. Cains response apparently the rejection of cains offering was a public event.
Both cain and abel came to worship before the lord, both brought a sacrifice. In a premeditated manner, cain invited abel out to the fields where he murdered him. Qabil, habil were sons of adam and eve in the biblical book of. We know that god had revealed to cain an abel the way he desired to be worshipped, as well. Apr 20, 2014 and the lord had regard for abel and his offering, but for cain and his offering he had no regard. A thoughtful consideration of the story of cain and abel yields some interesting. In his landmark book the genesis record, the late dr. In fact, not one word is recorded from living abel. But the better explanation for why scripture tells us their professions is that. When cain and abel, the first two sons of adam and eve, presented their.