Cain and Abel

Cain.

Old Testament. (Cain is mentioned in Genesis 4)

• He is the first-mentioned child of Adam & Eve. Genesis 4:1
• He was a tiller of the ground. Genesis 4:2
• He brought of the fruit of the ground as an offering. Genesis 4:3
• His offering was not respected by God. Genesis 4:5a
• He became angry with God and his brother. Genesis 4:5b ff.
• He killed Abel, his brother. Genesis 4:8ff.
• He was punished by God. Genesis 4:9ff.
• He took a wife and had children. Genesis 4:16ff.

New Testament. (Cain is mentioned 3 times in the NT)

• Hebrews 11:4 By 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.
• 1 John 3:12 Not 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.
• Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
• Cain’s offering was not by faith. Hebrews 11:4
• He followed the wicked one, his spiritual father. 1 John 3:12
• His works were evil. 1 John 3:12 (He did not become evil because he slew his brother, but he slew his brother because he was evil.)
• He had his own way. Jude 1:11 (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)

Abel.

Old Testament. (Abel is mentioned in Genesis 4)

• He is the second-mentioned child of Adam & Eve. Genesis 4:2
• He was a keeper of sheep. Genesis 4:2
• He brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof, as an offering. Genesis 4:4a
• His offering was respected by God. Genesis 4:4b
• His brother talked to him. Genesis 4:8a
• He was killed by his brother, Cain. Genesis 4:8b
• His blood cried for retribution. Genesis 4:10-11
• He was “replaced” by his brother Seth. Genesis 4:25

New Testament. (Abel is mentioned 4 times in the NT)

• He is called righteous (his blood requires retribution). Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51
• His offering was by faith. Hebrews 11:4
• His blood does not speak as well as Christ’s. Hebrews 12:24.
• Matthew 23:35 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.
• Luke 11:51 from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
• Hebrews 11:4 By 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.
• Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s sacrifice? 

• (Note: both Cain and his offering were not accepted.) 
• Abel was righteous and Cain was unrighteous. Matthew 23:35; Hebrews 11:4; John 3:12
• Abel and his sacrifice were accepted by faith. Hebrews 11:4
• Cain and his sacrifice were unacceptable because of no faith. Hebrews 11:4; compare Hebrews 11.
• 1 John 3:12 states that Cain was “of that wicked one.” Jude compares Cain to false prophets that had went Cain’s way and were like, “spots in your feasts of charity…” (Jude 11-12). 
• Hebrews 11:6 - “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
• “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin” (Proverbs 21:4).

Cain gave his sacrifice:

1. from a wicked heart 
2. without faith