There is very little written about Abel in the Bible, and yet, there is much that we can learn from the story of Cain and Abel. This is a story of what is in a man’s heart and how that affects his life. As you look at Abel’s life, look to your own heart. Do you have a heart that is righteous and pleasing to God? Is your motivation for doing “spiritual things” right? How would you know if your motivation is wrong? Ponder these questions as you study the life of Abel and contrast his life with that of his brother.
Introduction to Faith
We need to look back to chapter 10 to see why Hebrews 11 was included. The argument offered in Hebrews 10 is the law versus faith. It shows us that the law is just a shadow, but faith in Jesus is the real. This shows us that we should not spend our time in Bible study on the law, but on Jesus, and our faith in him.
Heb:10:1-4: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2: For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3: But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
This shows that the sacrifices and law are only a shadow, and not the perfect or the fulfillment of God’s will. The sacrifices did nothing to get rid of sin, but only covered their sins until the next sacrifice.
Heb:10:19-25 19: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21: And having an high priest over the house of God; 22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
There are several things given here. First of all, the blood of Jesus does not cover, but gives us a new and living way, a new heart. Secondly, we are to hold fast to this faith. Thirdly, we are to live out a life of love with fellow believers. Now let’s look at the last couple of verses.
Heb:10:35-39 35: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Here he explains that the just shall live by faith. We are to live our lives in faith, we are not to cast away our confidence in the promises of God. Here it mentions that we are to have faith for his second return, as well as live by faith. Now we go to chapter 11
Hebrews 11:1-3 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2: For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
This is an excellent definition of what faith is. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. In other words, faith is what brings our hope to life. Faith brings the unseen into reality. We are then told two things, first the elders obtained a good report by their faith. In other words, the reason the Bible speaks about the men and women in the Hebrews 11 is because of their faith. Secondly, we are told that God created the universe by words of faith. This is the key to studying the heroes of faith that follow in this chapter. We will now study their faith, and how they spoke things into existence by their faith. These people are an example of faith because of what they did. The action of our faith is the words of our mouth. It is very important what we say. God created with words, and we create with words. All that we see in the world is made by what God said. Our own life is created by what we say. It is very important what we say.
James 2:14-20 14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16: And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Hebrews 11 is an example of the works of faith. Faith without works is dead. Faith without corresponding actions does not work. As we study these examples of people given in Hebrews 11 we will see the importance of words of faith. Jesus gives us what the God kind of faith is…it is a faith that speaks.
Mark:11:22-24 22: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (the God kind of faith) 23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them
This is just what those in Hebrews 11 did. They spoke their faith. They spoke to the mountains in their lives and received from God because of that faith. Now let us go to the first example of faith given in Hebrews 11.
Abel’s offering of faith
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.
Abel was a righteous man according to Hebrews 11:4 because of his sacrifice. Wait a minute did not we read in the chapter before that sacrifices are not effectual?
Hebrews 10:4: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Then why would the first one given be a sacrifice? Let us look at the wording of Hebrews 11:4 closely. It does not say the sacrifice made him righteous, but that he obtained witness that he was righteous by the sacrifice. In other words, his faith was shown by his works.
James:2:23-24 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
These verses both show that faith is what produces righteousness. Our works are to show that faith. Abel’s sacrifice showed faith. Now let’s look back to where the offering is recorded.
Genesis 4:1-7 1: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2: And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 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.
Here Abel offers his sacrifice, and Cain also. Remember Hebrews 11 says that Abel’s offering was better. Why was Abel’s better? Abel offered a part of his work…he was a keeper of sheep, and he offered that. Cain also offered part of his work…he was a farmer, and offered of his work. So here it looks like they were equal. If we read later in the law, both an offering of a lamb, and an offering of meal are given as an acceptable offering. So why is one sacrifice accepted here by God and the other not? It is what was in their hearts what counted. The Bible tells us what was in their hearts.
1 John 3:10-12 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11: For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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.
So here it is saying that Cain’s offering was not accepted because of the attitude of his heart. He did not love his brother, so his works were useless. Abel’s heart was right, so his sacrifice was accepted.
Matthew:12:35: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Let’s read again in Hebrews 10
Hebrews 10:38-39 38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
So Cain’s problem was that he was not coming in faith with his sacrifice. He had a love problem, so his faith was not working. Therefore God could not respect or have pleasure in his offering.
Galatians 5:6: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
So it was not the sacrifice, but his obedience to God that God looked at.
1Samuel 15:22-23 22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Hosea 6:6: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Micah 6:7-8 7: Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
God could not accept Cain’s sacrifice because of his rebellion, his sin, his idolatry.
Let’s go back to Genesis and read the rest of the story.
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.
Here God is telling Cain that he could also be accepted, if he changes his heart attitude. God is warning him that his heart problem was about to manifest in the flesh, and told him he could change before it was too late. God always gives one a chance to repent.
James:1:14-15 14: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 5: Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Ephesians 4:26-27 26: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27: Neither give place to the devil.
This is exactly what Cain did. He was tempted first and then he sinned and it brought death.
Ge:4:8-13 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.
So here Cain did not repent, but went on to murder Abel. But even in death, Abel speaks. Let’s read our text again.
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.
How does Abel speak? Let’s read some scriptures on that.
1Samuel 6:18: And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel,
This shows that in the time of Samuel, the people still looked to the stone of sacrifice where Abel showed his faith. His faith was still spoken of in Israel.
Later Jesus speaks of Abel when he speaks to the people of Jerusalem about their sins. He calls Abel righteous.
Matthew:23:33-39 33: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 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. 36: Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39: For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Lu: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.
Finally let us go to the last verse about Abel.
Hebrews 12:24-25 24: And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25: See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
In conclusion, we can see by the example of Abel, that it is very important what is in our heart. What is in your heart will come out of your mouth and in your actions. And we should do as the psalmist says,
Psalm 139:23-24 :23: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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