The other day, my wife and I were reading Genesis, and the question came up: “Why did the Lord have respect for Abel, but not Cain?”
Researching the topic, I realize the answer isn’t as clear as I would like. There are a few answers to this question, and all seem to have some legitimacy. Here is the summary of those answers:
1. Non-Blood Sacrifice: This view believes the offering was rejected because Cain did not present a blood sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
2. Quality of Cain’s offering: This view addresses that Abel’s offering was his firstling of the flock and the fat thereof. Scripture doesn’t emphasize Cain’s fruit of the ground, leading some to believe Abel’s was the best of his flock, whereas Cain’s was par, or subpar.
Genesis 4:7 KJV 1900
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. Matter of the Heart: This view looks at the heart of Cain and Abel. With no mention of the quality of the offering, Abel gave his firstling of the flock, but Cain’s offering wasn’t described as being of premium quality. Some believe this addresses the heart, “faith”, of the two brothers and shows Abel’s “faith.”
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 1900
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
4. God’s Choice: This view holds that respect given to Abel was due to God’s sovereign choice, rather than the actions of either brother.
Personal Study:
Let’s take a look at Genesis 4:1-8.
Genesis 4:1–8 KJV 1900
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.
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.
A few things that stand out to me:
• It tells us that Cain, who was the tiller of the ground, brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord. There is no mention of this offering quality. The lack of a descriptor, along with what we will learn of Abel’s offering, makes me think it was a typical, on-par offering.
• It tells us that Abel, who was the keeper of sheep, also brought an offering to the Lord. Here it does describe quality. It tells us that it was the firstling of his flock and of the fat thereof. This gives the indication that this was the best Abel was able to provide.
• Upon receiving the offerings, it tells that the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.
The Lord looks at the heart, but man looks at the outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 1900
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Here, we have scripture telling us that man looks on outward appearance. Vanity, Idolatry, Envy. There are so many ways man focuses on outward appearance. The Lord can see what is in a man’s heart.
Cain’s offering, while not favored, was something he could work on and change. This implies it was heart-related [faith].
Genesis 4:7 KJV 1900
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 we see God speaking to Cain about his offering. He tells him that, while not favored, it is something he could work on and change. This implies Cain’s issue was heart-related, not strictly dependent on the offering. It also implies that Abel’s heart was in the right place. Abel put his faith in God.
By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice.
Hebrews 11:4 KJV 1900
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.
Scripture doesn’t tell us if God told Cain and Abel what to offer, or how much, it only tells us what they offered and what happened afterward.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900
6 But 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.
They, referring to lawless men, have gone in the way of Cain. This implies they lack faith and their heart is hardened.
Jude 11 KJV 1900
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, while acceptable in his own eyes, was not acceptable to the Lord. We commonly see this in ungodly men today, doing what is right in their own minds and ignoring what is right according to the Lord.
Cain, rather than repenting and getting right with God, rose up against his brother Abel.
1 John 3:12 KJV 1900
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.
John 3:20 KJV 1900
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Cain, continuing on this wicked path, lied to God when asked about his brother.
Genesis 4:9 KJV 1900
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
We can see parallels between Abel and Jesus. Both were killed by wicked men, but Christ’s blood serves as a remission of our sin.
Hebrews 12:24 KJV 1900
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Conclusion:
Looking at scripture and referencing the scripture above, I can see legitimacy in all four points. I don’t think they have to be mutually exclusive, so there can be truth in each. If one or more are true, it doesn’t affect my theology.