Cain & Abel

In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the produce of the ground. Abel also brought an offering to the LORD from the firstborn of his sheep. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering,

but He did not accept Cain or his offering. 
– iBIBLE Chapter 3

 

Scripture reference: Genesis 4:3–4

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Gathered from the fields that he tended, Cain brought produce from the ground for his sacrifice to the Lord. Abel, the shepherd, likewise took one of his very own sheep—a firstborn—and offered it to the Lord. This is the first mention of sacrifices made to the Lord so far in the Biblical narrative. 

 

Offerings of animals and produce would continue to be key elements of the sacrificial system that would later be instituted by God for the Israelites. These sacrifices would be a visible witness to God’s people about removal of sin, thanksgiving, praise, and fellowship, among other things. Sacrifices would set the pattern of life for the people of God, with burnt offerings taking place morning and evening every day (Exodus 29:38).

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Because both animals and produce (specifically grain for grain offerings) are used in the Levitical sacrificial system, it is clear that the type of offering made to the Lord is not the reason why one is accepted and the other is not. In other words, there is nothing inherently better about sheep than something else that God created. 

 

The immediate context of the passage about Cain and Abel, in fact, does not give any explicit reason why God accepted Abel and his offering yet rejected Cain and his offering. It simply says, “God accepted Abel and his offering,” and “God did not accept Cain or his offering.” We cannot know for sure about the motivations of their hearts. However, Scripture can help us interpret Scripture in this case. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, the author writes:

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By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. —Hebrews 11:4 [ESV]

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The book of Hebrews paints a beautiful picture of the people throughout the Scriptures who lived lives of faith. These are people who set aside their own fears, worries, and pride and placed their trust in the abundant provision and promises of the Lord. So, including Abel in this list reveals that his offering was given “by faith.” What this passage does not do, however, is give a clear reason why Cain’s offering is unacceptable. 

 

The Scriptures explain that God desires “steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Faith in the Lord, therefore, is transformative. Faith makes us and our offerings acceptable to God (Romans 5:1). And Abel, according to the author of Hebrews, offered his sacrifice by faith, and that faith made him righteous.

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