Why was Abel's offering accepted but Cain's offering was not accepted?

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Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
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#1
Why did Yah accept Able's offering and not Cain's? I believe it is because when one have sincere faith they will serve as Yah wants, rather than serving Yah as they want;

Genesis 4 WEB

1, The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.
2, "Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3, "As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4, "Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
5, "but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
6, "Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
7, "If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”

They both did works, and one's works were accepted one's works were not accepted. The heart that truly loves Yah will do as Yah says.

Genesis 4 WEB
3, "As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4, "Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
5, "but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering.


Cain offered "from the fruit of the ground"
Abel "also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat" the word also there means he brought "firstborn of his flock and of its fat" and
"fruit of the ground"

Now this shows us that offering
"fruit of the ground" was not in iteself wrong, so what could be the difference?

Hebrews 11:4, “By belief, Heḇel offered to Yah a greater sacrifice offering than Qayin, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Yah witnessing of his gifts. And through it, having died, he still speaks.”

1 John 3:12, “Not as Qayin who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his works were wicked but those of his brother were righteous.”

"
By belief" and "works...of his brother (Abel) were righteous"

Why were they righteous? What is righteous?

Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Yah has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.”

Deuteronomy 6:25, "And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Strength, as He has commanded us.”

Psalm 119:172, “My tongue sings of Your word, For all Your commands are righteousness.”

Exodus 20:6, "But showing love to thousands who love Me by keeping My Laws."

1 John 5:17, "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death."

1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin, transgresses also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the Law."

Did not Cain do works, yet his were not accepted, while faithfil and righteous Abel's works were...
Reminds me of this...

Mat 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me; Teacher! Teacher! Will enter into the Kingdom of YHWH, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day; Teacher! Teacher! Have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and in Your Name performed many wonderful works? But then I will declare to them; I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who practice iniquity."

iniquity” is word # G0458 - anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from G0459, Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)
1) the condition of without law, 1a) because ignorant of it, 1b) because of violating it, 2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#2
5"but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord God said to Cain, Why have you become very sorrowful and why is your countenance fallen?
7 Have you not sinned if you have brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it? be still, to you will be his submission, and you will rule over him."


The Septuagint text.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#3
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]One did as required the other did as they pleased. Abel offered both a blood sacrifice (Yahshua) and fruit from the ground (his own labor).[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Revelation 12:17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Yah and possessing the witness of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהושע [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Messiah."[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Revelation 14:12-13, “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהוה [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]and the belief of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]יהושע[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]. And I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Master from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, in order that they rest from their labors, and their works follow with them.”[/FONT]
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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#4
Because it was by "out of" faith that Abel offered a sacrifice. Abel's faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). His offering substantiated his faith (James 2:18). Cain, who was of the evil one, demonstrated an evil heart by evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a righteous heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Cain's sacrifice was evidence of his lack of faith. Abel's offering proved something about his faith that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#5
Heb 11:4
Πίστει πλείονα θυσίαν Ἄβελ παρὰ Κάϊν προσήνεγκεν τῷ Θεῷ
"By faith Abel offered to God more sacrifice"

Gen 4:7 LXX
"7 Have you not sinned if you have brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it?"

---
Tertullian (Against Jews, 2:2), Clement of Rome (Epistle to Corinthians 4) and Iranaeus (Against heresies 4:34) all said that Cain offered too little. It should be at least 10th of his goods.
 
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Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
372
0
#6
5"but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord God said to Cain, Why have you become very sorrowful and why is your countenance fallen?
7 Have you not sinned if you have brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it? be still, to you will be his submission, and you will rule over him."


The Septuagint text.
Heb 11:4
Πίστει πλείονα θυσίαν Ἄβελ παρὰ Κάϊν προσήνεγκεν τῷ Θεῷ
"By faith Abel offered to God more sacrifice"

Gen 4:7 LXX
"7 Have you not sinned if you have brought it rightly, but not rightly divided it?"

---
Tertullian (Against Jews, 2:2), Clement of Rome (Epistle to Corinthians 4) and Iranaeus (Against heresies 4:34) all said that Cain offered too little. It should be at least 10th of his goods.
Not too big on the Septuigint, but an interesting read nonw the less thank you.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
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#7
Because it was by "out of" faith that Abel offered a sacrifice. Abel's faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). His offering substantiated his faith (James 2:18). Cain, who was of the evil one, demonstrated an evil heart by evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a righteous heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Cain's sacrifice was evidence of his lack of faith. Abel's offering proved something about his faith that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.
I agree, and fully believe a truly faith heart will do what the Most High says.

Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Yah has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.”

Hebrews 5:9, “And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting salvation to all those obeying Him.”

Hebrews 3:3:18-19, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, but to those who did not obey? we see that they were unable to enter in because of unbelief."

John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Yah remains on him.”

John/Yahanan 12:48, "He who rejects Me, and does not follow My words has One Who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same will be used to judge him in the last day."

John/Yahanan 5:24, "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#8
It was most certainly an act of Faith on Abels part, we can take it from this that cains was from his own corrupt nature.

Hebrews 11:4New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.


By Faith just like Abraham it was 'counted as righteousness' pointing towards, not the law, but the righteousness of Christ, Abels faith 'still speaks today' even though he died long ago.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
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#9
It was most certainly an act of Faith on Abels part, we can take it from this that cains was from his own corrupt nature.



By Faith just like Abraham it was 'counted as righteousness' pointing towards, not the law, but the righteousness of Christ, Abels faith 'still speaks today' even though he died long ago.[/FONT][/COLOR]
All the Hebrews 11 is about acting in faith. Not just about faith.

So Abel had faith and therefore did something right - brought better offering (factually better offering, not just better "by faith") than Cain.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
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#10
All the Hebrews 11 is about acting in faith. Not just about faith.

So Abel had faith and therefore did something right - brought better offering (factually better offering, not just better "by faith") than Cain.
Hebrews 11, By belief they performed an action;



11:1, "And belief is the substance of what is expected, the proof of what is not seen.


11:4, "By belief, Heḇel offered to Yah a greater slaughter offering than Qayin, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Yah witnessing of his gifts. And through it, having died, he still speaks.


11:5, "By belief, Ḥanoḵ was translated so as not to see death, “and was not found because Yah had translated him.” (Gen 5:24) For before his translation he obtained witness, that he pleased Yah.


11:6, "But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Yah has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.


11:7, "By belief, Noaḥ, having been warned of what was yet unseen, having feared, prepared an ark to save his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to belief.


11:8, "By belief, Aḇraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he was about to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.11:9, "By belief, he sojourned in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Yitsḥaq and Ya‛aqoḇ, the heirs with him of the same promise,"11:10, "for he was looking for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is Yah.


11:11, "By belief also, Sarah herself was enabled to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the normal age, because she deemed Him trustworthy who had promised.


11:17, "By belief, Aḇraham, when he was tried, offered up Yitsḥaq, and he who had received the promises offered up his only brought-forth son,


11:20, "By belief, Yitsḥaq blessed Ya‛aqoḇ and Ěsaw concerning that which was to come.


11:21, "By belief, Ya‛aqoḇ, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Yosĕph, and did reverence on the top of his staff.


11:22, "By belief, Yosĕph, when he was dying, made mention of the outgoing of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and gave orders concerning his bones.


11:23, "By belief, Mosheh, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a comely child, and were not afraid of the sovereign’s command. (Exo 2:2)


11:24, "By belief, Mosheh, having become great, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,"11:25, "choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of Yah than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,"11:26, "deeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Mitsrayim, for he was looking to the reward.


11:27, "By belief, he left Mitsrayim, not fearing the wrath of the sovereign, for he was steadfast, as seeing Him who is invisible.


11:28, "By belief, he performed the Pĕsaḥ and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the first-born should touch them.


11:29, "By belief, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, and when the Mitsrites tried it, they were drowned.


11:30, "By belief, the walls of Yeriḥo fell, having been surrounded for seven days.


11:31, "By belief, Raḥaḇ the whore did not perish with those who did not believe, having received the spies with peace.


11:33, "who through belief, overcame reigns, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,"11:34, "quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight."11:35, "Women received back their dead by resurrection. And others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain a better resurrection."11:36, "And others had trial of mockings and floggings and more, of chains and imprisonment."11:37, "They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slain with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in need, afflicted, mistreated,”
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
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#11
Abels offering was accepted simply because it was modeled after what God would do for mankind.

And that was Sacrifice the Lamb.

Cains offering was not accepted because it was not modeled after what God would do but was modeled after his own work.


Abel didn't summon up more faith than Cain. Abel didn't summon up more sincerity than Cain. Abel was an example of what was to come. Gods prophetic foreshadowing. Which is what most of the OT is. Step by step, precept upon precept.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
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#12
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]James 2:26, "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so the faith without works is dead also."[/FONT]
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#13
All the Hebrews 11 is about acting in faith. Not just about faith.

So Abel had faith and therefore did something right - brought better offering (factually better offering, not just better "by faith") than Cain.

If he was acting in Faith, he had faith.. If you do not have faith your the same as Cain!!! Read what the writer of Hebrews says.

Hebrews 11:1-5New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Faith in action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.


 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#14
If he was acting in Faith, he had faith.. If you do not have faith your the same as Cain!!! Read what the writer of Hebrews says.

Hebrews 11:1-5New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Faith in action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.


Certainly he had faith. I have nothing against this statement.

I just think that his offering was not better because he "added faith", but that his offering was factually better. He had faith and therefore offered the right amount of sacrifice, not like Cain, who gave too little.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#15
Certainly he had faith. I have nothing against this statement.

I just think that his offering was not better because he "added faith", but that his offering was factually better. Because he had faith and therefore offered the right amount of sacrifice, not like Cain, who gave too little.

I would say His offering was accepted because it was from faith therefore, better than the ne from the corrupt nature..one is a pleasing arome the other is not:

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]‘I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream![/FONT]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]25 ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
for forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,
the star of your god[b] –
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,’
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.[/FONT]
[/FONT]
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
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#16
I would say His offering was accepted because it was from faith therefore, better than the ne from the corrupt nature..one is a pleasing arome the other is not:

‘I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!


25 ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
for forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,
the star of your god[b] –
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,’
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.

Amos 5:21-27, “I have hated, I have despised your festivals, and I am not pleased with your assemblies. Though you offer Me ascending offerings and your grain offerings, I do not accept them, nor do I look on your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I do not hear the sound of your stringed instruments. And let right-ruling roll on like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. You brought Me sacrifices and meal offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Yisra’ĕl," but you took up Sikkuth your sovereign and Kiyyun, your idols, your astral mighty ones, which you made for yourselves! Therefore I shall send you into exile beyond Dammeseq,” said יהוה Strength of hosts – His Name.”

Isayah 58:11-14, “YHWH will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat; (strengthen), your bones. You will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And those of you will rebuild the old waste places; you will raise up the foundations of many generations; and you will be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In; If you turn away your foot from breaking the Sabbath: from doing your pleasure; your own business, your own pleasure, on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight; the holy day of YHWH honorable, and will honor Him by not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor engaging in idle conversation: Then you will find your joy in YHWH; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Yaaqob your father, for the mouth of YHWH has spoken it.”
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
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#17
I would say His offering was accepted because it was from faith therefore, better than the ne from the corrupt nature..one is a pleasing arome the other is not:
I do not think it fits into Hebrews 11 context... All people in examples did something because they had faith. Their actions were not just somehow "sanctified" by faith.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
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#18
I do not think it fits into Hebrews 11 context... All people in examples did something because they had faith. Their actions were not just somehow "sanctified" by faith.

I think scripture interprets scripture, If scripture says it was by Faith, then it was by Faith.

Hebrews tells us abels offering was 'by' faith he had to act in faith in order to offer in faith. Therefore his offering was accepted. Unlike Cains.
It was by faith..he offered up.. and it was commended to him as righteousness.

If their offerings or doing something by faith was not from faith it would not be 'sanctified, it would be unholy.
 

Hizikyah

Senior Member
Aug 25, 2013
11,634
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#19
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]James 2:14-26, “14 My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him. 15, "And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, 16, "but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? 17, "So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. 18, "But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works. 19, "You believe that Yah is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder! 20, "But do you wish to know, O foolish man, that the belief without the works is dead? 21, "Was not Aḇraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitsḥaq his son on the slaughter-place? 22, "Do you see that the belief was working with his works, and by the works the belief was perfected? 23, "And the Scripture was filled which says, “Aḇraham believed Yah, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.” And He called him, “he who loves Yah. 24, "You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone. 25, "In the same way, was not Raḥaḇ the whore also declared right by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.”[/FONT]
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
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#20
I think the fact that Cain went on to kill Abel indicates Cain was not of good intent.

i think Abel was obedient to what GOD had asked of them both and offered Faithfully.

Tbh I think there is a lot more going on than revealed to us because we need not know all but that which we are to learn from.


If GOD asks us to give fruit let us give fruit.. If GOD ask us to give bread let us give bread.

If GOD tells us not to eat fruit of a certain tree let us not eat..

If GOD tells us to listen to His Son let us listen to Him.

Heavenly Father knows best and His Word and Authority is absolute.

we know there is a rebellion... let us be saints.