Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Cain's Sacrifice

Through the years I have heard much speculation about why Cain's sacrifice was unacceptable to God. Some give his choice of sacrifice as faulty and others may even say that God rejected it since crops are the works of his hands..etc...

The only one that ever made sense is that the rejection came due to God's ability to read Cain's heart, although no one really gave any other scriptural reasoning to this.

Gina, however, seems to have given the simple explanation with proof-text....


Gen 4:3-8

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

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:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.


And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

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.

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.


Referencing:

Matt 5: 21-24

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:


But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;


Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

......and......
1 John 4: 20-21
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.


Simply put, Cain's sacrifice was rejected because he did not love his brother. Once his sacrifice was rejected, his hatred turned to murder.

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