And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord . And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 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:
Genesis 4:1-4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.4.1-4.KJV
Why Did the Lord have respect for Abel's offering?
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.
Hebrews 11:1-2, 4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.11.1-4.KJV
It would be an understatement to say Abel brought his best when bringing an offering to the Lord. He obviously had the right mindset when serving the Lord because his works proved it, one brother will get into the kingdom and one will not. Why? because he was wicked and found to be a vagabond upon the earth. Living a life contrary to the word of God. Both brothers brought an offering; however, Cain's was not acceptable to God. Remember we are to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.
What was Cain's Reaction After His Offering Was Rejected By God?
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.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:5-12 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.4.5-12.KJV
Now, we see Cain is angry; yet the Lord warned him about sin and gave him the chance to repent just as he does for all of mankind. The Lord is slow to anger, gracious, merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth. However, Cain continued to entertain those negative thoughts in his mind and committed murder. Yes, he thought about it before committing the very act. We do the same with our words and deeds this very day by carrying unresolved guilt, anger, and resentment for something that was done to us or by another person. We all know sin is the transgression of the law (1John 3:4). Lastly, we see Cain was unrepentant by his answer, “Am I my brother's Keeper”, his response was condescending and arrogant. Is this the fruit of the spirit a true believer is supposed to display? I think not. Do we not understand that the eyes of the Lord run to and forth through the earth? Yes, angels report directly to God concerning the affairs of men, whether they be good or evil, everything we do or say is reported to the Father. God already knew what Cain did before he was asked of his evil deed; yet he chose to conceal his crime. We will be held accountable for every idle word spoken when we stand before Jesus on judgment day.
What is the true message of God?
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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.
1 John 3:11-12 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.3.11-12.KJV
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.1.5-10.KJV
Herein lies the difference in the children of light and the children of darkness. The word of God leads the servant of God to love their neighbor as themselves and not think evil towards his brother, not envying one another, not speaking lies toward one another nor sowing discord amongst brethren. Wherefore, my brothers and sisters, a true servant of God is swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath (James 1:19).
Put Away From You All Malice And Evil Speaking.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Ephesians 4:26-27, 29, 31 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.4.26-31.KJV
Can a man love God and hate his brother!
Something Is not Adding Up!
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.
1 John 4:7-21 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.4.7-21.KJV
Wait, this thinking is backward and wrong brothers and sisters. The bible explicitly teaches we should love our neighbor as ourselves; yet we constantly see violent crimes committed, robbery, lying, stealing, gossip, and then say praise God for He is worthy to be praised! For when we were yet sinners, God gave his only begotten Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. He was despised, rejected, smitten of God and afflicted. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him not. He was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed. If my brother sin against me, we are to forgive because if we do not our heavenly Father will not forgive us of our trespasses (Mark 11:24-26; Matthew 5: 22-24; Matthew 18:21-22).
Don’t be like the Pharisees who were self-righteous and despised others.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:9-14 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.18.9-14.KJV
How then shall we walk with the Lord?
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-18, 22, 24-26 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/gal.5.16-26.KJV
But wait! my brother continues to sin against me!
What am I to do?
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.18.21-22.KJV
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.
Matthew 5:23-24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.23-24.KJV
Love Never Fails!
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:1, 4-8 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.13.1-8.KJV
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 1:5, 7-10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/2pe.1.5-10.KJV
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/ecc.12.13-14.KJV
Peace in Jesus mighty name!
