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Gen. 4:, He says nothing about the slaying of an animal, or the shedding of blood.
Leviticus 2: gives the specification, and it will be seen that Cain's offering of the fruit of
the ground is nearer to the bloodless minchah than was Abel's. The excellency of Abel's
offering therefore seems to arise from another origin. The cause of the acceptance of
Abel's offering and the rejection of Cain's is found in the character of the offerers rather
than their offering. Abel's gift was accepted because he was "righteous"; Cain's was
rejected because he was wicked. The same principle is found in the words of the Lord in
Matt. 5: 23, 24:--
"If therefore thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that the brother
hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
Here is the case of Cain and Abel, Cain's offering was rejected because God could not
bear witness that the offerer was righteous.
Let us look at the reference to Cain and Abel in I John 3: What is the theme of this
chapter? The structure makes it very clear that John is urging a practical manifestation of
righteousness and love upon those who have believed.
I John 3: 1-18.
A | 1, 2. The Father's love to us.
B | 3-9. Distinguishing mark between God's children
and the devil's.--Righteousness.
B | 10-17. Distinguishing mark between God's children
and the wicked one's.--Love.
A | 18. Our love to brethren.
The member B is the one that contains the reference to Cain, and we will give that
in detail.
I John 3: 10-17.
B
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e | 10, 11. "In this" are manifested the children of God and of the devil.
f | 12. Cain slew his brother.
g | 13. The world's hate.
h | 14, 15. No murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
e | 16-. "In this" we perceive the love of God.
f | -16. Lay down lives for brethren.
g | 17-. The world's good.
h | -17. No compassion. How abideth the love of God in him?
The two seeds are characterized by their deeds; the emphasis is not put upon the
righteousness which is upon faith without works, but the righteousness which is "done"
and manifested. The apostle says:--