The Narrow Path Ministries

Why was Ables offering more acceptable than Cains? Were they already told what an acceptable offering was?

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Gen 4:4 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:

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

The text does not say that it was Cain's offering which was unacceptable. It was Cain's sin. The text says that God did not accept "Cain and his offering". What did God say to Cain when Cain was angry. Did He say, "If you would only offer the right kind of offering, you would be accepted"? No! God asked, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin is couching at your door, but you must master it."

Right from the beginning, God's purpose for man was that he work righteousness and master sin. That is the very reason Christ died.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself endured our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Titus 2:14 [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Hebrews 9:26 ... He has appeared once for all at the end of the age to do away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

Gen 4:7 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.

So God did not respect Cains offering bcause of his sin? Up until this point there is no mention of Cains sin, only that he was a tiller of the ground.

Is the above passage 4:7 stating that because of Cains sins that he is not doing well i.e. his crops are not plentiful or abundant. Cains sin becomes apparent after this when he takes his brothers life, but up to this point it's not mentioned. Cains reaction to God not respecting his offering causes a sinful reation so I guess that other actions of Cains not mentioned caused God to respect Ables and not Cains.

it seems safe to assume that there was something improper in cain's attitude in presenting his offering. maybe he didnt bring his best, or did so grudgingly. i agree with paidion that it had nothing to do with the fact that he offered veggies vs. meat. God discerned something in his heart that wasn't right; i guess it is irrelevant what it was.

TK

So is there any signifigance to the fact that future offerings by the Jews were blood sacrafices.

well, jews could present grain and drink offerings as well, couldnt they?

TK

well, jews could present grain and drink offerings as well, couldnt they?


Only if they could'nt afford an animal.

Is the above passage 4:7 stating that because of Cains sins that he is not doing well i.e. his crops are not plentiful or abundant.

I find this idea incredible. Why would God accept Cain just because his crops were plentiful?

Yahweh clearly connects not doing well to sin ---- not to crop failure. He said to Cain:

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

In order to be accepted by God, Cain had to master sin ----- not learn better methods of agriculture.