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NASB | Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act of] faith he still speaks. [Gen 4:3-10] |
Bible Question: Why was Abel's sacrifice better than Cain's? |
Bible Answer: If one would notice in the Genesis account of the incident of Cain and Abel's sacrifice, Abel sacrificed the firstling of his flock, while Cain offered his sacrifice "in the process of time." Abel offered the sacrifice of a ready mind, while Cain offered one out of convenience. The issue then becomes one of the heart. By offering out of a ready mind, Abel manifested an open door to his heart for examination by God. This makes his sacrifice acceptable. By offering a sacrifice when convenient, Cain manifested an open door to his heart, but behind the door he was hiding sin. Notice, the revelation and opportunity God gave Cain. God told Cain, "If you do well, will it not be accepted?" God gave Cain another opportunity. But, Cain fulfilled the second part of God's statement. "If you do not do well, sin lies at the door." One writer said, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me.(Ps 66:18)" Again he said, "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, the man in whose spirit there is no deceitPs 32:2)." Cain proved that he hid hatred in his heart by not regarding God's word in murdering his brother. His sacrifice was not acceptable because his heart was not right. Therefore, he did not offer it by faith. Abel's sacrifice was offered by faith. Always remember, they that have faith are always hated by those who do not. We are warned beware of those that follow after the "way of Cain (Jude 11), for they are spots on our feasts of charity. In other words, they defile the righteous. We are to offer to God a sacrifice out of a pure heart. |