As God addresses Cain and the green-eyed monster on his fallen face, God says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” All we know for sure is that Cain did something wrong concerning the offering he brought in contrast to the offering that his brother Abel brought to the Lord. The question is one of those that expects a positive answer. If it were in the indicative mood, rather than the interrogative, it would say “you will be accepted if you do well.” Cain was the firstborn son and had responsibilities regarding leadership in the family. Wenham suggests that Cain’s failure has something to do with God’s later election of the younger sons over the older ones. He says, “In other words, Cain, the firstborn, has special responsibilities, especially in worship. If he carries them out, he will enjoy the privileges associated with his primacy.”[1] If he doesn’t carry them out, the mantel will fall to someone else.

Some preach this passage to encourage their listeners to “do” something good. The idea is that God accepts us based on doing good, but I’m convinced that this passage is far deeper than that. It’s a matter of the heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7, we read, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Jesus focuses our attention on our inward character also. He tells us in Matthew 5:21-22 what the law says and then contrasts it to what He says: The Law says, “‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” The blood sacrifice that Abel offered stands for the fact that Abel accepted the truth of his sinfulness and recognized it would take the blood of an innocent victim to regain right standing with God. There is nothing wrong with the offerings that Cain brought except that they represented the works of his hands. He thought God’s acceptance would be gained by doing what he thought was “good.” The only “works” that God calls for from all mankind is trusting in the blood sacrifice of the innocent victim as a propitiation for their sins. Jesus made this clear in his address to the religious leaders who wanted to “do” something for God. Jesus said in John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

In the book of Hebrews, we read about the contrast between Abel’s offering and Cain’s offering. Hebrews 11:4 tells us, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” There is an intimate connection between the sacrifice that Abel offered and the basis of the offering. That connection is “faith.” But it isn’t faith in faith; it’s faith in the atoning work of the blood of the lamb! Since Jesus taught that the Old Testament Scriptures were about himself, I see this as many old commentators do. Although he doesn’t profess to subscribe to this view himself, Don Stewart seems to understand it well. On the Blue Letter Bible website, he says, “Many see in this episode (The sacrifices of Cain and Abel) the contrast between the God-revealed doctrine of blood sacrifice versus humanity trying to please God with their self-efforts. Cain’s offering is reminiscent of Adam and Eve covering themselves with fig leaves after their sin in the Garden. It is humanity attempting to work their way into a relationship with God instead of leaning on God’s grace.”[2] One final thought in this longer than usual devotion. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

[1] Wenham, Gordon J. 1987. Genesis 1–15. Vol. 1. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[2] https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_714.cfm