Heroes of faith – Hebrews 11
ABEL: A BETTER
SACRIFICE (HEBREWS
11:4)
Penge Baptist Church
6th July 2014
Context
• Adam and Eve the original humans, created by God to
live in the Garden of Eden, in perfect communion with
him
• Due to disobeying God they were banished from the
garden, and the ground was cursed
• “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will
eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles
for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of
your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will
return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)
The two brothers
• Cain the firstborn, Abel came later
– Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave
birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought
forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:12)
• Differing vocations in the world outside Eden
– Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. (Genesis 4:2)
• Brothers often have difficulties in Scripture!
The two sacrifices
• “By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did”
• In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as
an offering to the LORD.
• But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
• The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain
and his offering he did not look with favour.
Abel’s better sacrifice
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“By faith he was commended as a righteous man” (Hebrews 11:4)
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel
6:17)
What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his
brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were
evil and his brother’s were righteous. (1 John 3:12)
The horror of murder
• Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the
field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his
brother Abel and killed him. (Genesis 4:8)
• “And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that
has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel
to the blood of Zechariah…” (Matthew 23:35)
Abel still speaks
• No recorded words in Scripture!
• “And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”
• “Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the
ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the
ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s
blood from your hand.”
• Abel’s sacrifice foreshadows Jesus.
What can we learn?
• Is our sacrifice “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his
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flock”, indicative of faith and righteousness?
Are we Cain or Abel – or both?
Are we tempted by evil like Cain?
Can we truly love our brother or sister?
What inspiring memories of faith shall we leave behind?
And remember Jesus’ words
• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not
murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell
you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to
judgment….. therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and
there remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your
brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)