Abel The Righteous

by N/A | Category: N/a | Nov 1951

This is how the Lord Jesus makes reference to this godly person in Matthew 23.35. Speaking to the scribes and Pharisees He said, He would send "prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar."

John the apostle in his first epistle (3.12) also bears testimony to the righteous character of Abel and says, "Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous."

Perhaps all of us are drawn towards Abel with a sense of love and sympathy on account of what seems to us his brief appearance on the historical page of Scripture, and his tragic end brought about by the sinfulness of his brother Cain. Cain, the first man born into this world, has a sad record. Through his self-will and rejection of the way of God his offering of the fruit of the ground was rejected, and he became his brother's murderer.

The words of Eve at the birth of Seth would seem to indicate that God had a special purpose regarding righteous Abel. She said, "God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him" (Genesis 4.25). Centuries later it was written of God, "He sought a godly seed" (Malachi 2.15), and the great adversary was here commencing the work of destroying this godly seed-a work in which he continued so steadfastly until The Righteous One came, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom through the men of Israel Satan caused to be betrayed and murdered.

We want to ask, wherein lay the real difference between the brothers, Cain and Abel? It appears clear that the difference lay in this, that Abel heard and obeyed the voice of God, whereas Cain had neither an ear for that voice, nor a heart willing to obey. We may profitably note what is said of them in Hebrews 11.4. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts : and through it he being dead yet speaketh."

It was by faith that Abel offered his lambs. He had heard a message or saying from God and had acted upon it. This is what is implied in the words " by faith," as we may glean from Romans 10.17, which says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (A.v.). Adam and Eve, who had been clothed by God in garments of skin after their fall from innocence, were instructed by God concerning the manner in which they should approach Him, and would probably pass on that instruction from God to their sons. These are found bringing offerings unto God as recorded in Genesis 4., but it is evident that Cain rejected the divine way of approach to God, which was by sacrifice and blood-a means which implied acknowledgement of sin and its consequences, but Abel "brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (Genesis 4.4).

How important then is this matter of hearing and obeying the voice of God! Cain went out from the presence of the LORD rejecting God's way and also God's pleadings. He is the type of myriads who have settled down in this godless world without God, of whom Jude writes, "Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain." Let us seek with diligence to be like Abel the righteous, who, having heard the word of God, obeyed, and "had witness borne to him that be was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh."

N/A | Nov 1951
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