Hebrews 11:4

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

a. NLT: It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

b. NIV: By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

c. YLT:  By faith a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, he being dead, doth yet speak.

d. Amplified Bible: [Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.

1.”By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…”

a. By faith [4102 * pistis] [Strong: from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

1). The words “by faith” show us that there was previous instruction. Romans 10:17 declares, “Faith comes by hearing faith, and hearing by the word of God.” Probably that previous instruction involved the events of the first sacrifice in Genesis 3:21.

a). Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

b). The “coats of skins” were from the animals of the first sacrifice that the Lord did to cover their sin and their nakedness.

c). Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

b. Abel [6 * Abel] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (1893); Abel, the son of Adam:--Abel.]

c. offered [4374 * prosphero] [Strong: from 4314 and 5342 (including its alternate); to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat:--bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.]

d. unto God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).

e. a more excellent [4118 * pleistos] [Zodhiates: The greatest, very great, the most]  [or 4119 * pleion] [Zodhiates: More.] [Strong: more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion:--X above, + exceed, more excellent, further, (very) great(-er), long(-er), (very) many, greater (more) part, + yet but.]

f. sacrifice [2378 * thusia] [Strong: from 2380; sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively):--sacrifice.]

g. than [3844 * para] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

h. Cain [2535 * Kain] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (7014); Cain, (i.e. Cajin), the son of Adam:--Cain.]

1). Abel’s sacrifice was done by faith, while Cain’s offering was not. Abel was following instructions, Cain was doing is own thing.

a). Genesis 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.

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:

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

2. “…by which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”

a. by [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

b. which [3739 * hos] [Strong: including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. he obtained witness [3140 * martureo] [Strong: from 3144; to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively):--charge, give (evidence), bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.]

d. that he was [1511 * einai] [Strong: present infinitive from 1510; to exist:--am, was. come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was.]

e. righteous [1342 * dikaios] [Strong: from 1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):--just, meet, right(-eous).]

1). The fact that in this sacrifice Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous” shows this was blood sacrifice.

a). Arthur Pink: “First, that in order for a sinner to stand before a thrice holy God, he needed a covering. Second, that which was of human manufacturing was worthless, (the “fig leaves” Genesis 3:21). Third, that God himself must provide the requisite covering. Fourth, that the necessary covering could only be obtained by death, by blood-shedding.”

b). Genesis 4:3-5 And in process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

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:

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

(1) Notice closely what is said in this verse, Abel offered his sacrifice in “faith”. Faith always requires previous instruction as it says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” There had to be previous instruction to Cain and Abel regarding sacrifices for Abel’s to be offered in “faith”. Notice also that when Abel offered his sacrifice of “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” in faith, that Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous”. This sacrifice was a sacrifice for atonement because righteousness was the goal and result. This also implies the animals had to be killed and their blood shed. The shedding of blood was a requirement in these sacrifices.

2). Some Bible scholars believe that when  the Scripture says in Genesis 4:4 “…And the LORD God had respect unto Abel and his offering…”, and also in Hebrews where  it says “…God testifying of his gifts…”, that God showed His acceptance by having fire come down out of heaven to consume the sacrifice. Though it is not for sure, there are Scriptures that bolster the belief. Judges 6:21; 13:19, 20; 1 Chronicles 21:36.

a). The most well known example of fire consuming the sacrifice is Elijah’s offering:

(1) 1 Kings 18:36-39 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

18:37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

3). Cain is a type of false Christianity whose carnal non-Christian characteristics will be relevant until the second coming of Christ. Cain was no unbeliever because he brought an offering, but a bloodless one. Scofield Reference Bible: Cain is a type of the religious natural man, who believes in God and in religion, but after his own will, and who rejects redemption by blood. He also hates true Christianity: 1 John 3:12, 13 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

4 ). The only “works” we have reference to are their “offerings”.

3. “...God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

a. God [Strong: 2316  theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

b. testifying [Strong: 3140 martureo mar-too-reh'-o from 3144; to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively):--charge, give (evidence), bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.]

c. of [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

d. his [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. gifts [Strong: 1435 doron do'-ron a present; specially, a sacrifice:--gift, offering.]

f. and 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. by [Strong: 1223  dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

h. it [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

i. he being dead [Strong: 599 apothnesko ap-oth-nace'-ko from 575 and 2348; to die off (literally or figuratively):--be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).]

j. yet [Strong: 2089: eti et'-ee perhaps akin to 2094; "yet," still (of time or degree):--after that, also, ever, (any) further, (t-)henceforth (more), hereafter, (any) longer, (any) more(-one), now, still, yet.]

k. speaketh [Strong: 2980  laleo lal-eh'-o a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

1). Genesis 4:9, 10 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.