Jesus is better than Abel

Read: Hebrews 11:4

Note: Pagkatapos i-define ng author kung ano ang pananampalataya, nagsimula na siyang magbanggit ng historical figure, ito ang mga men of faith.

• At ang una sa kanyang list ay si Abel. Nabasa natin ang simpleng detalye ng author, na parehas nagbigay ng sacrifice si Abel at Cain sa Diyos, subalit ang malaking pagkakaiba, ang offering lang ni Abel ang tinanggap ng Diyos.
• Cain was a worker of the ground, while Abel was a keeper of the sheep.
• Malinaw sa account na parehas silang nagbigay ng offering or sacrifice, subalit ang malaking pagkakaiba, hindi tinanggap ng Diyos kay Cain, tinanggap ng Diyos ang kay Abel.
• Ito ang malaking pagkakaiba ng offering ni Cain at Abel.
• Kay Cain, “the fruit of the ground”, pero kay Abel “also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And Yahweh had regard for Abel and for his offering;”
• Abel’s sacrifice was based on sacrificial system that God instituted after the fall.
• At ginawa niya ito sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya sa pangakong tagapag-ligtas

[John Calvin] – “The sacrifice of Abel was more acceptable than that of his brother only because it was sanctified by faith.... Where did his pleasing come from other than that he had a heart purified by faith?”

Abel is better than Cain

Note: Malinaw sa ating text na tinanggap ng Diyos ang sacrifice ni Abel dahil ito ay pag-sunod sa halimbawa na ginawa ng Diyos, ang pagdadamit kila Eba at Adan ng balat ng hayop.

• At dahil dito, nagalit si Cain kay Abel, at ito na ang simula ng katuparan ng Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
• Ito ang pag-aaway ng seed ni Satanas at nang binhi ng babae.
• We may say that Abel was the first Christian martyr, in the sense that he died by faith in God’s redemptive promise.
• Abel was superior to Cain not on the basis of moral righteousness, but because of his faith in the coming Messiah, which was demonstrated through his offering.

Point: We, as believers, are superior to non-believers, not because of anything such as good works, wealth, or social status, but solely because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which we have received through faith alone.

[Sin to Mortify] – May mga panahon na naiisip natin na mas maganda ang kalalagayan ng mga kakilala nating hindi mananampalataya dahil maganda ang katayuan nila sa buhay.

• Nahuhulog tayo sa idea na ang pagiging successful ay pagiging successful sa mga materyal na bagay lamang.

[Gospel Cure] – Ang ibinigay ng Diyos sa atin ay mas higit pa sa lahat ng yaman sa mundo, ibinigay ng Diyos sa atin ang Kanyang mismong Anak upang tayo na makasalanan ay magkaroon muli ng masayang ugnayan sa Kanya. Ito ang pinakamagandang pwedeng mangyari sa isang makasalanan.

Jesus is better than Abel

Note: Ang sabi ng author sa last part ng v. 4, “And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

• First, “he still speaks” in the sense of crying out for justice.
• Genesis 4:10: “And the LORD said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.’”
• Every sin must be punished, for the wages of sin is death.
• Secondly, “he still speaks” as a shadow of Christ.
• Hebrews 12:24: “And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
• If Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance, which brought despair to Cain, Genesis 4:11, “And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.”
• The blood of Jesus gives forgiveness and life.
• Westcott observes,"The blood of Christ pleads with God for forgiveness and speaks peace to man. The blood, that is, the abiding virtue of Christ's offered life, is in heaven; inseparable from the glorified King and Priest.”

Point: The blood of Christ, rather than demanding justice, brings forgiveness, grace, mercy, and eternal life, because He bore the full wrath and justice of God on our behalf.

[Sin to Mortify] – Ang pagkakaroon ng hindi mapagpatawad na puso at pagiging laging napupoot.

• Ito ang kasalanan ni Abel, 1 John 3:12, “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.”
• Ang pagiging magalitin ay taliwas sa awa at kapatawaran na ipinagkaloob ni Jesu-Cristo.
• Being quick-tempered is contrary to the mercy and forgiveness granted by Jesus Christ.

[Gospel Cure] – Pero sa kabila ng ating kahinaan at kasalanan ng pagiging magagalitin at hindi nagpapatawad na puso, ang ebanghelyo ang lunas.

• We can be healed by the blood of Christ that forgives.
• “Families can be reconciled as each confesses his or her sin —as each one owns their part in the breakdown. And I'm not just writing to the Cains who are reading this chapter, but also to the Abels, the man who was a victim of his brother's anger. Abel, of course, died, but you are alive and perhaps living with the pain of someone else's wrong.

Healing is found in the One whose blood offers forgiveness, not judgment. And total forgiveness can be yours in Christ. And if someone approaches you and says, "You know you really hurt me," let them own their feelings. That's where true reconciliation begins.” [When You've Been Wronged: Moving From Bitterness to Forgiveness, Erwin W. Lutzer]

[John MacArthur] – “Like Cain, the ungodly resent the righteous because, through their righteous actions, they expose the false beliefs and wicked practices of those who are evil (cf. Mat_14:3-5; Act_6:8-14; Act_7:51-60).

On the other hand, those who have passed out of death into life (cf. Joh_5:24) are assured of that reality because they love the brethren (cf. 1Jn_4:7; 1Jn_4:12). The new birth (Joh_3:8; Tit_3:5; 1Pe_1:23), which grants life to the spiritually dead (cf. 2Co_5:17; Gal_6:15; Eph_4:24), turns hateful and even murderous attitudes into loving ones (cf. Col_2:11). John therefore reminded his readers that anyone who does not so love has not received spiritual life but abides in the condition of spiritual death.”