Jesus: Our Elder Brother

1 John 3:11-16

I. The message which you have heard from the beginning—love one another.

a. “by this the world will know that you are my disciples”

b. This is evidence that you have passed from the dominion of death into the dominion of life.

II. Not as Cain.

a. Slaughtered his brother, why?

b. because his own deeds were evil, while his brothers were good. What made Cain’s deeds evil? Why did God not look upon Cain’s tribute with favor? It had nothing to do with the substance of his sacrifice; grain offerings were perfectly acceptable. It was the manner in which he offered his tribute. While Abel offered up his tribute as an act of trust in the faithful provision of Yahweh, Cain made his offering with animosity towards his brother festering in his heart.

Matthew 5:21–26 ESV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘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; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

It is quite possible that Abel made his offering both for himself and his family (that is, his parents and brother).