Eleventh Sunday after Trinity (2024)

Gen 4:1-15

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ we have in our Old Testament lesson today the fist account of murder, which flows from jealousy and is not received well by Cain who did not have proper attitude towards God in his heart, and brought for his offering a portion that was not received favorably whereas Abel’s was. This caused significant tension. There is much to learn from this brief passage for us as Christians, not only about our offerings, but our faith, and attitude, and how sin can lay hold of us and ensnare us in the Satan’s devices.

What’s in a Name?

They hoped Cain would restore them.

There’s a bit of wordplay going on with Cain’s name, which means to acquire, and what Adam and Eve hoped was that they had acquired the savior, the offspring that seed that would restore to them to God’s grace and set right the sin that they had committed. So when their second son was born, and there’s a possiblity of them being twins, but

Abel means vanity, or worthless.

They only needed one son to restore them to God’s grace. So when Cain goes to work with Adam, he is following in his father’s footsteps to take up the care of the earth whereas Abel is entrusted with the livestock. We knew that sin had caused Adam and Eve to turn against each other, and lie to God, but now we see it in their shortcomings as parents. This is why

It was surprising that Abel’s offering was received.

He wasn’t the one that they expected to receive God’s praise and recognition, that should have been Cain! Now both sacrifices were types of sacrifices that were offered, the text does lift up Abel’s offering more than Cain’s by describing that Abel brought the best of what God had given him, however, the book of Hebrews tells us that

Abel’s offering was given in faith.

Cain could have brought a more costly sacrifice, but Cain lacked faith for what are the sacrifices of God that are not despised. A broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, God will not despise. Abel didn’t have faith in his offerings, but here was a brother who was considered an extra, and useless. Yet brings an offering before God that’s humility.

The Deadly Consequences

Pride easily turns to wrath.

This is just as true today as it was then. For you can injure a man any number of ways, but to injure their pride is rouse a horrible beast that will not let go of the offense easily. This serves as an important reminder for all of us throughout the ages. For it’s not just men that give into wrath, women do as well.

Cain was warned by God.

God didn’t want for him to continue down this road that came through anger and wrath that would lead to far worse consequences. Throughout the Scriptures there are clear warnings against anger and we see why in the 4th chapter of Genesis. It is no good if we just let sin reign in our bodies, and that is the challenge that all of us face. Why is it that we can know the right thing and yet find ourselves drawn into wickedness and evil and rebellion against God as we forsake what is good. So Cain commits an atrocity, He murders his brother who had already been considered a worthless son, because God heard his prayer and not Cain’s.

Like Adam, Cain tries to hide his sin.

God already knows the answer, just like He knew that Adam was hiding, and so he asks the question to give Cain an opportunity to repent, which Cain casts aside and instead continues to remain in His sin, thinking that by so doing he can get away with it. This is terrible effect of sin. Sin is a condition that is passed down from generation to generation. The Scriptures were written with a purpose that we might see Jesus who is that promised savior.

Foreshadowing Christ

The pharisees were considered the greatest of the Jews.

They had great pride in their works and thought of themselves quite highly that they kept the law of God better than the masses who dwelt in sin. They were like their father Abraham, and therefore would receive greater rewards than the others. That works so long as you have someone worse than you that you can look down at, and that is why

They despised Jesus.

For Jesus is without sin, and he fulfilled the Law not just in action, but even in His heart. For while He would chastise people for their sins, He still loved them, and ate with them, because He desired their salvation. Whereas the Pharisees highlighted their goodness by refusing to be near them, CHrist dwelt among them, that He might take on the burden and consquence of sin that they might be forgiven.

Jesus fulfilled the Law out of Love.

It was love not only the Father’s love for creation that sent Christ to earth, Jesus love is show in what he went through for our sake. Even though angels sang His praises in heaven above, and he suffered no want, Jesus showed how great his love is for us. .

Jesus even became flesh.

Jesus joined us in this world, and in this life, he knew what it is to have a body that suffers pain, and want and sorrows, He knows what it is to be mistreated and harassed and abused, and to suffer at the hands of those whom He considered His brothers according to the flesh.

Sons of Cain

We share in Cain’s sin.

For our fathers are earthly fathers and the sin of Adam was passed on to us, and we are born in Adam’s image. This is why Christ had no earthly Father and was born of the virgin Mary. The same seed of sin that dwelt inside of Cain dwells inside of you.

You can murder with your heart.

Cain’s problem didn’t start when he lifted his hands to slay his brother in the field, it began with the pride, the anger, the hatred that he felt towards his brother and it finally manifested itself as murder. Make no mistake

Hatred kills faith. (Quote 1 John 3:11-15)

English Standard Version Chapter 3

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

This is important to remember in an age that embraces hatred and anger and peddles to win the sinful hearts of people at the polls. It is in the very air we breathe, and if you think it hasn’t affected you, how did you respond the last time someone said something you didn’t agree with? Was it with anger or maybe pride that you aren’t like those morons? It’s all around and its still here thousands of years later.

Sons of God

Christ showed us love.

He could have done all of those things, He could have operated towards us in pride, but Jesus humbled himself, which means that He thought of others as being more important than himself. That is why He took upon himself our flesh for even though He is True God of True God, and light of light. He came to save us.

The blood of Jesus covers our sins.

The Blood of Jesus doesn’t cry out for vengenace but rather for God to show us mercy for our sins that we might have the forgiveness of sins in spite of our own wickedness and failings. This is better than the blood of Abel.

God has given to us a mark/sign.

Like he placed upon Cain, now Cain’s mark was a gift that people might not slay him for his wickedness, but God covered you in the death of His son, and this is why the mark of the cross is placed upon your forehead and your heart on the day you were baptized.

In baptism, God claimed you.

God marked you as his own dear child who had the forgiveness of sins. Cain was driven from the presence of God for Abel’s blood cried for vengenace, but the blood of Jesus, cries out for your salvation, that you might be brought close to God and be in His kingdom.

Our Sacrifices

They flow from faith.

That is why Abel’s sacrifice was well received and His prayers heard whereas the Lord had no regard for Cain’s. We see here from the earliest chapters of Genesis that sacrifices and offerings are part of the faith.

Why serve my neighbor?

Well because your neighbor isn’t worthless, they are created in God’s image and they need your good works. God gave to you different gifts and talents that you might serve your neighbor.

Why offer up my money?

Here they didn’t give up money, but out of what they had received from God. These offerings were given in thanks for what God had given to us, and then also to ensure that the ministry of the Word continued. Not only for ourselves, but also for our neighbors. Each would give according to the measure that God had blessed them with.

Why give up time?

Why set aside time on a Sunday morning? Why not use it to get ahead to accomplish more, etc. Why not spend more time with family? There are many reasons that people give to not come, because at the heart of it people misunderstand what church is about. It’s about the gifts of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation that are given by God through His Word.

So my brothers and sisters in Christ, may we not elevate ourselves above our neighbors and think of them as being worthless or useless, and let pride rule our hearts and lead us into all manner of evil. Rather let us look at Christ who lowered himself for our sake and whose blood has been shed for your sins, but He cries out for your forgiveness, which has been given to you through the waters of Holy Baptism that you might stand before the throne of GOd on the day of judgment with hope.