What lessons can we learn from Abel and Zechariah's faithfulness in Luke 11:51? Setting the Scene in Luke 11:51 “ ‘from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ ” (Luke 11:51) Jesus sweeps across Israel’s entire history—from Genesis (Abel) to 2 Chronicles (Zechariah)—to show how God esteems faithful witnesses even when the world rejects them. Abel: Faith That Worships God Wholeheartedly • Genesis 4:4: “Abel also brought an offering—fat portions of some of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” • Hebrews 11:4: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did… and by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” Lessons: – Offer God our very best, not leftovers. – Faith-filled obedience pleases God more than outward ritual. – Genuine worship often provokes jealousy from the unrighteous (cf. 1 John 3:12). – God’s commendation outweighs earthly rejection. Zechariah: Faith That Speaks Truth Courageously • 2 Chronicles 24:20–22: “Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest… ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’ … They stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.” Lessons: – The Spirit empowers bold proclamation of God’s word. – Fidelity to truth may cost everything, even life. – Faithfulness includes confronting sin in love, not silence. – The place of worship is not immune to persecution; courage is needed inside as well as outside. Shared Threads Between the Two Witnesses • Both lived by faith and paid with blood. • Their deaths expose humanity’s deep hostility toward righteousness. • God records their faithfulness; their witness “still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). • Their spilled blood cries out for justice, foreshadowing the perfectly innocent blood of Christ (Hebrews 12:24). Practical Takeaways for Us Today – Value God’s praise over human approval. – Bring God the first and finest of every resource, talent, and affection. – Let worship and witness merge: what we offer and what we say must align with God’s truth. – Expect opposition; refuse to be silenced by it (2 Timothy 3:12). – Remember that God vindicates His servants in His time (Romans 12:19). Hope Anchored in Christ’s Ultimate Vindication Abel and Zechariah remind us that faithfulness may be costly, but God never forgets. Their testimony points forward to Jesus, whose own blood secures our forgiveness and guarantees that every act of faithful obedience will be honored when He returns (Revelation 6:9–11). |
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