Why did Cain murder Abel according to 1 John 3:12? Setting the Context “Do not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” (1 John 3:12) What the Verse States Directly • Cain was “of the evil one.” • Cain’s works were evil. • Abel’s works were righteous. • The clash between evil and righteousness led Cain to murder. Three Interwoven Reasons Cain Murdered Abel 1. Alliance with the Evil One • 1 John 3:8 calls the devil “the one who has been sinning from the beginning.” • John 8:44 identifies the devil as “a murderer from the beginning.” • Cain mirrored the nature of the one he followed. 2. Evil Works Exposed by Righteous Works • Proverbs 29:10: “Men of bloodshed hate the blameless…” • When Abel’s righteousness stood beside Cain’s evil, Cain felt condemned (John 3:20). • Hatred turned violent because evil refuses correction. 3. Jealous, Unrepentant Heart • Genesis 4:5 records Cain’s rage after God rejected his offering. • Hebrews 11:4 praises Abel’s offering given “by faith,” highlighting Cain’s lack of faith and obedience. • Instead of heeding God’s warning (Genesis 4:7), Cain nursed envy until it matured into murder (James 1:14-15). The Offerings Compared • Abel offered “the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” (Genesis 4:4). • Cain offered “some of the fruits of the soil” (Genesis 4:3). • The text emphasizes quality and heart attitude: Abel’s best versus Cain’s token. • God regarded the heart attitude as well as the gift (1 Samuel 16:7). A Thread Woven Through Scripture • Jude 11 warns against “the way of Cain,” tying his story to later rebellion. • 1 John 3:15 equates hatred with murder, showing the inner seed is deadly before the act occurs. • Matthew 23:35 places Abel among the righteous martyrs, confirming his innocence. Living the Lesson • Righteous living will often expose evil, provoking hostility (1 John 3:13). • Envy left unchecked grows into hatred; hatred, if unrestrained, bears the fruit of violence. • Aligning with God and offering Him our best—both in worship and in daily conduct—guards the heart from the path Cain chose. |
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