The Two Offerings
H. Bonar, D. D. Genesis 4:1-16 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.… The act mentioned here is evidently not one, but a series of acts, as if it had been said, "they were in the habit of bringing." Here let us mark such things as the following: 1. Both worship professedly the same Jehovah. 2. Both worship Him at the same place. 3. Both come at the same appointed times and seasons. 4. Both bring an offering in their hands, thereby acknowledging the allegiance which was due to Jehovah.Thus far they are alike. But now the difference begins. 1. Abel comes as a sinner, having no claim upon God, and feeling that it is only as a sinner that God can deal with him. Cain approaches as a creature only; not owning sin, though willing to acknowledge the obligations of creaturehood. 2. Abel comes acknowledging death to he his due; for he brings a lamb, and slays it before the Lord, as a substitute for himself. Cain recognizes no sentence of death; he brings only his fruits, as if his grapes or his figs were all that he deemed God entitled to. His offering might cost him more toil than his brother's, but it spoke not of death. It was meant to repudiate the ideas of sin and death, and salvation by a substitute. 3. Abel comes with the blood in his hand, feeling that he dared not appear before God without it; that it would not be safe for him to venture nigh, nor honourable for God to receive him otherwise. Cain brings no blood — doubtless scorning his brother's religion as "the religion of the shambles"; a religion which increased instead of removing creation's pangs. 4. Abel comes resting on the promise — the promise which revealed and pledged the rich grace of God. Cain comes as one that needs no promise and no grace. His is what men call "the religion of nature"; and in that religion there is no room, no need for these. (H. Bonar, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. WEB: The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man with Yahweh's help."