Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother… I. IT WAS THE MURDER OF ONE BROTHER BY ANOTHER. We should have thought that the members of this small family could have lived on amicable terms with each other. We should never have dreamed of murder in their midst. See here: — 1. The power of envy. 2. The ambition of selfishness. 3. The quick development of passion. II. IT WAS OCCASIONED BY ENVY IN THE RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT OF LIFE. Brothers ought to rejoice in the moral success of each other. Envy in the church is the great cause of strife. Men envy each other's talents. They murder each other's reputation. They kill many of tender spirit. You can slay your minister by a look — a word — as well as by a weapon. Such conduct is: — 1. Cruel. 2. Reprehensible. 3. Astonishing. 4. Frequent. III. THAT IT WAS AVENGED BY HEAVEN. 1. By a convicting question. 2. By an alarming curse. 3. By a wandering life. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. |
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