The World Hates True Worship - Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV)

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

The story of Cain and Abel is the first of its kind in many ways.  It is first ...

1. Because it is the first official worship service. 
2. Because it is the first mention of sacrifice. 
3. Because it is the first sons recorded in the Bible.
4. Because it is the first time God is pleased with worship.
5. Because it is the first I’ve God is displeased with worship.
6. Because it is the first time a brother is recorded hating his brother. 
7. Because it is the first time a murder is committed on the earth. 

Abel is only mention in the original story in Genesis 4; in the Gospels; and in Hebrews.   In the original story we are only told that Abel offered a sacrifice of his flock.  Cain offered something from his fields.   Here is Christ using Abel as a positive example to condemn the religious leaders for their wanting to also take innocent blood: 

Matthew 23:35 (ESV)

so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

Abel came to God in faith.   This si the reason he is being mentioned here in Hebrews 11.  Cain came to God with an evil heart:

1 John 3:12 (ESV)

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.

Cain is mentioned in Jude as well, as an example of someone who worshipped for the wrong reasons:

Jude 1:11 (ESV)

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Abel came to God in faith and humility to offer to God seeking God’s grace.   Cain came to get by and find gain for himself in worship.   Abel’s behavior condemned Cain and for that Cain killed him.  This will always happen.  Righteous behavior cannot be tolerated by evil hearts. Note what John went on to say in 1 John about the world, that patterns itself after Cain:

1 John 3:13 (ESV)

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

Abel worshiped God in faith.  Cain in flesh.  Flesh hates faith.   Abel was not martyred for his political skills, his shepherding skills, or his intellectual skills.   Abel was killed because he worshipped God by faith and that could not be tolerated by someone who worshipped for his own self internet’s.