“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.” (1 John 3:12 ESV)
The hostility so prevalent in our society today is unnatural to the created order. During creation, God designed the natural world to be “very good,” and he created man “in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 10). We as humans are now so far removed from the perfection of that original creation that we might be tempted to think that feeling and expressing anger toward one another is normal. But just as death was never intended to be part of life, neither were siblings meant to be hostile rivals.
The goodness of creation did not last long. Our first father, Adam, fell, and all his descendants reaped the consequences of that sin. Cain, as the fallen son of Adam, did not exhibit the good character which God had created in Adam and Eve. He received a nature corrupted by original sin and acted accordingly.
So why did Cain murder his brother? John tells us clearly: “because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Cain’s heart was not right before God, and Abel’s was. Cain coveted the blessing of God which Abel had received for his faith and obedience, and, in the hardness of his heart, killed his brother.
The wickedness of Cain’s actions began much earlier. He did not kill his brother out of the blue, as it were. He had hated Abel in his heart and allowed that hatred to fester. While the murder was the culmination of the sinfulness of Cain’s heart, the beginning was, in all likelihood, a minor frustration. That frustration grew into bitterness, which grew into hatred, which grew into an outright desire to murder, which Cain acted upon when given the opportunity.
Matthew Henry notes three particular aspects of Cain’s sin:
1. It showed that he was as the first-born of the serpent’s seed; even he, the eldest son of the first man, was of the wicked one. He imitated and resembled the first wicked one, the devil. 2. His ill-will had no restraint; it proceeded so far as to contrive and accomplish murder, and that of a near relation, and that in the beginning of the world, when there were but few to replenish it. He slew his brother, v. 12. Sin, indulged, knows no bound. And, 3. It proceeded so far, and had in it so much of the devil, that he murdered his brother for religion’s sake. He was vexed with the superiority of Abel’s service, and envied him the favour and acceptance he had with God. And for these he martyred his brother.
Cain’s actions demonstrate the complete opposite of the command that John had just given to love one another. This murder, which started as a small personal sin that went unaddressed, bore wicked fruit that wreaked havoc, spiritually and physically.
Throughout chapter three of John’s letter, he has expounded on the truth that children of God will act like his children. They will be pure, practice righteousness, and love one another. John’s denouncement of Cain’s wickedness offers a counterexample to make the same point. He is using Cain as the negative exemplar of the actions and operations of the world—self-serving wickedness driven by rivalry and covetousness.
When believers act like Cain, they dishonor Christ, and they damage their profession of faith. The way of Cain is one of destruction. Not only does this destruction affect the life of the individual, but, for those who profess the name of Christ, such behavior brings profound disrepute upon the name of Christ. When Christ and his gospel are proclaimed by those who hate their brothers, it is as if the messenger is committing proclamational suicide.
John focuses so much on a believer’s outward conduct because it cannot be separated from his or her inner beliefs. In some ways, personal conduct is the vehicle by which the gospel is delivered. Of course, the Word of God never returns void, regardless of the mouth from which it is proclaimed, but it is regrettably frequent that a messenger’s wicked behavior hardens the hearts of the hearers.
Cain was of the seed of the devil, and he showed it by murdering his brother. Believers are children of God, and we show it by loving our brothers.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us and giving your Son for us. In response to this love, help us to love one another as an expression of thankfulness to you. As we love our fellow believers, may it demonstrate to the world our identity as servants of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for the ministry of a national church planter, Lohith, as he reaches out to tribal, Hindu-majority communities in South Asia.
- Wednesday: Pray for the Mbingo Baptist Hospital to provide care for those in need in Cameroon.
- Thursday: Pray that missionaries providing biblical counseling resources in Mandarin will provide accurately translated materials.
- Friday: Pray for the students and staff at Chiang Rai International Christian School in Thailand.
- Saturday: Pray for the Goroka Project to receive the necessary funds to continue with facility upgrades to the Goroka Baptist Bible College and the Seigu Clinic.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries serving in New Zealand to have success in opening that field to ministry and church planting.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving among unreached people groups in the 10/40 window.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Administrative Assistant
Location: Togo
Hospital of Hope, in northern Togo, is looking for a skilled administrative assistant to assume tasks in general office work and data entry for hospital administration. Other duties include scheduling the logistics of travelers and short-term volunteers coming to the hospital.
