BIBLE PEOPLE | ABEL

1. Bible People

a) The Bible is an historic record of real people and places. 

b) Here is a brief biography of such a person during Bible times.

2. Abel

a) Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, was murdered by his brother Cain. 

b) Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer. They both made an offering to the Lord from the fruits of their labor. The Lord expressed favor toward Abel's offering, but rejected Cain's. In a fit of jealousy, Cain killed his brother (Genesis 4:2-8). 

Genesis 4:2-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

² Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

⁶ So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? ⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

⁸ Now 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 killed him. 

c)  In the New Testament, Abel is called righteous (Matthew 23:35), and is named by Jesus as a just and innocent man who suffers and is killed (Luke 11:51). Abel's sacrifice is judged greater than Cain's because of his faith, and this faith speaks beyond the grave (Hebrews 11:4). 

Matthew 23:35 New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 

Luke 11:51 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 

Hebrews 11:4 New King James Version (NKJV) 

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.