(Photo by Tomáš Malík on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)
Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
In Lesson 97, we are going to the second part of 1 John 3:12.
Let’s read the verse:
1 John 3:12 …And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
Let’s start with the definitions of the words.
And (2532. kai) why (5484. charin) did Cain slay (4969. sphazó) him? (846. autos) — means “and for what reason did Cain slaughter him?” The word “him” refers to Abel.
Because (3754. hoti) — introduces the explanation for why Cain killed Abel.
His (846. autos) own (3588. ho, hé, to) deeds (2041. ergon) — refers to Cain’s actions or conduct.
Were (1510. eimi) evil (4190. ponéros) — means that his deeds were evil, wicked or bad. In this context, John is describing Cain’s actions as morally evil.
While (1161. de) those (3588. ho, hé, to) of (3588. ho, hé, to) his (846. autos) brother (80. adelphos) — introduces the contrast between Cain’s deeds and those of his brother Abel.
Were righteous (1342. dikaios) means “just,” “upright,” or “right in God’s sight.” Here, it describes Abel’s conduct as being consistent with what God considers right, in contrast to Cain’s evil conduct.
In other words, John is asking what motivated Cain to violently take Abel’s life. The answer was rooted in the difference between their conduct. Cain was living in a way that was wicked and morally wrong, while Abel was living in a way that was upright and pleasing to God. Cain’s evil conduct stood in direct contrast to Abel’s righteous conduct.
In the previous lesson, we learned that we are not to be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. Now let’s gain a deeper understanding of why Cain did this and how we can use these lessons to grow in Christ.
Let’s read through the passage from Genesis that shows us what happened between Cain and Abel.
Genesis 4:1-8 And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said. 2 Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. 3 So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, 4 while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. 6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” 8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
In this passage, we can see that Cain had a problem in his relationship with God. When God did not accept Cain’s offering, Cain became angry. Then God encouraged Cain to do what is right and warned him that if he refused to do what is right, sin was crouching at his door. God told him that he must master sin.
This shows us that Cain was responding to God in rebellion and allowing sin to grow in his heart.
This is also a warning to us that we have to be careful about what we allow to take root in our hearts. These sinful thoughts and desires can develop into sinful behavior and lead to destructive consequences.
In James 1:14-15, we read that each person is tempted when they are drawn away and enticed by their own desires. When those desires are conceived, they give birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. We see this same pattern in Cain’s life. He allowed his anger to grow, which eventually led to the murder of his brother.
James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when by their own evil desires they are lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Just like God warned Cain, He is warning us about the temptation to sin in our lives. Don’t ignore it. Listen to God closely and respond to His Word. Ask yourself, “where could this desire lead to if I continue to allow it to grow?”
Cain and Abel were both bringing offerings to God. However, God did not accept Cain’s offering. This shows us that serving God is more than just doing Christian activities. God is concerned not only with what we do on the outside, but also with what is happening in our hearts.
We can serve, teach, attend church and sing worship songs while pride, jealousy and bitterness are growing inside of us.
Ask yourself, “Am I just doing outward religious activities, or am I walking with God in faith and obedience?”
In Matthew 23:27–28, we read about Jesus calling out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. He said that they looked beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they were full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. They appeared righteous on the outside, but their hearts were full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:27–28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
This part of the verse shows us a contrast between Cain and Abel. Cain’s deeds were evil, while Abel’s deeds were righteous.
Cain made a choice. Instead of responding to God in repentance, he allowed his anger and hatred to grow until they led him to murder his brother.
Instead of responding to God’s warning and mastering his sin, Cain allowed his sin to master him. His actions showed that he was walking in darkness rather than walking in the light.
In 1 Samual 16:7, we learn that the LORD does not look at the outward appearance, but at the heart. Cain was outwardly bringing an offering to God, but his actions revealed that his heart was not right with God.
1 Samual 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
In John 3:19-20, Jesus explains that the Light has come into the world. However, people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. They did not come into the light because they did not want their deeds to be exposed.
We see a similar contrast between Cain and Abel. Abel’s righteous deeds highlighted the difference between their lives, while Cain’s evil deeds revealed what was happening in his heart.
John 3:19-20 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
In Hebrews 11:4, we read that Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did. Abel offered his sacrifice by faith, and God testified that he was righteous. This shows us that we are to serve God by faith. Our service to God should flow from a heart that trusts Him and responds to His Word.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
In Jude 1:11, we see that Cain’s story became an example of someone who refused to respond to God in the right way. Jude refers to this as going “the way of Cain.” Cain refused to respond to God’s warning and instead allowed sin to control his actions.
Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain
In conclusion, pay attention to what is happening in your heart. Do you have sinful attitudes that are leading to sinful behaviors? Remember, sin can grow and lead to increasingly destructive behavior.
When God reveals something in your life that needs to change, don’t ignore His warning. Listen closely to His Word and respond in obedience. Don’t allow sinful desires, anger, bitterness, jealousy or pride to take root in your heart.
Also remember that serving God is more than just doing Christian activities. We can serve, teach, attend church and sing worship songs while sinful attitudes are growing inside of us. God is not just looking at what we do on the outside. He looks at the heart.
Cain was outwardly bringing an offering to God, but his actions revealed that his heart was not right with God. Abel, however, offered his sacrifice by faith, and his faith was demonstrated through his actions.
So ask yourself, “Am I simply doing outward religious activities, or am I walking with God in faith and obedience?”
Pay attention to what God is revealing to you. Confess your sinful desires, attitudes and behaviors, and bring them into the Light. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to walk by faith, obedience and love.
Here is a prayer to respond to today’s lesson.
Father, help me to pay attention to what is happening in my heart. Show me any sinful attitudes or desires that I am allowing to grow. Help me to listen to Your Word, respond in obedience and bring everything into the Light. Holy Spirit, empower me to walk by faith and follow You. Help me to put away anger, bitterness, jealousy and pride, and to grow in love for others. Help me to walk with Christ each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s read this part of the verse one more time.
1 John 3:12 …And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
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Listen to these lessons over and over again.
Meditate on God’s Word throughout the day. Pray continually. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
